"Happy Birthday, Princess!"

As my three friends cheered for me, popped the champagne, and poured it into glasses, I made sure my tiara was straight, and then stretched my arms into the completely blue sky. The smooth white beach sand was warm against my perfectly tanned skin and the sound of gentle waves was completely undisturbed by any strangers. One of the many perks of being rich: A completely private beach, all to ourselves.

At least it was finally private now. We had managed to chase away my complete pest of a little brother. He and his nauseating gang had splashed us, thrown their frisbee in my neck and, for some reason, dug a deep hole in the middle of the beach. Seriously, what was it with boys and digging? Anyway, eventually we managed to get rid of them. It was my birthday after all.

And now, everything was perfect. A gigantic crystal bowl of fruit punch. Champagne. My three sycophant friends, A, B and C, who would do absolutely anything to keep the privilege that came with my friendship. As the cheers came to an end, we all blew as hard as we could into our party blowers. A mouthpiece attached to a rolled-up paper tube. As you blew into it the coil unfurled and made a trumpet sound. Even though it was childish, I had to admit it added to the festivities.

Soon, it was time for gifts. Friends A-C had each brought me something. Because of course they had.

I had mentioned once or twice that I liked mermaids, and so, of course Friend A got me a mermaid's tail. Shimmering with green scales, you stuck your legs into it and wrapped it around your waist. It was a bit tacky, but it looked like solid quality. Probably cost quite a bit. Of course I put it on. The fit was snug, and I realized I could hardly separate my legs inside. My feet ended up inside the big flipper at the end. I considered removing it, but all the praise about how I looked like a real-life Disney princess got to me. My parents had named me Princess, after all. It was only fitting I acted the part.

Then, a pair of handcuffs from Friend B. I think they were meant to symbolize how we were linked together in friendship or something cheesy like that. Way too clingy, seriously. I laughed it off with a joke about using them on some hot guy. That would be kind of hot for real though.

The final gift was the most interesting. A purple spray can, from Friend C, decorated with pink hearts. It was an aphrodisiac, imported from somewhere in Asia. Friend C warned me that it was really strong but assured that it was all natural ingredients. Like I cared about that save-the-nature-crap, but it probably made it cost a lot more.

"Are you sure it works?" I said as I shook the can, building the pressure inside. "If it does, maybe I'll try it on your boyfriend. See how faithful he is?"

It was a mean tease, and I could see a dark cloud pass over the face of Friend C. If only she knew I already had her precious little boyfriend wrapped around my little finger. He was barely my type, but it was a fun little game.

To cheer Friend C up, I aimed the spray can at her and shot a cloud of supposedly super-powered aphrodisiac in her face. I hadn't expected it to work. This stuff was always 99% hoax. But then I caught a whiff. And my mind went instantly to thoughts of intimacy. I was suddenly acutely aware of my body. The gentle breeze against my neck gave me goosebumps. The miniscule chafing of my bikini over my nipples was suddenly a lover, kissing them gently. The heat between my legs was strong enough that I had to sneak a glance to make sure my thong wasn't noticeably wet.

All my friends reacted similarly. Except my little victim who got the brunt of the cloud. I could see her eyes grow large. Her hand went instantly between her legs, and before she could stop herself, she was caressing her bikini bottoms in front of us. Her nipples were on full parade, struggling against the thin fabric of her triangle bikini. As she started moaning, all of us burst out laughing. She was so embarrassed, she crawled over to the large hole my pesky brother had dug and hid herself there. God knows what those hands were doing when we could no longer see them. It was so funny I thought I would pass out from laughing. Eventually, the poor girl managed to wrest back a modicum of control, both the flush on her cheeks and labored breath kept up for way longer than a hot minute. I looked at the can. All this from one burst. Remarkable.

We all posed a bit for social media. The thirst apparent in the comments was always such a rush. A thousand "Wish I was there" and "Video PLZ" flooded in. So, we decided to have a bit of fun doing challenges. Eventually we posted a challenge where one of us had their hands cuffed behind their back and then had to fetch the key from deep withing the crystal punch bowl. The likes exploded. Enough where pure metrics dictated all of us had to try. I was last. Of course. The comments had chanted "Princess next!!!" for half an hour when I finally relinquished control of my phone.

