A story by Ceramic: ceramic762@yahoo.com

In our previous episode: “Broken”

Not enough locks on Doc’s door. It’s hard to hide guilt. A not so clever trap. A not so clever heroine. Queen Orgasma returns! The skyline burns.

Her Mind’s Eye

Growltiger stood still, his ears attentive, listening to something in the distance. He was used to night-sounds, and what he heard wasn’t a regular one. His brow furrowed and he could felt something tug at his fur. Absently he scratched at his shoulder, tugging at his tiger-striped fur. Of course, were he not wearing his loin-cloth, he would be totally and completely naked. And as Hobbes might have said: It was one of the good things about being a tiger.

But, his mind refocused back to his subject of thought. What was that sound? A gunshot? If it was, it wasn’t using gunpowder. Compressed air, perhaps… but definitely not gunpowder. Perhaps it was something to do with--

“Jerk.”

“Eh?”

“Yes… Jerk.”

“You’re still angry about that, Sparkle?”

“Yes, GT, I am still angry. Pissed, is more like it. And really… really… frustrated…” The patriotic heroine Sparkle Star gazed in blazing fury towards the taller, feline hero, “Damn you… why did you have to come in at that time, GT? I was about to get laid!” It was starless evening and her darkened disposition mirrored the shadowed night. The two heroes passed through a poorly lit outer gate and walked up the pathway towards the Helsing Maximum Security Prison, an ugly drab, monolithic looking building in the center of the city that was a far cry from the posh headquarters of the Strange Defenders that they had been at earlier in the evening. Bright strobe-lights cut through the blanketing darkness and all seemed to be quiet about the night.

Growltiger’s whiskers twitched as his mine was arrested away to this new subject, “I’m sure that any of the Invincibles would be happy to oblige. Templar, especially. Why on Earth did you choose one of the… Strange Defenders?” The tall warrior cat could not help but keep the loathing from his voice.

“It wasn’t just a Strange Defender…” muttered Sparkle Star, shooting a fierce glare towards Growltiger at the mention of the Invincibles’ team leader.

“Yes, yes. I know the story. He’s the one you lusted after ever since you were old enough to know what a cock really was used for.” Growltiger’s voice was tired and grouchy. Both he and Sparkle Star had ‘volunteered’ themselves to interrogate one of the most dangerous criminals in New Albion at his holding cell in the Helsing Maximum Security Prison. And since that they had to beat a rival there, that smarty-pants bitch Pariah, they had to head to the prison directly from their ally’s tower. He hated the prison, as it reminded him far too much of the places he had come from. He glared at the walls of the complex as they were buzzed through the thick metal door that was the entrance to the security center.

“Oh shut, up GT. What do you know about it all? You were grown in a vat, weren’t you?” glared Sparkle Star back to her companion as they entered a dreary waiting room with lumpy couches and lime painted walls.

“Yes. But doesn’t mean I don’t know how to use what I’ve got,” chuckled the beast darkly.

The two Invincibles were met in the small room by one of the Prison guards, a thick beefy fellow with a military grade stun baton slapped to his side and the air of a ‘crack’ private security guard. It didn’t astonish Growltiger too much that super powered villains often escaped these prisons with ease. “You the two that are here to see Razorjaw?”

Sparkle Star nodded, “That’s right… the indomitable Sparkle Star, and her sidekick Growltiger!” She power-posed for the guard, showing off her patriotic suit, star studded gloves, and her busty chest.

“I’m really not her sidekick,” added Growltiger quietly, “She’s the sidekick.”

“Yeah, yeah,” waved the guard impatiently, “Whatever. You folks are the ones that make us Mundanes look bad, you know? Okay… if you want to see the baldy, follow me.” Without waiting, the guard turned about abruptly and walked across the room to another door. Pausing for a moment to be buzzed through the second door, he opened the portal for the two stunned heroes, “What? You guys classified as Super-Slow? What are you waiting for?”

Reaching across, Growltiger gently closed his velveteen paw over Sparkle Star’s tightly balled fist and gingerly led her passed the guard into the corridor beyond, “Lead on, Mundane.”

As the guard started off down the long corridor, Sparkle Star hissed to Growltiger, “I’m going to beat that guy to a pulp!”

“No you’re not,” purred back the large cat, “Now… behave.”

“Behave? Behave?!” she practically spat back in return, “You know how many battles I’ve fought against bigotry and racism?! I’ve taken down the prick himself, Grand Master Kaveman!” She glared balefully at the guard’s back, “And this no-name lout has to go on about how he’s a Mundane. And you, you’re not helping.”

