Legends of Amacia Heart of Darkness
Chapter 3: Chizu's Distress

As Selina accepted the blanket from Tasha, she saw a girl of no more than seventeen years with waist-length green hair and eyes walking over with a drained, haunted look on her face. Selina noticed that she wore one of the rope teddy outfits that tightly wrapped her breasts while tying her upper arms to her sides at chest level. The girl’s arms below the elbows hung free at her sides. The lower ropes on the outfit lay pulled so tight on her groin it lay buried in her sex like a terrible wedgie. Selina couldn’t help but notice the evidence of abuse by the ropes buried in her wet, swollen, deeply bruised genitals. It kept her in a state of perpetually heightened tension that Selina also noticed. In a weak exhausted voice, Chizu asked, “Yes, sister Izanami; what do you need?”

“Just for you to talk to our new sister for a moment and be an example of what she can expect here,” Izanami said. “Please stand there for a moment.” Chizu nodded, staring in amazement at Selina’s raw exotic alien beauty despite her pale, weakening complexion.

“Of course; I live to serve our sisterhood,” Chizu murmured while trembling from head to toe. Her pale complexion grew worse by the minute as she stood there, her eyes becoming increasingly weak.

“Are you okay?” Selina asked with compassion and growing unease, noticing Chizu’s sickly look as she trembled noticeably. Her complexion grew ashen, deathlike before Selina’s eyes.

Chizu began to sway on her feet. “Not really,” she whispered hoarsely while tugging futilely at the lower rope buried in her genitals. “This infernal rope has me on fire. I must get...it...out. It’s...burning...me alive. I...can’t stand....” Within seconds, Chizu’s eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed with a gasp.

“Chizu!” Myra cried out in desperate concern as Jasmine, Tasha, and Izanami caught Chizu, laying her down in front of Selina.

Jasmine felt intense heat coming off Chizu. “She’s burning up! We have to cool her off!” she cried.

“Go get some cold, wet towels now!” Myra barked. Tasha and several women rushed off to get the towels.

Izanami check Chizu’s pulse, replaceing it racing. “Oh, no,” Izanami wailed. “Her pulse is erratic and racing out of control. She’ll die if we can’t slow her heart down.”

“But we have no way to do that with her passed out,” Sakura stated with tears dripping down her cheeks.

“Bring her here,” Selina ordered, feeling a rising adrenaline rush because of Chizu’s distress. “I can calm her racing heart rate.”

“How?” Hitomi asked as everyone in the Harem gathered around. “You surely cannot calm another person’s heart...can you?”

“I can try,” Selina stated. “Trust me. Lynxians are very versatile. Bring her here and sit her in front of me so I can hold her. I can calm her heart.” For a moment, no one moved. “Please,” she begged. “Don’t make me watch her die. I’ve already had someone die in my arms. I don’t want to see another perish when I can possibly help. Please, bring her to me.”

“Do it,” Izanami ordered.

Sakura and Jasmine picked Chizu up and dragged her to Selina. Selina struggled to spread her legs wide, making room in front of her for Chizu. Searing flashes of pain ran up Selina’s left leg as she moved it, making her groan.

“Are you okay, Selina?” Hitomi queried, seeing Selina cringe in pain.

“It’s nothing,” Selina replied, “…just a flash of pain from my left leg I didn’t expect.” Patting the cushion directly in front of her, Selina ordered, “Sit her in front of me so she can lean back on me.” Sakura and Jasmine sat Chizu down in front of Selina between her legs, leaning her back against Selina with her head resting on Selina’s right shoulder. Wrapping her arms around Chizu and holding her tight, Selina could feel Chizu’s racing heart thundering through her back. “Please calm down, sister,” Selina whispered in Chizu’s ear, a loud purr roaring out of Selina’s chest into Chizu’s unconscious form. “Don’t die...please don’t die.” She shifted one hand to Chizu’s head to steady it while keeping her other arm and hand firmly around Chizu’s belly, which felt incredibly hot to the touch.

