© copyright July 2005, Shizuko Lee
Cover art by Kat Richards, © copyright July 2005
New Concepts Publishing
Lake Park,
GA 31636
www.newconceptspublishing.com
This is a work of
fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and
not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is
merely coincidence.
The building was exceptional only in how utterly
normal it appeared. Whoever it was that had designed it must have intended it
to be the most forgettable building in the world. “Are you sure this is it?”
“I don’t know….” Val turned in the car seat to look
at her a moment. “I guess it must be. I mean, this is the address Laura
gave me.” She turned back to the building, seeming to have as much difficulty
as Caitlin did believing this was it.
Caitlin looked again at the building. No Holes
Barred. That was what the club’s name was, supposedly. This hardly looked like
the place you’d find an exclusive adult club. I guess that’s why they chose
it. Or built it, or whatever. That was, of course, provided Laura hadn’t
decided to play a nasty trick on Val, in which case it would be extremely
embarrassing when they went in and asked where all the action was. Caitlin
didn’t know Laura very well personally. She did know the woman was fond of
jokes and had played countless pranks on Val, whose trusting nature insured she
would fall for them every time.
“Are you positive you want to go through with
this?”
Val nodded slowly to herself. “I haven’t been laid
in a year, Caitlin. A year. Do you have any idea what that’s like?” she ground
out. “A whole year of nothing. Not just horrible sex, nothing!
It’ll atrophy if I don’t get some soon!”
Caitlin tried hard to banish the sudden vision of a
withered vagina from her mind. “Damn it Val!”
She knew exactly what Val meant, though, had in
fact been without longer than she, but preferred not to point it out. She might
be horny, but she was fairly scared. What if she wasn’t any good any more? What
if she never had been? If she were just destined to be alone? She tried
hard to shake the thoughts running through her head. Her mother had lived her
whole life alone. What if it ran in the family, like some dread, unnamed
disease?
It’s now or never. It’ll be years before I get
up the gumption to try again. If I ever do. It occurred to her that she
really wasn’t starting off on the right foot. What is it Val was always
saying about giving people a fair chance? Val seemed to have even worse
luck with men than her own, yet still tried to find a good one. Caitlin never
had figured out if it was blind determination or pure desperation that drove
her.
“Well…let’s get this over with.”
As they stepped from the car, Caitlin wondered yet
again how she had even allowed Val to talk her into this. She had decided
several years ago to stop looking for love after a string of nightmarish blind
dates, set up by so-called great friends. She’d lost most of her friends over
the years because she wouldn’t go out with their freaky, monstrous, or just
plain stupid relatives more than once. Shit, you would think, being my
friends they’d know my taste a little better than that! Or at least know their
own family well enough to know they wouldn’t be interested in me!
She had finally come to her senses and just stopped
going out on blind dates all together, swearing off relationships while she was
at it.
Val was the only friend that she had kept, mostly
on account of the fact that Val didn’t have any male relatives around her own
age. Aside from that, it was almost exclusively her married friends who tried
to set her up. It’s almost as if they just can’t stand any of their friends
not being married after they’ve tied themselves down. Are they jealous of my being
single, or scared that I might get an interest in their husband? As if I’d be
like that!
She had added to her vow just over a year ago, deciding never
to have another one night stand either. She tried to block the many horrible
experiences from her mind, but one in particular came, unbidden.
She had met the guy at work and had found him
wildly attractive. He seemed very interested, too. They had flirted a lot for
several weeks until, one day, they had somehow wound up in her bed together.
Things seemed to be going great at first, lots of kissing and heavy petting.
She hadn’t been at all disappointed in his body, which turned out to be nicely
tanned and toned. The problem occurred after the clothes were off and she was
well past the point that she felt she could say no. When they were actually in
the bed together, it turned out he didn’t really care if she enjoyed herself or
not. Apparently, he thought the kissing and petting from before was all that
she needed and that, with that out of the way at last, it was time for him to
get his own jollies. He was a dead fish. There was no passion, no touching,
just a quick in and out that left her feeling befouled and used. He had grabbed
up his clothes and tore out of there like he’d been thrown, without even saying
another word. She had not minded that part at all, had actually feared he might
make things worse and linger. Thank God for small favors. Needless to
say, work had been extremely awkward after that, at least for her, so
she wound up having to find herself a position elsewhere.
