Sometimes she hated to remember how perfect it had once been. They had been so happy and wealthy. She had been surrounded by love. Her and her mother's luck on Canis island had run out. She was no longer her mother.
Not in this place, anyways, and definitely not at this time. Sylvie wanted to run away, but knew she couldn't. She would be found. Sylvie heard the male cheers, whistles, and applause for the women rise up like a wave rolling to the shore. The women seemed to feed off of that energy, and in turn they smiled at one another, ready for the game of the night to begin. Her heart began beating fast.
She was nervous.
Madame Bouvier quickly walked backstage, "Now ! Now. The show is about to begin ladies. Everyone look alive ! If you miss a note, a dance step. I am docking you your wages and you'll be working in the pits." She vehemently whispered over the piano and violin that was playing now.
'The Pitts' was what Madame Bouvier called the heart of Canis Island. She made the lowest earners as well as the least popular girls work there. It was the center of the island, which was the busiest. It was constantly bustling with traffic. A girl could make decent money but the high clientele numbers and violence increased.
Working at the brothel was not necessarily easy either. The females who found themselves working there were well kept, beautiful and knew how to use their womanly talents. Because of that they were usually picked by upperclassmen. And only allowed to entertain one to two suitors a week. No one wanted to ever work the pitts because for every three women Madame Bouvier sent out only one woman survived with her looks and her sanity in tact.
It was a cruel and vicious thing but Madame got the correct reaction and results from her other ladies. They worked harder for her and sacrificed their lives.
"This is our new addition, Star. She will only come out at the end of the show. When I make my speech." She whispered. Then she left.
Sylvie felt like she was in a dream. Her mother never told her about these shows. She had never been permitted to see her mother less than twenty minutes at a time, and never daily. She would be on stage tonight. She had never even been in this part of the brothel.
Everything was all happening so fast. She felt numb to it all. Her mother came over to her and gently guided her off the stage and to the side. She didn't look at her. Sylvie's heart felt as if it was pounding out of her chest.
The curtains raised and the show began...
**********
Randolf
Randolf made a pit-stop at his island dwelling. While there they dropped off their trunks and most of their supplies and luggage. The housekeeper and servants who had prepared the home for him greeted him warmly.
Only 16 men accompanied him. Tonight only him and his Beta, Nikan, and Nikan's brother, Shilah would attend this meeting.
It took an hour to unload and refresh his horses and once again, they were back on the muddy, underdeveloped trail. The closer they got to town the heavier they scent of humans became. So much so that Randolf wanted to cover his nostrils at their stench but knew that would give him away. One of the Loup Garoux's qualities were that they could adapt to their environment and blend in with humans. Even the humans on this island were oblivious and clueless to the fact they were living on an island owned by the royal Loup Garoux.
They were in their own fragile world. A world where they only consumed with food, money and sex. They believed this current war was because of a land dispute that turned into a Royal family vendetta that went to full blown war. Humans were better off not knowing. At least they had proved to be smart in moving underground or seeking refuge here.
The island was full and more and more humans came every day. It was something Randolf's father would have been proud to see. He needed to end this war not just for the sake of his kind, but for humankind as well. Humans deserved to have their land just as much as anything else. If he could end the war, humans would rebuild again on the mainland and people would want to leave this island. Being the tyrant he was he would absolutely love that.
"I wonder what Madame Bouvier has in store for us tonight." Nikan declared once more and continued. "Oh brother, I can't wait to get my hands on some nice, big tits." He laughed.
Randolf rolled his eyes at their mannish behavior. It was all Nikan could ever think about and right now they needed to be on their toes when it came to the Lycanthropes...
Randolph rolled his eyes at their mannish behavior. It was all Nikan could ever think about and right now they needed to be on their toes when it came to the lycanthropes.
"You two will mind your cocks and keep your eyes open. The Lycans are tricky. They do not want this truce."
Just when he spoke those words there was a loud snapping sound and the carriage jolted and tilted. He was beginning to hate this island more and more. The carriage kept going and he wondered why the driver didn't stop. The wheel could be damaged. Imbeciles ! He thought to himself. He knocked loudly on the roof, signaling the driver to stop. The carriage slowed then came to a stop.
"Thank God." Randolf grumbled as he swung the carriage door open. "Dammit man were you going to stop! You almost killed us back there."
The driver was shaking. He looked terrified. Randolph could smell his fear. He was a human.
"S-So sorry. I-I thought someone was following us."
Those words caught his attention. He turned his cold gaze from the driver to his men. Nikan gave him a knowing look.
Randolph and the driver were not in human earshot and since he was a human driver he didn't want to give the game away. "Very well." he spoke. "I am going to take a piss while you check the wheels and we will be off."
"Y-yes, Sir. Fine indeed."
Randolph turned around once more signaling his Beta who understood and then walked off the road into the woods nearby. His ears pricked to the sounds of nature surrounding him. Birds sang and different insects communicated. The forest smelled cleaner than the muddy trail that still permeated human scents. Smelling humans for too long always made his stomach unconsciously turn.
Being born a pure blooded wolf Randolf as well as other from his species could not handle the overbearing stench of human and Lycans alike. That was a main reason the Loup Garoux only mingled among themselves. The smell of the Lycanthropes had to do with their unhinged hormones. Once a human becomes infatuated by a Lycan until it becomes an obsession they can then go into a trance and change into a Lycanthrope. The smell they excrete is a repellant to other predator, which are other wolf species.
These hormones trigger strong physical reactions. Some Loup Garoux can barely visit the heart of this island because the smell is even more unbearable. Randolf loosened the stays of his trousers ready to do his business when his ears twitched at an unfamiliar, whirring sound. He turned around to see what it was and was hit in the side of his left temple, making him lose his balance. He smelled his own blood then.
He heard the sound again, this time it was coming from the opposite direction. He was quick enough and dodged it. The whirring sound had stopped but he could hear far off cries of his men being ambushed on the road. He quickly tied the stays to his trousers and turned in the direction of the cries for help from Nikan and Shilah, when that horrible, acrid scent filled his nostrils and taste buds. A Lycanthrope was upon him.
He frantically looked around. The smell was overpowering. He could not see anyone. He spun around then felt something stab him in his upper right thigh. He screamed at the white hot pain.
So intense was it that he involuntarily knelt down on one knee on the wet, forest floor.He looked down at the wound and saw a very basic blade protruding from it. The cries of his men had stopped and he wondered if they were dead. That was the last thing he pondered. Randolf had been knocked out cold...