Castles Made of Sand

Elena Mendez

Elena sat on an exquisite golden throne, seated at the front of a grand throne room. The chamber stretched out around her like a gallery, adorned with tapestries, sculptures, and paintings created in her honor. Yet, despite the grandeur of her surroundings, Elena felt far from regal.

She was exhausted from the nearly hour-long tour of her castle. The countless rooms and extravagant features designed for her had only served to heighten her anxiety.

She was now alone with a single fairy, apparently named Aine, who was filling her in on details regarding her kingdom. Nora, Tomoko, and Sophia had been gestured to a waiting room so as not to hear “state secrets,” to which Elena had been too exhausted to argue against. However, she was already regretting not having someone smart like Nora or Sophia here, as much of the conversation was going over her head.

“So, in other words, the interest rates IOU we owe to the neighboring gnome village are increasing faster than our economy can support paying them off,” the fairy explained.

“Right, uh, the gnomes,” Elena sighed. ‘Sure, that might as well be a thing.’

“Correct. In the past, we had a strong stone and mineral trade with them to counteract the debt, but we were **** to use up all of our saved resources to construct your castle.”

Elena slammed the armrest. “Why would you do that?”

"No price is too high for your comfort, princess," Aine beamed.

“Yeah, no,” Elena shook her head. “You dismantle this thing.”

The Aines' smiles fell into a look of horror. “Is the castle not to your liking? We can make it larger.”

Elena pounded her head back into the chair. “No, that’s not it. First, you dismantled half your houses for this place, and now you’re telling me you went into debt for it? Just put the damn rocks back where they came from.”

“If that’s truly what you desire,” the fairy bowed nervously. “Err, how should we do that?”

“Huh?”

“Who should do it. When? What’s our timetable?” she pressed.

“I don't know,” Elena admitted in exasperation. “Who’s in charge of building stuff?”

"You are," the fairy beamed. "You're our princess. You run everything."

“You must have construction people,” Elena said.

“Yes, but such a deconstruction would require a ton of logistics, as you know, my grace,” the fairy bowed.

Elena began pulling her hair. “Ok, hire some experts then.”

“Who?”

“I don't know!” Elena got to her feet. “Who figured this stuff out before?”

The fairy did not understand the question. “Before what?”

“Before I became a princess!”

“We don't know,” Aine admitted.

“What do you mean?” Elena pressed.

“None of us can remember what our leadership was like before you arrived,” the fairy explained. “We awoke today with an understanding that you are our ruler, and that you would command us.”

Elena sank back, stunned. “You have amnesia? And didn’t tell me?”

Aine shrugged. “We didn't think it was a big deal.”

“HOW IS THAT NOT A BIG DEAL?!” Elena screamed.

The fairy immediately fell to her knees, into a deep bow. “Have I offended you? I am so sorry, mistress, she shrieked. “Please punish me for my insolence.”

Elena massaged her temples. “It’s fine, get up. You’re not in trouble.”

The fairy raised her head, tears of gratitude coming down her cheeks. “Please understand, a world where you are not our ruler is a nightmare to us, so many of us are glad to have forgotten it. And besides, we know that you,our savior, will create a system far greater than we ever could.”

“Jesus Christ,” Elena groaned.

Ji-Woo Summers

"I look like a cheap hooker," Ji-Woo bemoaned as she looked at her reflection in her bedroom's mirror.

She had bought a skimpy little black dress from Jezebel's shop for a single BP, which highlighted her curves perfectly. The hem, tantalizingly short, barely grazed her hips and threatened to flash any onlooker the moment she sat down. It also showcased her bare legs, which extended down to the black stilettos she wore.

Above the waist, the dress was held up by two tiny straps, sporting an open back that gracefully revealed her skin, while the front was similarly revealing, showing ample cleavage.

Finally, her face was covered in makeup, with purple eyeshadow and lipstick. She was also wearing the most expensive earrings she owned.

“Is this enough? Or is it too much?” she mused as her brows furrowed in uncertainty. 'What about panties? Should I wear any, or would full flashing be more effective.'

With a slight sigh, she turned away from the mirror and craned her neck to look at her reflection from behind. 'I know from the pool party that he was most focused on my butt. Should I highlight it more? Or would that look ****?'

She wigged her hips slightly, trying to find a rhythm that looked natural, and not like she was deliberately putting on a show.

'Maybe I should try to lean into a yellow fever angle? Swap my dress for a Hanbok?' she thought, recalling Tomoko's use of a Kimono. 'I mean, so far he's fallen for both her and Sophia, so maybe he has a type. Assuming he even knows Sophia was a quarter Chinese, considering how white she looks.'

She looked at the clock and sighed. 'Forget it. No time to change anyway,' she concluded, seeing how much time there was before her date.

"Damn it, why does this have to be so difficult?" she groaned, shaking her head. "I wish I could have gotten a file on Master as well."

Lauren-Zero

"Harder, you stupid bastard! Harder!" Lauren cried out in pure ecstasy, her voice echoing through the room as she was railed from behind.