Izanami sat next to Selina, holding Chizu’s hand and keeping check on the girl’s pulse. The women of the Harem watched in awe as Selina’s purr seemed to fill the Harem, echoing to every corner of the chamber. Tasha and two other women named Lola and Trinity returned with several towels and a large bowl of ice water. They sat the items down and watched with the others as Selina purred for Chizu. Selina noticed their arrival, seeing them kneeling close by. Lola wore a tan bandeau top with a very short loincloth tied around her waist that barely covered her groin and hips. Lola’s long black hair lay braided in a single ponytail reaching to her waist. Her brown eyes watched Selina with wonder as she purred for Chizu. Trinity knelt in a black leather-strap teddy playsuit with metal connecting rings that left nothing to the imagination, framing her breasts and groin without covering them. Her hazel eyes watched with fascination as Selina tried to help Chizu. Trinity fiddled with her waist-length ponytail that draped down her left shoulder over her left breast.

After a couple of minutes, Izanami gasped in amazement. “I don’t believe it,” she breathed. “Chizu’s heart is slowing down and stabilizing. It’s impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible for the Lord,” Selina murmured, cradling Chizu as if she were a sick daughter. “The Lord kills and heals in His own good time and pleasure. She won’t die in my arms like Anna did. Yes...that’s it, Chizu...calm down. That’s good. Relax...feel my heart and match its rhythm. Let it calm your raging heart.”

Chizu stirred as her heart rate stabilized. “By the Ancient of Days,” Izanami whispered. “You did it. You calmed her racing heart while she was unconscious. You must be a goddess to do that!”

“I’m no goddess,” Selina replied. “I’m a mortal, just like you. But my purr has natural therapeutic properties that can be greatly beneficial in situations such as this. Just think of it as a natural sedative when used like this. It’s particularly effective when used on humans that need calming. I learned that with my husband.”

“Truly you are the Celestial Mate,” Izanami declared. “You saved Chizu from having her heart burst.”

“I may have calmed her racing, erratic heartbeat, but she’s far from being out of danger,” Selina reported. “This fever is burning her up. I can feel its heat. Her lower belly feels extraordinarily hot to the touch. We must cool her and replace out what caused it otherwise the fever may yet kill her.”

“You’re right,” Myra replied. “The fever may have caused her heart to race.”

Chizu moaned and stirred, cracking her eyes open. She felt someone holding her close and an incredibly calming, yet pleasurable purr resonating throughout her body, making her tingle from head to toe. “What happened?” she whispered.

“You passed out,” Selina answered in her ear. “Your heart started beating so hard it was about to burst, so I calmed your heart down with my purr. Just relax and let my purr keep you calm.”

“Your purr feels really good,” Chizu whispered hoarsely. “But I’m so hot and dizzy I can’t see straight or even move.”

Selina glanced down at Chizu’s lap and saw fluids filled with blood and puss oozing out around the rope buried in her genitals. She frowned deeply at when seeing it. “Relax, sister,” she told Chizu. “You’re gravely ill and running a high fever. That’s why you’re so hot and dizzy. Is your groin still on fire?”

Chizu nodded and wept, “Oh, God yes, it burns so much...and the ropes...keep me constantly jacked so I can’t relax or sleep. God, it hurts so much! Please…help me! Get it out! Please get it out!”

“Of course,” Selina purred in Chizu’s ear just as she passed out again. Satisfied that Chizu’s heart rate had stabilized, Selina ordered, “Lay her down next to me.”

Sakura and Jasmine gently pulled Chizu forward away from Selina. As they started to pick Chizu up, Selina called out, “Wait a minute…let me cut these ropes first.” Sakura and Jasmine held the girl in a sitting position and watched as Selina bared her claws, cutting the ropes on Chizu’s back without even scratching her. The women of the Harem marveled at Selina’s wicked claws and instantly realized how alien she was compared to them. Once Selina had successfully cut the ropes, she said, “Now lay her down next to me so I can get a closer look at her.”

