Slave

Excerpt from Chapter 1

I FOUND HIM IN THE SLAVE MARKET ON ORPHESEUS Prime, and even on such a godforsaken planet as that one, their treatment of him seemed extreme. But then again, perhaps he was an extreme subject, and the fact that there was a slave market at all was evidence of a rather backward society. Slave markets were becoming extremely rare throughout the galaxy—the legal ones, anyway.

I hitched my pack higher on my shoulder and adjusted my respirator, though even with the benefit of ultrafiltration, the place still stank to high heaven. How a planet as eternally hot and dry as this one could have ever had anything on it that could possibly rot and get into the air to cause such a stench was beyond me. Most dry climates don’t support a lot of decay or fermentation, but Orpheseus was different from any desert planet I’d ever had the misfortune to visit. It smelled as though at some point all of the vegetation and animal life forms had died at once and the odor of their decay had become permanently embedded in the atmosphere.

Shuddering as a wave of nausea hit me, I walked casually closer to the line of wretched creatures lined up for pre-auction inspection, but even my unobtrusive move wasn’t lost on the slave owners who were bent on selling their wares.

“Come closer!” a ragged beast urged me in a rasping, unpleasant voice as he gestured with a bony arm.

I eyed him with distaste, thinking that this thing was just ugly enough to have caused the entire planet to smell bad, though I doubted he’d been there long enough to do it. On the other hand, he didn’t seem to be terribly young. Okay, so older than the hills might have been a little closer to the mark. Damn, maybe he was responsible, after all!

“I have here just what you have been seeking!” he said. “Help to relieve you of your burden! This one is strong and loyal and will serve you well.”

I glanced dubiously at the small-statured critter there before me, and its even smaller slave. “I don’t think so,” I replied, thinking that the weight of my pack alone would probably have crushed the poor little thing’s tiny bones to powder. I know that looks can often be deceiving, but this thing looked to me like nothing more than an oversized grasshopper. Its bulbous red eyes regarded me with an unblinking and slightly unnerving stare.

“Its eyes give me the creeps, anyway,” I added. “I need something that looks more…humanoid.”

Dismissing them with a wave, I glanced around at the others, noting that, of the group, there were only two slaves being offered that were even bipedal: one reminded me of a cross between a cow and a chimpanzee, and the other, well, the other was the one who had first caught my eye—possibly because out of all the slaves there, he was the one seeming to require the most restraint, and also because he was completely naked.

I studied him out of the corner of my eye, noting that the other prospective buyers seemed to be giving him a wide berth. His owner, an ugly Cylopean—and Cylopeans are all ugly, but this one would have stood out in a crowd of them—was exhorting the masses to purchase his slave.

“Come!” he shouted in heavily accented Standard Tongue, “my slave is strong and will serve you well. I part with him only out of extreme financial need, for he is as a brother to me, and it pains me greatly to lose him.”

His pain wasn’t as great as the slave’s, obviously. I eyed the Cylopean skeptically. Surely he couldn’t imagine that anyone would have suspected that his “brother” would require a genital restraint in order to drag him to the market to part him from his current master!

Rolling my eyes with disdain, I muttered, “Go ahead and admit it. You’re selling him because you can’t control him.”

“Oh, no, my good sir!” the Cylopean exclaimed, seemingly aghast at my suggestion. “He is strong! He is willing! He is even intelligent!”

I stifled a snicker. The slave was obviously smart enough to have this one buffaloed, I thought, chuckling to myself as it occurred to me that no one around here would even know what a buffalo was, let alone the euphemism associated with the animal.

I blew out a breath hard enough to fog the eye screen on my respirator. Damn, but I was a long way from home! Earth was at least five hundred long light-years away. How the hell had I managed to end up here, searching for a lost sister whom I sometimes suspected of not wanting to be found? I’d followed her trail from planet to planet for six years now, and had always been just a few steps behind her. I was beginning to consider giving up the search, but the memory of the terror in her wild blue eyes as she was torn from my arms on Dexia Four kept me going.

