Clouds Form

Victoria was forced to watch in horror as Vicky moved around the Hotel grounds planning her assault, getting acquainted with the foxes, cutting her hair!

'Our hair Victoria, but don't stress about it. After all you've spent almost 10 years trying to cut me out of your life, so I'm very used to being ignored, and it isn't assault if there's consent. I know we didn't take Mr. Carter's class, but surely you know that much.'

Victoria would've rolled her eyes if she could. That salon, attended by one of Nymeera's many purple foxes, was Vicky's first stop. Her next stop was the BP Store where she followed Dana's advice and used all 500 of her BP to buy a tracksuit. She, of course, got a skimpy little schoolgirl outfit to go with it, but she wasn't interested in it. Symbols of innocence were nice, very sexy, but this warped pile of fabric had all of its innocence removed by tailor. There wasn't enough left to cover Suki's thighs, much less display her innocence.

'So the plan is to manipulate Dana into doing all the dirty work and enjoying the perks while WE burn everyone's trust to the ground and fuel the audience's already mounting dislike of US? I'd honestly be okay with the idea since it seems designed to get you excised away from me as soon as possible if I wasn't attached to this sinking ship you've put us on...' Victoria grumbled, images of her former squad, all staring at her with hateful, or worse, hurt looks on their faces. It felt like it should've sent a pang of guilt through her heart, but all Vicky seemed to feel was eagerness at the idea of having her gorgeous young students kneeling before her, eyes full of need...possibly even tears. Victoria felt her heart skip a beat at the erotic image.

'Must be nice to be you Victoria. You get to have all the fun and pretend to play the victim card to avoid all the moral outrage.'

'Pretend?! I don't want-'

'Don't lie to yourself,' Victoria felt her jerk to a halt as Vicky stopped in the middle of the cobblestone road, just in front of the Hotel.

'Excuse me?'

'We're the same person Victoria. Get that through OUR head! Maybe you could pretend to not have these feelings when I couldn't speak up for myself, but I feel what you feel, your thoughts are echoing in my head the same as mine echo in yours. When I think of Suki and Summer and Lauren and Patika all lined up, on their knees, begging to be taken, leashes around their pretty little throats...you can ignore the flutter in our chest, the surge of adrenaline through out body that makes us tremble with desire, you can pretend it isn't there or that you didn't feel it, gaslight yourself into believing it's all just me, but I know. We have the same brain babe, and it makes us feel hot and horny for seducing our sweet little students into making bad decisions that feel so good. If you want to claim some moral high ground just say you didn't choose to be born with this kink, this need...but I won't let you lie me out of existence. Not anymore...'

Vicky started moving again, and Victoria could feel how hungry she was. She could feel all the thoughts half forming in her mind, the shaking desire to bed Suki again, to take that gorgeous young girl's innocence and take full advantage of it in every sexual way she could...and beneath it all, a deep frustration. Victoria spent many long nights in prison, crying her eyes out as she worked to suppress these feelings, these desires, supported by the only man who believed she could change, and God. A soul crushing experience for her, filled with constant reminders of her weak will and sick mind, but it was the love of God that brought her this far...not far enough, but farther than she could ever make it alone. Vicky seemed to have a different interpretation though. When those thoughts flitted through their shared mind, Vicky's emotions broke from Victoria's, feeling despair at locking away a part of herself that makes her happy. Dread at the idea that she was to be forced to stomach limiting her desires for the rest of her life. Anger at God for making her like this. How unfair it all was. Created just to be locked away in some mental vault forever and that was what people called good and right? Ridiculous!

'Fuck you.' Victoria thought venomously. 'You really think that just because people happen to have a desire they should automatically act on them? Even if that desire is dangerous? Or hurts people! Inhibitions aren't just there to cock block people, they keep us safe, and sane!'

'Yeah? Well I'm not just a desire anymore. Fox magic made me a real girl babe, and I'll be damned, literally or otherwise, before I let myself get shoved into a distasteful little corner of your mind to wile my days away on the inside looking out.' Victoria felt her body stop and turn to look into the distance, over to the massive volcano that heated the area around the hotel to near tropical levels. 'We aren't in Kansas anymore Dorothy. There's no prison system to take me away for not playing nice. The audience can cry about it all they please as they watch me indulge in being myself for the first time in fucking forever. Tell them to keep their tissues close and stay tuned.'

'It's gonna be a hell of a show.'

Suki shivered, which was strange because it wasn't like it was cold or anything. With the volcano nearby everything was actually very warm. In fact it was kinda tempting to get a swimsuit as the weather seemed perfect for wandering around in minimal clothing. Suki wondered if any of the other Contestants noticed this... Maybe she should get a swimsuit now to take advantage of the weather before anyone else thought of it. Or was that the right move? She didn't really see how just being more comfortable could give her a sizeable enough advantage to warrant the BP spending, but she did get a discount on her clothes that the others wouldn't. Or was what she was wearing now good enough? She had to be VERY careful not to look down, but this outfit was a lot more revealing than her last, which she had to change out of after staining it with tears.

