Legends of Amacia Rise of the Caverias
Chapter 21: Hanna and Electra

Nathanael entered the bedroom while Hanna communed with Selina. He saw Hanna sitting in the chair staring out the window with one arm propping her head up. “Hanna?” Nathanael asked as he slowly approached. When he was in arms reach, he carefully touched Hanna on the arm and asked, “Hanna, are you all right?”

At first, Hanna didn’t respond. When she finally looked up at Nathanael, her eyes were full of tears and she had a smile on her face. Nathanael squatted down in front of Hanna and asked, “What is it?”

Hanna grasped Nathanael’s hand with her right hand while she wiped the tears from her eyes with her left. “Everything’s all right, my friend,” Hanna replied, choked with emotion. “I’ve had my first real contact with Selina in almost a month. I went to her with my mind, which was much more than I was ever able to do before. I wasn’t able to sense her location, though. There’s something inhibiting me from pinpointing her location, but I know she’s all right for the moment. However, that will not last. We have little time left to get her and everyone else who wants to come out of that dank abyss. Come, we have much to do.”

Nathanael smiled, asking, “Does she know about Kida and her mother?”

Hanna shook her head, saying, “No; I hid it from her, which is the first time I’ve ever been able to hide anything from her. I felt that it wasn’t the right time to tell her. But I did promise her that I’d come for her shortly.”

“By the way, how are you feeling?” Nathanael asked.

“Not too terribly bad,” Hanna relied. “But I’ve got this nagging, lingering headache and I’m still just a little fatigued, but not much.”

Nathanael patted Hanna on the shoulder saying, “Good. Supper is going to be ready in about an hour.”

Hanna looked at him in shock. “What? I was out a day?” she asked.

Nathanael nodded and said, “Yeah. As I told you earlier, Enoch put you in the healing machine after you passed out in the Archive. It took ten hours for the machine to bring you around. After that, Kida and Electra brought back here, gave you a bath, and put you to bed. You’ve been in here for fourteen hours at least. Now that you’re awake, you need to get some food in that belly of yours. It’s probably why you have the headache.”

“I’ve got to stop doing this,” Hanna admitted. “I’m taking too much down time. I and everyone else in Acheron are counting on me.”

“Don’t fret about it,” Nathanael replied. “I know they’d understand. Besides, you cannot be of much use to us if you’re not healed up properly.”

“I know,” Hanna replied, “It doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“Of course not,” Nathanael agreed, “I know you hate that you can’t go after Selina right now, but you must be patient. Your chance will come and when it does, the Emperor will rue the day he messed with us. I know it. Now, do you want to get dressed?”

“Yeah,” Hanna stated. “But could you send Electra in to help me?”

“Of course, Hanna,” Nathanael stated. “I’ll go get her right now.”

Hanna looked back out the window as Nathanael walked out of the room. A sigh escaped her lips. Out of nowhere, thoughts of the mechanized Josephine appeared along with her plea to be free. Memories of mechanized tentacles and other items violating her oozed out into the open plane of Hanna’s mind. She began quivering as tears spilled out on her cheeks. Soft sobs erupted as Hanna covered her face with her hands...her body acting reflexively to the memory stimuli, making her squirm and clench her thighs together.

Electra came in wearing a plain knee-length halter-top tan dress with a belt and sandals, carrying some clothes for Hanna, seeing her sobbing with her face in her hands. After sitting the clothes on the bed, Electra rushed to Hanna and knelt down, pulling her into a caring embrace and purring for her. “What’s the matter, Hanna?” she asked. When Hanna looked her in the eye, Electra knew. “You still bear the emotional wounds of the torture, don’t you?” she queried.

“Yes,” Hanna wept. “I don’t know how to release it. It torments me same as if it were being done now. I feel like I’m being violated again both physically and mentally. It’s setting me on fire, making my body react reflexively! I can’t control it! How do I release this poison and put out that infernal flame? Heaven help me; I feel like I’m being raped all over again. It’s unbearable! I feel like I’m going to explode!” She abruptly shrieked in pain-filled fury, howling at the ceiling in rage before falling back into her sobs.

Electra purred and stroked Hanna’s back, holding her close. “You must forgive yourself,” she cooed, “It wasn’t your fault, and you mustn’t blame yourself for surviving such a calamity.”

“How?” Hanna wailed. “How can I not blame myself for being caught up in such a nightmare? It was my own sin and arrogance that contributed to it.”

“Did you repent of it?” Electra asked softly.

