Five Card Stud

Lois saw the demon raise one black eyebrow as the reporter named her game. Unlike draw poker, in stud you bet on each card as it was dealt—which meant the stakes were higher. On the other hand, it also meant that with the two of them, there would only be ten cards on the table, so the hands were almost certain to be lower—Lois could win with a low pair, or even a high card if neither of them drew anything.

Then again, so could Blaze.

A little thrill went through Lois a she shuffled the cards. This might be dangerous, but it also meant there was no real element of skill to the game. The demon was no doubt experienced at cards, if she had already managed to out-gamble four women.

No, Lois told herself, better to trust to my luck.

"Ante up," Blaze's voice and face were carefully neutral as she slid a chip forward, a gleaming red question mark. Lois slid forward the chip with an image of her bra on it.

The reporter dealt the first cards to each of them facedown, and then dealt the next two face up.

Sitting in front of Blaze was the five of clubs (5♣). In front of Lois, the Jack of spades (J♠). The reporter quickly peaked at her first card—and felt a little thrill. The King of spades (K♠). A good high card...but it was early in the game to get her hopes up.

"Jack high," Lois kept her voice calm and controlled. "Bet one."

She found a chip under her fingers and slid it to the middle of the table, noted that it had a pair of breasts on it. Blaze tossed another chip in, with another question mark.

Two more cards flipped up...

Blaze: (?) 5♣ 3♦

Lois: (K♠) J♠ Q♠

The half-naked reporter's heart fluttered. The Queen of Spades! She had a chance at a straight or a flush...and Blaze didn't seem to have anything at all. Lois felt a growing sense of confidence, and a chip under her fingers.

"Still me. Bet one," Lois tried to project nonchalance. The chip had her panties on it.

"I see you," Blaze lazily slid a chip on the table, this one with Lois' clothes on it. The ghost of a smile passed her features, almost too quick for Lois to see it. "...and raise." The demon slid another chip across the table...this time, another question mark.

Lois' heart skipped a beat. You could raise in stud. Normally you'd do it to bluff, make somebody drop out—or to raise the stakes because you had a good hand and wanted to grow the pot. So why now, instead of last turn?

Because she has a pair. The thought flashed through Lois' mind...and then the sinking realization. All I can do is bet or fold.

With more confidence than she felt, Lois slid another chip forward. This one had a bald pussy, the lips wet and open.

"How do we...decide what we're wagering?" The reporter asked aloud.

"It's based on what we want. You wager the things I want—I wager the things you want. Most of the time it works subconsciously." The demon held up a chip with a red question mark on it. "You want answers most of all, so that's what I wager. But if you choose...concentrate. Think about something you really want."

Lois took a deep breath and focused on the chip in her hand. What do I want? Indecision warred within her, and the reporter licked dry lips. A drink would be nice... and just like that, the chip didn't have a question mark on it anymore. It was a cocktail glass, full of white creamy liquid, like the ones she had drank upstairs.

"You've got it." Blaze's voice and face were still poker-neutral. "But let's continue our game. This is getting...interesting." Lois nodded and dealt out the next cards.

Blaze: (?) 5♣ 3♦ 7♦

Lois: (K♠) J♠ Q♠ 5♥

The reporter's heart sank a little. The five killed any chance she had for a flush or straight...and if Blaze had a pair, then she had no chance of winning with a high card either. Her only hope was to land a higher pair...but before that...

"Queen still high. Bet one," Lois slid a chip forward, and was chagrined to see a another pair of breasts...with pierced nipples, little golden rings hanging down.

"I see you," Blaze didn't smile as she pressed a chip forward...another question mark. Lois took a breath. She wanted answers but...was that all she wanted? "And I raise one." The demon slid another chip forward...and this time Lois focused. The other women had gotten things they wanted out of this, right? Why shouldn't she? In Blaze's hand, the image twisted, shifted... and turned into a familiar bald man in striped pajamas, being kicked out of jail.

"Get out of jail free, eh?" Blaze raised both eyebrows. "Well, that's not what I expected. Clever, though." She stared Lois in the eyes. "Your turn."

Gritting her teeth, Lois slid another chip forward...and saw an image of a lower back, bare ass just grazing the bottom of the chip and...oh no...a spiraling black tramp stamp tattoo.

More than ever, the reporter didn't want to lose...but she didn't dare pull out now. If she pulled out now, she'd lose automatically, with all that intended. It was all down to the final card.