Cthulhurotica by Cody Goodfellow, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Jennifer Brozek, Ahimsa Kerp, Carrie Cuinn, Gabrielle Harbowy, Don Pizarro, Madison Woods, Richard Baron, Juan Miguel Marin, Maria Mitchell, Mae Empson, Nathan Crowder, KV Taylor, Andrew Scearce, Constella Espj, Leon J. West, Travis King, Steven J. Searce, Clint Collins, Matthew Marovich, Gary Mark Bernstein, Kirsten Brown, Kenneth Hite, Justin Everett Read Free Book Online

Avoiding eye contact was the best course of action when he looked for a fight.
    Daddy motioned impatiently to Asynn for the stack of papers. He grabbed the top one off the stack and shoved the rest back to her.
    “This chthonic you’ve been working with, Theo. Is he ready yet to be traded?”
    Answer too quickly and he’d think I lied. Take too long and he’d think it took me too long to think of a lie. I took a deep breath and fingered the uppermost welt on the back of my thigh.
    “No father, he’s recently become irritable. I think it’s time–”
    “Then make him ready. You’ve got one month. The Lady Bertain would like him to entertain her guests at her next Solstice party. She wants them to leave pleasured, not butchered, and she’s paid a hefty sum to see to it they do. Now leave,” he rumbled with slightly less decibels than when I’d entered. A good sign. It didn’t matter what I’d answered, he already had his response prepared. And I had my work cut out for me.
    Before we could begin, though, I needed an assistant. It wouldn’t do any good at all to get myself injured in this training process.
    “Father, one favor before I go, please…”
    He looked at me and I glanced toward Asynn.
    “May I have your page for my assistant?”
    To see the color drain from her face was worth the risk I had taken. It was priceless. Even if he didn’t consent, the effect of my request on her was all I’d hoped it would be.
    “She’s of age,” I ventured, enjoying her discomfort far more than I’d anticipated.
    He rumbled, a low growl that indicated that he was ruminating the idea, probably considering his investment versus the possible gain the deal could bring. I smiled so that she could see, but quickly restored a solemn face for dear Daddy.
    Asynn stood stock-still. Her skin had gone so white I wondered if she might fall to the floor at his feet any second to beg for mercy. If she made such a weak move, she would prove to be more stupid than I’d thought.
    “Her loss is acceptable to me, on the condition that you return her to my service if she’s able. I’d prefer not to have to train another, but for a month I can get by without her,” he agreed.
    “Come Asynn,” I said gently as I gestured toward the open the door. Still in shock, she placed the last stack of papers on the corner of his desk and walked with me toward the stairs.
    “We’ll get started right away,” I told her. “There’s not a lot of time, and you’ve got a lot to learn.”
    As soon as we reached the enclosure, Theo snaked out a tentacle in greeting, rumbling with excitement. He smelled her fear. His enthusiasm wasn’t a good thing, but Asynn didn’t know that.
    “First thing,” I reached down and picked up his tentacle, resisted letting him pull me closer and showed it to Asynn.
    “See these?” I pointed to the saucer-shaped suction cups. She nodded, still white but at least attentive. Still, she didn’t seem to want to engage.
    “Here,” I took her hand and made her touch them. “If you’re not careful, you’re going to look like you’ve been shredded through a grater. There’s a way to do this. Watch.”
    Wide-eyed she watched as I took the tip of his tentacle and sucked it gently. Instantly Theo relaxed and quit trying to pull me toward his pen. The sounds rumbling from inside were decidedly different now, and less threatening. Indeed, he was pleased.
    “You try it now,” I passed it to her. She swayed and I thought she might really pass out. My robust laughter snapped her out of it and her eyes flashed.
    I realized at that moment she wasn’t so different from the beasts.
    They were all trainable.
    “I can’t”, she said.
    I resisted the urge to snap at her. The willful ones needed a gentle touch.
    “The first time, you’ll watch me,” I told her. “The next time, we’ll do it together.”

“Victim of Victims” from Shoggoth on the Roof
     
    (Head Cultist)
    Victim of Victims
Asenath! Oh