Lottery Of Lust

The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, each woman acutely aware of what was at stake. The stakes had never been higher, not for the wealth, nor the lavish lifestyle, but for something more critical, something that could secure them a future in Zarki's world: a child.

Zarki, standing at the center of the room, held five slips of paper in his hand, each marked with a number from 1 to 5. He was calm, detached, and his eyes gleamed with the knowledge of the game he had set in motion. He was no stranger to the ways of power, manipulation, and the human heart. But this? This was something different. It wasn't about control. It was about survival, who would survive the night and carry his heir?

The five concubines, each vying for the top spot in Zarki's empire, stood before him. Julia, Mariam, Ashally, Tora, and Anna, each with their own hopes and fears, their own desires and intentions. All five had been brought into Zarki's life with one purpose: to bear his child.

However, there had always been something missing, something crucial. Despite all his wealth and power, Zarki had no heir to his name. His legacy, the great fortune that could change the future of Wamboli, would remain unfulfilled without a child. And tonight, he would make sure that one of them bore it.

"You know the rules," Zarki spoke to the five women, his voice low and steady. "I've already given you all a chance, but now, it's time to decide who will bear my child. The first woman who gets pregnant will inherit everything. The others will fade into nothing."

A collective shudder passed through the women, though they did their best to mask it. They had heard his decree before, but now that it was truly happening, the weight of it all settled in. This was no longer a matter of being one of many lovers in Zarki's life. This was the culmination of everything they had fought for, endured, and hoped for.

Julia, ever the confident one, stepped forward with purpose. Her eyes were locked onto the slips of paper in Zarki's hand. She had already made her calculations. Julia knew her body well, her ovulation was coming up, and she was certain that tonight she would conceive. It was her time. She had the first pick.

Without hesitation, she reached out and picked the first slip, number one. Her smile was small but satisfied. She had taken the first step. She was certain now that this child would be hers.

Mariam, ever observant, followed Julia's move with her own. There was a sharpness in her eyes as she picked slip number two. She had no illusions that she would win this competition right away, but she also knew her time would come. Her patience would carry her through.

Ashally, the dancer, chose number three. She didn't make a show of her choice, simply stepping back, hands clasped together. The others could feel her calculating eyes upon them. She wasn't someone to make waves, but Ashally had her own methods of ensuring success. She would wait, and when the time came, she would act.

Tora, with her fierce independence, chose number four. She had always seen herself as someone who could carve her own path, no matter the circumstances. She wasn't afraid to fight for what she wanted. 

Finally, Anna, the youngest of the concubines and the most quiet one, stepped forward. She had remained silent during the process, her eyes hidden behind her long lashes. She had always been patient, always in the background. Now, however, the moment of truth had arrived. She reached out with trembling fingers and picked the last slip: number five.

As she did, a chill ran down her spine. Five. The last position. The final turn. Her hopes of being first faded in an instant, replaced by a sinking feeling in her chest. Was this fate? Or had she simply drawn the short straw?

Zarki stood still, his eyes scanning the room as he looked over the five women who would now battle for his heir. "Remember," he said, his voice laced with finality. "Tonight, we will see who will carry my child. And whoever is the first to conceive, will inherit everything."

As the murmurs in the room faded and the weight of Zarki's words settled like a heavy fog, he raised his hand once more, commanding silence not through force, but with the authority of a man who was always in control. The five women stood in their places, their numbered slips clutched tightly, the tension between them as thick as oil in the air. Then, with a faint, calculated smile, Zarki delivered the next surprise.

"There's one more thing," he said, pacing slowly before them. His robe rustled softly with every movement, but his voice remained composed, deliberate. "Tonight, I won't just leave things to chance. I will honor the order of your choices. That is how the lottery will be played."

He paused for effect, letting the women hang onto his words.

"I will sleep with each of you, in the order you picked," he declared. "From number one to number five. It will happen tonight. All of you."

The room fell into a stunned silence. The revelation was shocking, even for women who had seen and heard many things under Zarki's roof. Julia's eyes lit up with triumphant confidence, number one, of course. She could barely conceal her pride. This was exactly the advantage she had hoped for. This night was hers.

Mariam, second in line, remained unreadable. Her mind spun with quiet calculations, but her face gave nothing away. She was used to adjusting plans on the fly.

Ashally's lips curved into a faint smirk. She was third, but that didn't worry her. She knew her body, and she knew what Zarki liked. When her turn came, she would make it unforgettable.

Tora stood quietly, absorbing it all. Number four. Not ideal, but she was resilient. She had come this far by watching, learning, and knowing when to act. Tonight wouldn't be different.

Anna, the last of them, lowered her eyes as her heart pounded against her chest. She had drawn the number five, and now she would be the last to lie with Zarki. Her position, once merely unlucky, now felt like a punishment. But she didn't weep or protest. She would wait her turn with quiet dignity.

Zarki turned to his steward, who nodded in response. Everything was already prepared. The chambers had been cleaned, perfumed, and dimmed with lanterns to set the mood. A rich blend of spices filled the air, cardamom, sandalwood, and a hint of clove. Tonight was going to be a ritual, not just a rotation.

"My physicians have prepared me," Zarki said, almost casually, as if announcing that dinner was ready. "I am in perfect health. I've done this before. Five women. One night. Ten hours."

The women listened, captivated, though some stole glances at one another. Was he serious? Could he really go through all five in one night?

"I'll take one hour with each of you," Zarki continued. "An hour of intimacy. Then I'll rest one hour in between. That makes it ten hours total."

It was methodical. Calculated. And undeniably Zarki.

He was no ordinary man, and his virility was the subject of whispers across Wamboli. Stories had circulated for years, of nights where he pleased multiple women, of concoctions his doctors made to fuel his stamina, and of his unshakable control in the bedroom. If anyone could do this, it was Zarki.

Julia stepped forward and gave him a confident smile. "Then I'll make sure my hour is the one that counts."

Zarki didn't respond with words. He gave her a brief glance, unreadable and cold. This wasn't about who was bold. It was about who would conceive.

He motioned for the steward to begin the arrangements. The harem guards were stationed outside. No one would enter. No one would disturb the ritual that was about to begin.

Back in the shared living quarters of the women, quiet discussions began in hushed voices.

Mariam sat beside Ashally. "What do you think of this madness?"

Ashally laughed lightly. "Madness? No. It's a game. And I'm very good at games."

"You always think you're good at everything," Mariam teased.

"Not everything. Just the things that matter," Ashally replied, stretching her legs and leaning back. Her body, already prepared with oils and scented powders, was a weapon she had used before. She knew the effect it had on Zarki. And while she might be third in the order, she believed that she could still emerge the victor of this night.

In another corner of the harem, Tora gently placed a blanket over Anna's shoulders.

"You're shivering." Anna shook her head. "I'm fine. Just nervous."

"You're always nervous," Tora smiled kindly. "But remember, Zarki likes soft things. Maybe your silence is what sets you apart."

Anna looked up with eyes full of gratitude. "I just don't want to disappoint him."

"You won't," Tora said. "Just be yourself. You don't need to pretend. Not tonight."

Meanwhile, Julia began to prepare herself like a queen. She bathed again, had her hair styled, and applied a thin layer of oil across her skin to make it shimmer under candlelight. She had waited too long for this opportunity to let it slip. In her mind, she was already pregnant. The rest of the women were just background players in her inevitable victory.