Serena had had better days. Last Monday for example, or the Thursday before that--or, come to think of it, just about any day when she wasn't tied up, naked, and dangled above what appeared to be a shark tank. She'd put some time into trying to undo the knots--not a lot of time, given the shark tank--but they were done quite masterfully and she couldn't reach any of them. It was quite an intricate set of knots, too, and Serena could swear that her arms would have had to pass through each other to get into her current position.

Footsteps echoed on the concrete floor behind Serena. She tried to look around, but she only managed to set herself swinging and gently twisting. "Well, well," said a voice. "If it isn't the 'cat' burglar."

"Oh, very clever. I've never heard that one before," Serena replied. "I don't believe we've been introduced?"

The voice chuckled. Serena caught a glimpse of a hawk in a dark suit as she rotated. "You don't seem to be very concerned about your predicament, miss Rachelle. Perhaps you haven't grasped the enormity of your mistake yet."

"Wow," quipped Serena. "You know my name. That's almost as intimidating as the shark tank."

"We aren't trying to intimidate you, miss Rachelle. The time for that has passed. We're simply trying to get you to think about the consequences of your actions."

Serena laughed. "Well, good luck with that. In a few hours, my employer will--"

"We don't give a damn about your employer, miss Rachelle," the hawk said quietly. "We don't care who your employer is or whatever you think they're going to do to rescue you. When you decided to break into a castle, did you ever stop to think of what would happen if you got caught inside? Your employer could quite literally lay siege to us for a month and we wouldn't even notice." He paused and Serena got the sense that he was shrugging. "Now, maybe they will lay siege. And maybe they'll be here in a month. But until then... We'll give you something to think about for the next time you try to burgle us."

Serena fell silent as she heard the hawk walking out of the room, footsteps fading. She'd been caught before, of course, and her captors had generally been displeased with her, but the company she worked for had always been influential enough to get her out. This time, though... She didn't know anything about the mark, just that he had something valuable locked up in the castle. Could he really keep her trapped here and do with her as she pleased? As hard as she tried, Serena didn't see a way out of this one.

And then something mechanical clicked, dropping her into the tank, and everything went black.

...................

Serena woke up with a jolt, panicking instantly. For a split second she tried to go in every direction at once, ropes digging into her limbs as she searched for the surface. Then the moment passed and she realized she was out of the water already. She took a few deep breaths as she started shaking from adrenaline. "Damn shark tank didn't even have any sharks in it," she muttered to herself. She forced herself to relax.

It didn't work. No matter how she tried to calm down, Serena couldn't get her heart to stop racing or her slow down her breathing. Was she in shock?

Where was she? Serena looked around nervously. She was in a stark white room, about ten feet across, empty except for a door in one wall and the chair she was tied to. Not surprisingly, the ropes had been tied expertly and the chair had been bolted to the floor.

She couldn't move. Serena felt herself beginning to panic again as the realization sunk in. It was all she could do to keep herself from trying to wrench the chair out of the floor in agitation.

There was a sudden, mechanical click, and Serena twitched violently. A panel in the floor had opened and an apparatus of some kind was ascending on a platform. It unfolded as it rose, extending spider-like steel limbs tipped with... Serena let out a harsh, strained bark of laughter. "A sex machine?" She called out to the empty room. "Really?"

There was no response. "No witty remarks?" She was shaking again. A trickle of anxiety ran down her back as she wondered if they'd given her something. "No taunting or teasing? Come on, I know you can hear me!" Her eyes darted around the room, searching for a camera but finding none. Her hands gripped the arms of the chair hard enough to hurt.

"Answer me!" It came out as a shout, no longer flippant but angry and desperate.  Serena could feel her pulse pounding against the ropes, racing, her breathing getting ragged. Her eyes were drawn to the machine again as it extended an arm toward her, a thick, phallic attachment at its tip. Serena found herself trying to back away from it, pressing herself into the back of the chair. "Stop!" She looked around the room wildly, eyes wide. "Stop! Who are you? Give me some answers! Stop!" The dildo reached her pussy and she clenched her teeth, hissing, and jerked back in the chair. Whatever they'd given her had her so tense and nervous that her heart was already pounding madly in her chest, and she strained at her bonds, struggling frantically. The machine clicked again and the arm's progress slowed to a crawl. Serena groaned in frustration through her teeth. As much as she despised her situation and the intruder working its way into her, the machine's slow, measured pace was infuriating. She struggled harder than ever, although she didn't know if she trying to get loose or trying to take the dildo deeper into her.