And now, she had been—or so I’d been informed— taken to Statzeel, a planet where all women were slaves and upon which I didn’t dare set foot, knowing that I, too, would become enslaved. The denizens of Statzeel would undoubtedly not make the same mistake that the slave trader had, for I was most definitely female, and, as such, vulnerable to the same fate that had befallen my lovely little sister. That I wasn’t the delicate, winsome creature Ranata was wouldn’t matter, for a female on Statzeel was a slave by definition. Free women simply did not exist there.

Which was why I needed a male slave of my own. One to pose as my owner—one that I could trust to a certain extent, though I was beginning to believe that such a creature couldn’t possibly exist, and certainly not on Orpheseus Prime! I was undoubtedly wasting my time, I thought as I looked back at the slave. He was tall, dirty, and probably stank every bit as much as his owner did. I was going to have to check the filter in that damn respirator—either that or go back and beat the shit out of the scheming little scoundrel who’d taken me for ten qidnits when he sold it to me. I should have simply stolen it, but getting myself in trouble with what law there was on that nasty little planet wouldn’t have done either my sister, or myself, a lick of good.

As I glanced at the man standing there before me, he raised his head ever so slightly to regard me out of the corner of one glittering, obsidian eye. Something passed between us at that moment—something almost palpable and real—making me wonder if the people of his race might have had psychic powers of some kind. That he was most definitely not human was quite evident, though at first glance he might have appeared to be, and could possibly have passed for one to the uneducated. There weren’t many humans this far out for comparison, which was undoubtedly why I’d been able to get wind of Ranata’s whereabouts from time to time. She seemed to have left a lasting impression wherever she was taken.

Just as this slave would do, even with the upswept eyebrows that marked him as belonging to some other alien world. His black, waving hair hung to his waist, though matted and dirty and probably crawling with vermin. I had no doubt that his owner hadn’t lied when he had said that the slave was strong, for he was collared and shackled—hand, foot, and genitals. I’d been through many slave markets in my search, but I’d rarely seen any slave who was bound the way this one was, which spoke not only of strength, but also of a belligerent, and probably untrainable, nature. The muscles were all right there to see, and while they were not overly bulky— appearing, instead, to be more tough and sinewy—their level of strength was unquestionable.

This man had seen some rough work and even rougher treatment, for jagged scars laced his back and a long, straight scar sliced across his left cheekbone as though it had been made with a sword. He had a piercing in his penis, which appeared to have been done recently, for the ring through it was crusted over with dried blood.

"I found him in the slave market on Orpheseus Prime, and even on such a god-forsaken planet as that one, their treatment of him seemed extreme. But then again, perhaps he was an extreme subject, and the fact there was a slave market at all was evidence if a rather backward society."

It was a hot-or-miss proposition, and so far for Jacinth Rutland it has all been a total wash. On the tips appeared to have been good, but it was a case of “too little too late,” and when you are hunting for a special someone, the too late part always hurts. In Jacinth’s case, the special someone was her younger sister, who was kidnapped from her side at a trader’s meeting. That Ranata wasn’t supposed to be there didn’t matter, her kidnapping by parties unknown is what started Jacinth on this odyssey, and she promised to bring Ranata back home no matter how long it takes. To do that, she has to find her, and after what Jacinth has been through so far, she was beginning to have some odd doubts. It has been six years since the tall and statuesque woman with the odd moniker of “Jack” started the hunt, and with any amount of true luck, she was getting closer to her goal. She knew needed help because her latest bit of intelligence was daunting, and if true, she was more determined than ever to get her sister back home to Earth.