“Earth to Caitlin. Come in. Over.”
Startled into a sudden awareness of her
surroundings, Caitlin shook off the memory and glared at Val. “Yes?”
“You’re supposed to say ‘over.’” Val giggled at her
scowl and pointed across the street at the door. “Are you ready?”
Caitlin nodded once, and, trailing well behind Val,
crossed the pavement to the door of the club. She paused momentarily and braced
herself as Val opened the door and they entered. She hardly dared to open her
eyes. When she finally did, it was only because she’d bumped into Val. She
steadied herself, muttering an apology and looking over her friend’s shoulder.
She let go of a breath she hadn’t known she held as relief flooded her.
Somehow, she’d gotten it in her head that the club would be nothing but an
orgy, a mass of naked, humping bodies her friend would doubtless insist she
join. Instead, the crowd on the dance floor gyrating to the music looked and
behaved just like they would have in any other club.
“Um. Val? Are you sure this is it?”
Val gave her a stern look over her shoulder. “Come
on.” She pointed toward one of two sets of circular, wrought iron stairs.
“Laura said to go up.”
As she followed her friend up the stairs, Caitlin
found herself tensing up again. They were met at the top by a veritable wall of
a man with beady eyes, who looked them over head to foot before stepping out of
their way. His voice, though deep, seemed oddly normal for a man of his build.
She’d actually expected something booming.
“You may enter.”
Caitlin edged to Val’s side as they looked around
the mezzanine. There were four doors, each leading, supposedly, to four fantasy
worlds. Before she’d even gotten the chance to read any of them, Val pointed to
one on the right and said, “I’m going in there.”
Caitlin looked at the sign above the world.
“Historic dates and mates?” She looked quizzically at Val. Dates and mates
from the past? Ours, or someone else’s? She couldn’t think of a single man
she’d ever been with that she cared to ever date again, let alone mate with. I
guess maybe its people dressed up in silly costumes? Where’s the appeal in
that? There obviously had to be some for the club to stay in business with
offerings like that, but it certainly held no interest for her.
“Yeah. Why not? You’re allowed to try a different
one if you don’t like the one you start out with, ya know. Besides, it’s the
one Laura recommended. You coming in?”
Caitlin shrugged. “Nah. I think I’ll go in that one
over there,” she said, pointing at the one across from Val’s room of choice.
“Galactic dates and mates?” Val said and laughed.
“Why go to that one? Or are you just saying you want to go there and planning
to skip out like a little chicken?”
Caitlin gave her a look, though the thought had
crossed her mind, and sighed. No real reason, it just happens to be closest
without being your choice. “It sounds interesting enough. Anyway, I’m not
really into that whole history thing.”
“So you’ll really go?”
She swatted at Val. “Yes, I’ll go. I’ll see you in a
little bit.”
“Shit, you’ll see me in a few hours! You can go for
a quickie if you want, but I’m here to stay a while! Hey, remember what I said
earlier? Take the first empty room you come to.”
“Why did Laura say that anyway?”
Val shrugged, “No idea. See ya!” She turned and
practically ran through the door. Caitlin, however, walked slowly toward her
own, a knot of anxiety already formed in her stomach. She knew now she was
going to go through with it. She honestly enjoyed being with a man when it was at
least half decent, even if she hadn’t had anything like that in a long time.
She was already here, everyone already knew what she’d come for, which in
itself made her uncomfortable. There was little point in turning back now. She
wasn’t even sure she wanted to. She looked nervously around the gallery one
more time before stepping through the door. Inside was a long corridor filled
with people, mostly men, who had their noses stuck to the plate-glass windows
which lined both walls. How do they keep them clean? There’s a job I’ll
never take! What the hell is so interesting, anyway?
No Holes Barred
THE AWAKENING
By
Angelia Whiting
© copyright September 2005,
Angelia Whiting
Cover art by Eliza Black, ©
copyright September 2005
ISBN 1-58608-640-5
New Concepts Publishing
Lake Park, GA 31636
www.newconceptspublishing.com
This is a work of fiction. All
characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be
confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely
coincidence.