“Yes,” Hanna whimpered as Electra’s purr slowly calmed her trembling body and shattered nerves. “I did; but I feel such urges when I remember the tortures and how I enjoyed some of it. How could I enjoy being raped like that? It’s vile, disgusting! I feel so dirty!”

“Would you share what you’re feeling right now with me?” Electra asked with great concern for Hanna’s well-being. “I can’t answer you properly unless I know what you’re feeling.”

“Please,” Hanna begged. “I can’t bear this alone. Help me sort this mess out; I need to release this pressure, but just don’t know how. It’s driving me insane! I’m about to break!” Hanna touched Electra on her temples as Electra did the same to Hanna with one hand while keeping her in a caring embrace with the other arm.

“Relax your mind,” Electra purred softly. “Let me see what troubles you, and don’t hold back.” When Hanna managed to calm down, Electra saw the extent of the torture and violation Hanna endured in Amacia at the hands of the Emperor through her eyes. It both shocked and visibly angered her. “Almighty have mercy!” Electra breathed, “No wonder you’re still haunted by this. It’s beyond comprehension. Oh, god; that’s absolutely vile! You must release this pain, Hanna. Release it or it will destroy you! You’re not alone in this. Please share it with me so we may overcome it together.” She again pulled Hanna into a gentle, caring embrace and purring deeply to help calm Hanna’s incredible overflowing physical tension and emotional turmoil.

Hanna broke down when Electra hugged and purred for her, sobbing deeply on her shoulder as she returned the loving embrace, releasing the hideous, mind-numbing pain to Electra who dispersed it. “That’s it,” Electra cooed as she noticed Hanna starting to let go. She tuned her purr to help calm Hanna’s raging mind and body, purring, “Release the pain. Once you release your pain, you can begin the healing process.” The deep sobs rolling from Hanna’s soul slowly ebbed to whimpers within ten minutes as Electra’s purr calmed her physically, mentally, and sexually.

“Thank you,” Hanna murmured, wiping the tears from her eyes, “I think I can cope with it now. Now I see where Selina learned to use her purr to help me. Thank you so much.”

Electra touched her forehead to Hanna’s forehead. “You’re most welcome,” Electra said softly. “I swear the Emperor will pay for what he did to you and all those other women. No one has the right to treat another in such a depraved, demented manner.”

“Indeed,” Hanna whimpered, the horror of what she endured still haunting her tone. “I still can’t fathom how I survived it. The Emperor shamed my concept of what evil is by showing me the true nature of the Darkness in what he did to me.” Tears again dripped from Hanna’s eyes. “I feel so helpless and impotent right now,” she sobbed softly. “Why did this have to happen to me? I never asked for this.”

“I don’t know,” Electra admitted softly, “You’ll have to ask the Almighty about that, but I can tell you this with certainty. He has His mighty hand on you in ways you still can’t comprehend. Trust Him, and He will make this travesty right. You will be restored. Just believe in Him and you will see it happen. Until then, we’re all here to help you through this trial. Don’t shut us out when you feel overwhelmed. Remember, you’re not alone in this.”

Hanna chuckled softly as Electra exhorted her. “I’m so blessed to have family that truly cares for me,” she replied emotionally. “Thank you for everything. You’re so much like Selina that it’s scary. That’s exactly what Selina would say.”

Electra smiled warmly, looking Hanna in the eye. “You’re welcome, sweetie,” she purred. “I’m glad I could be of help. Any time you need a friendly ear, I’m here for you. By the way, how are you feeling now? You seemed to be much calmer mentally and physically.”

“Much better now that I’ve vented,” Hanna declared wearily, “I guess those memories just cascaded out into the open and I couldn’t handle them all at once. I just don’t have the mental and telepathic discipline to keep them in check.”

“You shouldn’t put yourself down like that,” Electra replied bluntly, “You vastly underestimate your mental and telepathic discipline. You’re far more disciplined than you realize. I saw that when you took control of the Teacher. You became so powerful I had to disengage from you telepathically. You have the discipline. All you lack is the will to exercise it properly. I believe in you, and so does everyone else. Just believe in yourself as we do.”

A troubled sigh escaped Hanna’s lips. “I wish it were that simple,” she admitted. “If I were as disciplined as you say, then the memory avalanche that set me off a few minutes ago wouldn’t have occurred. Let’s face it. Compared to you, I’m a novice at this telepathic mental stuff. I just don’t know how to properly use it.”