Luckily there was a laundromat run by this cute little fox to help her with that, though Suki wasn't sure why she had to carry her dirty clothes all the way out here just to get them cleaned. Was it so Damien might see her and become attracted to her? No that can't be it, why would a man be attracted to her dirty laundry?

...Suki sighed, she came out here to clear her head and stop thinking about the game for a moment. In chess tournaments it was good to take some time to reset and come to each board with a fresh perspective. The problem was... Suki wasn't sure how to take a break. In chess everything was neatly contained in an 8 by 8 board of exactly 64 identically sized squares. The rules were obvious to everyone, or should be, and you got to see everything your opponent was doing. It all just made sense, and she liked that clarity. Life...wasn't so neat and tidy. Suki didn't know how to take a break from a game she couldn't walk away from, that she wasn't even sure where it started or stopped. If she was out of the hotel, was that far enough away for the game to stop? Did she need to trek into the jungle? Summer's text warning of...'grabby creatures' made her not really wanna do that, and that really felt like the game anyway. What about the volcano in the distance? If she made it all the way there, would she be outside the game? Did she need to go back to her house? Or would even that still be playing Harem Hotel?

Suddenly Suki felt very trapped, like she was suddenly in a very confined space with little oxygen, despite being outside. She'd never been inside a game before, unable to leave. Those 64 squares would always be right where she left them, and she could leave them at any time...but this was a cage should couldn't escape. All she could do was find the best moves and play them, and try to survive.

...

So what was the best move? It was usually so obvious, and she thought it'd be the same here. It was a game about having sex with Damien and scoring points, that's what "harem" meant. If she wanted to score the most points she needed to have the best sex, so clearly the best move was getting the one who was the best at sex, which was clearly Syn, to teach her so she could be the best at sex too...but that didn't work at all. If this was chess Suki could've seen Syn's moves and known what was going to happen, but Syn surprised her by not fulfilling her promise. Suki didn't know what to do about that, if her opponents could just decide not to let their pieces be captured, how could she win? How could she move forward at all?

She wasn't supposed to be thinking about this... It wasn't helping the space feel bigger, less suffocating...but what else was she supposed to do? When those 64 squares became her prison, what else was there to think about?

"Fuck..."

Suki hoped she was using the curse word right.

Nymeera sat in her office, waiting. Truly that was the worst part about being a host. Unlimited cosmic power, fully subject to the glacial pace of mortals putting off the inevitable. Nymeera's fox tails flexed behind her as she moved around the brightly lit office restlessly, the dark purple wallpaper making the room seem darker and smaller than it was, making the kitsune appear to loom even larger. Of course, that was just some subtle psychological trick, Nymeera really could make herself loom as large as she wanted with Hotel Magic™ but brute forcing everything with magic was awfully boorish. A lady could do more with less, something several of her current contestants really needed to learn.

A knock sounded on her door. Nymeera's tail twitched and the door glided open effortlessly, revealing a rather stern looking Damien Carter at the other side.

"Hmm, not who I was expecting," Nymeera purred amusedly, crossing her legs one over the other with slow, deliberate movements as Mr. Carter strode boldly into her domain.

"Nymeera. I'd like a word," Mr. Carter said with a deliciously serious look on his face.

"Would you now? And what word would you like Master Carter?"

"I'm not comfortable with the direction you're pushing this show."

"You're not comfortable with having a harem full of gorgeous, capable young women serving you in every sexual capacity? Well, I'm sure if you give it a little more time you'll warm up to the idea," Nymeera purred, amusement dripping from her tone.

"No, I'm not comfortable with you pushing everyone so hard to fight over me," Damien replied without blinking. It was a shame the other girls weren't here to see this. A man standing his ground was awfully sexy. "What you did at the end of Gabriella's date, there was no reason for it. She did what you wanted, to a 'T,' and we both bonded and enjoyed each other's company as a result. If all you want is for me and the women here to share a romantic and even sexual connection, she succeeded completely, but that isn't enough for you is it? You don't want everyone to just have a good time, you want the drama and the emotional highs and lows of some sitcom. That's why you're pushing her, and everyone else, to go bigger, do more, and to be at each others' throats!"

"Welcome to Harem Hotel Damien. I must say you're fashionably late to the party," Nymeera replied while smoothly rising from her seat, her tails fanning out behind her, making her appear much larger than her otherwise average height might suggest. "But you're wrong about one thing. This isn't a sitcom, no one's long lost sister is going to show up, though I haven't ruled out evil twins. It's a gameshow, and that means competition, but most importantly that means a prize."