Chapter One
Britenia tossed an expressionless glance at her
mentor. “Why should I even bother?”
“You have been wronged Brit. All of your people
have been wronged.”
Britenia scanned the satellite, located at the end
of the gateway that Rupshel had brought her through. It was a colorless piece
of rock, floating in the galaxy, bearing nothing except boulders and stones and
pits of various sizes. It was as dead as she was, as dead as the enormous
bolder they stood in front of that burrowed nondescriptly into the satellite’s pebbled
surface, looking as much a part of the terrain as any other of the enormous
rocks. In its stone façade the words, No Holes Barred was carved
appearing as though a passerby had haplessly scratched into the surface. But
Rupshel told her it was the entrance to the spa club and resort that she would
reside at for as many dawnings as it took.
“It doesn't look like much of a place to find
deliverance.”
“Not true child.” Rupshel cast his glance to the large
boulder. “Many travelers pass through the cosmic gateways to this satellite
play land, some stay awhile and some go. Inside you will find creatures from
the galaxies far and wide. Emotions abound.”
The elderly man tipped his head toward Britenia and
scratched his ancient purple-gray beard. His voice lowered an octave though his
tone was still firm. “You may find joy here my dear.”
“I doubt I'll ever have that gift again, Rupshel.”
Brit stared at the rocky wall in front of her. “Nothing holds meaning for me. I
remain empty.”
“Ah child,” Rupshel glided over to her, his long
flowing robes caressing the ground as he moved. He was the epitome of a life
time of wisdom and knowledge, four centuries of learning he put to claim under
his belt. “Do I detect despair within you?”
Brit’s head snapped around so she could look her
mentor in the eye. “It is an emotion, yes?”
“It is.”
“Well, it is not a very pleasant feeling.” Still,
feeling a twinge of an emotion stimulated Britenia’s hope, another emotion.
Perhaps she would stay awhile.
“Be patient my student. You’ve just arrived here.
You will learn.” A wily smile played at Rupshel’s lips. “You may even discover
passion in this place.”
Britenia stared impassively at her mentor for a
moment. “Or anger. Maybe I will find anger here, or hate, or some sentiment I
can feel strongly.”
“Passion is a strong feeling child and encompasses
an array of pleasures or displeasures as the case may be sometimes.”
Ignoring the man who counseled her, the wise
teacher who instructed all of her peoples at the University of Emotional
Awareness, Britenia turned away, putting her back to her mentor.
“I should feel hate,” she said.
“Do you?”
Britenia stood still, not answering him right away.
It was as though she was trying to conjure the emotion. She shook her head with
numb regard. On an inhale, she looked at her mentor. “No.”
Her soul was an empty shell--void of emotion.
Empty.
“It doesn't even feel strange to feel...nothing. I
feel nothing, Rupshel.”
Rupshel placed a caring, fatherly hand gently on
her shoulder. “You will, Britenia, as time passes and you witness the vibrancy
that naturally resides in others. Study them and what they feel, and your
emotions will begin to blossom.”
“Like this satellite?” Britenia knew she should
chuckle at her own humor, but the sentiment evaded her.
Rupshel chuckled for her. “Beneath it all, my lady
royal, I think we’ll discover you are quite a delight.”
“I would wish to say I believe you.” Britenia
lowered to sit on a small rock near the big boulder. She folded her hands in
her lap. “How will I recognize the emotions when the come?”
“You were one of my finest students.” Rupshel knelt
in front of her and placed a palm on her cheek. “Just keep your scrolls
nearby.”
Britenia nodded. Four solar annums she spent at the
University for Emotional Awareness. She supposed she was ready. “My scrolls,
yes. They will tell me all.”
“Not all,” Rupshel answered. “Much you will
discover on you own.”
Britenia would’ve given him a confused look then,
if she possessed the emotion. Instead she merely said. “I have no choice but to
try.”
“For your sake and for the sake of your people.”
“So that I may return to my planet and enlighten
them, yes?”
“Yes. And to take your rightful place on the
throne.” Rupshel stood and stepped back from her. “For now I leave you. There
is the welfare of the other apprentices I must see to.”
