The dark, narrow tunnels that led to the dungeon never failed to make him shiver in disgust. Only the thought of viewing his prize one more time made the journey tolerable.

His long, dark cape fluttered behind him in his haste to arrive at his destination. The decision had been made to keep the captive in the darkest, furthest dungeon from the surface of the planet. As he arrived at the dungeon’s door and signaled to the guard to open the viewing hole, he began to understand why. He placed one dark, malevolent eye to the small opening and blinked at the sight before him.

It was not often that anyone could boast of having a Familiar as a captive. Corinthon could immediately see why. If all the members of the Familiar race looked as this one did, they indeed made formidable adversaries. The captive was …..for lack of a better word…..breathtaking.

Corinthon’s gaze was drawn to the Familiar’s golden blonde locks, which were unkempt and cut short. Some of the longer locks fell forward across his face as he stood, nude, chained at his wrists to the wall of the dungeon. When the Familiar stirred and opened his eyes for a moment, Corinthon was immediately cognizant of the peculiar color of those eyes. It was a Familiar trait, this striking eye color. Some Familiars even had eyes of varied colors, but this one possessed the most stunning blue variety, with flecks of green and even royal gold. The drug they had used to subdue the captive caused those eyes to glaze over and droop closed again, and Corinthon sighed in relief, even protected as he was by the thick walls of the dungeon. His gaze traveled to the Familiar’s muscled chest and arms, down his lean body to his narrow hips and even lower to his rock-hewn thighs.

"Beautiful, is he not?" Corinthon jumped when the voice behind him hissed. "I wonder if everything they say about the Familiar is true."

Corinthon cringed at the voice of his ally. He would never have entered into the partnership had it not been for the potion Corinthon needed to subdue the captive. Only his ally possessed the knowledge of making the potion. Only with the potion could he have ever hoped to take a Familiar alive. "And what is it they say about a Familiar?" Corinthon murmured.

"Have you not heard? They are legendary creatures – both for their strength and ferocity in battle and for their endurance and skill in the sensual arts." Corinthon looked back through the tiny portal as his ally continued. "The males of the Familiar race live for the physical joining." He shrugged. "It has been said that it is impossible to resist the enticement of a Familiar male." He leaned closer to Corinthon. "Not only that, but they are legendary for their ability to give pleasure to their mates. Rumor even has it that they possess a special skill – an ability to enhance the act of joining once it has been completed – which gives the mate pleasure that borders upon the unbearable." He backed off again. "Yes, they are lucky, these Familiars. They say that a Familiar male can sense his true mate as soon as she comes into his presence. Extraordinary."

Corinthon grimaced. "I am not interested in his sexual prowess, or his power to be able to discern his true mate just by some kind of feeling. All I know is that when the guards cornered him, he fought like some kind of wild creature to avoid capture." He glanced back at the ally. "He might have been able to morph a cat as Familiars do had it not been for the potion." He sighed. "As it was, he took out many of my most valued guards."

"But that only means his capture is that much more of an accomplishment!" the ally sneered. "He will serve your needs quite well, unlike the one you captured before and foolishly let your guards torture beyond the point of usefulness." Corinthon nodded, recalling the young Familiar body that needed to be tossed on the refuse heap behind the castle. Several guards felt Corinthon’s wrath as the result of that misstep.

"As long as he fulfills my plan, he has served my purpose. I care not if he lives beyond his encounter with my future consort." Corinthon nodded towards the guards, who shut the peephole again. Corinthon walked away from the dungeon with the ally. "But I cannot hope to truly have all power until all the Familiar race becomes amenable to my rule. And you have yet to give me enough potion…."

The ally stopped and held up a small vial. "This is all you will need," he sneered. "Only one drop is enough to subdue nearly the entire race. You should have more than enough to keep your captive docile and still take control of your planet." He drifted away from Corinthon. "Just remember – you owe us your fealty for your accomplishment."

As Corinthon watched the ally dissolve into the air, his blood suddenly ran cold when he heard the scream coming from the dungeon. He glanced back over his shoulder, almost expecting to see the huge, blonde warrior come barreling out of the cell. He turned back to the path and hurried even faster to take himself back to his apartments in the main part of the fortress.

*^*^*^*

He howled in frustration and anguish. {This wasn’t supposed to happen, especially to me! I AM Jax Sharay, after all! I am the Protector of the Rainbow Spirits! I am a Familiar. We are NOT the captives of any other creature. We cannot be broken.}

As he looked at the cell around him, though, he had to admit that things looked bleak. Jax shook his head, trying to clear it of the drug that they were continually administering to him. They have given him a strong dose when the subdued him and brought him into the dungeon, and then they continued to put small doses in his food and through the air ducts, guaranteeing that his special senses would continue to be disabled.