There were some places in the universe, where slavery was condoned, and apparently some creatures, people, aliens, whatever you wished to call them would go to any means to acquire new species for their own, or if they were intelligent, for sale as slaves. This is what brought Jack and her ship, the Jolly Roger, to Orphesus Prime, and the dingy dirty slave market of this backward and almost totally lawless world. Posing as a man in hopes of purchasing a humanoid slave to assist her in yet another charade was the goal. What she wasn’t expecting was the creature she found, a very cat-like humanoid, big, strong, and very abused. The price was right too, and even though she was prepared to deal, the owner had staunchly denied her bargain of fifty credits, telling her he could get more at auction. That is how, for five credits, Jack ended up with Cat, and when she set him free, he refused to run. There was something unusual about the man, he was humanoid, but he had been greatly abused, and Jack figured he was very wild, very angry, and exceptionally dangerous. She didn’t want to take that kind of risk, but for five credits, she could well afford to set him free, and was greatly surprised to have him follow her, and find that inside that sad excuse of a creature was something more precious than all the wealth she had accumulated in her search. Here Jack found mush more than she bargained for, loyalty, strength, and the determination to pay his debt and protect her with his life if necessary…

His home, the planet Zetith was gone, destroyed in an act of war. He had seen it in his mind’s eye, the destruction of his planet by the Nedwuts, haunted him, as did the many millions of souls who had screamed out to him in their death throes. Many did not know what hit them, but Cat knew. His problem and his pain were not the physical torment and torture he suffered and was suffering in slavery, it was the destruction of so many innocent souls, and the total oblivion of his world, his life, and the lives of those on his home world that no longer existed. The why of it still remained, but Cark knew he would do whatever he could to revenge for himself and his people. The first order of business was always to gain his freedom, however hopes in that area were almost gone. He had been passed from master to master, it was almost a case of each one being worse than the previous, and this current situation was no better. He wondered what the next would bring, because once again he was apparently going to change hands yet again. He was afraid to hope for circumstances to be better this time, but there was just something about the alien inspecting him now, the way he carried himself, and, if Cark was right, in what he was looking for that stirred the embers of his almost dead hopes…

Carkdacund, once a valued warrior of his people, the Zetithians is now a slave, and a very badly mistreated one though that was partly his fault. It was war, and it took him away from his home, his family, and most of his friends. When the end came, it was sudden, brutal, and unexpected for those left behind, and it was a horror he lived with every day. Slavery was his life, freedom, as he once knew it, was gone forever. Now, as far as he was aware, there was no honour left to him, only pain and yet possibly, since he was up for sale, the prospect of better treatment. It did not behoove him to hope, however, for that was how he got into his current bind. The rest of his kind were gone, most likely dead or dying, abandoned to extinction. He did not know why his world was attacked, and he was looking for reasons. He was dirty, he hurt, had been beaten, now was to be sold. It was something that occurred over and over till it was hard to find a reason to live. He did not know what to expect this time until he was faced with the reality of his new master being a woman, not a man, and one who actually set him free after purchasing him. Here was warmth, promise, a debt owed, and something that allowed him to regain a bit of his dignity. He was not going to let her get away because he did not want to be a slave again, and it could just be his best chances could be found in her company. In a real way she was protection, and with this woman, was kindness, maybe hope and freedom he hadn’t realized in a very long time, but from experience he didn’t trust it to last for very long.

The Cat Star Chronicles are a series of tales about the people of Zetith, the remainder of them actually. Some of the Zetithians were taken by the Nedwuts and, instead of being destroyed as was ordered, were sold into slavery. Now they are scattered across the universe, including Orphesus Prime on which Jacinth found Carkdacund, whom she soon nicknamed Cat. What he is not expecting is a bond of any kind with his new master. That he turns out to be a she is a surprise, and that Jacinth, or “Jack” as she likes to be called, is the one female with whom he will find enough love to last a lifetime is an even greater shock. Carkdacund has been horribly maimed, yet enslaved as he is, he finds freedom in a way he has never before experienced. For someone as gravely hurt and used as Cat, it is a reward which has been a long time coming. Love is something he was not expecting to find, for all Cat knew it was definitely not in his fate, and he figured he would die. Being passed from one master to another, sold over and over as a commodity without the smallest glimmer of hope was debilitating. When Jacinth finds Cat, she is strangely moved by his plight. Thinking him unsuitable, but having the extra money, she purchases him anyway. This is the beginning of something Jack was totally unprepared for, but at the same time, it not fully unwelcome. If only she can find Ranata and bring her home, Cat’s price would be more than worth his freedom.

