Zachary Blackstone, HH: Vengeance Bitches

Zachary Blackstone walked into a pub to meet his oldest friend, Lynn. Tonight was a night to celebrate. Zachary was now officially divorced. He had filed for the divorce nearly a year ago, but all the court proceedings and divisions of assets had taken months. Zachary was wearing a button-down shirt and a blazer, having just come from his job as a Professor teaching Computer Science at the university around which the city was built.

He found Lynn already sitting at the bar with his favorite drink waiting for him. She had on a tight black shirt with spandex leggings underneath a short skirt. Her strawberry blond hair was tied up in a ponytail, and her blouse had one more button undone than was appropriate for a professional setting. Zach noticed that Lynn was wearing a push-up bra to enhance her meager B-cups. As soon as she turned and noticed Zach, her face lit up, “ZACH!” Lynn stood and threw her arms around him, pressing her cleavage into him. “I already got us drinks, I ordered your favorite.” Lynn practically dragged him to the bar. He picked up the Long Island iced tea Lynn had ordered for him, and they raised their glasses and clinked them together. “To being free of that cheating bitch once and for all.”

“To being single once again.” Zach toasted. They spent a few minutes sipping on their drinks and listening to music. Zach was happy this was finally over, but he couldn’t shake the heartache completely either. He had tried to be a good husband to Heather, especially when she was the one to support him while he was a grad student. Yes, he had a stipend at that time, but he would be in a lot more debt without her support. His marriage wasn’t going well since he got his PhD and finished his postdoc doc getting a full professor position. He had been trying to be more supportive, and even had planned a long weekend getaway for the two of them. He came home early to surprise her, only to find her in bed with another woman. Not just any woman, either, but one of his students.

“Hey, Earth to Zach. You there?” Lynn said, snapping Zach out of his morose thoughts.

“Sorry, just thinking.”

“That you need to get laid to get over that bitch?”

That got Zach to chuckle. “Not exactly, just thinking about how I ended up here.”

“Well, quit thinking about her.” Lynn flagged down the bartender. “Can we get another two rounds? We’re celebrating my friend’s freedom from his cheating ex-wife.” Lynn laid down a hundred for the drinks.

The bartender, a blonde twenty-something, smirked while assessing Zach lingering slightly longer than appropriate. The bartender found Lynn scowling at her when Lynn saw her checking out Zach. She held up her hands, surrendering the territory Lynn was staking out. Not that Zach noticed the exchange. “Of course I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

Lynn gave the bartender a predator smile and turned back to Zach, “So, what’s the plan? Drink, dance, go to your place, and play Mario Party?”

“Sure, Lynn, that sounds like fun. Thanks for helping me through this.”

“Anytime. You don’t have to worry about me, I’ll always look out for you.”

The two spent the next several hours chatting, with one rule: no further talk about Heather. They drank and danced, with Lynn deliberately getting closer than she usually would. When the two were quite intoxicated, they decided to call a cab to head back to Zach’s place. A few minutes later, the yellow taxi pulled up, and the two got inside and gave the woman the address. Zach had a final thought about the cab driver before passing out in the back seat with Lynn passing out as well. Her eyes are stunning, but did they just flicker red?

Zach woke up some time later. He sat on an obsidian throne placed on a dais. It had plush cushioning on the back, seat, and armrests. He looked around and saw he was in a lobby of some sort, though you could be forgiven for thinking it was a throne room. Across from him sat Lynn, ****, tied to a chair. He immediately stood up to go to her, but was stopped as a scepter pressed against him, slightly knocking the wind out of him, and he fell back into the throne.

“Ah, ah, ah. Sorry, but you’ll have to wait, my dear boy. I can’t have you spoiling all the fun.” Zach looked up at the speaker and was confused. The woman, if she could even be called that, was one of the most enchanting and most terrifying individuals he had ever seen. She had jet black hair, and her eyes were red, with black sclera. A pair of red leathery wings sprouted from her back, and a demon’s tail flicked behind her. She wore a floor-length black dress.