“Your crisis a few minutes ago has nothing to do with your telepathic or mental abilities,” Electra explained. “Those memories are a festering wound on your mind and soul that you’ve ignored until now. By not cleansing and properly tending to those wounds, they became infected and overpowered you. Until you clean and drain those emotional wounds, they will continue to afflict your mind and body with great stress and disease. You must treat those wounds repeatedly...clean them out and apply the necessary medicines to them so they can heal. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“How do I do that?” Hanna asked in a perplexed tone.

Electra smiled and kissed Hanna on the temple, saying, “It’s not as hard as you think, sweetie. You’ve already taken the first step...identifying and opening up those emotional wounds to me.”

“What do you mean?” Hanna asked, still confused.

“When you asked for my help when I came in here, you took that first step,” Electra cooed in Hanna’s ear. “You realized you were incapable of handling what happened to you alone. You shared your pain with me. That’s the first step: identifying the root cause of your trouble...in this case, your torture at the hands of the Emperor. Now that the wound is open, we can deal with it. When you released your pain to me, you started cleansing those wounds. Do you see now?”

“Oh, I see now,” Hanna chimed softly as it hit her what Electra was saying, “But what triggered it?”

“Nathanael told me you’d just had your first telepathic contact with Selina since escaping the City of the Damned,” Electra suggested, “Maybe sensing her in the heart of the Black Fortress brought those memories out.”

Hanna’s eyes grew wide as she realized what happened. “You’re right,” she admitted, “I was so excited to actually make contact with Selina, I let my guard down and those memories gushed out, setting me off rather badly. Will that happen again?”

Electra sighed, saying, “Most likely; with the level of atrocity performed on your person by that demon, you’ll most likely have to cleanse those wounds repeatedly before they truly heal and you can get past it. That’s why I said you needed to repeatedly tend to those wounds.” Hanna’s face fell dramatically at Electra’s words, so she quickly added, “But you must remember, you’re not alone in this. You’ve shared this with me, and by default, the rest of our family. We’re here to help you heal from this. You took the first step, begging for my help. Now we can move forward and heal these heinous emotional wounds. Just look at it this way. When someone has a deep physical wound, say a massive laceration, the wound is immediately treated and bound so it doesn’t kill the patient. However, the bandages have to be changed on a regular basis and the wound cleaned to keep it from getting an infection and killing the patient. What you did in the Black Fortress after your mutation where you assumed your present identity as Hanna was that initial treatment of the torture. I’m sure you’ve treated these emotional wounds some before coming to us here, right?”

“Yeah,” Hanna murmured, “I shared what happened with Nathanael after I woke from the coma. It helped me to cope at the time.”

“Yes,” Electra stated, “I remember Nathanael telling me what you shared with him. I didn’t want to believe him until you showed me what happened earlier. When you did that, we ripped the bandage completely off and started to deal with the wounds. By venting the way you did, it allowed you to purge the hate, horror, and violence of what happened to you. Now we’re binding these emotional wounds back up until the next time you need to clean them.”

“When will that happen?” Hanna asked.

“I don’t know,” Electra admitted, “...but it will most likely happen when you least suspect it. Those memories will eventually burst forth again and trigger you. When it does, you must not suppress it. Come to me, or Nathanael, Enoch, or any of us and we’ll help you deal with it. We’re here to help you bear this burden. You are family.”

“Thank you,” Hanna replied, hugging Electra gratefully, tears dripping. “So what happened earlier has nothing to do with my growing telepathic prowess, does it?”

“I seriously doubt it,” Electra answered, “Emotional wounds of the caliber you have often will erupt without warning regardless of what your telepathic power level is. It’s impossible to control such eruptions, but there is something you can do to help mitigate those eruptions.”

“What is it?” Hanna asked emphatically.

Electra looked her in the eye and said categorically, “As I told you earlier, you must forgive yourself for surviving such a calamity. It’s okay to be a survivor. Until you accept what happen and forgive yourself, these emotional wounds will continue to torment you. It wasn’t your fault, Hanna.”

Hanna sighed deeply, saying, “You ask a very hard thing for I know I was at least partially responsible for this calamity because I failed to properly repent.”

“It matters not if you were responsible or not,” Electra stated, “You saw your sins and repented of them back in the Black Fortress. I saw that much in the memories you shared. I’m sure the Almighty has forgiven you. Now you must forgive yourself. You can do it. I believe in you. You’re not the monster you think you are.”

“You sound so much like Selina,” Hanna replied softly, “She keeps saying the same thing.”