In her state of hyper-alertness, Serena had no way of keeping time, but it felt like hours before the mechanical cock bottomed out. By then she had ceased her frenetic struggles in favor of simply straining at the ropes, but she hadn't managed to gain so much as a quarter-inch of freedom. To her dismay, the dildo stopped entirely when was all the way in. She let out a strangled cry, aggravated, tense, trapped. The ropes kept her immobile, but that didn't stop her from trying to work her hips forward, to twist her body on the dildo, to rub her legs together, all to no avail. Then the dildo began to vibrate softly, just a whisper of sensation, and she redoubled her efforts. Tendons stood out as she strained against her bonds, desperate for relief.

Gradually, almost imperceptibly, the vibration was getting stronger. Serena was so intent on her struggles that she didn't notice until the hum became audible over her anguished cries. One she was aware of it, of course, it became all she could focus on. She groaned again as the feeling of the vibrator coursed through her pussy, the sensations building powerfully. Under any other circumstances, she would have came at least twice by now, but she was simply unable to relax into it. She couldn't stop herself from tensing up and trying to thrust forward in an attempt to speed the process along. As a result, the sensations built and built until Serena felt as though she was going to stroke out of sheer frustration. It seemed like an eternity had passed before she felt her climax approaching.

And then another mechanical arm flicked forward with a blur of motion and snapped a switch across the inside of her thigh. She cried out, this time in pain, the sharp stinging driving all other sensations from her mind. Another flick, and the opposite thigh had a matching red mark. Serena gasped hoarsely, her heart rate climbing even higher. Her orgasm had fled from the pain, leaving her more frustrated than ever. She hissed again in pain, thighs stinging, and then gasped as the vibrator began thrusting in and out of her pussy. She gritted her teeth, tying to deny the pleasure as she watched the switch, but she still couldn't keep herself from straining at her bonds in impatience. The switch flicked again, striking the same spots as before and driving out the pleasure again. Serena's entire body flinched at the pain. At the same time, the dildo began to vibrate harder and thrust faster, drawing an anguished moan from Serena's throat.

The process repeated itself, again and again, the pain of the switch cutting through the pleasure every time Serena neared climax, the machine stepping up the pleasure after each strike to keep her on the edge. Each iteration was as sharp and fresh as the first as Serena remained tense, unable to even try to ignore the pain or pleasure. When her climax finally came, Serena didn't even know if it was the vibrator or the switch that brought it on. She just knew that the sensations had become too much for her body and it had finally given in, her pussy releasing a gush of fluids that pooled beneath her. The machine fell still, the dildo ceasing its thrusting and vibrations, the switch dropping slightly from its poised state of readiness.

A slot opened in the door and Serena jerked toward it, ropes digging into her. A bottle rolled through the slot, and the slot closed again. As soon as it latched, there was the snick of a blade and the ropes fell away.

Serena collapsed out of the chair onto the ground. She was shaking even more violently than when she'd woken up, every muscle in her body trembling and locked up from tensing. It took her several minutes to unclench her hands and her jaw.

"What's this?" Her voice came out a croak. "What are you giving me?"

There was no reply, of course. Serena eyed the bottle, realizing how thirsty she was. She had no idea how long she'd gone without a drink of water. She crawled over to the bottle, the red welts on her thighs screaming in pain. She stopped to rest twice on the way, panting.

The liquid in the bottle appeared to be water, and when Serena unscrewed the top and sniffed it, it smelled like water. Before she realized it she had lifted it to her lips.

As soon as she tasted it she knew she had made a mistake. The bitter taste of caffeine and adrenaline filled her mouth. She wrinkled her nose in disgust--was that what they had given her? Simple caffeine? She finished the bottle and dropped it, breathing hard.

For a long time after that, nothing happened. Serena curled up into a ball in the corner, hugging her knees and shaking. She ached everywhere, her thighs gave out a constant throb of pain, and her skin was chafed and red where the roped had burned her. Most of all, though, she was tired. Every cell of her body cried out for sleep. Thanks to the damned caffeine, though, she could barely close her eyes. So she sat in the corner and shook, the machine looming in the center of the room like a giant metal insect.

..............................

Serena flinched when the door opened, pain blossoming in her aching muscles. She withdrew from the shivering fox that was shoved through the doorway. The fox tried to stand as a cobra followed her in and slammed the door.

