Chapter 1

The highlander jungle of planet Dementia

Star system of the third dimension

       Her friends called her the Schemer, or Scheme for short, for she had always been well known for her ability to get out of tight situations. But as she ran through the dense Dementian jungle panting for air, her heartbeat drumming like mad against her chest, Delores Ellison was afraid that, for the very first time in her twenty-nine years, she had gotten herself into a situation there was no squeezing out of.

       Her father had always said she was too much like her mother for his peace of mind. Perhaps he had been right.

       Dee dashed through the overgrown jungle as fast as her feet would carry her. She ignored the rogue strands of golden hair that whipped into her eyes and stung them, and instead concentrated her energy on escaping the gorilla fighter whose hunting skills were proving to be frighteningly keen.

       He’s gaining on me, she thought hysterically as she braved a quick glance over her shoulder. Good God in heaven, do not let this beast enslave me!

       She still didn’t know how it had happened, still had no clue how she’d ever been catapulted from earth to this…this…place. But she had been in Dementia for over a year now, and, at least until this night of reckoning, had managed to thwart any would-be slave traders from capturing her.

       She had survived on berries and an odd blue fish for sustenance, slept in hollowed out stone caves for protection from the elements, all the while searching in vain for the bizarre stone icon shaped like a gorilla’s head that she had been holding when she’d been mystically transported to this dark, frightening world so reminiscent of Planet of the Apes. Dee was certain that if only she could find that talisman—or whatever in the hell it was—she could go back to earth, back to home.

       She ran into the night, dashed through the highlander jungle terrain she had grown accustomed to, her breath coming out in short gasps. She knew—knew—that the gorilla fighter was gaining on her, would catch her at any moment if she didn’t figure out a way to escape him. She could sense his sharp green eyes on her, could hear the low growl of a predator hissing in his throat…

       Please, she silently begged the heavens. I do not want to be a slave! Oh God—oh please God help me!

       Dee ran impossibly faster, ignoring the buzzing sound of the insect predators that swarmed throughout the dense terrain. She knew what those gorillas had done to that one human girl, the one she had tried to escape Dementia with six months ago. Knew too that the Dementian males coveted humanoid females as nothing more than sex slaves and serving girls.

       The one tracking her now was called Zaab—General Zaab if she’d overheard the villagers of the Mantus Hoard correctly. Zaab had once been a lowlander lieutenant, but had taken over the highlander Mantus Hoard by force when its elderly leader was assassinated by fellow tribesmen. And so now the new general ruled with an iron fist, and in just under a year had made the Mantus the most respected—and feared—gorilla fighters on the planet.

       Zaab. This wasn’t the first time he had hunted Dee , not the first time he had attempted to enslave her. But, she thought as she ran faster and faster still, it might well be the last time he’d have to hunt her if she didn’t figure a way out of this mess. Twice before he had stalked her, twice before she had thwarted him. The third time would prove to be a charm—but whether for her or for him…

       Zaab.

       He stood upright like a human, possessed the mental acuity of a human, and even carried the masculine scent of a human, yet this male was no human…

       A gorilla. If she didn’t get herself out of this situation, Dee thought in anguish as she struggled to breathe, then she would become the sex slave of a gorilla.

       No.

       The eerily moaning wind swarmed about her, crashing through the rough alien terrain. She could feel him getting close, then closer still, could sense his sharp, possessive eyes narrowed on her…

       Run, Dee! Run!

       Dee cried out softly in her throat as the low growling sound grew alarmingly closer. Her heartbeat was thumping like a rock against her chest, her blue eyes wide and her breathing labored. She made a quick left turn into the thickest portion of the jungle and dashed into it, knowing it was an unsafe place to be, but also realizing that if she was to thwart Zaab for a third time then this was the only way.

       Help me! she mentally pleaded. Dear God in heaven please help me!

       Dee screamed out when the sharp stinger of a predatorial vine shot through her thigh, effectively throwing her to the ground while it slowly drugged her with hallucinogen. She cried out again when the thick leafy tentacles entwined themselves around her limbs, the snappers instantly shredding what clothing she’d had on as they laid her out spread-eagle and naked on the jungle floor.

       Not the vines—oh no, not the vines.

       She knew it was over. Knew too that Zaab had won. If the general didn’t track her down by scent, then the vines would have their wicked way with her, dining on her cunt juice until she died, dehydrated and mentally broken. Either way, it was over…

       The vines were the method Dementians used to break human female slaves to their bidding. The predatorial plant would intravenously pump a euphoric hallucinogen into her system, making her orgasm over and over again, providing them with the juice they dined on, until she literally died of pleasure and dehydration. The hallucinogen would also drive her insane if given too much of it, insuring that the only way she’d ever again possess the mental wherewithal to leave Dementia was through death.

       Dee cried out softly as two pink flower buds from the vine clamped onto her nipples and began suctioning at them. They stiffened immediately, causing her to moan. It’s over, she thought, closing her eyes as the hallucinogen began to take effect. It’s all over…

       The sound of a low, arrogant growl filled her mind. She blinked slowly, opening her blue eyes on a moan as a third flower bud clamped onto her clit and began suctioning it. She shuddered, knowing an orgasm was imminent.

       The general stood above her, his piercing green eyes flicking possessively over her naked, splayed out body. His gaze settled on her cunt and lingered there, then darted up the length of her to meet her eyes.

       Zaab.

       Dee swallowed roughly, wondering through the euphoric daze that was quickly engulfing her just how long it would take before she was begging the bastard to fuck her. A male in his prime, an alpha male who owned more slaves than she could count, would know very well—too well—how to use the vines to get what he wanted.

       She groaned and simultaneously arched her hips as the first powerful orgasm hit. She closed her eyes tightly, not wanting to watch his expression, for she could sense his arrogant pleasure as though it was a tangible thing. He knew he’d won, knew too that he could do anything he wanted with her…

       The rustling sound of discarded leather clothing induced her eyes to sleepily open for a moment. It was hard to focus on any one thing for the euphoria was hitting fast, but she was alert enough to recognize the naked, powerful Dementian male standing over her.

       Zaab.

       His body was at least seven feet tall—probably more. His musculature was extreme, without a doubt the most powerful and heavily muscled body she’d ever laid eyes on. Two deadly incisors jutted out from his otherwise human-looking teeth, a grim reminder that he could slice through her jugular like melted butter.

       Her eyes flicked down to his stone-hard cock. She nervously wetted her lips, again wondering how long it would take before she was begging the general to fuck her.

       And then the euphoria kicked in and she no longer cared...