“Was she wrong?” Electra asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No,” Hanna answered, cracking a soft smile. “You’re both right on all accounts. It’s just so hard to forgive myself for all that evil I did in my earlier life.”

Electra took Hanna by both hands and looked her in the eye. “Are you sorry you did them?” she asked.

“Yes,” Hanna stated, “So sorry I cannot even express it in words. I never want to do terrible things like that ever again. I shamed the Lord and all that’s good with the evil I committed as an agent of the Darkness.”

“Did you repent?” Electra queried.

“I did, and this time fully,” Hanna admitted. “That is once I realized I hadn’t properly repented.”

“Do you believe the Almighty forgave you?” Electra asked bluntly.

“Yes,” Hanna answered slowly, suddenly realizing what Electra was doing. “I know He did. He told me so.”

“Then forgive yourself,” Electra ordered, “If our God...the creator of all things forgave you and you accepted His forgiveness, then you must forgive yourself. It’s what’s holding you back. It’s why the emotional trauma of your torture is not healing properly. You must forgive yourself, just as our God forgave you. Only then will you truly begin to heal from the atrocities the Emperor committed on you.”

Hanna shook her head and chuckled. “I cannot reject your logic or conclusions,” she admitted. “I’m being a pig-headed stubborn jackass again by not doing what I know I must do. Forgive me, Lord, for not being as forgiving of me as you are. Please help me to forgive myself for failing you, in Jesus name I pray, amen.” The moment Hanna finished her simple but sincere prayer, a great peace fell over her that calmed her spirit and further soothed the emotional trauma of her torture at the hands of the Emperor.

Electra instantly noticed the change, both seeing and sensing it telepathically. “See, that wasn’t so hard, now was it?” she asked.

“No,” Hanna answered, “But it’s something I have to strive with every day, even before my mutation. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.”

“It was my pleasure,” Electra replied, hugging Hanna affectionately. “You just need to keep your faith up front and not let the Darkness of the Emperor steal it away so easily.”

“Amen to that,” Hanna agreed, “I will try to be a more alert to that in the future.”

“Very good,” Electra replied. “You don’t need any more headaches than you already have.”

“That is so true,” Hanna chimed, “And that last one was a doozy. I’d rather not let it get so riled up like that again.” She blushed and whispered, “I literally lost control physically and soaked my underwear from being so stirred up sexually. I couldn’t stop it. Even now, just thinking about it is stirring me up. God, I’m so embarrassed. How could that even happen?”

Electra smiled sweetly, saying, “It’s quite all right. You needed be ashamed or embarrassed by this. I knew you were being overpowered physically by the sexual nature of those torture memories, so I used my purr to help calm you down not just mentally and emotionally, but physically and sexually as well. That’s why I held you like I did.

“As you calmed down, I tuned my purr to help regulate and disperse that excess energy. Let’s face it. You may look like a mature woman on the outside, but on the inside you’re still just a little girl coming into her own. You still don’t know how to control your own body yet.”

“I cannot argue that,” Hanna agreed. “I just don’t have the experience being a woman you do because I spent all my life as a man...that is until the Emperor did this to me. Men just don’t understand what it’s like to physically be a woman and understand the physical and mental sensations they have, and I can say that because I used to be a man.”

“True,” Electra stated, “That’s why I helped you tame those raging hormones and tension with my purr. You haven’t embraced what it means to be a woman yet. Hanna, you must fully accept your form and everything that goes with it if you wish to not be set off every time you remember what the Emperor did to you. Don’t get me wrong. You’ve adapted wonderfully to your new body, and managed to keep your mind intact despite what happened. Yet you still hold back. Embrace your form. Learn it the way you knew your old form as a man. Only when you master your present form and know it as intimately as you knew your old body will you be able to master and truly heal from the trauma the Emperor inflicted upon you. Remember, he was not just trying to destroy your body, but your mind and soul as well. I saw it in what you showed me. You’re a strong, clever girl. It’s time for your mind and soul to mature as your body has. Do you get what I’m saying?”

Hanna smiled warmly, embracing Electra again. “I do,” she answered gratefully. “It’s the same thing my guardian angels have been trying to teach me. God, I’m so stupid to not do what they said. It was for my own good, and for Hannibal’s good too. I’ve got to master this body before I can have peace.”

“You’ll do it,” Electra replied, returning Hanna’s hug. “And you’re not stupid. Don’t ever say that. You’re just a bit ignorant of your new form and status. That’s easily remedied. I will teach you what I know and help you know what it means to be a real woman. Kida, Emma, and Elle can also help you with that, if you’ll let them.”