Growltiger ignored Sparkle’s nasty temper as they were led through the maze of hallways until they finally reached their destination – a drab, moldy looking steel door somewhere deep within the prison’s guts. “Yes… yes I am helping. See, we’ve made it to the holding cell without incident,” replied Growltiger with a feral smile as if the conversation never had ended. Glancing above the door, he noticed in neon red colors, a sign glowed – “Caution. Holding Cell Occupied!”

Nodding with satisfaction, Growltiger addressed the guard, “Mr. Guard… please, we would like some privacy as we question the villain. Are there any cameras in the cell?”

The pudgy guard shook his head violently, making his jowls quiver, “The vandal broke them all.”

“Good enough,” snarled Sparkle Star, “Out of the way.”

The holding cell was not what Sparkle Star expected. In fact, it was rather nice. A well-maintained bed was placed in the corner, and an old metallic looking table was set in the center of the room flanked by a pair of chairs. In the opposite corner was the commode and sink. And standing over the bowl, stood the massive Razorjaw, his bald head shining in the dim cell lighting, looking rather harmless with his back to the two heroes and his red jumpsuit zipped down the front. The splashing and tinkling sound of his urine piddling against the bowl of the commode seemed to echo eerily in the small room.

“Aaaah…” Sighed the Supervillain as he leaned back his head and flashed the two heroes a satisfied smile, complete with filed teeth. “Okay… its not perfect. But taking a good, long piss sure ranks up there.”

Sparkle Star tossed her head angrily and placed her red-gloved fists upon her hips, “Sure ranks up there with what, Razorjaw? Killing innocents?”

Jiggling his cock to let the last drops fall, Razorjaw laughed harshly, “Naw… although that’s pretty good too. Was actually thinking that it just might be as good as plowing Superheroine cunt, especially if you were holding it a long time. Heard you outside of my door and all.” Satisfied that his last dribble had made it to the bowl, the villain booted the lever that flushed the toilet, “You see… I was holding it so when you came to visit me, I’d have a good reason to show you my cock.” He turned to show Sparkle Star and Growltiger his profile, and his large flaccid prick.

Sparkle Star’s eyes grew round as she saw the heavy, sluggish looking tool. Deflated as it was, it was still thick, and long. Irritatingly, a voice in the back of her mind told her she should look away, but the heroine couldn’t control her horrid fascination. It wasn’t until Growltiger spoke that she managed to drag her eyes up to the villain’s face.

“Put that away,” snarled Growltiger, “Unless you want me to rip it off with my claws.”

Looking at Growltiger in indignation, Razorjaw replied, “You wouldn’t! Or rather… say… you couldn’t!”

Shrugging, the large cat looked at his velvet paws as if he were about to buff his nails. Then, quite deliberately, he extended a claw. A large claw. The size of a cleaver, but curved like the crescent moon. “I don’t know. I’ve ripped through some really tough things with these claws, mister. I’m always looking for new things to test them on.”

Grunting, the captured villain angrily stowed his dick into his jumpsuit and zipped up the front, “You’re just jealous.”

“Keep it up, and you’ll be a eunuch,” breathed Sparkle Star, finally getting herself back in control, “Just answer a few questions, and we’ll leave you alone.”

Razorjaw crossed the room and sat at the table, licking his lips and leering at the patriotic heroine. But, he kept his tongue.

“That’s right. Now… tell us what you know about your last job,” commanded Sparkle Star, leaning heavily upon her knuckles over the table much like a boxer might.

The villain glared at the athletic looking woman in the blue and red bodysuit. His eyes lingered speculatively upon her broad, red headband about her brow. Finally, he shrugged, “Was hired to break in and snatch this scrawny little statue of a bull. Well, one of my clumsy Bruisers tripped an alarm and it brought the whole police force upon us. And them Strange Defenders.” The bald Supervillain grinned slightly towards Sparkle Star, gazing at the heroine’s impressive bust, “And then… I got into a fight, and fucked the brains out of Wind Raven. She’s got a great set of jugs, did you know that? They jiggle in all sorts of nice directions when she’s getting used like a whore.”

The mental image made Sparkle Star flush. She knew Wind Raven, and could just imagine her getting thoroughly plowed by the huge cock she was just given a preview of. Suddenly, her costume was feeling very tight, and she had the urge to rub her thighs together. Instead, she reached across the table and gave Razorjaw a hard slap across the face, “Stay focused. And that’s for raping Wind Raven.”

