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It would be convenient to say that Alexis needed some time to cool off, but really she needed something to grasp onto. She felt like everyone was against her for the mere crime of being a skeptic. Even the one person who should definitely have her back was choosing to side with the guy fucked up in the head. Yeah, they were close as siblings, but wasn't that the issue?

Alexis thought she could always depend on Penelope until breakfast. Everyone in high school knew they spent all their free periods together, and whichever one reached the dining hall first would reserve two seats next to each other. Penelope was, of course, much more popular because of her conventional beauty and disarming personality, but she never confided in other girls the way she would confide in Alexis. While most 12th graders kept their college applications close to the vest, Penelope told Alexis about every single school she was looking at and which essays were tougher than others (Western New York was somewhere in the middle). For her 18th birthday in May, instead of throwing a big bash, Penelope invited Alexis to her shared birthday dinner with Hector and their mom, and the next day the two girls spent hours at the mall. As long as she was at least somewhat available, Penelope made sure to go to Shock of Mars concerts, even if the "concert" in question was really rehearsal in the basement. Most importantly, Alexis was the first person Penelope came out to, even before her brother.

But what Alexis loved most about her best friend was that Penelope would always come to her defense. She would distract the idiots from making fun of Alexis's green hair or kindly tell off the snobs who would insult Alexis for showing no interest in college. That was the wonderful friend Alexis knew, but that same friend was now switching sides.

Alexis really just wanted to spend the day watching Mean Girls with Penelope, but since that wasn't on the table, she found the workout room where Kristie and Michelle apparently spent their morning. Putting her new muscles to use, Alexis went to town on a punching bag, letting out her anger until the bag had enough. After about half an hour of constant blows, Alexis punched a hole in the bag, and sand poured out around her. She was not going to clean up the mess.

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As the group started to rise from breakfast, they each experienced something unexpected. There was an announcement broadcasted into their heads, which felt quite invasive. "Get ready! The first challenge in this season of Harem Hotel will start promptly at noon in the same room where the introductions took place. See you soon!" They could each recognize Amelia's chipper attitude.

"Did you guys just hear that?" Sophie asked.

"Yeah, loud and clear," Veronica grumbled. She could feel a headache already coming on.

"Why couldn't she just teleport here to tell us in person?" Michelle wondered.

The servant Gabrielle, who seemed to be in charge around the temple, actually had an answer to that question. "Oh, my loving superior just told all of Olympus that update. It was not just for you. Remember, the show is for the audience!" The reminder was both useful and unsettling, and the harem members dreaded the challenge even more.

Erica addressed them one last time as they were walking out of the temple. "I don't know what the challenge will be, but I'm confident in each of you. You're all talented and driven, and I'm rooting for all of you. I'll be there cheering you on." The group seemed to appreciate the encouragement, and Veronica gave her new daughter a big hug before walking out the door, where an uncertain future awaited them.

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Since he was not hosting or technically involved at all, Hector was the last to arrive to the large, open event space. It appeared the same as yesterday, but the big change was that the room was packed. Hundreds of deities bunched up against the walls, leaving only about 40 feet between the members and the crowd. He could see minor gods, dryads, nymphs, and servants galore. None of the immortals looked like the images Hector had of the Olympians in his head, but he could have been wrong. After all, he hadn't met any of them yet.

Much to Hector's relief, Alexis was standing around alongside the rest of the group. Michelle and Sophie were whispering to each other in a serious manner, as if they could strategize for the unknown. Everyone seemed nervous, but Molly especially looked on edge. If there is one thing he knew for certain about his best friend, she didn't like surprises. Waiting to find out what the challenge would be must have been agonizing for Molly. All eight were dressed in form-fitting athletic wear. Hector could see plenty of sports bras and leggings, meaning the women were preparing for possibly a physical challenge, and, knowing the show, a sexual one.

Amelia, meanwhile, was surely relishing building the suspense. She held all the cards and she knew it. Her infuriatingly positive demeanor was making her glow. As an immortal with growing power, her pink aura visibly shined around her body in the bright room. Hector had to squint when looking at her, and she purposefully flashed her white teeth in his direction. Just like during the introductions, she seemed to simultaneously address the harem members and the people watching.

"Welcome, everyone, to the first ever challenge on Mount Olympus! Here on Harem Hotel: Ancient Desire, we had quite the eventful first day with our master, Hector, and the eight members of his harem." Amelia gestured at each of them deftly as she spoke. "I am humbled to see so many beings here interested in my Lady's grand idea, and those of you watching around the clock know we have already had a dramatic morning as someone decided to be the heel." Alexis bristled and turned away from the host. She didn't take kindly to the premise that her animosity was merely an act.

Amelia continued speaking unimpeded while snapping a velvet lounge chair into existence. "Hector, I will ask you to sit here as you join the audience for the duration of the challenge. You have the best seat in the house." Amelia winked at him, which gave Hector a confusing feeling inside. "Your harem will now be put to the test...literally. We have something of a theme today. Since this is the first challenge, we will find out how much the harems know about their master and each other. And since we have taken so many of you away from your academic responsibilities, a classroom will be the perfect setting for this."

Amelia snapped her fingers again, and eight bland desks and chairs appeared in front of her. They were brown and boxy, just like in a middle school. The chairs were dark blue plastic with three vertical lines cut out of the back on top of metal legs, the epitome of discomfort. The harem members reluctantly sat down without being told to, giving Amelia an element of satisfaction.

They had only seen her in the pink dress so far, but Amelia immediately changed into a while button down, black pencil skirt, black flats, and square-rimmed glasses. An actual pencil appeared in her hair tied up in a bun. She then stared at the group of women sitting near her. With a flash of guilt and embarrassment, Hector realized he wanted Amelia to stare him down in that outfit, too. Amelia and Penelope must have noticed, but they did not comment on it. Instead, the host took on a more commanding tone. "Your challenge will be to answer a 20-question quiz before 30 minutes are up. You will be ranked 1-8 based on how many questions you answer correctly, and time of completion will be used as a tiebreaker. The first 15 will be multiple choice, while the final five will be open ended. Once you have marked down an answer, you cannot change it." Paper and pens appeared on each desk, but Amelia smirked evilly.

"To spice things up for the audience and raise the difficulty level, you will each have a vibrator in your vaginas. There are four settings, and the intensity will increase every five questions." Molly and and Veronica gasped at the news, while Alexis, Carla, and Kristie groaned. Sophie and Michelle gave each other a look as if they could have predicted this scenario, but Penelope could only shake her head in the way fans of losing teams often do.

Their pants all stayed on, but bumps were suddenly visible through the thin material, and not the same kind as in Hector's. Amelia, in her sexy get up, had the audacity to look at him and lick her lips. "You're time starts...now!"