Lay of the Land

The servants went over to the contestants, rounding up them up in pairs to lead them to wherever it was they'd be staying. Trevor stood up from his throne and began to go to Natalie.

"Trevor, wait up a second," Violet said.

"I'm going to talk to my sister," he told her simply.

"There's time for that later. Right now she needs to go settle into her residence. As do you. I'll be giving you the tour myself."

"You told me that I could talk to her when you were done." Trevor did his best to keep his voice level.

"Yes, about that. I think it would be better if you waited until tomorrow. This is a delicate time for your girls. They're meeting their roommates and processing their new lives. This first day affects how both they and the audience will see their places in the harem. Usually, we try and keep the harem master at arms length until things shake out a little."

"I don't care about your show," Trevor said, now failing to keep the frustration out of his tone. "I care about making sure my sister is alright."

"She will be fine. Nothing is going to happen to her between now and tomorrow, I promise."

"And you expect me to trust you," Trevor said flatly. "You've already lied to me. You told me I could talk to her once you were done with the opening ceremony."

Violet frowned and fell into thought while Trevor stared her down. "Yes, I suppose I did. I'm sorry. When I told you that you could see her I was just trying to placate you. I shouldn't have made such an off-hand promise about something so important to you. This whole thing doesn't work if you don't trust me. Or at least believe me."

Trevor raised his eyebrows expectantly. "So I can see her?"

Violet sighed. "It's still not a good idea...but it would be a worse idea for me to go back on my word. Yes, you can see her. Later though. After she settles in. After I'm done giving you the tour you can send a servant out and invite her for dinner at one of the restaurants, along with anyone else you'd like to see."

"I want to talk to her now," he insisted.

Violet shook her head. "No, going to her new home with her new roommate is too important to interrupt. We can't get involved yet. Afterwards though, I promise."

Trevor held her gaze but she didn't waiver. He should just go run to Nat right now. Violet could try and stop him if she wanted to, but that would cause a scene. Would she risk unsettling the contestant's like that? Like she had said, this was a delicate moment.

He looked from Violet to his sister. Natalie met his eyes and of all the feelings that swirled around in his chest the one that stood out from the crowd was pride. She stood up straight, unbowed by the weight of the show. He hoped he looked the same. Natalie gave him a nod. She was telling him that she'd be alright.

Trevor nodded back. "Alright, later then."

"Good," Violet said. "Let's go. I am so excited to show you your palace."

She took his hand and led him back into the building he'd first woken up in.

"The girls have suites dotted around the shore of the lake, but you'll be staying here. Anything and everything you want can be provided. There is however one notable exception: no contacting the outside world. While you're here, you're here."

They stepped through the palace's towering front doors into the cavernous hallway beyond. As they had the first time the doors swung on their own, this time to shut him in.

Violet's words rolled around in his head. She wanted them isolated. That made sense. The show had some clear intentions for it's prisoners, many of which were things they'd never consider under normal circumstances. Cutting off the outside world was a tried and true cult tactic, and for a reason: it worked. People could be quick to forget old social moors when they were immersed in new ones and Trevor wasn't so arrogant as to imagine he was immune. He'd need to be careful.

Violet led him deeper into the palace where they came to an intersection. "To the left you'll find the servant's quarter. That's where your staff sleeps, and where the various pieces of the palace's infrastructure are housed. The kitchen, storerooms, that sort of thing."

"There's a staff?" he asked.

"Of course. We don't expect you to keep up this entire place by yourself. Or at all really. You have people for that sort of thing now."

"Why does it need upkeep at all? Why not just, you know," Trevor waved his hands mystically.

Violet laughed. "I suppose we could, but it's usually better to just do things the old fashioned way."

That was food for thought. So the show didn't like to use it's power frivolously. Did it come at a cost? Did it use up some kind of fuel that was limited or expensive?

Another, more grounded thought occurred to Trevor. "The servants," he asked darkly. "Are they slaves?"

Violet looked genuinely affronted. "Slaves? Honestly, Trevor. We aren't evil. No, they aren't slaves. This is their job. They work normal hours and are well compensated."

Trevor nodded. That was one thing off his mind then. "Good."

Violet shook her head, still clearly annoyed at his accusation. "Come on, let's keep going."