“Of course I will,” Hanna answered. “I’ll say it again. I’m so blessed to have such loving family and friends to help me through this calamity. I will learn of you and can only hope and pray I can become as great a woman as you are, Electra.”

“I’m nothing special,” Electra admitted, “And you’re far more of a woman now than you realize. You just need some pointers and tutoring. That’s all. Now, are you ready for your first lesson?”

“Absolutely,” Hanna stated, “But first, I’d like to change and maybe take a quick bath. This sticky underwear is getting a bit irritating.”

“Of course,” Electra stated, patting Hanna on the cheek as she rose. “We’ll get you cleaned up and dressed so you can get something to eat. How’s that sound?”

“Sounds great,” Hanna replied, “But what am I going to wear? I don’t have any clothes other than the ones I came with.”

“I brought you some clothes when I came,” Electra answered. “Those clothes you had on are boss for roaming the wilds, but they’re a bit bulky for around here, so I took the liberty. After all, a woman needs to be dressed appropriately. I think you’ll like what I made you. They’re sitting on the bed right there.” She pointed to the stack of folded clothes with a smile.

“Oh, thank you,” Hanna cried in gratitude. “Thank you so much.”

“It’s nothing,” Electra chimed, picking up Hanna and carrying her to the bathroom. “I make all the clothes here. Now let’s get you cleaned up.” Upon reaching the bathroom, she sat Hanna on a chair near the sink asking, “Do you want a full bath or a brief shower?”

“I think a brief shower will do,” Hanna replied. “Besides, I’m really starting to get hungry.”

“A brief shower it is then,” Electra stated. “Here, let me help you get undressed.” She then helped Hanna undress and then sat her in the tub, turning on the water and making sure it wasn’t too hot. “I’d use the shower wand there beside you,” she instructed as she went for the soap, a washcloth, and a towel, sitting them where Hanna could reach them. “Take extra care washing your groin. It’s important you keep yourself clean there. Bad things happen when you don’t keep it clean.”

Hanna giggled like a little girl at Electra’s instructions. “Yes, mom,” she answered with a slightly sarcastic tone.

Electra patted her on the head and smiled saying, “I’ll leave you be so you can get cleaned up. When I hear the water stop, I’ll come back in.”

“Where are you going?” Hanna asked with a prick of fear in her voice.

“Relax,” Electra chimed, “I’ll be right out there in the bedroom putting your clothes away and cleaning it for you. I’ll even leave the door open if you like.”

“Please do that,” Hanna replied in relief. “This shouldn’t take too long. I’m not going to let it. The longer I sit here, the hungrier I get.”

“Then don’t let me stop you,” Electra replied. “Get to work and so will I.” With that, she walked out and Hanna started using the shower wand to bathe.

Ten minutes later, Electra returned when she heard the water stop. “All cleaned up?” she asked as she carried in a change of clothes for Hanna.

“Yup,” Hanna replied, feeling completely at ease being nude before Electra. “All done; I’m ready to eat now. This little shower really energized me in a good way. I feel so clean.”

“Excellent,” Electra chimed, sitting Hanna’s change of clothes on the sink. In moments, she lifted Hanna out of the tub and sat her on the chair next to the sink. Seeing Hanna didn’t completely dry herself, Electra took the towel and finished drying her.

“I just couldn’t reach the lower parts of my legs,” Hanna explained. “My back is still not letting me reach down like that. It’s too stiff.”

“It’s all right, sweetie,” Electra stated in a motherly tone as she thoroughly dried every inch of Hanna. “It’s why I’m here.”

“Can I ask you something,” Hanna blurted out as Electra finished drying her.

“Sure, sweetie,” Electra replied, tossing the towel aside and looking Hanna in the eye while kneeling next to her, “You can ask me anything you like.”

“Did you and Kida give me a bath while I was unconscious after passing out in the Teacher?” Hanna asked.

“Yes, we did, Hanna,” Electra confessed, standing up and moving to the sink. “You were soaked with sweat and needed to be cleaned up.”

“Did you do anything else?” Hanna queried, staring into Electra’s eyes. “I have a distinct feeling more happened than just you and Kida giving me a bath, dressing me, and putting me to bed.”

“Your telepathic prowess is growing exponentially,” Electra commented. “It’s impressive.”

“What else did you do?” Hanna insisted.

“I gave you a medical examination,” Electra declared, squatting down in front of Hanna. “We were concerned that the Emperor may have done more than just mutate you so I gave you a physical, including a pelvic and cervical exam to make sure there weren’t any more nasty surprises like the shebat you were infested with before coming here. Nathanael and Enoch insisted on it.”

