Talia's Confession

Talia had not been looking forward to this, but she knew that she had to tell him everything. She was glad she could feel what things she had to confess. Though she could only tell when she really thought about preparing to confess. Talia had heard Sam shout at what seemed like the top of her lungs as Talia could clearly understand what Sam had said. Talia almost got up to go out to check if everything was okay, but she didn’t hear any further commotion besides some quiet chatter just outside the door, and she feared that if she got up, she would lose her resolve.

Not long after, Mark came inside the cottage, seeing the interior for the first time. It felt homey and rustic. Cozy quilts and furs, burning wood in the fireplace, and an open kitchen make the space feel like a homey little cottage in the country to retire in with your wife. The bed is wide enough for two and filled with feather pillows and thick furs covering it. There’s still the smell of baking pies lingering in the air. Talia was on the edge of the bed waiting for Mark.

“Hey Talia, sorry for keeping you waiting,” Mark told her as he shut the door behind himself.

“It’s fine. I needed the time to collect myself and think about what all I need to confess to you.”

“Okay. So how exactly do you want to do this?”

“I guess, if you could not look at me and listen. Please do not say anything until after I am done. This is going to be embarrassing enough as it is.”

“Hey, there is no reason to be embarrassed. I doubt that anything you have thought of in the last few hours comes even remotely close to being dirtier than anything in my top ten dirty thoughts of today.” Mark sat down on the opposite side of the bed from Talia, facing away. “Alright, I guess we can go ahead whenever you are ready to begin your confession.”

Talia began to tell Mark her sins, and as they came pouring out, she just couldn’t stop telling him, “Okay, so when we kissed, I really wanted to do it again and was thinking I could get used to it. I felt awful about doing that to Allie. It wasn't right, even if you were the only guy here. And when we faced that dragon, I wanted to flee, but that isn’t the problem; the problem is that I was thinking I could push down Ellen if I needed to, so I could get away. And I have constantly been thinking about how Laura is such a slut and calling her horrible names in my head. I have also been thinking a lot of horrible things about you, like you’re a degenerate pervert who is loving this whole situation. That any kindness you're showing right now is just to lure us into being your sex slaves. You even said that you like the idea of enslaving us, not just the idea of having us in your harem, but actually being your property. When you said that you wouldn’t do that to us unless we wanted you to, I didn’t believe you, but also thought: Would it really be that bad? Especially compared to what could happen to us on the show? That I might end up enjoying it. I mean, I would resist, but if I were your **** and you **** yourself on me, then it really wouldn’t be my fault, I thought, and so what if I enjoy the sex in that situation. Then, when talking with the other girls, I told them I would do what I could to help keep them from being eliminated as long as I wasn’t in danger of elimination myself. That part was true, but what I didn’t say was that I was willing to eliminate each of them if it meant protecting my loved ones from being on this show. I am disgusted with myself because it wasn’t just that I was willing to see them eliminated, but I would actually ensure it if that was what was needed to make sure I didn’t get eliminated. Then the thing I feel worst about is that after all that, I just wanted to give up and screw the consequences. I saw what happened to contestants who were eliminated in Cassandra’s eyes, and part of me thought maybe that would be better. I’m not strong enough for this, I can’t handle it, even if it means hurting the ones I love.” At this point, Talia just began to cry.

Mark got up and went to the other side of the bed and sat a respectful distance away so she would have some space still. “Talia. Could you look at me?” Mark said in as considerate a voice as he could. Talia got herself under some control and looked at him, but had trouble maintaining eye contact. “I want to start with, I’m not a priest. I’m not going to say you are forgiven; this is your penance, go and sin no more. I do want to address each of the things you said, okay?” Talia nodded. “First, I will say that I don’t think there is much, if anything, to forgive that you just told me. When you kissed me, it was nice, but also you did it for a clear purpose: to regain your voice. While Allie might not have liked it at the time, she is smart and reasonable, and I doubt that she holds it against either of us. For thinking of pushing Ellen down to get away, I get that. Dragon fear is apparently no joke. You were in shock, as were all of us. I am a degenerate pervert. You have nothing to feel bad about for thinking the truth. I am not loving this, but I am aroused by this, which are two very separate things. As for possibly enjoying me being rough and forceful with you, so what? Everyone has kinks, even if they aren’t willing to admit them. Wanting to protect yourself from elimination isn’t wrong. If I were in your position, my policy about elimination would be about the same. As for wanting to give up, people get overwhelmed all the time; that is nothing to be ashamed about. Now I do have a question for you. Is this normal for you, or new to be overwhelmed with thoughts like this?”