She led him down the right hallway. "If you need anything, just ask and a servant will come to see to it. For food, we find that people are often overwhelmed by being able to ask for literally anything so there will be a menu waiting for you in your bedroom, but feel free to ask for whatever you or your guests feel like."

This section of the palace had narrower hallways then the entryway. Not they were small, just not vast. Plush rugs of red and gold rested on the floor and mosaics decorated the walls, featuring scenes of half-dressed young women running through fields and dancing in woods.

"Here you'll find most of your entertainment options," Violet said. "There are several game rooms. Video games, pool tables, air hockey, that sort of thing. Out that way is an indoor pool. It isn't Olympic sized, but it's nice. That door there is the movie theater. We maintain an extensive media collection. Any TV shows, movies, or porn you could want, simply ask.

"And this," she said, as they approached a particularly ornate set of doors, "is the library."

Violet pushed the doors open and Trevor caught his breath. The room was huge. Two stories tall, it extended back almost a hundred yards. Hundreds of bookshelves lined the walls, and in the room's interior they rose from ground like pillars. Wooden walkways lined the second story shelves and criss-crossed the room to allow access to the free-standing bookshelves in its center. It reminded him almost of some kind of elvish village, deep in a forest and high in the trees.

"This is just the display area. We have more books held in cataloged storerooms. Let us know if you can't find what you're looking for."

Trevor walked up to the nearest shelf and ran his hand appreciatively over the spine of a book. They were beautiful, leather bound with gentle lettering. He'd have to show this place to Dr. Friedman. She'd love it.

"Plenty of time to browse later," Violet said. "There's more to see."

Begrudgingly, Trevor pulled himself away and followed Violet back into the hallway. They turned and began walking further into the palace.

"In addition to what's here you'll find more options down below. The oasis is home to a shopping district with all manner of stores: clothing, groceries, stylists, a spa...you get the picture. A sports facility is on the other bank. We've set it up with a swimming pool, batting cages, tennis courts, and several other amenities. If you or one of your girls find something missing ask and we'll see what we can do."

Somehow they'd looped back around to the main hallway. They were near its end, where a flight of stairs led up to a large pair of doors. Engraved on each door was a woman, with their faces covered in veils. They were depicted in supplication, naked and kneeling, with bowed heads and raised hands. Violet led him up the stairs and into the room beyond.

Inside was a spectacular master suite that would have been at home in the penthouse of a Dubai skyscraper. The white-stone floor was marbled with gold and oil paintings hung on the walls. The main room featured a long, wooden dining table and a seventies-style conversation pit with a padded floor. To his right Trevor could see a fully furnished kitchen, while a pair of sliding paper doors to his left stood open to reveal the bedroom. Directly in front of him were a pair of balcony doors beyond which was a breathtaking view of the palace grounds and the oasis below.

"This," Violet told him, "will be your room. It can get quite cold at night here so we've set you up with heated flooring. This," she said, pointing to a bell, which Trevor realized was not the only one hung up around the suite, "is what you'll use to summon a servant should the need arise. The bed is a queen. If later on you find that isn't enough to accommodate your guests then we can bring a new one in.

"Oh, before I forget," Violet said, "there's a rule about beds. You have to sleep in them. The contestants too. No taking the couch on their nights over."

"You're serious," Trevor said.

Violet gave him a perfunctory nod. "Yes. When you have a visitor, you share the bed."

Trevor sighed. It wasn't so bad. The bed was big enough to maintain at least a little propriety.

"That's about it," Violet finished. "Any questions."

Trevor thought it over. "What do you expect of me?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do you expect me to do on this show?"

"Just be yourself."

"See, I don't think that's true. Because if I just be myself then there won't be much entertainment for your audience. I have no interest in almost any of the women here, and I won't take advantage of the few I might have been interested in outside. So I don't think you're being honest with me when you say to just 'be myself'."

"Trevor, we have no expectations for you beyond that you simply do as you will. If we had wanted some knuckle-dragger who would have jumpd at the chances being offered to you here, then we would have brought one on. We understand who you are. So don't worry about that."