Izanami and Myra helped Sakura and Jasmine lay Chizu down next to Selina on another cushion brought in by Tasha. Selina struggled to sit up straight. Hitomi quickly settled behind Selina and gently helped her sit up. “Is that better, sister?” Hitomi asked.

“Yeah, thanks,” Selina replied with a groan as her ribs throbbed. She cradled her ribs with one hand and looked over at Chizu as she lay next to her. “Now, let’s get the rest of these damned ropes off her,” Selina growled. She cut the lower rope buried in Chizu’s groin at the belt knot with the claw of her index finger, and then swiped at the ropes with all her claws, shredding the ropes on the front…freeing Chizu without leaving so much as a scratch on her. A pained growl rose from Selina after she did it.

“Are you in pain?” Izanami asked.

“Yes,” Selina replied, wincing while holding her ribs again. “The pain in my chest just flared. Give me a couple minutes. In the meantime, get that damnable thing off her. Be careful when pulling it out of her genitals. We don’t want to cause any more damage.”

“Right,” Myra stated. She, Sakura, and Jasmine started removing the ropes from Chizu’s unconscious form. Selina’s frown deepened when she saw the ropes had deeply bruised Chizu everywhere they touched her.

“Hitomi...massage Selina’s back,” Izanami ordered, “…and be gentle. A massage may help alleviate some of her pain.”

“Right,” Hitomi chimed, instantly giving Selina a gentle massage on the upper back and shoulders while she sat there watching the others free Chizu of her ropey bondage.

“Mmmm,” Selina purred. “That feels good, Hitomi. You have magic fingers. The pain is letting up slowly.”

“Good,” Hitomi replied as she massaged Selina’s back. “I’m glad. Just let me know if I do it too hard.”

Hitomi hit a sore spot and Selina hissed, “Careful...that spot’s very sensitive.”

“Sorry,” Hitomi returned apologetically, quickly changing the pressure of her massage. “Is that better?”

“Yeah,” Selina breathed in relief, “…much better. Careful how you pull that rope out, Myra. Do it slowly.”

“Okay,” Myra answered, slowly and carefully peeling the rope free of Chizu’s groin. “Almost there…got it.” Immediately, the flow of blood and puss flowing from her picked up.

Selina saw blood and puss, and then the knots on the rope as Myra tossed it aside with a disgusted look. A disapproving growl rumbled out of Selina when she saw the rope had deeply bruised, blistered, and infected Chizu’s genitals to the point her fluids, blood, and a stinking yellow puss coated everything. It ran out of her in a solid stream. She also noted that Chizu’s belly seemed bloated. “Oh, man…this is very bad,” Selina reported. “No wonder she has a fever. Someone should check to see if this infection has moved into her. I fear it may have.”

“I’ll do it,” Izanami volunteered. She gently opened Chizu’s vagina in a medical examination and bloody puss gushed forth. “Fate be merciful,” Izanami swore. “This is very bad. She’s filled with blood and puss from the blisters. Someone get me a small bowl quick.” Tasha, who had been watching the incident, rushed off to get a bowl.

Selina’s countenance fell dramatically when she saw the gush of fluids, puss, and blood. “I was afraid of that,” she said grimly as Hitomi rubbed her shoulders gently. “Hold her open so that puss and blood can drain out. It must be drained before she can recover.”

Tasha quickly returned and handed a small cup-like bowl to Izanami, who placed it to catch the bloody puss oozing from inside Chizu. She then opened Chizu’s vagina again, letting the disgusting infection flow into the bowl. “Jasmine, press lightly on her belly,” Izanami ordered.

“Yes, ma’am,” Jasmine replied, applying gentle pressure on Chizu’s lower belly. The bloody puss flow increased dramatically.