“Don’t worry, Zachary, you are in no danger. I’m not your enemy here. But before explaining, we need the rest of the party. I would request that you not struggle, as I would hate to have to restrain the Master from the get-go… Then again, it might be just as fun to break you, too.” The demoness said with a grin, showing off a set of pointed teeth.

Zach didn’t stand back up; he could feel an unnatural heat coming off this woman, and a strange fear overtook him, but he still asked. “Who are you at least?”

“The name’s Delilah, and I’m your host, and the little demon on your shoulder. Now give me a second. The others should be arriving shortly.

Piper was driving home from a long day at the office. The servers crashed because someone decided it was a good idea to ignore the dozen signs she had posted very explicitly saying no food or drink in the server room. She knew her mom would be waiting up for her so they could have dinner together, even if it was well past ten in the evening. She was a good mom like that, always looking out for her. A few of her friends and all of her colleagues had given her grief for still living with her mother despite being twenty-nine years old. ‘You’ll never find a guy if you live with your mom.’ ‘You should get your own space even if you are close,’ and dozens of variations. She had heard them all. She knew her friends meant well, but ever since her dad died eleven years ago, she didn’t want her mother to be living alone, because if there was one thing Piper knew was that her mom had no intention of finding someone new.

Piper pulled into the driveway to find the porch and living room lights on. She turned the key in the lock of the door and found her mother on the couch watching a late-night comedy show. “Piper, welcome home.” Piper’s mother, Caroline Brown, smiled warmly at her daughter. “Let me reheat dinner real quick, and we can eat together.”

Piper sighed but smiled as she put down her purse. “I’ve told you before, Mom, you don’t have to wait to eat with me.”

“Nonsense. So what was it this time?”

Piper groaned, “Not what, but who. Kevin.” She said the name with such venom. Caroline was used to hearing that name said that way. Kevin had been a constant thorn in Piper’s side for months now. Causing one problem after another, and Piper couldn’t do anything about him besides mitigate the damage since he was the CEO’s son. The only other time Caroline ever recalled such venom in her daughter’s voice was when she talked about a former advisee of Caroline’s back when Piper was attending university. The guy was apparently perving on her and a lot of the other girls.

As Caroline put the food in the microwave and pressed start, the power went out, and both women fell **** a moment later.

Heather Pierceson was sitting at home alone, sipping on whiskey, with only a single lamp light on the end table illuminating her living room. So it’s over. Finally over. I can’t believe how stupid I was. Throwing away my marriage for a tryst. Just because I couldn’t stand Zachary making more money than I did. “FUCK!” Heather slammed her glass on the table, spilling some of the whiskey. Why couldn’t my parents just keep their mouths fucking shut? Why did I let Lynn get to me? I wonder if he’ll sleep with her just to rub it in my face now. Even if we were having problems, I can’t believe how stupid I was. Heather sighed as she poured herself another four fingers of whiskey. She sat there slowly drinking to forget until she lost consciousness.

Melinda Clawthorn was once again working night shift in the ER. An ambulance pulled up, and she took over from the EMTs wheeling a gurney into the operating room and began setting up for immediate surgery, with the rest of the ER team. The patient was clearly hopped up on something and had multiple broken bones and lacerations from the car crash. As they lifted the guy onto the operating table, one of his restraints got free, and he punched her in the face, knocking her back, and she hit her head on the hard floor, blacking out.

Xin Lee closed her violin case as she got ready for bed. She looked out the window at the pouring rain. She wanted to cry. “Why did she have to be married?” Xin sighed, then muttered, “Why did she have to be my professor’s wife?”

Xin was in her bedroom, that she had grown up in. She had moved back in with her parents at their insistence after the debacle with her professor and his wife had occurred. They gave her a choice: either move back home and live by their rules, or they would disown her. She couldn’t afford to continue her education if they cut her off, so she complied. They had been setting her up with guys her age that they knew. ‘Respectable men. Men who will become doctor or lawyer.’ They would tell her. She admitted that at least a few of them were attractive, but they were also sexist pricks who she wanted nothing to do with, since they all insisted that she be a housewife.