"Yes, Mistress! Whatever you wish!" a hulking man behind her cried, a powerhouse of solid muscle pinning her firmly in place as he thrust his mammoth shaft into her tight folds.

Lauren, and the being she had named Manwhore, were on a futon, within the bathhouse's bedroom, fucking like wild rabbits as he slammed her doggy style. With each vigorous motion, the **** of his body collided against her ass and drove his monster of a dick even deeper into her.

"Holy shit! Holy shit!" Lauren squealed, inner walls stretched to their limit by the pounding giant. "That's it! Don't stop! Don't stop!"

"If I may interrupt," Alison said, looking down at the two with disinterest.

Lauren did a double-take before shrieking at the maid's unexpected appearance. In a flurry, she scrambled out of Manwhore's grasp, the latter of whom instinctively released her.

"How long have you been watching, you pervert?" Lauren shrieked, covering herself.

"Your modesty is unwarranted. I have seen both versions of you nude multiple times," Alison pointed out.

Lauren scoffed, looking away. "Why are you even here?"

"I have come to inspect your mental condition," Alison explained. "It appears you are stable."

Lauren laughed bitterly. "Are you joking?! I'm not stable at all! I'm freaking out!"

"You appeared to be enjoying yourself a moment ago," Alison argued, gesturing to Manwhore, who was lying on his stomach in satisfaction.

"Shut up. It's not like there's anything else to do in this prison!"

Alison tilted her head to the side. "I fail to see how the space I constructed for you is a prison."

"Of course it is!" Lauren snapped. "There's nothing to do but sit in water and fuck."

"Most humans would likely find this experience enjoyable," Alison said. "Isn't pleasure the goal for your species?"

"You know nothing about us, you freak," Lauren groaned. "I'm so fucking bored."

"You crave mental stimulation? Very well," Alison said. As she nodded, a bookshelf emerged from the wall behind her, its shelves filled with an array of colorful spines. She waved her hand in a casual motion, and a book leaped from the shelf, which Lauren grabbed before it pelted her in the face.

Lauren looked at the cover, which was titled "Advanced Analysis of Wave–Particle Duality."

"Oh, real fucking funny," Lauren sneered, throwing the book to the ground. "Are you even trying?"

Alison looked up to the ceiling in disinterest. "It seems you misunderstand my level of concern for you. You merely exist for my purposes." Lauren looked her in the eye in contempt, but said nothing as Alison continued. "My only concern is keeping you stable enough to avoid full mental collapse. Your condition beyond that is irrelevant."

"Well fuck me for thinking you actually gave a shit about me," Lauren groaned. "At least tell me what's happening out there, so I can stop worrying. Are Katelyn and I okay?"

Alison hesitated for the briefest moment. "There is no reason to distress yourself with such knowledge."

Lauren flipped her off. "Screw you! I'm already stressed. I could be eliminated for all I know."

"You are not. In fact, you just recently slept with the Master."

Lauren's eyes widened. "What? That's... that's..." Lauren stammered, unsure how to react.

There was a time not too long ago when Lauren would have been disgusted by the idea of sleeping with Levi. But after the **** she had experienced in the woods, having sex with the teen sounded fine. Especially if it meant protecting herself from Azure and her monsters.

If anything, she felt a sense of relief that her other self was keeping herself safe by playing the game.

"And Katelyn?" Lauren asked, cautiously.

"Other contestants are of no concern to you," Alsion dismissed.

Lauren stomped her foot. "Like hell it isn't! Is she alright?"

Alison turned her back on her. "I have other tasks to attend to. Please continue to enjoy the onsen and its company."

"Don't you fucking dare!" Lauren yelled, but it was too late, as Alison vanished as suddenly as she had arrived.

"Damn it!" the blonde screamed, falling to her knees and pounding her fist upon the floor, her heart racing. She slowly began to rock back and forth, trying to calm herself.

'It's fine. She's fine,' she told herself. 'If someone as bitchy as me managed to survive, surely she's doing even better.'

"Man, that lady sure talks a lot," Manwhore said, oblivious of Laurens' distress. "Hey, my dick is still hard for you. Want to finish what we started, mistress."

"Read the room, slut!" Lauren snapped.

"I can't read," Manwhore replied, proudly.

Lauren massaged her temples. 'I just hope the other me is doing better.'

Nineteen

Nineteen, controlling Lauren's body, sat beside Levi on the bed, her skin still bare and exposed. The sheets were pulled up to Levi's waist, while Lauren perched at the edge of the mattress, her back to him, an angle that kept both her ass, and tattoo he had given her, in view.

Nineteen had been keeping Levi entertained with trivial chatter that she knew he wasn’t truly listening to. She was indifferent to his attention, though, understanding that any time the boy spent lost in his thoughts was him processing the change in their relationship.

Nineteen let out a sigh, looking around the space. "It must be nice to have such a nice bedroom, Master. I'm still not sure where I'll be sleeping tonight."

