Abducted by the Centaur Tribe Read online

  Abducted by the Centaur Tribe

  by Vivian Leigh

  Copyright 2013 Vivian Leigh

  All rights reserved.

  ***

  The skies were cloudless when I heard the thunder. A distant pillar of dust rose from the fields to the west, and a knot like a clenched fist rose in my throat. The centaurs were coming three weeks early.

  The first green shoots of spring covered the fields near the village, and most of the menfolk were out working. Most of the women, too. I worked with my younger sister, Elisa, and my mother in the village, scraping out a meager existence weaving baskets from the reeds that grew on the banks of Lake Voulismeni.

  Mother heard the sound, too, and came onto the roof where I was supposed to laying out reeds for drying. “Gods above, they're coming for the sacrifice.”

  Already a trumpet was blowing from the top of the guard tower on the inland side of village.

  “Get inside,” she said. “You and Elisa stay hidden.”

  “But Mother, I want to see them,” I said. And I did. The gods were distant, stories whispered about in the night. Centaurs, though, they were more than myths. Every few years they came to the village and demanded an unmarried woman as ransom. We'd tried fighting in the past, and it never went well. Better one girl be sacrificed than a dozen of our strongest men. Everyone saw the sense in that. Except, perhaps, the sacrifice.

  “I want to see them, too,” Elisa said, poking her head up the stairwell.

  Mother and I turned in unison and said, “NO!”

  Elisa scurried back inside, head hanging. She was barely a woman, and had no business seeing bare-chested, naked creatures, even if their bodies were half horse. Not that I really had much business, either.

  When Elisa was gone, Mother touched my arm. “Keep her in the house. I'll see if Niko wants to have dinner with us if I see him at the gathering.”

  Judging by her knowing smile, my eyes had probably lit up. Niko. We'd practically grown up together, and I had known for years that we would someday be married. I was just waiting on him to come to the same conclusion.

  “I'll try,” I told her. “But you know how she is.”

  “You'll do more than try, dear. I couldn't bear losing anyone else to those beasts.” Her expression hardened, then she followed Elisa down the stairs and into the shop we called home.

  I gave her a couple minutes while I watched the dust cloud get closer. The villagers in the fields were streaming toward town at a determined jog.

  Mother stood just inside the door, a wide brimmed hat perched on her head. The one I had woven her last winter, I noticed. “Remember what I said, girls. Stay in the shop.” She let herself out and latched the door behind her.

  Elisa sat on her bench, a half-formed basket in her lap. “We're going to go see them, right?”

  I knew we shouldn’t. Mother had told us to stay, and Elisa didn’t need any nightmares to keep her awake in the night. But Niko might be there. And mother would never know we’d disobeyed if we stayed away from the amphitheater.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Please, Chloe? I’ve never seen them, and the girls say they’re so handsome.”

  I ground my teeth, but I wanted to see them, too. “Okay,” I said at last. We'd take proper precautions, and I really did want to see them, too. The last time they'd come I'd stayed in the shop hidden away, too afraid to have gone to see them even if Mother would have let me. Not that she would. Not after what had happened to Father.

  It took around half an hour before we heard the distant clop of hooves on cobblestones. They passed toward the village amphitheater, and I motioned toward Elisa. “Let's go.”

  We didn't bother creeping out. I adjusted a hat over my head and strolled out the door as if I had an errand. Elisa followed on my heels, similarly attired. Our sandals scuffed on the cobblestone walkway that ran through the center of the village toward the harbor. A few other people in white robes walked the same direction. Before we reached the amphitheater, I took Elisa down a short alley.

  We clambered up a section of fish traps, baskets mother or I had made years before, most likely, and on top of a roof. From there we could see probably two hundred of our fellow villagers. Other villagers lined the buildings around the amphitheater, watching the meeting, too. It looked like everyone that could walk was there. And in the middle of it all, a dozen or so of the centaurs.

  They. Were. Breathtaking.

  The horse bodies rose to the height of a man's shoulders. Even the tallest men in the village only came up to their bronzed chests. And such chests. The Spartan warriors that had stopped in our village for provisions had not been half so muscular.