“You gave me a pelvic and cervical exam and physical while I was unconscious?” Hanna asked, stunned at the news. “How could you do that without asking me first?”

“Well, we couldn’t ask you because you were unconscious,” Electra stated softly, realizing she had inadvertently crossed a line Hanna didn’t want crossed. “We were very worried about you, especially Nathanael, and wanted to be absolutely sure you were clean of the Emperor’s dirty little pests. Had you been awake, I would’ve asked your permission. Please forgive us. We meant no harm by it.”

Seeing Electra’s concerned look, Hanna softened her countenance. A smile crossed Hanna’s lips. “I guess I can let it slide this time,” Hanna replied. “Just ask me next time, okay? I don’t like being examined without my permission. It reminds me of what I endured at the hands of the Emperor.”

“You have my solemn word on it, Hanna,” Electra swore.

“So what did you replace?” Hanna asked. “I don’t have another one of those little shits roaming around inside me, do I? Magnus swore I was clean.”

“I don’t know about this Magnus,” Electra replied with a relieved tone. “But from my examination and the scans of the healer, I can safely tell you with a 99.5% probability that you are clean from any form of viral, bacterial, or cybernetic parasites. There are no cancers or tumors. The only thing I noted from the examination is that you were sexually violated by some form of mechanism.” A very worried look crossed Hanna’s face. Seeing the look, Electra added quickly, “But don’t worry. You don’t have any of the Emperor’s sperm swimming around in your uterus so you don’t have to worry about getting pregnant.”

Tremendous relief fell across Hanna’s face. “Thank god,” she breathed. “I don’t know what I would have done if that monster made me pregnant.”

Electra patted Hanna on the knee, saying, “Even if he had, we’d be here to help you with it like we are now. I’m just happy he didn’t violate your body the way he violated that clone he put your mind in. It’s one less thing you have to worry about.”

“Amen to that,” Hanna replied, embracing Electra fondly. “I’m so lucky to have you here to help me bear this burden in Selina’s absence. I miss her terribly and worry about her even more.”

“I know you do, sweetie,” Electra cooed. “Now, how about let’s get you dressed so we can go get something to eat.”

“I’m all for that,” Hanna chimed with a broad smile. “I’d like to get some real clothes on now.”

“Good,” Electra declared with a smile. “Real clothes I have for you. Just wait here and I’ll get them. I think you’ll like what I have for you.”

“Really,” Hanna asked innocently, “What kind of clothes?”

“Just sit here for a moment and you’ll see. It’s a surprise,” Electra said with a wink. She turned to the sink counter where Hanna’s clothes sat; purposely standing so Hanna couldn’t see what was there. “As I said earlier, the clothes you showed up in are much too heavy and cumbersome to wear around here,” Electra said, rummaging through the bundle. “They’re great for roaming the wilds with. But around here where there’s no danger from the Emperor, you don’t need them.”

“You made me some new clothes,” Hanna whispered, thunderstruck as she realized what Electra was saying. “Didn’t you?”

“Guilty as charged,” Electra said with her back turned to Hanna, “It was very simple to get your measurements while we were doing the exams, so I took the liberty and made you some clothes.” Turning around with a soft almond-colored silk lace and leather-trimmed teddy with high-cut legs, a low V-cut chest, and a Brazilian-cut on the rear, Electra held up the teddy by the small shoulder straps chiming, “This is for you, Hanna: an undergarment worthy of such a magnificent woman. It’s you.”

“Oh, Electra,” Hanna murmured, blown away by the seductive beauty of the teddy. “It’s gorgeous!” Hanna took the teddy from Electra and marveled, adding, “It’s so soft too.”

“Do you like it?” Electra asked softly.

Tears welled up in Hanna’s eyes. “Like it? It’s perfect!” Hanna crowed. “Thank you so much! Please help me put it on.”

“Of course,” Electra replied. Within a minute, Electra helped Hanna slide into the teddy that fit to her frame like a glove, accentuating and enhancing every curve of Hanna’s form. “There, now you’re a real woman,” she crowed to Hanna. “Look...it suits you.”

“My god,” Hanna breathed, stroking the fabric covering her belly, “It’s so soft it feels like I’m wearing nothing at all, but I’m covered unlike what I wore in the Black Fortress. I absolutely love this! It’s modest, yet so sexy! You have a gift for making clothes, Electra. Thank you so much.”

