After taking care of my most immediate need, I stepped out of the bathroom and looked frantically at the clock. I only had seven minutes before Lotor would return to claim his prize.

I rushed to his desk and pulled open one drawer after another. Papers, charts, computer printouts; there appeared to be everything but the weapon I needed. I jerked at the bottom drawer and found to my surprise that it was locked.

I grabbed a hairpin from my hair and thrust it into the small lock. I muttered a frustrated oath, because time was quickly slipping away, before the lock sprang loose and the drawer slid open. My fingers curled about a small leather case; I pulled it open and saw to my delight a transmitter that I immediately put in a pocket hidden in the folds of my gown. I could get in touch with Allura and the Voltron Force again, provided I could escape from Lotor…but how could I do it? He didn’t even have a letter opener or a pair of scissors.

I was on the point of rising when I saw a laser gun, half covered with a velvet cloth. I touched the shining silver handle and drew it out. My jaw suddenly tightened. I was not familiar with Drule guns, but if Lotor tried to stop me, I would use it.

I was a new Romelle, no longer the docile daughter of a stern patriarch, or the terrorized victim of an evil prince. I was going to fight till the end.

I felt a light draft touch my face and looked up to see Lotor standing in the open doorway, the remnants of the smile on his face turning into a cold question.

“Just what the hell are you doing?”

I straightened to face him, my fingers curling about the pistol, and said curtly, “I am leaving.”

I don’t think so, Romelle.” He leaned against the doorframe, his arms across his chest. “Indeed, I believe it more likely that you will return that gun to its place.” He added, “How fortunate that I opened the door so quietly. I had thought you were getting ready for our pleasure.”

“Damn you, Lotor. I will not be your whore. Now step aside.”

“My whore? You don’t have enough experience to hold that position.”

My body shook at the amusement in his voice. Slowly, deliberately, I raised the pistol and aimed it at him.

“I don’t want to continue this conversation. You will now stand aside or I will shoot you.”

Realizing that I would not be fooled by the conversational tone of his voice, his princely grace left him, for I saw the tensing of his body. “How enterprising you are, Princess. But foolish, very foolish. Put the gun down.”

“Go to hell, Lotor.”

“Put it down, Romelle.”

He walked toward me, his stride confidant, his saffron eyes resting intently upon my face.

“Damn you,” I cried, and pulled the trigger.

A deafening roar filled the chamber. Lotor grabbed his shoulder, the impact of the laser hurling him backward.

I rushed past him, through the door and along the corridor. I heard him shout my name, but I did not slow. When I reached the main hall, I forced myself to a walk. Guards were looking about with surprised faces at my presence. I paused for a moment, gauging the distance to the entrance of the castle.

“Halt!” Someone cried.

“Look what she’s got!”

Mogor leapt forward, yanking away my only weapon of defense, and throwing me on the floor. “I’ll let His Majesty decide what do with you,” he growled. “To the dungeon!”

“Wait!”

I looked up and saw Lotor rubbing his bruised shoulder.

“Sire!” Mogor cried. “Are you seriously injured?”

He smirked. “Do not fear, my evil Mogor. I am only slightly grazed. Her aim was dreadful, but she has ripped my tunic.”

Then he signaled to two of his startled guards. I was immediately pulled up and taken to where he stood.

“Look at me!” he commanded me, and when I did, he reached around me and fondled one of my buttocks. He put arm around me suddenly, and drew me back against him, cupping one of my breasts in his hand. “You shouldn’t have done that, my love,” he whispered in my ear, while his fingers caressed me. “Now I’ll be forced to punish you.”

“Let me go!”

“No, I will never let you go, you belong to me.”

“I will die first,” I replied grimly.

“Little fool,” he growled low in his throat. “Do you think I will allow that to happen quickly? First I would give you to the guards for their pleasure, and they won’t accept your feeble excuses. They will strip you naked, holding you down while they take their pleasure on you, again and again. You will be subject to every kind of perversion known to man, my little princess, and when they had finally destroyed your spirit and your beauty, you will die of disease or starvation. Is that what you really want?”

“No,” I whispered terrified.

“This situation can’t continue. We’re getting married next Saturday, and if I didn’t have to go to planet Mora to appease my father, it would be sooner.”

I shook my head. “I agree…we can’t live like this anymore…but there isn’t going to be any marriage. I don’t love you.”

“I don’t want your love. I only want your complete surrender.”

“No, I won’t submit to you.”

“Stop it, Romelle! You’ve been arguing with me for months. When are you going to admit that I know what’s best for you?”

“Of all the arrogant-”

He pulled me into his arms and lowered his head to kiss me. “Silly girl,” he warned me, “I shall give you a lesson you will never forget.” And grasping my arm, he dragged me down the corridor to the back entrance of the castle.

To Chapter Ten
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