  “They're disgusting,” Elisa whispered. “Just look at that hair.”

  I wasn't sure if she meant the brown coat of hair that covered their hindquarters, or the black shock of hair on their heads. “Yeah,” I said, not really agreeing with her, but not really wanting an argument.

  “We have come for an offering,” one of the centaurs boomed.

  A gray haired village elder cringed away. “We have one for you, oh lord.” He beckoned toward a crowd of robed elders, and two of them led forward a girl with dark skin and braided hair.

  A Persian slave, I thought. She was facing away from me, so it was hard to tell just how attractive she might be.

  “No,” the biggest of the centaurs said. “This woman is not from this village. We will have one of your daughters.

  “But we have this maiden for you, my lord. She is a princess, taken fairly in war.”

  “You try to cheat me, Agriphore? I think not.” The other centaurs stamped their feet. Swords seemed to appear in their hands. The leader stepped forward, looming high above the elder.

  The elder turned toward the crowd, his gestures jerky. “People of Kolaos, what would you have me do.” His voice cracked as he spoke.

  “Fight them!”

  “Give a sacrifice!”

  “Offer yourself!”

  “Since you have tried to cheat us, we will choose,” the centaur said. “Gather all your maidens.” His herd spread out around him, then half of them thundered up the aisles of the amphitheater. One came right toward the building where Elisa and I crouched.

  He saw us, pointed. “There!”

  My heart stopped. I grabbed Elisa's arm and jerked her down below the parapet, unsure what else to do. Her eyes were wide open, and though her mouth moved, no sounds emerged.

  “Stay quiet,” I hissed. Our only hope was that he forgot us while they gathered the other maidens.

  That hope was soon dashed. A man's head appeared over the edge of the building. “You there. Get down to the stage.” He pointed at us with a bronze blade the length of my arm. In his fist it looked like a dagger.

  “I... Uh...” My stomach was clenched tighter than a three-weave mat.

  “Move it, girls.” He jabbed at us.

  Elisa squeaked, but rose to her knees. She shook as she crawled toward the edge. As soon as she was within reach, the centaur scooped her up and carried her out of sight behind the ledge. I couldn't just let her go, so I threw myself after her. I was practically in the air, leaping for the for the ground, when the centaur caught me, too.

  I screamed.

  He smelled like horse, and had arms thicker than any warrior's. I was hefted like a babe, and deposited in the alley. A swat on my rump followed, but a finger pointing toward the amphitheater and a grunt of instruction were all the encouragement I needed. I grabbed Elisa's arm and rushed toward the steps.

  Other girls were being similarly herded toward the stage. I searched the crowd, looking for my mother, but couldn't spot her amongst the hundreds of people. Most of the women were in tears, and more than a few of the men. Yet none of them rose to defend us. They let their children be dragged out to be chosen.

  My people had tried to fight the centaurs once. More than once, to be fair. The most recent time was when I was only a child and Elisa not much more than an infant. A hundred of the men had tried to ambush a dozen centaurs. Twenty men had died, and twice as many were wounded. The centaurs had taken a dozen women instead of their customary one.

  My father numbered among the dead.

  I reached the growing crowd of women, and pulled Elisa close. She whimpered against my arm, her whole body shaking. I didn’t feel much braver, but I knew she needed my strength, so I tried to set the best example I could.

  The biggest of the centaurs marched across the stage, inspecting each of the girls in turn. He paused before me. Something about the thoughts of my father made me bold, and I met his eye without thinking. “Too bold,” he murmured, then passed onto Elisa. There he stopped again.

  “This one,” he said, pointing to my sister.

  Her eyes rolled up in her head and she fainted on the spot. A gasp went up from the crowed. I gawked at Elisa, at the centaur. Distantly, I heard screaming. Mother.

  “Take me.” I stepped forward, blocking him from Elisa. “She's a child. Not yet a woman.” I thrust out my chest. “Take me.”

  A second cry echoed above the gasps. This one was deeper. Niko.