“Keep pressing until the puss stops, but not too hard,” Izanami ordered. Jasmine nodded and continued to apply moderate pressure to Chizu’s lower abdomen. After thirty seconds, the flow of bloody puss slowed to a drip. “Good,” Izanami chimed. “It’s slowing down now. You can let up, Jasmine.” Jasmine released the pressure she held on Chizu’s lower abdomen and hovered over her, her worried face betraying her concern for Chizu.

“The infection is in her urinary tract too, isn’t it?” Selina inquired, seeing signs of urinary tract infection as well.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Izanami stated. “I noticed it right away. It always happens when those bastards tie us up like this. They know it causes us all kinds of medical distress, but they just do it anyway out of spite. I wish we could tie them up like Chizu and let them suffer the way she has. It’s the least they deserve.”

“I’m sure they do,” Selina agreed. “Izanami...Chizu needs a doctor and medicine right away. How long has she been like this?”

Chizu came too as Selina asked the question, hearing it. “Three weeks,” she whispered. “I was bound like this when I returned from the sex floor and they refused to let me loose. I’ve been forced to relieve myself around this thing since then.”

“Three weeks without reprieve and being forced to go to the bathroom with that on?” Selina gasped in astonishment, her mind reeling with the ramifications. “No wonder you’re infected. Please tell me you have a way to deal with this. She’s in serious medical distress. If she isn’t cleaned up and treated with medicine, the infection will kill her.”

“We can get her cleaned up,” Izanami replied. “But the medicines we have aren’t potent enough to deal with something this bad.”

“What about Nemesis?” Myra asked. “He can deal with this if we can get his attention.”

“That’s our only chance,” Izanami admitted. “Somehow, we need to get him to pay us a visit. If Chizu is taken from here by the guards, we’ll never see her alive again.”

“What do you mean?” Selina asked.

“When one of us gets really sick like Chizu is, the guards take her away to the doctors and the Cadre, and we never see her again,” Tasha reported grimly. “They never come back, ever. None of us ever knows what happens to those precious sisters. They just vanish in the night like they never existed.”

“Oh, dear,” Selina murmured. “In that case, we must try to save her ourselves. Hitomi, please help me lie back.”

“Okay,” Hitomi answered, easing Selina back until she lay on the pile of pillows. “Is that better?”

“Yes, thank you,” Selina murmured. “Izanami...I have some medical experience and you’re welcome to it if you need it. I wish I could help, but I’m afraid I’d just get in the way in my present condition.”

“You have already done so much. You kept her heart from bursting. That’s a miracle in itself because we have no way to do such things,” Izanami replied, noticing the infection flowing from Chizu slowing to a dribble, “So don’t you worry about it. Jasmine, get me a wet washcloth so I can start cleaning her up. Jennifer, Sakura...we need to cool Chizu down right now. Get those towels wet and put them on her.”

“Right,” Jennifer and Sakura answered simultaneously as Jasmine handed a damp washcloth to Izanami. They started wetting the towels and draping them over Chizu’s bare chest and belly.

“Good idea,” Selina called out. “Be sure to put one under each arm and around her neck. Put them on her legs as well. Just maybe it’ll keep the fever from completely taking her.” Jennifer and Sakura nodded, going to work following Selina’s suggestions.

“Myra, go get the medical kits, and see if you can get through to Nemesis,” Izanami ordered with authority. “He’s the only one who has the means to counter the infection. I pray it hasn’t gotten into her blood.”

“I’ll try. Come on, Hitomi,” Myra answered, going on a mission of her own with Hitomi.