They were certainly efficient in their means of containing him. He had been chained nude to the wall of the dungeon ever since his arrival. When the time came for him to be fed, they would release some of the chain from the other side of the thick wall behind him, allowing it to drag through the small openings and giving him some freedom of movement around the cell. Of course, this was after one of them would scurry into the cell with his food and water.

It puzzled him that they treated him as well as they did. Every day since his confinement, they had provided him food and water, laced as it was with the sense-numbing potion. They had loosened his chains so that he could eat, and even given him enough water and slack in the chains so that he could preserve some semblance of cleanliness. He was further shocked when the chains remained loosened enough that he could stretch his legs, roaming the cell as both exercise in and a futile attempt to find a way out. He had found none. Obviously they wanted him healthy – something he feared they might not have wanted for his young relative, Lukathan.

Lukathan was also a Familiar, but he was not as experienced as Jax in the ways of the many different planets. If they had used the sense-robbing potion on him, Jax feared that he probably would have succumbed to madness when he found his senses dulled. Jax heaved a large sob as he realized that the probability of finding Lukathan alive was minimal. He had come to Charporta, a planet on the farthest rim of civilization, in search of the young Familiar. But before he was apprehended, Jax had not sensed any trace of Lukathan’s life force.

His chains had tightened again, but Jax fought the effects of the drug long enough to hear the voices out in the hallway. He even vaguely was aware of a dark eye, watching him through the doorway. His hearing had been numbed by the drug, but it still chilled his soul when he heard snatches of a conversation about bringing all of the Familiar race to its knees. He knew now he had to fight the drug, and find a way out of this place in order to save the rest of his kind. He would find a way. He screamed out his intent to find his captor and crush him like the insect he was. It was the Familiar way.

*^*^*^*

Brenda paced back and forth in her apartments nervously. She had heard strange screams coming from the dungeon area lately, and they made her long more than ever to be far from this place. She longed for her mother’s homeland – the homeland they had left when Brenda was just a small girl.

Brenda was a Torengi – and being one, like her mother, she loved freedom. She loved nothing more than running through the fields, staring up at the sky, wondering what other planets might be like. She longed to explore them someday and leave this place. She envied the nomads of her mother’s race. They could live and love as they pleased. They did not have to conform to the rigid laws of this godforsaken planet and its rulers.

Brenda’s mother, Veronica, had changed her life forever when she agreed to come to Charporta to be consort to its ruler, Morenon. He was a just man, although rigid and not free-spirited like Brenda and her mother. But he longed to please Veronica, and so he had adopted Brenda as his own child. Even when her mother had died, Morenon had tried his best to comfort her through her abject sorrow. But she only found solace in roaming the open spaces near the fortress for hours on end.

Now, Morenon had died also. His brother, Corinthon, had always seemed to take an unusual interest in Brenda, although she couldn’t imagine why. She didn’t realize that her long, raven hair and eyes the color of the dark wood of the tambalon tree made her a beauty by the standards of any planet. Combined with her alabaster complexion, Corinthon found it more and more difficult with each passing day to stick to his plan.

Brenda startled when he came to her, immediately after his trip to see his captive. "Good afternoon, Brenda. You are well, I hope."

She carefully avoided him and crossed the chamber, putting a large table between herself and her step-father’s brother. "As well as can be expected when I find myself confined to my apartments for no apparent reason."

Corinthon smiled slyly. "I am sorry for that, princess." He looked out the window. "The people of Charporta have been very concerned for you since Morenon’s death."

"I appreciate their concern, but they need not worry," she returned cautiously. "And please do not call me by that title. I have no desire to be connected with royal terms or duties." She watched Corinthon’s eyes narrow. "You know that. I have told you frequently, as I told your brother, that I have no desire to rule Charporta."

"But I do," he said quietly, scaring Brenda.

"Then DO it!" she replied, moving around the table to keep her distance from him. "I have no objection to your ascending the throne vacated by Morenon’s death."

"Ahh, but the people do, princess. When Morenon claimed you as his offspring," Corinthon said bitterly, "he made you heir to the throne. And the people grew to love you, as they loved your mother, for your kind ways and gentle spirit." His eyes grew stormy as he looked her up and down. "And I grew to love you too, but for a far more physical reason. You make my body burn, Brenda. I long for you." He continued to pace her around the table. "Yes, you are definitely a problem for me, in more ways than one. But I think I have come up with a solution."

Brenda’s eyes widened. "You intend to kill me?"

"I said I was anxious to rule; I did not say I was foolish," Corinthon replied. "Killing you would bring me no benefit. No – my plan will provide me with everything I want. The power – and the princess."