Barely flinching at the slap, Razorjaw gave Sparkle Star an appraising look, “I guess the gossip about you is wrong. You’re weaker than they say.”

Sparkle Star snarled to cover her obvious growing discomfort, “What?! Okay, I’m really going to slap you now. No! I’m going to punch your head in!” Again, Growltiger laid a calming hand upon Sparkle Star, this time on her shoulder. Once again, it did the trick and the heroine forced herself to calm down, “No… no I’m not.”

Razorjaw’s wicked laughter practically rang off of the walls, “Oh… feisty one you are, Sparkle Star. I bet you’re jealous of that Strange Defender bitch now, aren’t you?”

“What?!”

Again the villain laughed, “Nothing… nevermind. What’s your question, my confident heroine?”

Sparkle Star gave Razorjaw a withering glare, before asking, “Who hired you?”

“Don’t know. Was told to the drop point where I found the instructions on getting into the museum and what to look for. Beyond that, I really don’t know much about my employer,” replied the Supervillain glibly, “Okay, my question! So, do you have to activate your powers? Have you ever been fucked so hard that you NEEDED to activate your powers?”

The heroine colored visibly and commanded, “Shut up!”

“Alright! You don’t have to answer me,” beamed Razorjaw, “Ask your next question.”

“What does the statue do?” Sparkle Star demanded.

“Don’t care! As far as I know, its going to be used as a pervy sex toy by a bunch of rich socialites,” grinned Razorjaw, “My question next. Are you humiliated easy?”

Sparkle Star glared in frustration at the smirking villain as the realization that this particular guy wasn’t going to be making it easy for her. Drastic action needed to be taken. Finally, she ordered, “That’s it! Growltiger, get him!”

* * *

“How long ago did Sparkle Star and Growltiger enter?” Her voice came across low and hushed, melodic in their tones, her clipped, aristocratic accent showing plainly through her communicator.

“Fifteen minutes,” came the response, modulated feminine tones unmistakable.

“And they’re already giving up questioning?” she hissed quietly in exasperation, having finished breaking down and returning her high-powered air-rifle to it’s travel case.

Amused tones rippled through the communicator, “What do you expect, Pariah? I doubt that Sparkle Star has done very much investigation…”

Pariah sighed to herself. Not everybody could be the Dark Investigator, she supposed. She actually shouldn’t complain as it was actually very lucky that the radio-communicator monitor that she had shot into Growltiger’s fur actually worked in there at all. Never-mind that she managed to hit the wily feline with it, but having the small, dime sized transmitter stick and stay there was one problem she was anticipating. And then there was the whole technical aspect of it as most technology, she found, never really worked quite like it was supposed to. It was a powerful little device that could transmit through practically anything – but Helsing was supposedly a Maximum Security prison, so not only were the walls made of concrete, but she expected there should have been electronic jamming all over the place. She frowned to herself, knowing there had to be a rational explanation for that. Carefully, she touched her helmet to increase the zooming sight down to the prison below.

Sighing once again, but this time in satisfaction, Pariah silently thanked her mentor for all of the advice. What would she have done without the seasoned Sunwitch? Certainly not have any of this cool gear, that was for sure. Oh, Pariah could have come up with her costume herself. Purple, sleek, body-suits that hugged her toned curves and athletic body? Piece of cake. She glanced down to her chest, although, perhaps she could have perhaps put in a bit more padding… but other than that, her body-suit spoke for itself. And her cape! Midnight black on the outside, deep purple on the interior. Another common piece of super heroine wear. Only, it was Sunwitch’s idea to have Pariah spend a little bit more money and make it bullet-proof. Definitely a good idea, but still, not beyond Pariah’s ken.

The helmet, though… the black, faceless mask that covered her entire visage like an enclosed biker’s helmet, was brilliant! Pariah would never have thought to include all the special gadgets and gizmos that Sunwitch suggested, binoculars being the least of them. Infra-red scanners, thermal indexes, and targeting computers were merged into the helmet, as well as communicators, scramblers, and other electronics that were rather esoteric, but were recommended strongly by Sunwitch. And so far, the older heroine had not been wrong. The best part, however, was that the back was open on her mask… letting her long black hair slip out and cascade freely. None of the other things really mattered, if it didn’t have style. Or at least that was what she kept telling herself.