"What do you mean? You have a room," Levi reminded her.

Nineteen noted Levi's sudden attention. "I can't stand sharing a room with Olivia," she shrugged. "You know she talks shit about you behind your back."

Levi chuckled. "I mean, she talks shit to my face, too."

Nineteen rolled her eyes. "She's all talk. Don't let her push you around. She needs to learn her place."

Encouraged Master to Take Charge: +1 VP

"It doesn't bother me," Levi replied automatically, not entirely sure if it was true. "I can't imagine having John as a brother was easy. Plus, she was obviously born poor."

"Speaking of, are you planning on telling her about Jezebel?" Nineteen asked.

"I... don't know," he replied after a moment's hesitation.

Nineteen considered him for a moment, but didn't say anything. She sighed. "I should probably go."

"Why?"

"You have your date, don't you, with secretary bitch?" Nineteen reminded her.

Levi's heart sank. "Shit, that's right."

Nineteen got up, bare back on full display. "I know I don't need to say it, but don't believe a word of that homewrecking bitch. If I were in your position, I'd make sure she was the next Jezebel."

"I know what you mean," Levi replied with a bitterness in his voice that surprised him.

Lauren took a step away from Levi, but hesitated before turning to him. "Speaking of, I have a request."

"Yeah?" Levi asked, eyes darting along her nude front.

Lauren brought her hands together, interlocking her fingers nervously. "All the stuff I told you about. You know, about my parents. Please, promise me you won't tell anyone."

Levi felt a sudden, vindictive thought enter his mind about refusing to make such a promise, and instead telling everyone as payback for how Lauren had informed the school about his own parents' divorce. However, he fought the thought down.

"Of course," he nodded. "I promise."

Nineteen smiled weakly. "Thank you."

Lauren Peterson

Nineteen stepped out of the entrance to Levi's tower into the castle's hallway. Taking a deep breath, she paused for a moment, the sound of the heavy wooden door thudding closed behind her.

'Okay, we're clear. Now give me my fucking body back!' Lauren commanded.

'Manners cost nothing, dear,' Nineteen sighed. 'You could at least say please.'

'I've been humiliated, butt fucked, and lost all pride! I don't have to say anything!'

Nineteen rolled her eyes before relinquishing command.

Lauren stumbled forward as control was returned to her. She began shaking with simmering rage. Her anger, which had been slowly festering since Levi invaded her ass, no longer contained.

'I need a shower,' she seethed, storming down the hallway in a blind fury.

However, just as her temper was reaching a boiling point, she turned the corner and nearly collided with Olivia, who instinctively jumped back with graceful, ninja agility.

'Oh god damn it!' Laurens eyes flared with irritation at the muscular woman.

"Hey there," Olivia said with a teasing smile, crossing her arms over her chest. "I saw your score. Looks like you two have been busy!" she joked.

"FUCK OFF, DYKE!" Lauren shouted, releasing all her pent-up anger at the woman before her.

Olivia moved before Lauren had a chance to react. With a swift motion, she shoved the goth against the cold, hard wall, pinning her there. Olivia's face contorted with fury, her mind flashing back to all the times that her father had used that word. "WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY TO ME?" she demanded, her voice a thunderous roar.

"Azure told us how you scissored the Japanese whore!" Lauren sneered. "Not that it's any surprise you'd be into that, man hands!"

'Lauren! Stop!' Nineteen advised, but she was too angry to listen.

"Shut the fuck up, you little shit!" Olivia shouted, pressing her harder against the wall.

"So strong," Lauren laughed. "Disgusting. At least you actually looked like a woman when Azure titted you up like that."

SLAM

Olivia swung her fist through the air towards Laurens' head. The blow struck the stone wall with a dull thud, mere inches from Lauren’s face. Olivia's grip on the goth slipped as she released her, and making her crumple to the ground.

"The wrong girl was eliminated," Olivia said, her voice dripping with contempt. "Her sacrifice was wasted on you."

She turned on her heel and strode away, leaving Lauren crumpled on the ground.

'Lauren, are you okay?' Nineteen asked. 'That was beyond reckless.'

Lauren ignored her. 'That's it. We're eliminating her first. I want that bitch out of my sight.'

'Of course, we will. But you need to have patience.'

Lauren shook her head. 'No. No more waiting around. We're taking her out tonight.'

Nineteen hesitated. 'Oh, will we now?' she asked skeptically.

Lauren nodded. 'I have an idea.'

Levi Summers

Levi sat upright on his lavish sofa as he fought to keep his anger and anxiety at bay. His gaze was fixed on the heavy front door of the tower, wishing it would never open.

He was dressed casually in a faded t-shirt and jeans, refusing to put in the effort to dress fancy for Ji-Woo of all people.

The doorbell chimed, slicing through the tense silence. Clenching his jaw in frustration, he rose from his seat and made his way to the door. With a deep breath, he turned the doorknob and opened it slowly.

Standing there, dressed in her skimpy black dress, was Ji-Woo. "Hello, Master," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Bonus Image