Brenda gripped the side of the table. "Explain yourself."

"Right now, you hold all the keys to ruling Charporta. You were named as heir by my brother," his eyes flashed, "and you still are a maiden -- untouched by a mate -- as required by law." He chuckled low. "Of course, my plan will slightly alter that condition."

"You do not intend to kill me – only to rape me?" Brenda shrilled. "You would not dare to touch me and live. The people will never accept you as ruler, even if I were violated and could not ascend the throne, if I told them it was your rape that made me ineligible." Her eyes flamed to match his. "And I would tell them, have no doubt."

"I’m sure you would, sweet Brenda," Corinthon sneered. "That is why I have come up with a plan that is so ingenious." He sat down in one of the chairs, and she almost feared his relaxed state more than his prowl. "You have, no doubt, heard the loud noises coming from the dungeon."

"I have," she said quietly. "What poor creature are you holding against its will now?"

"I have captured a very special guest, just for you, my princess," Corinthos replied. "I have managed to secure a Familiar male for you."

Brenda gasped. The reputation of Familiar males had spread throughout the galaxy. Although she had never encountered one, she had always heard stories of their irresistible sexual prowess and the sensual spell they could cast on a female of any species. She had even heard whispers among Veronica’s servants about nameless females actually passing into unconsciousness from the intense pleasure brought to them by mating with a Familiar male. "Surely you are jesting," Brenda retorted when her ability to breathe returned. "I would never agree to mate with a Familiar male."

"You need not agree, princess," Corinthon sneered. "You see, I will have you escorted to his cell tomorrow at first light. We have kept him well sedated, but not so much that he will ignore his inborn urges to mate with a beautiful female." Corinthon stared at his fingernails, feigning boredom. "I will come to your rescue, of course, but not before the Familiar has taken you, depriving you of your maiden state and making you unfit to rule."

Brenda put her hand to her mouth to stifle her sob. "And what of the Familiar?"

"I will have to explain to the people what has happened," Corinthon sighed. "I will tell them that this prisoner of mine somehow managed to find you and mate with you, as is his Familiar nature. Of course, I will demand that he pay for his crime with his life, and the people will no doubt agree, being that they love you beyond telling."

"That is not fair to him," Brenda whispered.

"Life is often not fair, my sweet Brenda. I will also explain to the people that since you are now not fit to rule, I will ascend to the throne since I am next in line. Also, since I am of such a generous and forgiving nature, I will tell them that I have decided to take you as my consort, soiled and used goods that you are." He chuckled to himself. "It is really quite a clever plan, don’t you think? As I said, I get exactly what I want – the power, and the princess!"

The walls shook with her exclamation. "GET OUT!" Corinthon threw his head back, laughing with glee.

"Until tomorrow morning, Princess. I shall make sure to rest well tonight so that I might rescue you before the Familiar kills you in a sexual frenzy!" Corinthon was still laughing when he left her chambers, and barely missed being pelted with the cup and tray that Brenda flung at the door.

Brenda sat in tears for some time after Corinthon’s visit, but then as night began to fall, a plan of her own began to form in her mind. As she stared out her window at the vast expanse of planet below, she could feel for the man confined in the dungeon. Being a prisoner was intolerable, no matter if it was duty or an unjust beast who did the confining.

As the lights in the fortress began to be extinguished, Brenda’s plan had taken shape and she knew that she had to execute it tonight or never. She put a long black hooded cloak around her shoulders, but when she checked the door to her apartments, she still found Corinthon’s guards stationed there. She chuckled to herself as she went through a secret passageway that she had found as a child behind the fireplace.

Keeping close to the walls and shadows, Brenda made her way down to the dungeon. The cold, clammy nature of the place gave her great fear, but all she had to do was think of Corinthon’s plans for her and her heart began to beat in a normal rhythm again. As she neared a heavily guarded cell, she knew that the Familiar was probably housed inside.

She managed to slip by a few of the guards unnoticed, and then gave thanks when she saw a large set of keys hanging on the wall near the cell. She waited for what seemed like an eternity before the guards at the cell door slumped down to the ground in slumber. Hiding the keys within the folds of her cloak, she made her way to the door of the cell and carefully let herself in, being as silent as possible.

Once her eyes became accustomed to the gloom inside the cell, she moved towards the silent figure that was still chained to the walls. Brenda felt pain in her heart at his cruel confinement, but when she grew close enough to really see this prisoner, she had to stifle her gasp. Obviously, the chains had been loosened enough so that the prisoner was allowed to slide down the wall to the floor in slumber. She had never seen a Familiar before, and she was not prepared for the absolute beauty of his nude form.