  The centaur eyed my straining breasts. “You have spirit. Very well.” He grabbed my arm and dragged me forward. “This one shall be your sacrifice.” He showed me to the village. “Do not try to buy us off again with foreign slaves.”

  I was pushed toward a pair of centaurs, and they bound my arms to my sides. None of my people came to help. Niko tried, b
ut his father and older brother restrained him. I couldn't hear his cries over the roaring my ears, and before I had time to fully process what was happening, I was thrown over horseback and we were riding out of the village. Out of the only life I'd ever known.

  ***

  We rode for two days without rest, stopping only to eat and drink. The centaurs didn't sleep, and what sleep I managed was from the back of one or another of the beasts. They moved me from creature to creature like a messenger with a dozen race horses. We must have crossed the entire island by the time we finally stopped and it left me utterly exhausted and more sore than if I'd spent a whole day cutting reeds.

  I didn't know what lay in store for me, and the times I had asked I had only received a blank stare in response. I dreamed of Niko at night, praying that he'd gather a hundred men with spears and bows and they'd hunt down my abductors to save me. Even though I knew they wouldn't, it was the only thing that kept me from breaking down sobbing.

  The centaur village was a clearing in the middle of a vast forest. A dozen long huts made from the boles of great trees were arranged in a circle around a large fire pit. More of the creatures were there and they watched the herd enter. A few of the beasts with my herd split off toward the huts.

  My steed took me to one of the huts, and shoved me through a doorway. I landed on my knees in the middle of what looked like a hut, but was actually a large corral, much like my people used for horses. The log door slammed shut behind me.

  I rose, brushed as much dirt as I could from my stained robe, and inspected my prison. The walls rose twice as high as my head. A thatched roof covered one end of the enclosure, a narrow bed tucked into the shade darkened corner. I made my way over and sat. The creatures had barely spoken to me on our journey, and I had no idea what was in store. Right then, all I knew was, I was exhausted.

  I collapsed onto the bed, my chest heaving as I fought back tears. I wouldn't cry. I couldn't cry. I had to stay strong for Niko. I don't know how long I lay there before I fell asleep, but eventually darkness took me even though it was still the middle of the day.

  ***

  A gentle shake work me from my slumber. “Girl, wake up. I have food for you.”

  I blinked my eyes open and rose to a sitting position. My body ached at every movement, but my stomach ached even more. The centaur wasn't one I recognized, but the sky was dark and I couldn't see him clearly. He looked like he might be younger than the ones that had taken me.

  What I did recognize, though, was food. And wine. I tore into the bread and fish with my bare hands, only stopping after a few bites. “Thank you,” I said around a mouthful of fish. I washed it down with a gulp of strong wine.

  “What is your name?” he asked. “Dagon didn't tell me.”

  I finally developed enough sense to be wary. This creature was one of my abductors, even if he hadn't been part of the actual group that had taken me. “Who's Dagon?”

  “Our leader. He chose you. If you don't tell us your name, we'll have to pick one for you.”

  “I am Chloe,” I said, taking another long pull from the wine. “What is my purpose here?”

  “That depends on Dagon. I'm to make sure you eat and get some exercise.” He took the empty plate and wineskin, then trotted away. “I'll be back in a moment.”

  The gate closed behind him and I rose. My legs wobbled so much I could hardly stand. I couldn't tell if it was from the journey or the wine or some combination of both. My head was still swimming when the gate opened again. I stared at the floor, watching it rotate slowly.

  “I'm called Timo, by the way,” the centaur said.

  I jerked up in surprise. He was inside my hut again, and I hadn't noticed him enter. The wine was really getting to me. I took a faltering step toward him, then stumbled. He caught me before I hit the packed-earth ground.

  Up close he really was younger than the others, the man half of him around my age. He smelled of cedar dust and sunflowers in a way that reminded me of Niko.

  He carried me to my bed, and laid me tenderly on it. A gentle hand stroked my cheek in just the way Niko would. I caught it, pulled it to my chest. The moment of tenderness was too much for me to let slip away.