Izanami moved the bowl that caught the infected fluids, handing it to Lola, who immediately disposed of it in the bathroom area. Izanami then started gently cleaning Chizu’s infected groin with the washcloth as the majority of the women went back to their routines. Trinity stayed close by in case Izanami needed help. Jennifer settled next to Selina after she and Sakura had placed the wet towels on Chizu where Selina suggested. Izanami paused in her cleaning and felt Chizu’s forehead. It was very hot. Her eyes were glassy and very weak. Chizu mustered the last of her strength to turn her head toward Selina and reach out her hand. In a voice that was barely a whisper, but one Selina could hear plainly with her keen hearing, Chizu murmured, “Thank you for releasing me from my terrible bondage, Selina. I’m now free to go be with my people in Valhalla.”

Having heard those same words from Anna, Selina reached out and held Chizu’s hand, rebuking Chizu gently. “You’re not going to die, Chizu,” she stated emphatically. “You must hold on. The Lord didn’t free you from that so you could die now. If you die, the Emperor wins. Do you want that son of a bitch to win?”

“No,” Chizu whispered. “I want to see him dropped into his own acid vats and melted into sludge.” Even in her weakened state, Selina could hear the venomous hate for the Emperor in her tone.

“Then you can’t die,” Selina replied, feeling her strength crashing as her back and ribs began aching painfully again. Chizu managed a weak smile and closed her eyes, falling unconscious, her hand slipping from Selina’s hand. “Chizu, Chizu! Stay with me,” Selina begged. Tears spilled out of Izanami’s eyes as she checked Chizu’s vitals. “Please don’t say she’s dead,” Selina begged.

“No, she isn’t dead,” Izanami replied in a very troubled tone. “But she isn’t far from it either. Her heart is starting to fail because of the fever. If you pray to a god, now might be a good time to do it, though no prayers have ever been answered for any of us before now, save the prayer of death.”

“Oh, merciful Lord and Creator of all that is,” Selina prayed aloud for all to hear, “...hear my prayer and supplication from this dark pit and please answer. I do not pray for myself, but for a dear sister I just met. She’s dying Lord, and we’re powerless to prevent the Reaper from taking her. Please Lord, I beg you, for your glory and will alone, save this poor lost creature. Heal her wounds and breathe new life into her broken body and soul so that we may all believe that you can answer prayer even in the darkest pit of hell. Please, save my new friend so that she may see your light and life in this evil dungeon. Save her in the name of your most precious son, Jesus, amen.” Tears flowed as Selina wept openly, the power of her faith and prayer reaching out of the darkness of the Emperor’s domain into the heavens to the very throne of the Ancient of Days Himself; prompting an immediate response.

Sakura, Izanami, Jasmine, Jennifer, Tasha, and Trinity stared in utter amazement, feeling the raw power of Selina’s emotion and faith from her prayer as it rose like incense to the throne of heaven. “In all my time in this hellish existence,” Izanami breathed, “I’ve never seen such a pure and untainted prayer of love to the Ancient of Days rise from this place of the damned. It’s a wonderful fragrance that has touched my heart in this darkness. Even though the Ancient of Days may have abandoned us, He’ll not abandon you with a prayer like that. It is the Ancient of Days you are praying to, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Selina sobbed softly as she looked down at Chizu. “He’s the only one who can help her now. I only hope He hears me, and answers. I don’t know if I can watch another friend die in front of me.”

“After what I heard, I’m sure He’ll answer,” Izanami insisted, tears dripping down her cheeks. “He must, coming from such a pure, righteous soul filled with light like you.”

Sakura knelt down beside Selina on the right with Jennifer and grasped Selina’s hand gently. With tears in her eyes, she said, “Your prayer has awakened a long dead hope in me. It touched my soul with its sincerity and love. Your light has driven the darkness from my heart. You truly are a princess of the stars, Selina. Thank you for sharing your love and faith with us and me.”

Selina’s sobs lightened and ceased as Izanami and Sakura heaped praise on her. Peace came to Selina’s soul about Chizu’s fate. When she became composed enough to speak again, Selina whimpered, “You’re very welcome. It didn’t occur to me until Izanami mentioned it that I hadn’t used my most potent, and frankly only weapon in this dark place...the power of prayer filled with faith and love. I don’t pretend to be a saint by any means. Lord knows I’ve done my share of bad things. Maybe this is part of why I’m here: to do some form of penance for my past sins.”