"The wish?" Damien frowned thoughtfully. "You really think it's that important to them? I think they've already seen through your manipulation attempts, so why not give it a rest? This show doesn't have to be tearing each other down for a prize no one's even mentioned since you told us about it. If anything they're far more scared of what you'll do to them out of spite."

"Oh Damien... You'd really think 40 years would've made you a little less naive," Nymeera's smile turned predatory and she licked her lips. "You think they aren't thinking about that wish? I showed them my power to reshape reality more than enough times by now. You're the Master, your prize is assured no matter what happens, so you naturally don't feel the need to worry about things like getting 100 VP to avoid elimination and winning the final VP tally to become Queen of the Harem to get...well, anything you want."

"Do you really think they aren't all thinking about it? Constantly? They've felt first hand what I can do, the stick yes, but with a cleverly disguised carrot slipped inside. I don't think it escaped anyone's notice that my transformations didn't just transform their bodies, but their minds as well. I've been showing off every chance I get because I want them to keep expanding their imaginations as to what they can really, truly ask for. I want them off of the basic 'I wish I was rich' garbage, and thinking about what fundamental changes to reality they want to ask for. I assure you Damien, even if they aren't saying it out loud, even if they seem distracted by whatever shenanigans I'm planning this week. All of them, each one, is thinking about it, and I'm going to make sure they keep thinking about it as they slit each others' throats...for you."

"Damn it Nymeera! These are real lives you're messing with! Pitting them against each other like this is...it's..."

"Unethical?" Nymeera could hear the snideness coming off her own voice.

"Counterproductive! Why spend so much effort making a harem for me where there's so much baggage? If they don't get along with each other how will we stay together after all the magic is locked in place and the show ends!"

Nymeera paused for a moment, her eyes and sneer softening to something far less sinister, something almost...soft. "Well, that's what you're here for Mr. Carter. Don't you worry, I'll do my job of scaring them all into your waiting arms. You just make sure not to forget to pick up any necessary pieces."

"Nymeera..."

"I think you've had your word Mr. Carter. I suggest you return to your room. You should have a very...lively night tonight."

"You don't have to do this. There's-"

"My goodness. Other hosts can't get their Masters out of their rooms at all and here I am with one who can't seem to stay in his lane. Let me be perfectly clear, to you and all the audience members out there hoping for the most predictable plot twist in any given Harem Hotel season. I'm not going to be joining your harem, in any way, shape or form EVER. It isn't happening. Don't ask. Mr. Carter. Please, do try to read my intentions clearly this time. I'm absolutely committed to playing the villain for your little group of ingénues. I will not change. I will not defer. I will not hold back. Unlike some Hosts who can't manage to keep it together for one single season, I plan on being around till the triumphant end. Am I finally being clear enough?"

"...I think you protest too much." Nymeera rolled her eyes at that, but let it roll off of her. The man just didn't understand. He saw the good in her and thought that he could draw it out and fix everything. It was a trait she wanted her Master to have, but he was so damn stubborn about it. He understood that everyone had a role to play, and knew that her role was that of the villainous host, but still thought that she was doing so under duress or because she had no choice. Well, he was going to learn, very soon, that she wasn't playing around, and when it finally clicked, it was going to hurt. Which was a shame, but she hasn't been anything if not consistent.

"Is that all?" Nymeera asked impatiently, even giving her foot a few taps just to be safe.

"I just...I don't want..." Damien took a breath and looked Nymeera in the eye. "I'd rather have the kind of relationships where we like and trust one another. I don't want anyone to feel like they're being used or stepped over for a prize. No matter how villainous you plan on being, you're still the host of this show. As the Master my own feelings matter."

"I'll keep them in mind," Nymeera said, much softer than she intended. Damn, Damien actually gave a hint of a smile when he turned to leave, and here she had JUST told him she wasn't going to play nice. Well, he'll learn soon enough. At least he'd have something to distract him tonight.

Speaking of which...

"Now, this I was expecting," Nymeera purred dangerously, showing her teeth like a ravenous fox hunting for a meal. Syn didn't back down at all as she entered Nymeera's snug little office, her tight little suit, a gift from her Dressed for Suck-cess TF no doubt, tailored perfectly to her body, hinting at everything despite showing nothing. A good reminder that power was sexy, and even without showing skin, Syn could really work it.

"I assume you already know who'll be taking the first night with Damien..."

"Why, of course, the Contestants all agreed it'd be Gabriella...well, it was majority rule at least," Nymeera said, her smile absolute poison. Syn's shoulders tensed up and she bristled visibly before closing her eyes, taking a breath, and opening them again, giving Nymeera a look of pure determination.

"I'm using my transformation, Master's Mistress," she said, her eyes and voice cold enough to give Crystal a run for her money. "Gabby can fuck herself. Tonight, Mr. Carter is mine." Nymeera's eyes practically glowed as her expression turned positively feral, two of her tails rising up and brushing together in a pantomime of a snap.

"Done."