She changed into her silk pjs and face planted into her pillow as she tried to fall asleep.

Zachary watched as the chairs filled up one by one. The first two after Lynn were his former professor and advisor, as well as her daughter, judging by the resemblance. He honestly hadn’t thought about them in years, but their sudden appearance, materializing out of thin air, drove home the fact that Delilah didn’t just look like a demon; she almost certainly was one. Next, his ex-wife appeared, and Zach groaned. Why did she have to be involved in whatever this bullshit is? Next was a woman in hospital scrubs, who had just a little bit of blood on them, and a black eye. She had red hair in a pixie cut. Zach was trying to place her but couldn't, but knew that he knew her from somewhere. The last woman to appear was a young Chinese-American woman. He knew her all too well. This was Xin, the woman that Heather cheated on him with, as well as his former student. Why these women? They all clearly have some connection to me.

“Ah, finally.” Delilah purred. “Everyone is here.” Delilah whirled the scepter so it was pointing at the six women, and after a crackling sound, the six women regained consciousness. They all looked around frantically but couldn’t move, finding themselves bound and gagged.

Delilah floated down off the dais, her wings flapping behind her. She then said to the ladies, “I’m about to remove your gags. If you shout or interrupt me, I will be putting this gag in your mouth instead, and it will stay there for the remainder of the day.” Delilah held out a hand to one side, and a gag with an eight-inch dildo attached appeared in it. The next moment, all six gags disappeared. None of the women said a word. “Ah, silence, how sweet. I’m glad you aren’t all incompetent, it’s no fun when you break too quickly.”

Xin was trembling but raised her hand, or rather bent her wrist so her palm was up at a ninety-degree angle.

Delilah noticed the hand, “Yes, Xin? What is your question?”

With a trembling voice, she asked, “Where are we? Who are you? What are you? Why did you bring us here?”

“Hmm, that wasn’t one question, but I suppose it ultimately saves us some time. So introductions. My name is Delilah, and I am a demon. Specifically, a demon of wrathful vengeance. As for where you are? You are at one of many Harem Hotels. Which brings us to why you are all here. See you six have been very naughty girls.” Delilah flew up to Zach and perched on an armrest of the throne, running a hand seductively on Zach’s cheek. “Especially towards my dear Zachary here. Very naughty indeed.” Zach pulled his face away from her touch.

“Get your hands off of him!” Lynn shouted.

Delilah smirked, “Ah, thank you for volunteering, Lynn.” Delilah snapped her fingers, and the dildo gag flew towards Lynn and gagged her. “I very explicitly said not to shout or interrupt me. You should all pay attention to my instructions.” Lynn looked furious, though it seemed less because of the gag and more because Delilah was still touching Zach.

Zach was angry now and stood. Delilah thrust the scepter she was holding out in front of him to block his path again. Zach said, “Take that out of her mouth right now, or I will shove that scepter down your own throat.”

Delilah smirked, “Promise?” She flipped the scepter around, offering the handle to Zach. Zach looked at the handle but refused to take it and proceeded to march over to Lynn. Delilah did not try to stop him this time. He tried fiddling with the strap holding the gag in place, but it wouldn’t budge.

“I said that would be in her mouth for the remainder of the day, and I meant it. Lynn should feel lucky, though, that it is already past 10 pm. So she doesn’t have that much longer left. Please take your seat, Zachary, so we can continue.”

Zach glared at Delilah. I clearly have some level of importance here; I need to protect Lynn from whatever bullshit is going on. Zach whispered in Lynn’s ear, “I’m sorry I can’t get that thing off, but I’ll do what I can to help you.” He then reluctantly returned to the throne. Lynn’s eyes were shining with hope, and she gave him a firm nod.

