Chapter 26

Helga

"No more surprises. That's it, right?" I ask, mortified at what I just did and enjoyed publicly.

"Yes, but you still have your punishment." His eyes are full of concern.

"Oh yeah, I forgot with all the cutting, drinking blood, and public sex." I look over at Axl. "What is my religious punishment?"

"You should start by removing all your clothing," Axl informs me.

I look up at Fox. "He's joking right?"

Fox shakes his head. "No."

I look at the candles being held by our witnesses. I thought I'd avoided having to get naked in front of these people. Then I hear the High Priestess over the screen, "Is there a problem, Helga? You cannot have pleasure without the pain. Today I'm bringing you the pain."

"Technically, it's Axl, but that's okay."

I can tell she's annoyed I said that, but I don't care. This whole system is barbaric. I begin unzipping my dress, and before I know it, Anna is helping me pull it over my head so I don't get any blood from my hand on it. When I'm standing completely naked except for Fox's semen running down my legs, I wait for further instructions.

"Now get on your knees and hold onto Fox's hands. You will receive seven lashes," the High Priestess says through the screen.

"With what?" I ask as I lower myself, the hard floor uncomfortable on my kneecaps, and I take Fox's strong hands in mine.

"A whip," Axl replies, and I turn and look at the serious black whip he has in his hands.

"Is this really necessary?"

"Yes, you must repay the goddesses for the pleasure you took, and you don't have UCs, so you must pay in blood," the High Priestess explains with too much excitement. Apparently in the job description of High Priestess you must be a sadist as well.

I refrain from saying anything about how ridiculous this all seems to me. I don't need any more lashes. Seven will be more than enough.

"I'm ready," I say, and then Axl hits me without any preamble.

I'd never been whipped before. I scream as my back, where the whip hit me, is on fire.

Fox says, "One." His voice is strained.

Axl is waiting for something. I don't even have the air in my lungs to ask what he's waiting for.

After a few minutes, Axl whips me again and Fox says predictably, "Two."

I feel like there's no way I can do this. I don't do well with pain. I begin to silently wish someone could come and take my place. But I know there's no one. It was my fault for making Fox have sex before marriage, and it's definitely my fault for telling the High Priestess the truth. And as it was explained to me, in their matriarchy I am the one responsible and therefore I must take the punishment. A thought runs through my mind, contrary to the matriarchy I'm in, but relatable because I was raised in a patriarchy, Stand up and take it like a man . Now I know exactly what that means, but in this instance it's take it like a woman.

Axl whips me a third time, and this time I would have fallen over if it weren't for Fox holding me up. I want to tell him I can't take anymore, but I don't have the breath to form the words.

Four, Five, Six. I'm starting to become delirious. I don't know where I am or who I'm holding on to. The room has been spinning for a while, and I wonder if I'm going to spin to my death. What a way to go, especially after I married the man of my dreams. Well, that's not entirely true, I never dreamed he'd be a grey alien, but everything else checks out. And now I'm being punished for consensual sex.

Seven. I can't believe I'm still alive. My back is a scorching inferno. I remind myself this means I can have Fox forever, and I won't have to think too much more about their religion between the Empire and Earth, I don't think. I'm ready to start my new life, scarred from my punishment and all. I guess it'll always be a good reminder of the incredible sex we had the in the hours before we married.

I expect Fox to let me go when I try to wiggle my sweaty hands from his grip, but he doesn't. Instead he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "I'm going to take you to the medical center, but I need you to thank the High Priestess and the goddesses for your punishment."

"Thank you High Priestess and the goddesses of the Empire for that painful punishment for testing my husband's sexual prowess in private before we did it publicly." I don't even know if I said any of that out loud, but the High Priestess responds and it must be enough because Fox is on the move again. Every step, every small breeze from our movement hurts my back.