“Compared to us, you’re not just a saint, but a goddess, Selina,” Jennifer declared, her eyes dripping with tears of joy, “Your love and goodness is so deep that it makes us look like tramps.”

“You’re not tramps,” Selina replied weakly. “I just happened to come from a place where love and life rules in the lives of people, not depravity, death, and destruction like I’ve seen since I came to this strange savage land. Had I been born here and not on Kaitia, I’d most likely be like you. The Lord moves in strange and marvelous ways, and many times, we’re too stupid to see the big picture. I still don’t completely grasp why the Lord wanted me here.” She looked over at Chizu, who seemed to be breathing more easily, though her skin remained flushed from the fever. “But when I look at Chizu there and know that I was the one who made the difference and helped save her life, I begin to think that may be why I’m here,” Selina murmured. “Even if I could help save just one life by being here, it would make being in this dismal place worth it. It would make the humiliation of this terrible existence bearable knowing that I was able to save just one person with my gifts.”

“You seem to missing a more important point,” Izanami stated.

“And what’s that?” Selina asked with a brief yawn.

“You’re a beacon of life and light in the dark place,” Izanami stated. “As wife of the Last Caverias…his Celestial Mate, your presence in this place means that our bondage is finally coming to an end. It’s a major sign that things are fixing to change dramatically for us.” Izanami looked down at Chizu and noticed a peaceful look crossing the girl’s face as she lay there unconscious. She felt the unconscious girl’s pulse and said, “And your prayer has shown us that prayers do get answered if prayed by one of pure heart. Chizu’s pulse has again stabilized. It’s no longer weakening like it was a few minutes ago. Moreover, she’s relaxing. The pain on her face is ebbing away, though the fever still has her. There’s no explanation for this sudden stabilization of her pulse and reduction in pain. It’s nothing we did that caused this...only your prayer. If Nemesis comes, I’ll become a firm believer in you and your god because no one’s prayers have ever been answered in this place, save the prayer of death.”

“Who’s this Nemesis you keep speaking of,” Selina murmured, exhaustion creeping up on her like a cat on the hunt.

“He’s a very close friend of all who are prisoner in this hell,” Myra stated as she returned with Hitomi carrying the supplies they needed to deal with Chizu’s infection. “But he’s not one you would care to cross. When you see him, you’ll know why.”

“Did you reach him?” Izanami asked as Lola returned and settled beside Trinity.

“I don’t know,” Myra answered. “I didn’t have time to wait to replace out. Chizu is in dire distress and we need to help her now.”

“Indeed,” Izanami stated. “So Selina, since you have medical expertise, how do you suggest we treat Chizu?”

“You’re correct in your assumption that the infection needs to be cleaned out,” Selina stated. “If I were doing it, I’d clean out the infection with sterile wipes, being very careful not to further irritate her genitals; then I’d flush everything thoroughly with medicated or clean water, and apply a healing salve to the blisters with a rolled-up bandage treated with antibiotics gently pressed into her vagina to soak up any residual infection. However, I doubt you have access to such sterile equipment here. Regardless, her wounds must be cleaned and rinsed thoroughly, both externally and internally; otherwise, the infection will continue to spread. I pray it hasn’t reached her uterus. That could be a death sentence for her because you have no way to treat it. But I fear it may already be there because of the excessive levels of puss and blood that came out of her when Jasmine pressed on her belly.”

“True,” Izanami stated. “But you have given us some valuable pointers. Myra, Hitomi, Tasha, let’s get started.” With that, Izanami, Myra, Hitomi, and Tasha started treating Chizu’s infection the best they could. Trinity and Lola moved out of the way and settled around Selina with Sakura, Jennifer, and Jasmine.