TAKEN: Journey to a New Home by Taylor Dillion

your impatience,” Dezek was giving orders fast and furious but he knew Fazon was dependable and would follow instructions quickly and efficiently. Now all he had to do was swindle a swindler he thought as he sat back with a frown.
    ***
      “Are you covered in there?” The brown alien’s whiny voice called out.
      “Yes,” Sienna called back surprised he would be so polite.
      “Good,” he said entering with two huge dark blue creatures who looked as though they had been put together from chunks of broken concrete. “I can’t stand looking at humans without clothes.  You’re so squishy looking,” he smirked. So much for being polite Sienna thought ruefully. 
    “Alright you’ll do. Tag them,” he said and waved at them. The two huge blue beings moved toward them. One carried a tray of what looked like chokers. None of the women dared protest in the face of the giants who stood nearly as tall as the suPonicks had been. Once they were all collared, one giant turned and led the way while the other gestured for them to follow the first. The brown scaly alien brought up the rear. They were led outside. Holly stumbled, busy looking up at the sky. It was a pale lavender. Samantha righted her and they continued down the line of open air pens. The pens contained creatures of varying sizes and shapes. Many wore clothing. Slaves Sienna grimaced at the thought.
      “Inside the square,” the brown alien directed as the group stopped at an empty space. He stood and watched them go by. “Hurry along now,” he pushed Rose who cried out. Ashaa moved fast and had him by the throat.
      “Don’t touch her,” she growled. The alien grabbed the cuff on his wrist and Ashaa convulsed and went down.
      “Drag her in,” the merchant ordered. “And let that be a lesson to any of you thinking about misbehaving. I won’t tolerate disobedience!” The big blue creature dropped Ashaa unceremoniously on the ground and stepped back over the rails lying on the ground in a rectangular pattern. The merchant pushed another button on his wrist. A hum of energy started and Sienna knew they were back in an invisible cell. Sienna turned from glaring at the merchant and went to where Samantha was gently rocking Rose again as they sat on one of the soft pallets.  Rose was trying hard not to cry. Out in the bright light of the pretty blue sun Sienna could see the bruises on Rose, Taylor and Jasmine looked even more horrible than inside. The one on her face must look as bad she thought.
      “What if they separate us?” Jasmine’s eyes were wet with tears and filled with fear. Sienna had no answer for her. She ached knowing she was responsible for all of them being here. She was even worried about Blanca as the teen had been very quiet and withdrawn since waking here. She moved to sit next to Jasmine and hugged her. She had nothing else to give the frightened young woman. Wendy, Tabitha, Natalie and Holly were straightening Ashaa’s long limbs and pulling on her onto another pallet in order to make her comfortable. Poor Ashaa Sienna thought she just can’t catch a break.
      The air outside was pleasant and fresh. The temperature was moderate and comfortable under the strange pale lavender sky. Beings of all shapes, sizes and colors were traversing what she guessed was an open air market. They sat together and watched the crowds of creatures walk by. Some stopped and gaped at them. This made Sienna laugh despite her aches and worries since they were all gaping back at the crowd. The others looked at her worriedly. 
      “I’m laughing because we seem to be as shocking to them as they are to us,” she explained. As she looked around she spotted a familiar form and color. She stood and went to side of the enclosure.
      “Zabyss?” she called out. The creature lifted its head and looked at her. She sucked in a breath at the tears on the soft orange fur. “Zabyss, is that you?”
      “Yes.” The poor despondent creature had