Pariah frowned, as some really strange fighting sounds began to emerge from the interior of the prison. She tapped her helmet, wondering if the monitor was picking it up correctly – and again prove her point that technology never seemed to work right. “Sunwitch, what’s that?”

This seemed to puzzle her mentor at the other end of the communicator, pausing to check some monitoring devices, “Its not feedback. Sounds like fighting.”

The Dark Investigator spoke quietly, considerately, “Yes, but an oddly controlled sort of fight! The only thing that she seems to be doing is directing Growltiger… not slugging out the bastard herself.”

“Maybe by some miracle she’s changed?”

Pariah snorted, “Not likely. She’ll be a hothead until the day she dies.”

* * *

Bodies crashed in the small cell, the sturdy bed overturning, the commode kicked over from the floor, and finally a Razorjaw subdued by the strong arms of Growltiger. Sparkle Star smiled to herself as she watched GT work, wrenching both of the villain’s arms behind his back and turning him to face her, the look of vicious outrage quite plain on the man’s face. The massive cat was taller than the brutal villain, and he used his height to his advantage, forcing the captured man to lift himself up onto his toes by pulling his arms higher into the small of his back.

Sparkle Star smirked as she shoved the overturned table across the room and out of the way, “You’re going to answer my questions, Razorjaw…”

The villain grimaced as Growltiger wrenched his arms, his sharp-filed teeth baring in defiance, “Or what..? You’re going to torture me? I tell you, you’ll have a hard time justifying that one won’t you…?”

Sparkle Star’s eyes glowed as she brought herself an arm’s length from the held man. “For Justice and Virtue!”, she shouted, as a blinding white nimbus surrounded her and her powers activated. She could feel the super-strength flowing through her muscles, her senses sharpening, and her body becoming the powerful indestructible force she used to bring criminals to heel. Super-strength and invulnerability coursed through her form.

“You’re going to beat me up?!” muttered the Supervillain in disbelief, “What… no rendition for me?” Finally, he laughed harshly, “Fine! Beat me up, bitch… I’ll never tell you anything. Every punch you throw will just clam me up that much tighter.”

The heroine just stared at the villain, her eyes large in surmise. Of course, the man was right. She couldn’t beat the snot out of him like some two-bit third-world tyrant might. No matter how much she wanted to. And besides, she couldn’t torture him through pain… she just couldn’t. That would make her no better than the evil forces she fought against.

Her eyes stared at his chest, his broad pecs rising and falling as he breathed heavily behind the bright orange jumpsuit. Suddenly, she smiled to herself. A deceptively sweet smile that would… god, would it work?

“Um… what are you thinking, Sparkle?” hissed Growltiger from his position behind Razorjaw, “I recognize that smile… and I don’t think I like it.”

“Nothing that you need to worry about, GT,” dimpled Sparkle Star as she lifted her open hand up to Razorjaw’s chest, gently placing the palm on the cool zipper that ran itself up and down the front of the garment, she let her eyes lock with the villain’s. And then slowly, pulled the zipper down the jumpsuit.

Razorjaw stared, stunned into silence. What the hell?!

Sparkle Star’s lips were held in that impish smile as the zipper slid all the way down to the base of the garment, and she spread it open.. Yes… there… there is what she had sought: Razorjaw’s huge, deflated cock. Her cheeks reddened as she removed her red gloves and tossed them aside, sliding her small palms around the limp girth. She felt the heat of his member through her skin and it sent erotic shivers down her spine. It was surprisingly… soft. Not that she was really surprised, but… Razorjaw did have the reputation of being hard as nails.

“Oh no… the hell you are,” gaped Razorjaw, “You’re not going to rip my cock off!” He gasped as one of her hands rubbed down the length and begin to cradle his heavy balls. “Oh fuck… you’re going to rip my balls off?! You wouldn’t!” Or would she?

She stared at the massive member as she rubbed its base with her hand, pumping it slowly up and down. Sparkle Star couldn’t believe she was going to do this… and glancing up to Growltiger, she could see in his eyes that he couldn’t either. Her face was on fire, she was sure. She could have grilled steaks on her cheeks… or at least, ballpark hotdogs. She licked her lips. But, she couldn’t avoid it. Her missed opportunities with Doc Burnsides still burning in her mind… the knowledge that she couldn’t let this information get away from her like it was going to… and, fuck it… she wasn’t too proud to admit it. Razorjaw was huge!

Against his better judgment, Razorjaw began to grow aroused, despite the very sensitive position he found himself in. Oh god… her hands felt good.

