The Master's Reveal - (exarchofsechrima)

"Well, that went as well as can be expected, I guess. Now where is that assistant?" Wrynn says as she looks about impatiently, tail lashing back and forth. "Seriously? Is she still out of it? Fine, I'll do it myself."

After burning a complicated summoning circle into the stage with a few gestures, the tall woman reaches into a hidden pocket in her dress to pull out a normal looking phone. "Now to make sure I have the right person. Ah, there." With a final gesture the circle briefly fills with flames that die out to reveal the season's master. Or is it masters? For two figures appeared. One is very androgynous-looking. Sporting a diminutive build, with long white hair tied up in two ponytails by hair accessories that look like demon horns, and wearing shabby black kimonos. His skin is very pale, as white as snow, and his eyes are bright red.

The other has a similar look, but appears more feminine, with short white hair with red streaks lacking the accessories, and her incorporeal body is clad in a white kimono.

"Greetings Isolde to Harem Hotel! I am the season's host, Wrynn Soulcatcher, but please call me Wrynn."

The one with long hair, Arley, looks around, visibly out of it. "Uh... what the heck? Where am I? Is... Is this... Oh god, did-did the pills work? Am I... dead?"

"I should be so lucky. No, this is... somewhere else." The incorporeal one, Isolde, comments.

"You are not dead, no, this is Harem Hotel. Where your fantasy is about to become a reality. And it is a pleasure to finally meet you Isolde, and I guess the meat suit as well."

That caught Arley's attention. "Wait... Isolde? You... You can see her?"

"Of course, I invited her." Wrynn's phone beeps at her. "One second." Looking at the screen, she raises one eyebrow. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" She exclaims, before turning back to face Arley. "Well it would seem by Harem Hotel rules the master must be corporeal, so unfortunately Arley here is the season's master. Sorry Isolde, it was supposed to be you."

But Arley doesn't seem to hear her. "And... And you can hear her, too... Then... Then... I'm not crazy?"

"It seems you would do well to pay attention."

"Well you may be crazy, who am I to judge, but if you are asking about Isolde here she is very real. I guess you'll just have to enjoy your harem through him. Sorry about the mix-up, no one told me spirits couldn't be harem masters."

"Then Isolde is real... Then... Wait, but... I thought... So all this time... Wait, sorry, what? Harem? Huh?"

"Yes, harem, as in Harem Hotel. Do you not know about the show? Isolde certainly does."

"I can't say I'm a fan of it. But what exactly was your intention, roping my Arley into this?"

"My intention was to give you a harem. I did not expect the person you're haunting to get it instead. Well, too late for sour grapes, he's tied to them irrevocably now."

"Wait, wait, I don't get it, what's going on? One minute, I was in my room, about to swallow a handful of sleeping pills to finally get away from Isolde, and the next minute I'm here, and there's this random woman, and-and-and she can see Isolde, and then she's talking about a harem, and- what's going on?!"

"You have been chosen as master of a new season of the interdimensional reality game show Harem Hotel. Well Isolde was anyways, you getting it was more of a technicality. Moving right on, here eight contestants will compete for roles in your harem. Also, you should know better than to think **** will free you from a spirit. And I suppose I might as well warn you now that you will be unable to die during the show regardless, or suffer any lasting harm for that matter. And I am not just some random woman, Arley." The host says as she draws herself up to her full nine feet of height as her eyes glow a fiery red. "I am the host of the show. Wrynn Soulcatcher, Elder Wyrm of the Outer Darkness!" As the glow fades, she takes on a more friendly demeanor once again. "But seriously, just call my Wrynn."

"I-I... It's not like, I want to die or anything... But Isolde... You have no idea what it's like, having her in my head, telling me all these dark things... Some days, I just... I just want her to stop... But... Everything you're saying... About these people... And a harem... You can't mean... You want me to sleep with these people, do you?" Arley tries to inquire, looking somewhat frantic and worried.

"As if I would ever let that happen." Retorts an indignant-looking Isolde.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say I want to see it, but the audience certainly does. Probably."

"I... I don't think Isolde would like that. And I... I don't want that, either. It's not like they would want someone like me anyway."

"Look at it this way, you have one person telling you to do dark things, why not balance that with eight people telling you nice things. And they do want you, that's the fun part about this season, aside from you they are all volunteers. Well, not you specifically. They don't know anything about you. But they want to be in a harem, and transformed."

"That's... Even worse then. Isolde would..."

"Come now... there's nothing wrong with you having your fun. And it's not like any of them would take my place as your favorite girl... right?"

"Look at is this way, they are really Isolde's harem. She just has to enjoy them vicariously through you."

"I have no interest in any of those things."

"And Isolde, no one is ever going to be as close to Arley as you are. No reason to be jealous of the people here to serve you both. Who knows, maybe becoming a master will lead Arley closer to some of the things you want. Either way you both better get used to them, you are now irrevocably tied together forever."

"Forever can be a lot shorter than you might think." Isolde answers ominously.

Arley gestures at the spirit haunting him. "You see what I'm talking about?!"

Wrynn laughs with manic glee. "Believe me, I know a lot about forever. So any more questions before I send the two of you off to watch the interviews of your harem members? Best to get you familiar with them before throwing you all together you know. Usually on these shows they'd all be people you knew or at least knew of, but we're doing some things differently this time around."

"Why do I have to do this? Why can't you just send me back home?"

"Too late for that. Your fate was sealed to theirs as soon as I brought you here. Though it was supposed to be Isolde." Wrynn glares at her phone for a moment. "It can't be undone now. Trying to shirk your duties will only make things worse for them and you. And I do mean both of you. The people I'm working with here would think nothing of throwing you in a meat body and making you candidate number nine for not playing ball Isolde. I'm rooting for you though, make the best of this."

Arley has nothing to say. He looks like he is in shock.

"A lot to take in. I get that. Take as long as you need to watch the videos and catch your breath. There's a nice cool jug of milk in the room that won't run out. Should be quite refreshing. Oh, one last thing, do you happen to have a favorite color? Something you both like would be best."

"White." Arley and Isolde both answer at the same time in a resigned tone, though for different reasons.

"Excellent choice." Wrynn gestures and a dark doorway appears. "Straight through here if you will, and as I said take as long as you need."

Arley, seeing **** left but to comply, begrudgingly trudges forward with a vacant, haunted expression on his face.

From Isolde, there is only a smirk.

After the two passed through the dark entrance it fades away and Wyrnn presses a button on her phone, after a moment she lifts it to her ear. "What is this about no incorporeal masters?!... No, no one told me any such thing. Well it's a good thing she had some sucker she's tormenting or we'd have to find someone else... Yes, yes, we'll make due. And yes the protections are on, she won't be able to kill anyone... Yes we're just about ready to start, you have the interviews. Soon as the unhappy couple have gone over them we can pull everyone on stage... Yes, she's been very helpful. I'll let her know."

After pressing another button the winged woman slipped the phone back into her pocket while shaking her head. "What a bloody mess."