“Just one more question, Rupshel.” Britenia stood,
causing Rupshel to halt, just as he was about to step into the tunnel that
brought them here. “How might I understand the many languages spoken here?”
“A thoughtful question,” Rusphel turned and faced
Britenia. “The place is equipped with a universal translator. Just speak your
own words and others will understand you, and likewise you will understand
them.”
“Thank you, my teacher.” Britenia closed her eyes
and bowed her head respectfully. “I will be fine.”
When she opened her eyes again her mentor was gone,
leaving her standing alone at the entrance of No Holes Barred--Alone,
but not lonely.
Britenia wondered what loneliness felt like.
Sighing for no other reason than releasing a
breath, she picked up her travel bag and knocked on the rock. A tiny stone
piece sank inward revealing a hole about the size of her hand. Flattening her
palm over the opening, she presented the tattoo on her flesh. It was the symbol
that would gain her entrance. “Invited member.”
She felt a small tingle on her skin as the
surveillance scanner read the mark. The small hole sealed as she dropped her
hand and then a crack appeared in the surface of the rock door.
It spread open, revealing a dark, silent cavern.
Britenia stepped inside.
But she wasn’t inside at all.
As the rock doorway behind her scraped closed,
there was a low rumble and a flash of light. The place began to illuminate and
Britenia discovered that she had entered an outdoor garden, full of colorful
flowers and trees and soft music. A white, marble brick path ran the center of
it. Off to one side there were several small pools and one larger one. Steam
rose from the bubbling waters on the smaller ones and she assumed the water in
the larger pool was cool. A few guests were relaxing within the waters’ depths.
Just beyond the pools, there were several raised, cushioned cots. The first
four were vacant, but a male lay face down on the fifth one. He was nude except
for the towel draped across his buttocks and thighs. A woman was kneading his
shoulders.
Another relaxing activity, Britenia supposed, a way
to relieve stress. What was stress like?
Britenia began walking along the path, catching the
murmurs of conversations, hearing the animation in their voices and watching
the assortment of emotions that played on the faces of the guests there. She
could feel the tepid breeze of the air around her as it gently stroked her
hair. The walkway was cool beneath her unclad feet. The garden that grew around
her was an oasis of botanical scents. But despite all the delights the spa
provided, Britenia was unable to feel any of it.
She could only observe.
From her studies, Britenia understood the various
situations that should elicit certain emotions. Still, they evaded her. But
that was why she was in this place. To explore--the life in others, the life
that was missing in herself.
Passing a grouping of tables arranged along the
garden terrace, Britenia’s eyes locked unresponsively onto a man indulging in a
meal. She stopped.
Something very slight stirred within her and
Britenia blinked several times at the unexpected feeling, but it vanished
rather rapidly just as every sensation that threatened to surface regularly
did.
The man’s head lifted and he smiled at her, and she acknowledged
it with a nod. She didn’t smile back, but did notice the way nearby women were
examining the brawny male, bearing a gleam in their eyes that Britenia could
only interpret as desire. It wasn’t beyond her to comprehend the physical
concept that the man was aesthetically pleasing.
Passion. Will I ever fully feel passion?
Her eyes flicked behind the man to an enormous tree, its
trunk completely hollowed out. From the brochure the management sent her,
Britenia recognized it as the club. Tipping her head she tuned into the sounds inside,
catching a more upbeat style of music emerging from it. And there was movement.
It was dancing. People were dancing on the main floor. And there was jovial
talk and laughter. Her eyes flickered upward. The second level was of interest
to her. Special services were offered there, personal fantasies and those of a
more intimate kind. A twinge of anticipation seeped into Britenia’s chest, a
flicker, just a flicker of excitement before it vanished.
She would sample all the services if she could. One
of them was bound to awaken her.
Britenia’s gaze dropped downward. The man continued
to watch her. Did he find her aesthetically pleasing?
No matter. She had work to do, emotions to
discover.
Turning her head back to the path, Britenia sited the
grouping of thatched roof cabanas. One of them had been reserved as living
space for her during her stay, and at the moment her body felt weary. Deciding
on a nap before the supper hour, Britenia continued down the path, thinking
about nothing in particular.