Sparkle Star closed her eyes as she felt the thick member grow in length and hardness… her mind’s eye fixed upon the craggy face and droopy eyes of another man. She took a deep, cleansing breath. Finally, she opened her mouth and slid the broad head of the villain into her mouth.

Razorjaw let out a slow gasp as he felt her moist lips envelope the tip of his cock, ignoring the sharp hiss from Growltiger. Groaning, he let his eyes roll back as she began to take his meat deeper into her mouth, in slow stroking motions. “Oh fuck…” he rasped, “Now this… this I did not expect, girly…”

Sparkle could feel the villain’s cock swell and pulse in her mouth as she tried to take him in further… he was so big! Oh Doc, how I wanted to do this to you. In her thoughts, she could see his large eyes roll to the back of his head with an audible click as she went down on him. Yes… Doc… groan for me, I’m going to swallow you whole. Relaxing her jaw, she let the broad head make a home in the back of her throat.

“Yes… that’s right… bitch… suck it…” muttered Razorjaw, more than slightly confused.

Slowly, her strokes began to pick up speed, the sound of her sucking and gagging and slobbering seemed to echo in the small chamber, mingling with the half-coherent ramblings of the villain. His cock twinged with every stroke, her hands encircling its base, her fingers tickling his aching balls as the young heroine gave him a damn good blow-job.

* * *

“Now that… doesn’t sound like fighting,” frowned Pariah as she listened.

“Definitely not,” replied Sunwitch in distaste.

“It sounds like… like…”

“Just say it, Pariah. It sounds like she’s fucking him…”

Pariah’s frown deepens even further as she just managed to keep herself from asking how Sunwitch knew that! Her eyes stayed glued to the blocky cement building that was the Prison.

* * *

Sparkle Star practically gagged as she withdrew the cock from her mouth, thick wads of saliva connected her lips to the tip of his cock, a dripping bridge that drooled to the ground when she pulled her face further away. It was all she could do to keep her minds-eye focused on Doc Burnside, or else she would vomit. She half-opened her eyes, staring at the angry red head, knowing… feeling… that he was beginning to lose control of himself. The taste of pre-cum lingered upon her tongue.

Smiling to herself, she imagined Doc on a bed before her, her mouth causing him to buck and squirm as she sucked his brains through his dick like a beachball through a hose. Opening her mouth wide, she ran her tongue along the length of the underside of his cock, causing her man to shiver and groan wordlessly. She lapped at his underbelly like she would a drippy Popsicle, before moving back to the sensitive tip, which she obligingly teased.

“Of fuck… you’re good at this, you little cunt…” gasped Razorjaw, “Good…”

Enveloping his cock again, she turned up the pace, taking him in fast, deep strokes. She could feel him. He was surging in her hands and mouth like the waves rising to high tide. She controlled him, his hips arching and reaching for her face after each pull.

“Suck it! Oh yeah, suck it, whore!” shouted the villain, what little control he possessed thrown out a long time ago.

Suddenly, Sparkle Star knew it was time. Her eyes flew open and she drew her mouth away from the throbbing tool. Her hands, moving along the length of the cock, she squeezed tightly, powerfully with her strength imbued muscles, cutting him off from the impending, monumental orgasm!

“Wha-!?” queried Razorjaw, half-deliriously.

“Tell me who you are working for!” she demanded.

“F-fuck… I’m going to burst…!” complained the villain.

“Not until you give me a contact,” she replied cruelly, licking at his head erotically.

The villain groaned, his face pinched and strained. “Oh fuck… I don’t know who the top guy is… but I met with this creep…”

“Creep?”

“Yeah… a fucking… you bitch… a fucking creep. He’s like one of those whiny assed goat-men…”

“Goat-men?!”

“I don’t know what you call ‘em… a mythological goat-man,” gasped Razorjaw plaintively. “Now please… you fucking bitch… finish me off…!”

“Where did you meet?” continued Sparkle Star, relentlessly.

Rolling his eyes, “The Umberholk…! Okay?! The Umberholk in Underside!”

Frowning now, her mind began to think as she pulled away even further from his cruelly aroused cock. The Umberholk! In Underside? That was a strange place she was not too familiar with. The Umberholk, she knew. A sort of strip-club bar. Underside was a particular spot in New Albion that she tended to avoid. Not because it was dangerous for her, but because it was just too weird!