  His other hand touched my knee, stroked up my leg. My eyes went wide, and even through the haze of wine my alarms were trumpeting.

  “Shh,” he said. “You're safe with me.” He leaned over me, looked me in the eyes as he soothed me. He had such deep, rich eyes. Brown like polished wood. Looking into them, my nervousness faded and the tension crept out of my chest.

  He leaned closer, his lips brushing mine. That bare instant, that tiny brush, it woke an animal within me that I hadn't even known existed.

  I kissed him back.

  And it was good.

  Better than anything I had imagined. Warm and soft and tender. Then frantic and burning and hard. His hand slipped up my leg, making my eyes widen again when he brushed over my woman parts. They burned with an unfamiliar desire, but he hardly slowed until he reached the belt of my robe. The robe fell open, leaving me naked before him.

  His kisses moved from my lips to my chin, then to my neck. Oh. My. Gods. When he kissed my neck I thought I had found a lover to rival the tales of Zeus. A chill swept through me, then a burning wave of heat. My nipples grew painfully hard, and when his lips traced toward them, I could feel them pucker. He kissed my breasts, his warm tongue tracing circles on my tender flesh, creeping closer and closer to my wonderfully sensitive nipples.

  I screamed.

  I didn't mean to, and it wasn't from panic. I just felt so amazing there wasn't any other reaction.

  He licked me faster, pulled a nipple into his mouth. My cries rose in fury. His teeth bit gently into my flesh, and convulsions rocked through my body, making me gasp for air.

  Then he pulled away.

  “What? Don't stop!”

  “Have no fear of that, Chloe.”

  He shifted the bed around--I hadn't even realized it would move--and then he was above me, straddling me. Something huge and dark hung between his hind legs, and it took me a moment to realize what it was--his manhood. Or centaurhood. I didn't know what to call it, so I giggled.

  Timo flushed red, then buried his face between my legs. His tongue found my soaking slit and plunged inside.

  I screamed again, louder than ever.

  He flicked it in and out, then worked up to my jewel. Everything I had felt before paled before the feeling of that velvet tongue swirling and flicking. I shook so hard I thought I'd fall from the bed. Something felt like it was building within me, as if I could soon burst like an overfull wineskin.

  Timo kissed me on the mound, then rose up above me. I stared at him, open mouthed, and watched as he grasped his magnificent, quivering cock and guided it toward me. He didn't ask, but neither did I tell him to stop.

  That burning rod of flesh touched me, rubbed my wetness up and down my slit, then he plunged it inside.

  I screamed again.

  Pain and pleasure mixed in equal proportions, both greater than any I had experienced before. Timo thrust deeper, then pulled back and thrust again. The pain receded, but the pleasure remained.

  The fur of his chest brushed over the flat plane of my stomach. He lowered himself until I could feel a portion of his weight on me, pressing me into the bed. His fur was like Persian silk, so soft on my still aching nipples. I wrapped my arms around his waist, feeling his throbbing strength.

  He twisted down and kissed me again, still thrusting inside. My body shook, and that bursting feeling grew greater and greater. I don't know how long he rode me like a mare. At some point his breathing deepened, and I could feel him shaking.

  He kissed me again, and this time I bit into his lip. He thrust hard into me in response, and I couldn't take it any longer.

  I burst.

  Wave after wave of wine rushed through me, a pleasure I had never known. I shook and screamed and clawed at his back.

  Timo groaned. His hands wrapped around my head, forcing me to his lips. We kissed and convulsed, both of us oblivious to anything but each other and our exquisite passion.

  Eventually he let me go and I flopped back, exhausted. His bulk lifted away, though he brushed a hand on my cheek.

  “That was amazing,” I said.

  “For me, too.”

  I smiled up at him, and only then did I hear the light applause. I rolled to my side and found half a dozen other centaurs at the far end of the enclosure watching us. My face probably flushed as red as the wine I'd been drinking. They had seen my body! And they'd seen me laying with a man. Err... centaur. It was a shame I would never escape if anyone in my village heard about it.