“Now, as I was saying, you are all very bad girls, and to make up for that, you will all be competing for your place in Zachary’s harem. For that is what this place is for: you are on ‘Harem Hotel: Vengeance Bitches’. This is an interdimensional reality show, where your sole purpose in life and in this competition is pleasing your new Master. Now I will invite each of you to give a brief introduction of yourself to the audience, your name, a bit about yourself, your age, your bra size, how you know your Master, and how you wronged your Master. Don't worry about cameras; the audience will see you. Failure to answer will result in a penalty. Xin, please start us off.”

The young woman looked nervous but said, “My name is Xin Lee, I’m currently a Computer Science major. Umm… I like the violin. I’m twenty. My bra size is 32B. I know Professor Blackstone, as he was both a professor in the Computer Science department… and… I slept with his wife.” Xin looked ashamed at that final admission.

Zach leaned forward, glaring at Xin. She at least has the grace to feel bad about it. I never found out if she knew Heather was married or not.

Delilah pointed to the woman in scrubs next.

It looked like she was considering whether or not to answer, but ultimately relented, “My name is Melinda Clawthorn, I’m currently a surgical nurse at Monroe County Hospital. I’m 28 years old, I’m a 28C, I’m not really sure who this guy is.”

Hearing her name, Zachary immediately recognized the woman; she was older now, but she was definitely his old rival.

Delilah did not look amused. “Only chance to correct your answer. Or are you really telling me you don’t know who Zachary Blackstone is? Or what you did to him?”

“Fine, I know him as we used to be rivals in archery before he suffered a severe hand injury.” Melinda wouldn’t look at Zach. After half a minute of silence, it was obvious to Delilah that Melinda would not speak on her own.

“Very well, Melinda, I did warn you that was your only chance.” Delilah snapped her fingers. “Now I’ll ask again how did you wrong your Master?”

Melinda felt a compulsion to reply. “I tampered with his bow before the competition, where it broke, resulting in his injury.”

Zach stood up, enraged. “YOU WHAT!” He started to step off the dais, but Delilah stopped him this time.

“Not yet, Zach, not quite yet.”

“Fine.” He took his seat again, then he snarled, “How could you do that? Did you know I still don’t have full use of my left hand thanks to you? I probably never will.”

“I just wanted to beat you; I didn’t mean for you to get hurt. I didn’t know it still hadn’t healed completely.” Melinda said, not meeting his gaze.

Delilah grinned. “Melinda, you might notice you are answering questions easily now. That’s because for the next twenty-four hours, any question I or Zach here asks you, you will be compelled to answer it truthfully to the best of your ability. I’m sure Zach will have quite the fun time grilling you later, but moving on.”

Heather started her introduction, not wanting to get the same treatment. “I’m Heather Pierceson. I work as an accountant for several local businesses in my community. I’m twenty-nine, and my bra size is 36D. Zach is my ex-husband, officially as of… I don’t know how long we’ve been here, but as of today, from my recollection. I cheated on him with Xin to spite him and my parents. There happy?”

“Not yet, but there’s time.” Delilah smiled back. Delilah turned to Caroline.

She said, “I’m Caroline Brown. I’m forty-nine. My bra size is 34G. I teach Computer Science, while also contributing to the ongoing development of self-driving technology. Zachary was my advisee when he was an undergraduate. I’m honestly not completely sure how I wronged him. I mean, I wasn’t fond of him because he was creeping on my daughter Piper here, but I still gave him proper advice, and he was intelligent.”

Delilah considered that answer for a moment, then pointed the scepter at Piper, accepting Caroline’s response.

“I um…. I’m Piper Brown. I don’t really wear a bra, since my breasts are so small. I’m twenty-nine. I work as a system admin for a data broker. I also occasionally stream as a v-tuber. Zach was a classmate of mine, like my mom said, and would constantly perv on and leer at me all the time.” Zach furrowed his brow as he did not recall doing that at all, but he did hear the rumors about himself during undergrad. “I guess if you call telling the truth that he was a creep, then I wronged him, but I don’t really view that as a wrong.”

“Ah, the unrepentant are the most fun to break. Piper, would it surprise you to know that, outside of thinking you were cute, he didn’t really think about you much at all after one of your friends told him you said you just weren’t interested in him?”