Every city has them. The places where the strange go, where the dregs of society feel welcome, and where those who do not belong find a home. Mutants too frightening for everyday society can be found there, folks with powers too small and meager to call themselves villain or hero, and those from the regular world that want to see something exotic can be frequenting the bars, cheap hotels, and ratty little stores that crowd the narrow streets. It was a teeming ports-a-call right in your own backyard. And, she had heard, to be honest, that it was the only place a tired Superhero or heroine could go to feel and not feel out of place. A good place to kick back and relax. For the most part that was.

“Um… Sparkle…?” grunted Growltiger, dragging her from her thoughts, and drawing attention to their captive. In his hands, Razorjaw was cursing and twisting powerfully in the cat’s grip.

“You fucking bitch!” the villain snarled, going ape-shit wild over his continued discomfort, “Let me go! I’m going to grab that pretty head and skull-fuck with my cock until I explode! You’re going to have so much cum burn down your throat you’re going to have to need your stomach pumped for a week… I’m gonna – urk“

Half paying attention to the villain’s rants, Sparkle Star squeezed his balls with her iron fingers, causing a painful yowl to reverberate throughout the cell. “Just… shut up, okay?” she admonished, her lips turned upwards into a smile, but her eyes glittering black and dangerously.

* * *

“I can’t believe it,” gasped Pariah, “She got it out of him!”

A low chuckled crackled through her headset as Sunwitch chortled with delight, “Just goes to show you, my young padawan… there’s more than one way to skin a bantha.”

Pariah rolled her eyes, “Sunwitch. I know that I should be respectful and all to you, but… you’re such a geek.”

“Damn right.”

“No one would have thought it, I mean looking – “ Pariah stopped in mid-sentence as she spotted something down below. Something was happening!

Trucks, semi’s, and vans… and lots of them were pulling up to the compound, and men… scores of men began piling out into the streets before them. In their hands were a whole arsenal of weapons: shotguns, pistols, swords, hammers. And at their lead, a tall, yellow-fur covered creature of some sort rambled up to the gates of the compound. He pointed at the heavy industrial gates of the prison and began to shout.

Over his headset, Sunwitch hissed, “Increase the audio feed, Pariah… something is happening!”

Nodding, Pariah triggered her helmet’s audio switch, and the creature’s words came through, sharp and whining even through the digital pickups: “Attack! I, Satryn, order you to do so! In the name of Baphotaur, find the statue!”

Suddenly, there was a bright light as a beam of energy shot from the tip of the creature’s spear and blasted down the front gate. And through the gates surged the small army of men.

“Oh my god…” whispered Pariah as she watched the carnage below. Explosives went off, setting the large compound ablaze. They were releasing all the inmates and burning the place down!

* * *

Sparkle Star was spitting into the sink in the corner of the cell, cleaning her mouth out with the slow trickle of water dripping from the faucet, when the lights in the room flickered. She glanced towards Growltiger who still held Razorjaw’s arms. The massive cat shrugged with the heave of his broad shoulders and glanced at the captured villain. Razorjaw rolled his eyes, but declined to comment. Not that he could have at any rate, with his sock wadded up and shoved into his mouth as it was.

“Something’s going on in the hall...” rasped the large cat, gesturing towards the thick door with his chin.

Nodding, Sparkle Star moved towards the barrier. As she neared, she listened… she could hear screaming! Quickly, she moved towards the door to call and get the guard to let her out, when the doors were forcefully blasted off their hinges. Dodging aside, she barely avoided the flying piece of slag when she saw a tall figure step through the smoldering ruin. A strange creature with yellow fur, horns on his head, and a long brown beard and deeply set, glowing red eyes. Cloven hoofs clacked on the cold cement of the cell as he leveled a long spear, its spearhead artfully shaped into a pinecone, towards Sparkle Star’s chest.

Sparkle Star barely had enough time to register the evil intent in the creature’s face, when a blinding beam of light shot from the tip of the spear and struck her square. Pain suffused her form as she was thrown bodily back into the wall behind. Sliding to the ground in the remains of the blasted door, she barely registered Growltiger’s snarl and the answering flash of light. Oh god… she wasn’t used to hurting so much. She could feel and smell the smoke rising from her torso and wondered if… no… no… she wasn’t bleeding, thankfully.

A shadow fell across her face as she winced up into the creature’s eyes. This was him…! Razorjaw’s goat-man! He smiled cruelly and she vaguely noticed the sharp, carnivorous teeth that lined his jaw. Finally, he whined, “Baphotaur sends his regards.”

And then she was mercilessly blasted into darkness.

End Chapter