Steampunk Harlots Ch. 31

"That's fine. Whatever they need. What about food? Something other than what comes through those tubes would be better."

"Already raided the kitchen. They had just been restocked."

"As much as I would like them to get out of this place, don't let them on the platform. I don't want anyone jumping."

"Agreed. I will keep the girls ready to stop them if they try it. That being said, most can't even walk right. Some can't at all. I thought that first farm was bad, but this is something else."

"How's Vile?"

"She was fine until she got to the cages."

****

Vile didn't wait for keys before tearing off the restraints. As the freed males came in to lift up the women who couldn't walk, one stopped to look at her.

"Please, help them out of here," Vile asked, trying to stifle her fury.

"Ashen?" he asked.

The fire inside Vile froze. Nobody, not even her old owner, knew her given name. She didn't recognize the man but the voice sounded familiar.

"It is you!" he shouted, seeing the look on her face.

He leapt forward, tears streaking down the fur on his face, to hold Vile tightly in embrace.

"I know you?" she asked.

"Yes, don't you remember?"

"No, I was made to wear a collar that made me think things. I was told to forget so much and it only comes back in pieces. I'm sorry. Who are you?"

"Boorman, I lived in the village with your parents. You were the only child born to that generation and you were covered in ash. I helped deliver you. Your horns were smaller but caused a bit of trouble on your way out."

"How are you still alive?! I didn't think anyone I knew could have lasted this long?"

"I was only fourteen when you were born. I was kept as a servant since I wasn't really old enough to breed, and I did such a good job that I was just kept as such. I was making beds in the barracks when those women came in. Rather terrifying, until they told me what was going on. I wasn't sure it was real until that fox spoke with me."

"We have so much to catch up on! The farm I was taken to is now a free city. The church is on the way to take everyone there, where they can be safe. Help me get these women free and we can talk more when we are done."

They broke their embrace to get back to work, talking more as they went.

****

Liddy looked at the papers again, then looked at the tag hanging from the woman's ear. The man sitting with her was holding her, trying to get her to drink some water.

"What is it, Liddy?" Easy asked as she walked in.

Liddy handed her the paper and watched as she read it.

Easy knelt down in front of the woman. "Excuse me, can you hear me?"

The woman stared blankly into space, only dimly aware of the fairy in front of her. Easy held her hands until she finally focused on her eyes. "Who?" She muttered from her raw throat.

"I'm your daughter. I'm here to save you." Easy tried not to cry but failed as the stumps on the woman's back began to move as if the wings were still attached.

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Book 2 is coming to a close, only two or three more chapters. Book 3 will take time to prep but it shouldnt take much time before Im ready to write it.

As always, lots of feedback, either as comments or emails would be nice. Thoughts and musings would be fun to read as well.