Her gaze began at his bruised and bloody feet. He had fought hard before Corinthon’s warriors had brought him to heel. His calves were well-defined, his thighs corded with strength. As her perusal moved higher, Brenda put her hand to her mouth. Even at rest, what she saw of the Familiar’s body gave her pause as to the wisdom of her plan. She shook her head to rid herself of her fears. Whether she followed her own plan or fell victim to Corinthon’s, she would probably pass out from the pain of the Familiar taking her. She decided not to dwell on that portion of his anatomy, and she went past his narrow hips and up his broad chest until she saw his golden, tousled hair. It was cut shorter than was the usual custom on Charporta, barely touching the back of his neck. It was thick in the front, and had fallen over his eyes in sleep. She had an irresistible urge to reach out and sweep it back for him, since he could not do so, chained as he was.

As Brenda put out a trembling hand, she let out a little cry of surprise when the Familiar stirred and opened his eyes, focusing them on her immediately. "Who comes to me?"

The eyes. Brenda had heard of the magic of a Familiar’s gaze. Of how it could weave a magical spell that could draw a woman under his control without her ever even knowing. As she looked into the Familiar’s eyes, she began to understand how a woman could fall under their spell. They were the most remarkably beautiful shade of blue she had ever seen. His eyes reminded her of the azure sky streaked with lapis haze on the planet Gazacorte. Then, to her amazement, they changed even as she watched to green, and then to gray. Looking closer, however, she noticed that the pupils were dilated. Suddenly Corinthon’s words came back to her about sedating the prisoner, and she realized that he was probably still under the influence of some powerful drug.

"Who comes to me?" he repeated.

"A friend," Brenda said softly. "I will not hurt you."

Jax tried to focus on the source of the voice, but he was overwhelmed by a feeling he thought would never come to him. He had been raised with the knowledge that he would have the feeling someday, but he never dreamed it would be in a cell as a captive on an alien planet. He murmured some words to the woman in the secret Familiar tongue, but try as he might, he could still not focus clearly on her.

Brenda was beginning to fully comprehend the stories she had heard about a Familiar’s capabilities to seduce any woman he wanted. The lilting cadence of his speech was drawing her in like a lure. But when the words began to sound like gibberish, she was momentarily released from his entrapment. "I do not understand what you are saying."

Jax pulled himself up to a more upright sitting position, and the woman moved closer into the light. "You are obviously not a Familiar woman if you do not understand my words. How do I know that you are a friend, when you insist on hiding yourself beneath that blanket?"

He sensed her smile, and it warmed him in the most Familiar of places. He knew then and there that somehow, he would eventually seduce her and have her. It was only a matter of time.

Brenda reeled under the onslaught of his musical speech pattern. She had wished she understood the other tongue he spoke, for his beautiful voice sounded even more melodious when he spoke the words that were a mystery to her. "It is not a blanket," she replied quietly. "But that does not matter. We must hurry to put my plan in motion before the guards discover that I am in here with you."

Jax became even more alert. "You have a plan? What kind of a plan?"

Brenda was becoming annoyed at his inquisitiveness. Were all Familiars this persistent? "The details of the plan are not necessary for you to know at this point. Let us just say that if you do two favors for me, I will do a favor for you."

Jax almost purred a chuckle, and Brenda remembered the stories that Familiars had the power to assume either the form of a cat or a human at will. "Even at this disadvantage," he held up his wrists in chains, "I can see that I am coming out on the short end of the deal." His eyes suddenly began to flame and weave a hypnotic spell around her. "Tell me what you want me to do and what you will do for me in return."

Brenda put her hands on her hips in exasperation. "If you do this one favor for me, I will set you free, on the condition that you take me with you when you leave here."

Jax tipped his head to the side. "So, if I do an unnamed kindness for you, you will release me from my chains, as long as I will take you from here with me?"

"Exactly."

Jax pulled himself up to a crouched position on his haunches. The hooded woman was certainly a mystery, but his Familiar senses were not so dulled by the sedative that he could not tell that she would be fascinating. As she spoke the words of the bargain, he had already agreed to it in spirit, since it would facilitate his seduction of her. A long trip back to his home planet of Meer’an would be that much more pleasant with her along. If he could just see what she looked like beneath that infernal blanket!

"So, do you agree?" She was tapping her foot in what must have been some kind of gesture of impatience.

"I have yet to hear the favor I must grant you before you set me free. I would be a fool to seal the pact without knowing it."

Brenda took a deep breath. "All right, if I must tell you." She was glad she still wore the cowled hood of the cloak so that her blush would be hidden from him. "Before I set you free, I want you to …." She stammered momentarily and breathed again. "…..I want you to take me."

To be continued…