A broad smile crossed Electra’s lips. “I’m glad you like it,” she chimed. “I figured you’d want something a little lighter and easier to put on than what you came in with. Now, let’s finish getting you dressed so we can eat.”

“Let’s do,” Hanna agreed, beaming with delight at the wonderful gift of the clothes. Electra helped her put on a sleeveless almond colored dress that reached to Hanna’s knees. The dress wasn’t fancy, but well made, fitting to Hanna’s figure perfectly. A belt with a draken buckle wrapped around Hanna’s waist to make the outfit complete. A chuckle rose from Hanna as Electra picked up the hairbrush and started combing her hair.

“Why do you laugh?” Electra asked, stroking Hanna’s hair with the hairbrush.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Hanna chimed. “I’m just happy for the first time in a very long time. Let’s go get something to eat. I’m starved.”

“Just a few moments more, Hanna,” Electra answered, “I’m almost done with your hair. Try not to let it get tangled up if you can, Hanna. It’s a real pain to untangle it.”

“I’ll try not,” Hanna said with a smile, feeling a real kinship with Electra. After a few moments of silence, she said, “Electra, can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” Electra answered, continuing to stroke Hanna’s hair gently with the hairbrush.

“Why did you do it?” Hanna asked.

“What do you mean?” Electra asked in a puzzled tone.

“Don’t play coy with me, Electra,” Hanna stated. “You didn’t have to see the memories of my torture, but you insisted. Why would you risk your very soul sharing the pain, horror, and hate of what I endured at the hands of the Emperor? I don’t understand why you’d do that.”

Electra sighed and sat the hairbrush down on the sink. She moved in front of Hanna and squatted down. Holding both her hands, she looked Hanna in the eye and said sincerely, “I did it because it was the right thing to do, Hanna. You’re family and when one of us suffers, we all do. I did what any Lynxian mother or father would do for their child. I risked myself to save my daughter.”

Hanna gasped at Electra’s declaration. “You really see me as your daughter?” she asked, tears welling up.

“Absolutely,” Electra answered without hesitation. “You’re family, and my little girl. I’ve seen you as such from the moment you entered our lives. I’d lay my life down for you. It’s what any loving mother would do for her daughter.”

Electra’s statement pierced Hanna’s heart and soul. She sobbed softly, embracing Electra gratefully. “Thank you,” she wept. “I have a real mother again! Thank you so much.”

“You’re most welcome,” Electra answered, returning the embrace.

“But by seeing what you did of my memories, it’s now part of you,” Hanna whimpered, “The evil committed on my person by that bastard will haunt and torment you for the rest of your days, as it will do to me. Why would you willingly submit yourself to witnessing such carnage and evil? I don’t understand.”

“Because I love you, Hanna,” Electra said solemnly, “...and it was the right thing to do. You were in such deep distress I felt compelled to help, even at the risk of my own sanity. Besides, I had to know if what Nathanael told me was true. Now I know it’s more than true. It’s a hard, cold fact of your life. Hanna, you can’t keep these memories locked away and buried. If you do, what happened when I first came in here today will happen again and again. It will continue to torment you until you let go of it and let those wounds heal. You took a tremendous step today in sharing that pain and horror with me. I truly understand what you felt for I’ve felt it before myself, but maybe not on the level you endured.”

“You’ve been sexually abused too?” Hanna asked, gasping in amazement.

Electra sighed deeply. “Yes,” she admitted softly, her tone betraying the pain of the old, painful memories, “It happened long before I met Nathanael when I was but a child. When I was nine on Kaitia, someone I trusted deeply kidnapped and sold me as a sex slave to some very powerful and corrupt people in the Kaitian government who used me much like the Emperor used you and your friends in the Harem. Do I need to say any more?”

“No,” Hanna replied softly, realizing Electra truly did understand her plight from experience. “How did you get away? You just don’t up and walk away from people like that. I know that from brutal experience since I’ve seen it from both sides of the fence now.”

“You’re right,” Electra agreed, “Let’s just say the Almighty engineered my escape the same as He did for you. I’ll never forget that night. All the corrupt elites of our region had gathered to plan their next moves and have some fun, if you know what I mean.”

“I certainly do,” Hanna answered, listening intently. “I’m sure it was fun for them, not for you.”