The Cat Star Chronicles: Slave is the first book in the series, and is a wonderful read full of excitement and action. Although it is written in the first person, I found myself actually lost in the characters. Ms Brooks has a talent for writing that uses more than just the I and me of first to tell a bland and rather boring story. There are not many who can actually immerse you in the surroundings when writing in first, and fortunately Cheryl has more than enough talent in the area. She manages to give you a glimpse of things around Jacinth, and do it in such a way it draws you into the trials she faces hunting for her sister. There is a depth and richness she draws from, and it allows you to experience events that are happening around the character, albeit in a limited way. I picked up this first book in the series, The Cat Star Chronicles: Slave, almost by mistake, and for most of you, knowing how much I hate first person, you would chuckle. I soon became engrossed in the story, and when the opportunity to review The Cat Star Chronicles: Warrior came about, I had to jump and go for it. I have not been disappointed. All I can say is that I highly recommend this series, and so far, definitely the first two books. If Ms Brooks keeps up the quality of the writing, and I have not a doubt in the world about this, the rest of The Cat Star Chronicles will also be as necessary to purchase as The Cat Star Chronicles: Slave I suggest you check out these fine books through SourceBooks’ Casablanca Romances or at Amazon.com and get your copy of The Cat Star Chronicles: Warrior today, too.

Yours in good reading,

Rose!

Slave is the kind of book you get when you have a rabid Star Wars fanatic with a runaway imagination and a taste for erotica.

I thought this book was wonderfully written. I hope to read a lot more by Cheryl Brooks.

The book was well written and holds the reader’s interest.



It was original and entertaining and I can’t praise this book enough.



A hugely remarkable first foray into the written word, SLAVE will enthrall and entice.





If you like a rollicking good time, pick this up and prepare yourself for a great ride.

Brooks has a knack for world building.



Brooks presents a nice futuristic story with some interesting worlds and aliens in this Cat Star Chronicles offering. Fascinating world customs, a bit of a mystery and the relationship between the hero and heroine make this a very sensual romance… the hero is quite interesting, and the heroine a strong, independent woman. The Romantic Times

If you are seeking something different, where your imagination can soar then check out Slave… A wonderful book that I got yanked into. Can't wait for the next one! Night Owl Reviews

This is an erotic romance with a creative plot! Darque Reviews

If you're looking for a different sort of paranormal romance with plenty of heat, you may want to pick this one up and check it out further. It was an intriguing read… I have no doubt that some of you will fall quickly in love with Cat and even be sorry to see the end of their story. Bella Online

If you’re willing to check all notions about political correctness and good taste at the door, Brooks’s novel offers plenty of campy, X-rated fun. Word Candy


If you're looking for a different sort of paranormal romance with plenty of heat, you may want to pick this one up and check it out further. It was an intriguing read...and I have no doubt that some of you will fall quickly in love with Cat and even be sorry to see the end of their story.





Cheryl L. Brooks brought the scents and smells of a far off galaxy to life... Both Jacinth and Cat were wonderful characters that I rooted for the whole way through. I look forward to seeing where the series goes next. If you are seeking something different, where your imagination can soar then check out Slave... Overall, A wonderful book that I got yanked into. Can't wait for the next one!

Ms. Brooks creates a detailed sci-fi world and sends her characters on a journey to alien planets in their search. This is an erotic romance with a creative plot... The character that did capture my attention was Cat. He’s intriguing, sweet and sexy.

Brooks presents a nice futuristic story with some interesting worlds and aliens in this Cat Star Chronicles offering. Fascinating world customs, a bit of a mystery and the relationship between the hero and heroine make this a very sensual romance... the hero is quite interesting, and the heroine a strong, independent woman.

Format: Paperback

Dimensions
Length: 6.875 in
Width: 4.1875 in
Weight: 5.52 oz
Page Count: 320 pages