“I was like this before; it was part of why my relationships never worked. I would always have these things pop into my head, and sometimes I couldn’t help but express them.”

“Okay. I wanted to know if it was just the transformation or not. I guess here is the question you have to ask yourself: what is important to you? You need to be able to answer that because, as much as I wish it were the case, you won’t come out of this show the same way you came into it. None of us will. So what is the most important thing to you? A few things come to my mind, and I am not saying it is either or, but you should take action with the idea that some will take priority over others. It will bring you less grief. The two biggest things would be are, your loved ones, like your sister, a higher priority or your faith? I—” Talia cut Mark off before he could continue.

“My family, and my sister, without question. If I have to go to hell to save my sister or whichever loved one would replace me, I’ll make that devil’s bargain.” The room was silent after her words. I really would do just about anything if Cassandra would promise me that. Crap. “I need to confess this to you, or it will be worse later. I just thought I would be willing to do just about anything to protect them. Like if Cassandra offered me the option to guarantee that my loved ones wouldn’t be my replacement if I got eliminated, I would probably accept.” And with that, Cassandra popped into the room.

“Oh, really?! How fun, hmmm, let's see, let me run this up the chain really fast. Yep, got approval for an exception to the rules from my producer about replacement contestants. Actually, I am a little surprised about that. I can make you that deal if you want, —”

“Cassandra!” Mark seethed, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“What I am trying to do is help the poor girl. She is so god damn repressed because of her upbringing. I don’t like her, but I still would like her to be happy as part of the harem. No reason not to hear the deal, right? You don’t even need to take it right now; you just have to decide before your date night. In exchange for a guarantee of not bringing any of your loved ones as your replacement if you are eliminated, I would be allowed to add, subtract, or exchange five words you would use to describe yourself or in ideas you have, and that would be your new truth.”

“Absolutely not!” Mark yelled, “Talia, do not take that deal. One word would be too much.”

“I’m confused. What do you mean?” Talia inquired, brows furrowed.

“Well, you probably would describe yourself as heterosexual. I could change that to bisexual, and that would be your truth; you would be attracted to men and women.”

“Which is why even one word would be unacceptable. She could do so much damage with just that. What if she replaced say, professor with whore, or Catholic with Satanist? With the right word, she could essentially fundamentally alter who you are as a person.”

“Okay, no way I would accept that,” Talia said, understanding the consequences.

“Hmm, I’m willing to alter it slightly, instead of me making the changes, Mark does, but it is ten words, and he has to use all ten. No, using it on frivolous stuff either, you have to use it on something you think would make her better as part of your harem, in whatever role you envision for her. And Mark, you don’t get to choose if Talia takes the deal or not. I’ll let you think about it, Talia. Just call me if you want to accept the deal. Until later, Ta-ta,” Cassandra teleported away.

They sat in silence for a moment, not really knowing what to do or say after the abrupt interruption in their conversation ended.

Talia spoke up first, “So, that deal seems a lot less bad than her first offer.”

“Look, Talia, I can’t stop you from taking it, but I would prefer you not to. I’ll understand if you do, though. I have loved ones I would want to protect from this, so I get it. Unless you want to talk more, a few of the girls are waiting for me to finish talking with you so we can make some purchases.”

“I think I’m good, nothing more to confess for now. I think I will talk with the others about the deal and see what they would do. It might give me a better perspective. Thank you, Mark. And have a good night.”

“Have a good night, Talia.” With that, Mark walked out of the cottage.