Lukas swam back to the lair after a successful labor. He had five phials of sand from different kingdoms, some coming from the surface. He descended into the lair to find Calliope hard at work. “Mistress!” he said once Calliope’s tentacles were empty.
“Ah! Lukas! There you are!” replied Calliope. She then saw the phials. “Ooh! Five phials of sand!”
“I even swiped some from Ssylphiel’s private beach when she wasn’t around,” he said. Calliope cackled.
“Serves the green noodle right!” she said. “Just don’t tell her. She’s a bit…possessive.” She looked at the lighting outside. “It’s getting dark, Lukas. I’d say it’s bath time.”
“Yes, Mistress,” replied Lukas.
Lukas and Calliope sighed as the bath relaxed them. Lukas noticed, however, that he didn’t feel any of Calliope’s tentacles on him. He recalled his panic attack last month and sighed, figuring his babbling must have revealed his bondage fear. “…Mistress, your tentacles aren’t ropes or leather or anything like that,” he said. “They feel like arms giving me a comforting embrace.”
“…I know, but…” Calliope looked hesitant.
“Mistress, please,” said Lukas. Calliope carefully wrapped a tentacle around him. Lukas sighed happily. “Thank you.” Calliope smiled. “…You know, I told the others already and made them swear not to tell you until I did.”
“Hm? About?” asked Calliope.
“The reason behind my panic attack. Why I want to be a servile femboy for a powerful lady.”
“…I can somewhat guess that something or someone prevented you from being who you really wanted to be,” said Calliope.
“You need to know the full scope,” said Lukas. “My old tribe, it didn’t allow for men like me. We had to be strong, suppress our emotions, do the jobs we were assigned to do.”
“Slavery, in other words.”
“Sure as the hells felt like it. I was ordered to work the mines and…well, I just couldn’t build up the strength, no matter how much exercise I put in. It made me cry. Every time I cried, I was blindfolded, whipped, and starved. I…” Lukas started crying now at the memory. Calliope pulled him closer to her and kissed his cheek.
“Let them out, Lovely,” she soothed. “Emotions are to be released, not bottled up.” After a good cry, Lukas continued.
“I managed to flee, but my tribe was after me. That was when a sea witch called Melanie gave me sanctuary.”
“Melanie? An all-blue Cecaelia? Aw, bless her kind soul. She’s an old friend.”
“She was the first one I told my story to and my dream. She said she couldn’t help me fulfill that dream, but she knew someone who could, if I was ready to pay the price.” Calliope grinned.
“So that’s how you found my offer, hm?” she said. “We’ll have to thank her when you finish all your labors.”
“…Mistress, Melanie said that the head of my old tribe, the one who put up all those rules,” said Lukas, “she said that that woman is in debt to you.”
“Is she?” asked Calliope. “Well, if you’re comfortable with it, tell me her name.”
“Megan Sea-storm.” Calliope’s face darkened.
“…Sea-storm?” she repeated.
“Y-Yes, Mistress. Is Melanie-?”
“Frighteningly so,” confirmed Calliope. “Our contract was that she’d use her immortality to help people. If not, she’d end up in the Garden of Loss.”
“…If you absolutely must collect on that debt, can you do it when I’m doing my labor next month?” asked Lukas. “I’d rather not see her become a polyp.”
“Of course, Lovely Lukas,” promised Calliope. “Cross all my hearts.” She kissed him on the forehead again.