I wasn't very comfortable with having my hands locked behind my back. The cuffs were heavy. Absolutely not plastic. Solid steel. However, it was only for a minute. And with an eager audience on the other side of the screen, I couldn't say no. But Friend C sure put those cuffs on tight. Was she still mad about me spraying her? Like, learn to take a joke.

There wasn't much punch left in the bowl by now, even though I noticed I had to jump awkwardly to get there. This mermaid's tail didn't allow for much movement, especially on sand. Still, I cheesecaked for the camera and made sure to take a sultry cat-like lick or two from the bowl before fishing out the key. I winked suggestively. Piece of cake.

"Now get these things off me. They're tight", I said as soon as the camera stopped, and I had spat the key into the hand of Friend C. To my surprise, she held the key in her open hand, palm up.

"Do you mean this key, Princess?"

"Of course", I said, frowning. "Are you stupid or something?"

Friend C closed her hand around the key. Then threw it to Friend C. Who also presented it to me.

"Is this the key you want, Princess?"

What was going on? They were acting like complete morons. I had to take a couple of jumps to get closer to Friend B. Then I turned around, to make it easy for her to free me. She had gotten me the handcuffs, so she should know how to do it swiftly.

Friend B threw the key to Friend A.

"Oh, what's this? A key?" said Friend A.

All three of them started to giggle.

"This isn't funny. I can't get the cuffs off without the key. Release me, now!"

"Sorry Princess", said Friend A. "It was just a stupid joke. Come here and I'll help you."

"No, you come over. I can barely move with this stupid tail on!"

Friend A sighed. Right. She had bought me that tail. I think. Or was it one of the others? I couldn't really tell them apart. But at least she walked over to me.

Then she stumbled. It did not look completely sincere. Especially with the added "Whoops!"

The key left her hand and made an arc through the air. Then it disappeared from view as it went into the deep hole.

I let out a frustrated shriek.

"What the hell are you doing, you stupid cow? Get it back!"

"Cow?" Friend A said. Cows can't climb into holes. You'll have to get it yourself, Princess."

Something about how she said my name irked me. I was dumping these girls as soon as this party was over. There were plenty of replacements. Did they think they could treat me like this?

However, since they were apparently completely useless, I had to do it myself. As I peeked over the edge I could see the key, deep down at the bottom. Very deep. I swallowed. With my hands behind my back, I would probably be unable to climb out. But with the key I could unlock the cuffs, and then get this ridiculous mermaid tail off. I would burn it. Still. I hesitated.

Then, a whisper in my ear. Friend C had snuck up behind me.

"By the way... I know about you and my boyfriend. And we all decided you really need to learn some humility. Princess."

Her hand gave my perfect apple butt a push. Without the tail, I could have easily leapt over the hole, but with my legs restrained like this, I went just over the edge with a yelp, swiftly sliding down to the bottom. Sand skidded along, burying my flippered feet, but more importantly, the key. As I looked down to search, more sand tumbled down. From all directions. Friends A-C all worked together to fill the hole. Before I could even react, I was buried up to my waist. Before I could form a sentence, the sand was up to my shoulders. As I squirmed, the grains searched out every crevice, quickly packing itself firm.

In the end, I had to crane my neck upwards, sand piling up under my chin. Finally, Friend A-C stopped shoveling and packing. I couldn't even turn my head to look at them. The sand held my head in a vice, the surface making a horizontal line from my chin to my earlobes. Then they came back into view as they laid down, resting their faces in one hand.

"What do you want, you creeps? Dig me out!"

"Nope", one of them said. I think it was Friend A. Not until you apologize to Melany!"

"Apologize? For what? For her being so crappy at keeping a boyfriend faithful!?"

