Sold into slavery by her stepfather, Nassara is stripped, beaten and delivered to the Palace of Misery, where young slaves must hasten to adapt to the Masters' cruel perversities, or face harsh punishment. Adorned in golden rings and chains, oiled and shaven, ready for prostration in the hot sun for the Masters to behold, the slaves of pleasure must perform their duties with compliant devotion. So quickly lost is Nassara's innocence, how terrible the torment her emotions must travel, and what agonies her flesh must endure. Nassara's only consolation is her love for Zheeno, yet Ahmood, the sadistic leader of the whip-boys, is ever vigilant, knowing his Master's infatuation with the beautiful new slave girl. So when the young lovers are undone will Nassara's courage and contrition be enough to save Zheeno? Must she confront the dreaded brush whip of serpents' tails? Will the ruthless Masters be yet more merciless than fate itself?

The sailing ship is loaded with convicts on their way to the dreaded Hell on earth penal colony of Port Cayonne. The captain is content to have the 100 men and 30 women supervised by the sadistic Madam Latour, herself a convict serving her out her parole, knowing she will rule them all with a sternness he can hardly match. On board the ship is the aristocratic and startlingly beautiful Contesse De Louvois, convicted of fraud, carrying a sentence of six years' hard labour and six on parole. She immediately runs into trouble by complaining about conditions on the ship, bringing her to the unwelcome attention of the captain and Madam Latour. This results in her spending a night on the Table of Correction. Alongside her are two innocents who supported her in her rebellion, also suffering the torments of the damned. Life does not look very good for the Contesse, especially as the lustful captain and crew have designs on the luscious body as well!