Trevor fell into thought. He remained unconvinced. Violet had a plan for him. Whatever it was, it would start tomorrow. With the contest. That put him on a clock, because a day from now Nat would be subject to yet another round of transformations.

He wanted to know more, to have a better understanding of this place and of Violet's motivations. He just didn't have the time though. He recalled his promise and his plan. He couldn't afford to wait any longer. Now was the time to pull the trigger.

"Was there something else?" Violet asked.

"Yeah," Trevor said, voice steady and even. "There is. I don't believe you. I think you need me to act and behave in certain ways or else the show just doesn't work. So I'm going to make you a deal."

Trevor's nerves were on fire. He felt like he had a rock in his stomach. This was a risk. He didn't know how Violet would react. He wished more than anything that he had had more time, but he didn't. So he soldiered on. For Natalie.

"I'll take part in your show. I'll do my job. But in return, you let Natalie, Riley, and Paige go." He wished he could set them all free, but he didn't have the leverage.

"Oh?" Violet asked. "I keep telling you we don't need you to act any certain way."

Trevor shook his head. "That can't be true. If you don't let them go, I'll hole myself up in here. I'll talk to no one. Do nothing. If you send visitors, I'll ignore them. If you drag me down to contests, I'll close my eyes and pretend that nothing is happening. You'll have no content for your audience. No show. No anything."

Violet's face grew dark. "Trevor, that isn't a good idea."

"So I'm right then. That would ruin the show for you. You do need me."

Trevor held her gaze, resolute. A tiny bead of hope burned in his chest. He'd been right.

"No," Violet said in a steely voice, smashing his hope like a flower under her heel. "That would ruin the show for you. Your plan won't work."

She seemed so sure. For a moment Trevor wavered, but he had to see this through. "Why not? You need me. I'll do whatever you want, just let my sister and my friends go. There will be seven girls left, more than enough for a 'harem'. It's a fair deal."

Violet shook her head and sighed. "You don't get it. Let me ask you, Trevor. How would you react if tomorrow one of the girls was transformed so that they needed to drink your cum twice a day or die?"

Trevor's eyebrows shot up. "What?"

"Or what if one of them was transformed to lose half their IQ for each day they went without sleeping with you? What if one of them was made to allow anyone who asked to do whatever they wanted with their body? Could you abandon them? Could you hold firm in your plan?"

"You're a monster," Trevor whispered, shocked. "What is wrong with you?"

"That isn't the kind of season I'm trying to produce here Trevor, but if you try and call my bluff I'll show my cards."

"How do you live with yourself?"

"Quite easily. How do you plan on living with yourself if you let your arrogance condemn these women?"

Trevor placed his hands on his face, trying desperately to think of something he could do.

"It isn't so bad," Violet offered, "It really isn't. Play along and nothing like that will happen to any of them. You don't need to do anything special, just be engaged. That's it."

"Just Nat," he said, shaking. "Just her. Let her go and I'll do anything you want."

"No, Trevor. No." Her voice was gentle now. "I know you love her. The audience does too, I think. They had the chance to be callous and they didn't go for it. Natalie will be fine."

"You want us to..." Trevor choked.

"Maybe. Maybe not. It's up to the two of you. Technically, you've always had that choice. We're not forcing you to do anything. If you're not interested then nothing will happen. It's that simple.

"Give it some time. Take a shower. Pull it together. In a couple of hours, ring a bell and ask the servants to collect whoever you want and go grab some dinner. Enjoy their company. When the sky doesn't fall, you'll know I'm right."

Trevor said nothing and so Violet made to leave. She paused at the doorway. "Some advice though, Trevor. Try not to play favorites. If the audience thinks the game is rigged, you may not like how they try and correct it."

Then she left, and Trevor was alone.

He'd tried. He'd done his best.

He'd failed.

Nat was still in danger. Riley and Paige were still in danger. He'd accomplished nothing.

In a moment his hopelessness turned to rage. No. He wouldn't take this lying down. He had no idea what to do but he wasn't going to let that stop him. He'd find a way to protect his sister. He always had before.

And he'd find a way to make Violet pay.

So it wasn't going to be as easy as he'd thought it would be. So what. He'd figure it out.

Trevor stood up. Violet had been right about one thing. He needed a shower. He had dinner plans.