"You've got company," the snake spat. Serena noticed he was sporting a black eye and several bite marks in his hood.

"...kill you..." the fox growled from the floor.

"What was that?" The snake crouched down next to the fox. "Did you say something?"

The fox grunted  and managed to lift herself up a little--then drove an elbow into the snake's groin. She collapsed back down as the cobra shouted with pain. "Said I'll kill you," she mumbled.

The cobra hissed and grabbed the fox by the scruff of the neck, on the verge of violence, and an intercom crackled. "Take it easy, Snake Eyes. Cool off." Snake Eyes hesitated for a moment and threw the fox back onto the ground. He cursed under his breath as he limped out of the room.

The fox groaned and rolled over. "Hi there."

Serena's ears twitched. "Hello."

"I'm Karen," said the fox. "Had a nice stay so far?"

Serena laughed out loud, only a little hysterical. "I can't say I think too much of the service. Or the accommodations. Or anything, really. I'm Serena."

"A pleasure to meet you, Serena. If the guard shows up while I'm asleep give tear him to shred for me." She closed her eyes.

"Wait, don't go to sleep!" Serena's ears folded back nervously. "Where are we? Who's keeping us here?"

Karen opened an eye. "I have no idea. I was sent here on assignment, and the next thing I know, I'm getting stretched on a rack with a vibrator in my pussy."

"They have a rack?"

"It is a castle, after all. They have quite an extensive dungeon."

The intercom crackled to life again and Karen groaned. "Now what? I haven't slept in three days."

"Three days?" Serena frowned. "I was sent here three days ago."

"Funny how that happens," muttered Karen as a voice came through the speakers.

"We're going to have a little game," it said. "You've got a chance for the thing you want most--out of here. There's a catch, though--you have to earn your freedom. We've provided a variety of toys for your use--many of the attachments on the machine are removable. You'll be free to use any and all of them for the next twelve hours. At the end of that time, whichever of you has cum the most times will be given an advantage in the next competition."

"Fuck you," said Karen.

"Time's wasting, miss Montenegro." The intercom clicked off.

"Do you think this is a trick? Are they playing with us?" Serena asked.

"Oh, they're playing with us all right," sighed Karen. "But it's not a trick. They tell you exactly what they're going to do, it gives you more time to worry about it."

"They're going to let us go, then?" Serena looked at Karen intently.

Karen sighed again. "They're going to let one of us go."

Serena's eyes widened as she started to understand. "They're pitting us against each other. One of us--" she stopped.

Karen nodded. "One of us is going to stay here."

Serena started to say something but Karen cut her off. "Listen. You go."

"What? Why?"

"I don't want to play their games anymore," Karen replied. "I'm done with them." She pulled a vibrator off the machine and tossed it to Serena. "Get yourself off and get out of here."

Serena turned on the vibrator, watching Karen. "Are you sure?"

The fox nodded. "I'm sure."

Serena hesitated for a moment and slipped the vibrator into her pussy. She moaned softly as she felt it enter her. The same sensations that had been so aggravating earlier were overwhelmingly blissful now that she could take them at her own pace. She was still worked up from the caffeine, but that only served to hasten her along now. She closed her eyes as she felt her juices start to flow.

Then she stopped, opening her eyes. "Wait. Montenegro?"

Karen looked up. "That's my name. Why?"

Serena turned off the vibrator. "I was sent in to recover something called the Montenegro package."

"What?" Karen's ears flattened and she bared her teeth. "Who are you?"

"No, wait," said Serena, backing away. "It's not like that. They just told me that it had been stolen and I was supposed to get it back. I work for ProCorp."

Karen relaxed a little. "So do I."

"Do you think I was sent to get you free?" Serena asked.

"Maybe." Karen said. "They really didn't tell you?"

Serena nodded. "They do that sometimes, just tell me to get a combination or open a door." She bit her lip. "This changes things. I can't let you stay here."

"Don't be stupid," said Karen. "You can't be that dedicated to ProCorp."

Serena shook her head. "No, that's not it. It's just... well, I got caught without getting you out. That's failure. Now, though, I have a chance to do what I came here for. I can't give that up." She held out the vibrator to Karen. "Here."

"No. I've told you already, I'm done with this."

"You can be done with this!" Serena turned on the vibrator. "You can be free."

Karen swatted it out of Serena's hand. "I've made my choice."

