Monthly Drawing 42b: Downsizing

Delvin Richards had gone through many emotions after being invited into The Princess’ private chamber. 

He’d been there twice before so, surprise at her appearance was not one of those emotions. 

Mostly, it was fear. 

He knew why he was brought before her and he wondered, suddenly, why on earth he decided to steal from her organization. What had he been thinking? How could he have let her appearance influence his judgement? Why did he not take her serioiusly?

“Mis-ter Richards” The Princess said in a slight sing-song as she shook her pretty head, “What am I to do with you?”

“Um… You could-“ Delvin began

“Shush.” she raised a stubby, dark-nailed finger to silence him but, what really stopped him was the slight change in posture of her bodyguards when the finger was raised.

He’d been in front of crime bosses before, it was something you did as a criminal accountant. He’d been in offices with hard men for whom violence and weapons were as much part of their self-image as their haircuts. 

But, even though he knew for a fact that her bodyguards were not armed, he knew they were more deadly than any creature he’d ever seen. Even though their muscular forms were covered by odd, colorful suits, he could see their power waiting like a bow ready to be drawn.

He gulped and looked at the polished wood floor.

“That was a rhetorical question, Mister Richards” she stood and walked towards him, her bodyguards following,”When the time comes to answer an actual question, I will let you know.”

Delvin looked up as he heard her hooves and the tip of her parasol clicking on the wood. She stopped two yards away from him and he was only a yard away from the door but, he knew he’d never even make it two steps if he ran. If he moved to attack her, he’d never even make it one.

“I paid you well, Mister Richards, very well. And, up until now, you did stellar work,” The Princess sounded almost regretful for a moment but, then her voice shifted. Though a tiny alto, it had deep venom, “And yet, you still attempt to steal from me. Why? Did you not take me seriously, Mister Richards?”

Delvin looked up but, her expression told him that now was not the time to answer. 

“This organization is built on trust, mutual cooperation and personal responsibility. That is how I’ve been able to grow it as a small empire. You failed on to live up to those three tenets, Mister Richards.”

She paused, seeming to collect herself. Her voice and manner had become heated, now she cooled herself down.

“You and I both know what you’ve done. I won’t insult you by asking and you won’t have to insult me by lying. This is not your trial, Mister Richards, it is your sentencing.”

Delvin’s breath caught in his throat and he made a choking noise. Of course, he knew that this was going to happen though it still made his blood run cold.

“Now back to my first question, ‘what to do with you’”. The Princess put her head on one side and regarded him with her brown, slit-pupiled eyes, “I will give you a choice, Mister Richards. It will likely be the last one you can ever make so, act accordingly.”

Delvin’s eyes dropped and stared blindly ahead. He drew a shaky breath and managed to whisper, “Yes, Princess”. 

The Princess smirked just a little at this reflexive courtesy. 

“Your choices are these, Mister Richards.” her tiny voice was somehow commanding, “Look at me, Mister Richards.”

Delvin lifted his head. He wanted to stand straight, defiant, but, his body was tense with fear. 

“Good. Your first choice is that I give you over to the tender care Jasmine and Luthor. They have such a way with miscreants. Don’t you, my darlings?” 

Behind her Delvin watched the two canid bodyguards turn their heads towards him and smile, bearing huge teeth. Crazily he thought they must have practiced this look.

“You only other choice is a life of servitude in…” The Princess paused for effect, “…The Lair.”

Whatever Delvin had been expecting, it hadn’t been this. In New York, The Lair was a rumor within a rumor. But, now, having been on the inside of The Princess’ empire, he knew it was a fact. 

It was the single most exclusive club in the world. It was a club for the world’s criminal elite, and just plain elite, to get together and have the kind of sex you could only read about. Every one of the workers was a transformed human. Many were paid employees but, some…

“Oh my god…” Delvin stared at The Princess as realization dawned.

“Yes, Mister Richards, you are correct.” her little smirk became a bit more evil, “I thought about changing you into a rat-girl, it would have become you, of course. But, I have had a request from someone I owe a favor. You will be their special plaything. Their tastes are a bit… feral, shall we say? You’ll be a bit more animal than girl but, you’ll have a lifetime to get used to it. If you don’t want to give it a try,” she lifted her arms to indicate the wolf-man and hyena-woman behind her,”you won’t have a lifetime at all.”

Delvin’s eyes darted around. He was panting and his brain wouldn’t lock on a single thought. 

“You have to the count of five, Mister Richards,” The Princess intoned,”I really don’t have all day.”

Delvin was locked up on the inside, mind racing blindly. He didn’t even hear her counting until he heard: “ONE!”

“The Lair!” Delvin gasped, then fell to his knees.

“Ahhh, good choice, Mister Richards. Aside from the cleanup being easier, it is much more fun for me,” a blue glow began to form around her like an aura,”Look at me, Mister Richards.”

Delvin did, eyes wide.

“I can see you’re afraid, Mister Richards. Don’t worry. I’m not completely cruel. I can be merciful, sometimes.”

Hope welled in Delvin and he would have thanked her but his mouth was too dry.

“This will not hurt a bit. In fact,” her smile had a lecherous touch now,”It will be extremely pleasurable.”

Delvin’s hopes dropped into a pit in his soul. He closed his eyes and waited for his inexorable fate.

“It will, I think,” The Princess began, “Help prepare you for your new life. Let us begin…”

ART NOTE: This took forever! So many iterations of each character. And the ruffles! Good thing they are fun to do. 

STORY NOTE: I hope this works. It's got more hinting than exposition so, I hope you like it.

OTHER NOTE: Now this Aftermath needs an Aftermath?