“Yeah, it would. I’m not going to let you gaslight me. He would do all sorts of creepy things and was constantly staring at me.”

Delilah shrugged and moved on to Lynn, “Hmmm… what to do about your introduction?” Delilah sauntered over and put her hands on Lynn’s shoulders. “I said you would be wearing that gag for the rest of the day, and I meant it. I’ll just take the answers from your head.” Delilah transformed her body into a perfect copy of Lynn’s. She then playfully waved to the audience. “Hi, I’m Lynn Bowen. I’m twenty-eight years old and a massive pervert for Zachy-pooh here. I’m a meager 30B in my breast size.” Delilah made a pouty face. “I’ve known and been in love with Zach forever. It’s why I followed him to college and took nearly all the same classes, except for that one semester that that bitch Caroline fucked with Zachy-pooh’s schedule, and kept him from me. I was totally going to try to seduce him tonight, now that he ditched Heather, who never really cared for him. As for…” Delilah paused, then gave a delighted toothy grin as she shifted back to her normal form, “Wow, you truly believe that. You believe that you haven’t done anything to harm Zach besides not stopping him from dating Heather in the first place. You are a twisted one. I like you a lot.”

Zach glared at Delilah, “I’m calling bullshit on your introduction of her. To whoever is watching for whatever reason, Lynn is my best friend. She is a kind and intelligent woman.”

Delilah let out a cold laugh, “Oh my, I wonder if you will still feel that way when what she’s done to you has truly come out. Now, ladies, I’m going to release your restraints. I hope I don’t have to explain to you that trying to run would be a very bad idea. So too is ****.” With a flick of her wrist, the restraints around their wrists and ankles released. Each woman rubbed their wrists.

Caroline stood up and hugged Piper, then Caroline turned towards Delilah, “You said we were competing? For him? What if we refuse?”

“Yes, I did. As for if you refuse, well, you will be punished or suffer elimination. But allow me to go over the rules.” A screen extended down from the ceiling above the throne, listing each of their names, followed by 0VP and 0BP. “This is Harem Hotel, think of it as a dating show. Your sole purpose in existing is pleasing your Master now. Doing various intimate things with Zach and your placement in end-of-round challenges shall award you Victory points or VP. Bonus Points, or BP, are a currency to buy various things to help you in the competition. You will be given BP for completing various tasks around the hotel, and from the popularity poll. Each round, you will receive a transformation, go on a date with your Master, and spend the night in his bed. You will be eliminated if at any point you have negative VP, or if you fail to earn a net of either 25% of your current VP or 5 VP each round, whichever is greater. Actions will award VP once each round but have diminishing returns for repetition. The harshness of your transformations will depend on three things: your placement in the overall VP rankings, the weekly VP Gains, and the end-of-round challenge. Any questions?”

All the women were glaring at Delilah, and Zachary was staring at her in confusion. Caroline asked, “What does elimination mean? Will you kill us?”

Delilah let out a light laugh, “Oh, Hells no, we don’t kill people on Harem Hotel. But some fates can be worse. Elimination is different for everyone, and it depends on a variety of circumstances. Though if you want an example, look at Lynn, she’s currently sucking on a former contestant who was eliminated, and yes, the woman is fully aware and is constantly being edged while in her mouth, but never orgasming.” All the women looked at Lynn in horror. Lynn tried to pull the gag out of her mouth, but it wouldn’t budge. “I should mention that I will also replace you should you get eliminated with someone you care about, even if they haven’t hurt Zachary. Now I nearly forgot the carrot to the stick. In addition to fighting for your place in Zach’s harem, you are also fighting for a wish. A real wish, capable of nearly anything. Though it won’t free you from your place in Zach’s harem. You are his property now. Get used to that fact.”

Melinda and Heather seemed intrigued by the idea of the wish until Heather remembered that there was no way she was getting first with her history with Zach.

Delilah looked out over the girls towards the audience. “Now tune in next time, for the best girl poll and their TF reveal. If you want some more information about our dear contestants, check out their bios in the link below.” Delilah gave the audience a playful wink.