"Well, I've made mine, then." Serena picked up the vibrator and shoved it into Karen's pussy.

"Ah--what--what are you doing?!" Karen moaned at the invader between her legs.

"I'm not leaving you here," growled Serena, starting to work the vibrator in and out of the fox. She twisted the base and the vibrations sped up. Karen gritted her teeth as the cat started rubbing her clit with her free hand.

"I'm... not... doing... this..." Karen ground out between gritted teeth. She tried to stand up, but her legs gave out from pleasure and sleep deprivation. She groaned and rolled over, reaching for the machine. The sensation of the vibrator twisting in her folds sent a wave of pleasure through her body and felt herself start to moisten. She pulled a two-headed toy off the machine, a wire trailing from it, and twisted around to bury it into both of Serena's holes. The cat let out a pleasured cry as it slipped in.

"Stop that," Serena panted. "You're not--Oh!" She arched her back briefly as a bump on the toy slid across a sensitive spot inside her. She bit her lip and sped up her thrusts, drawing pleasured moans from Karen. She pulled another vibrator off the machine and worked into the fox's tailhole, working them in and out in tandem.

Then she shuddered as a jolt of electricity coursed through her body as Karen pressed a button on the double dildo. She felt her pussy spasm briefly before starting to tingle, more sensitive than it had ever been. She moaned as the shock came again, and a third time, the electricity stimulating every nerve in her snatch and leaving her incredibly sensitive. She tensed up and arched her back as Karen pounded at her holes, unable to keep herself from cumming hard. Karen was faring no better, though, as the two vibrators proved to be too much for her to take. Her pussy clenched around the toy and squirted as she followed in Serena's footsteps.

Breathing hard, Karen rolled over as Serena's orgasm started to taper off. She pushed her into the machine, mechanical arms wrapping around the cat, and fastened a set of straps around Serena's limbs. She stepped back as motors whirred, immobilizing Serena upside-down with her legs spread. Karen pulled the vibrators out of herself as the machine clicked into place. The machine pulled the double-headed toy out of Serena as it reset itself.

"Just give up already, will you?" Karen demanded. Serena shook her head, panting. "Fine." Karen pulled a couple of arms down to Serena's crotch, a ribbed dildo on one and something that looked like a car-wash brush on the other. She slipped them into Serena to replace the double-headed toy.

Serena moaned as she felt the newest set of toys slipping into her. After the shock treatment, her pussy was so sensitive she could feel herself about to cum from the brush even without it spinning. She did the only thing she could--she pressed her head back into a button on the machine behind her.

Karen let out a yelp straps whipped out of the machine and around her. They started pulling her towards the machine and she was pressed against Serena's body as they tightened. The cat began licking at her pussy as it was pulled into her face. Karen let out a moan, and her knees would probably have given out if she wasn't being supported by the straps. She could feel her breasts compressed against Serena's stomach, and the cat's breasts against her own.

Serena mumbled something that sounded like "Now we're even" as the machine slipped another pair of dildos into Karen's holes. Karen nearly passed out with pleasure as they began thrusting. She managed to start the brush swirling, though, and she was gratified to see Serena's pussy spurt and hear the cat moan as she came again. Serena redoubled her efforts as she came, lapping at Karen's clit and nibbling at her lower lips. She tried to hold off, but it was no use.

The only thing Karen could think as she succumbed to the pleasure again was that they had twelve hours of this to endure.

...............................
e p i l o g u e
...............................

Serena sighed as there was a knock on the door. She got out of bed quietly and slipped on a robe, grumbling under her breath. "It's one-thirty in the morning," She muttered as she opened the door. "What could possibly--"

Her breath caught in her throat as she recognized the uniform on the German Shepherd at the door.

"Good morning, miss Rachelle," said the dog. "My name is Dapper; I represent ProCorp."

"So I gathered."

"Miss Rachelle, it's been two years since our employer got you out of the castle. Since then, you haven't--"

"Your employer," Serena interrupted.

"I'm sorry?"

"Your employer. Not ours."

The dog frowned. "Be that as it may, you've dropped off the map since then. We were wondering if you'd consider--"

"I'm sorry, but the answer is no," said Serena. "We're finished with ProCorp. Good night, Mr. Dapper."

She closed the door on him and went back to bed.

Karen rolled over as Serena slipped under the covers. "Who was at the door?"

Serena smiled as Karen put an arm around her. "No one important."