“Exactly,” Electra murmured. “I was fifteen when this happened. There were thirty of us girls there being gang-raped and ritually abused by these powerful politicians, military leaders, financiers, and intelligence operatives.” She choked as her pain became evident to Hanna. “They had us tied up and took turns with us. Hell, even the women had their way with us,” she spat with great disgust. “They were lost in their demoniac carnality. We were nothing more than cattle for them to violate and abuse at their pleasure, so believe me. I know how you feel. That night, twenty men and fifteen women raped, violated, and ritually abused me to such a point I cried out to the Almighty for death because of the savageness of the assault. I truly wanted to die.”

Hanna put her arms around Electra and pulled her close, touching foreheads with her. “I know EXACTLY what you mean,” she declared with great sympathy and agreement. “It’s the absolute bottom when all hope vanishes.”

“True,” Electra stated softly, her tone cracking under the strain of the heinous memory. “I had lost all hope and literally gave up on everything, even my soul and my God. I begged the Almighty to kill me to end my suffering. Then something happened that changed my life forever.”

“The Lord answered, didn’t He?” Hanna surmised with a soft, understanding smile. “But He didn’t answer the way you thought He’d answer, right?”

“Yes,” Electra replied, getting her composure back. “Just as those beasts got tired of abusing me and were discussing what to do next to me, the lights went out. I heard crashes, explosions, screams, blaster fire, and shouts. Flashes of blinding light pulsed in the dark with the explosions and blaster fire. Some of the screams I heard were from those who were abusing me. The next thing I remember is seeing a member of the elite security forces in full battle gear standing over me with large blaster rifle in his hand and the light from his helmet shining in my eyes. I heard him say, ‘Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you. Help is here.’ The next thing I knew, he cut me loose and I passed out in his arms.

“A week later, I woke in the hospital all bandaged up with IVs in my arms and my parents sitting there while the nurses checked my vitals. I’d never been so happy to see my parents in all my life. They told me what happened...how the elite security division raided the party where they found me, arresting everyone involved, which included the governor of our province. Those who resisted were killed, and those of us who were being abused rescued. The pedophilia sex ring I got caught in was dismantled from the top down.

“Apparently, high-level government and military officials had been investigating it for almost four Kaitian years before the raid. Later, I came to know the raid that freed my sisters and I wasn’t the only one. There were hundreds of simultaneous raids with mass arrests of tens of thousands of corrupt officials in business, the military, and government over a three-day span. Those caught up in the sweep were tried and convicted of their crimes by the courts, which had also been purged of corrupt judges and attorneys. Therefore, you can see how the Almighty answered my prayer, but not in the way I wanted.”

“Did you ever see the soldier who rescued you again?” Hanna asked softly.

“I did,” Electra stated. “I never saw his face that night he saved me because of his helmet, but I remembered his voice and scent. He showed up a few days after I woke in the hospital, and may I say he was a very handsome cat. However, I didn’t recognize him until he spoke. He came in to check on my progress.”

“Did you ever replace out who he was?” Hanna queried.

“It turned out he was Nathanael’s great uncle,” Electra stated. “We became fast friends, but because he was thirty cycles my elder, it never got past the friendship stage. He became a great mentor who taught me many things, not the least of which was how to defend myself. After all, he was a master sergeant in the elite security division of our military.”

“Sounds like he was quite a fellow,” Hanna observed. “You were lucky to have such help after what happened. I never got such help when I lost my family. What was his name?”

“Malik,” Electra stated with a soft smile, “He kept a close check on me and my parents after the raid out of concern for our well-being. Even though he was thirty cycles my elder, we became good friends. He was always there when I needed him. Through him, I regained my faith in the Almighty and eventually met Nathanael. My life would have turned out much differently had Malik not been there when I needed him.”

“That’s great,” Hanna chimed, “I’m so happy he was there for you to show you the way out of the Darkness. As I said, I didn’t have that luxury so I spent most of my life in the Darkness working for the other side. I’m so grateful the Lord pulled me out of it.”

Electra smiled and patted Hanna on the cheek. “So am I,” she answered, “...and I’m glad I’m able to help you in the same manner Malik helped me. Remember, Hanna...I’m always here for you when you need me. You aren’t alone in this.”

“I know,” Hanna murmured. “I’m not alone...not anymore.” Her belly rumbled loudly, making her giggle. “Oh, excuse me,” she apologized. “Seems my belly thinks my throat is cut. Can we go get something to eat now?”

“Absolutely,” Electra stated, picking up Hanna and cradling her in her arms. “I’m sure everyone is waiting at the table anyway. Let’s get some food in that belly of yours.” With that, they left the bathroom heading to the dining area in the main room where everyone sat at the table eating.