My hands worked furiously behind my back. This was unacceptable. I would dig myself out and I would bury these girls instead. I didn't even know which one was Melany. I managed to make a little cavity next to my right hand. My pace quickened. I was making progress. I would show them! A moment later, fresh sand poured in, packing my cuffed wrists and completely immobilizing my fingers. I screamed in frustration.

"See? She's completely hopeless."

"A complete egotistical narcissist."

"I'm so tired of hearing her annoying voice."

These complete bitches! How did they get the idea they were allowed to talk to me like this!?

"Annoying voice, huh!? Well, listen to this then!" I drew deep breaths. And started to yell from the top of my lungs.

A second later, something big and silky was thrust into my wide gaping mouth. I wasn't sure what it was, but it tasted stale and dampened my yell considerably. Before I could start to push it out with my tongue, something white and sticky was pressed over my lips and cheeks. I grimaced and prodded for all it was worth, as eager fingers massaged the strip, making the adhesive connect with my skin.

"Are you sure one strip is enough?"

"Yup. This is medical stuff. My mom's a nurse. It stretches and clings perfectly, so unless you can peel it off, it's going to stick. I mean, look at her trying to push those panties out. She's actually swirling her tongue around in our used underwear.

My eyes bulged. That's what the silly stuff was? I tried to move my tongue away, but there was no way to escape.

"Now... since Princess here refuses to show any remorse or humility... what do you girls say about replacing humility with... humiliation?"

"Ooh, what do you have in mind?"

"For starters... I was thinking we'd do this."

Helpless to stop my former so-called friends I watched as one of them brought out a metal nail. I protested as loudly as I could through the gag. Tried to move my head away. What was she planning?

"Don't worry. I won't hurt you. Physically."

The nail punctured the strip of tape, making a tiny hole right over my mouth. Then, the mouthpiece of one of the curled-up party blowers was inserted into the hole. I could feel it push the satin wads inside my mouth just a little bit deeper.

FWIIIIP!

My shocked breath unfurled the party blower, making a trumpet sound. My friends all fell over laughing.

"Hahaha perfect!! And that tacky tiara just makes it even better!!"

"She looks ridiculous!! Like an elephant!!"

"Let's film it!!"

I felt a cold trickle of sweat run down my back. This could NOT go online. I would be Princess Elephant for months. Years. I yelled in panic.

FWIIIIP!

Oh no. The blasted thing unfurled again. Of course. I was blowing into it. I had to keep calm. It was easier said than done, but the threat of Elephant Girl gave me the composure to start breathing through my nose, nostrils flaring.

"Aaw, no fun, she's breathing through her nose..."

"No problem, brought just the thing."

"Genius!"

Moments later, a metal clipboard clip snapped tightly over my nose. It worked like a clothespin, only with greater force, pinching both my nostrils completely shut. I held my breath. I would rather pass out than play their games.

"Look, she's getting red in the face!"

"Is she fainting?"

"Naah, she doesn't have the willpower. Especially if I do this!"

Suddenly, a feather was in my face, tracing lines every which way. This was cheating!

FWIIIIP! FWIIIIP! FWIIIIP!

"Hahaha look at her go!"

"Let me try!"

"Let's all get one. it's going to drive her mad!"

For the next couple of minutes, or hours, judging by how it felt, I was completely unraveling. The feathers were in my ears, along my throat, everywhere that wasn't covered by sand or tape. Every time I got annoyed, I made an involuntary FWIIIIP!, which led to more laughter and tickling, which lead to me making more shameful toots. And all of it was being recorded.

Finally, my tormentors relented. I was prepared to apologize. Almost. At least not yell. Maybe if I promised whatever they wanted, they would let me go. At least that's what I would tell them. I tried to signal to them to remove the gag.

They didn't.

"I'm tired of her tooting."

"Yeah, it's wearing thin. But I think it still annoys dear Princess here, so I'm not sure.

"Hmm... What if..."

To my confusion the last of the fruit punch was unceremoniously dumped into the sand. Then I realized, as the large, deep, crystal bowl was put over my head. Turned upside down, it was like a dome.

FWIIIIIIIP!

The sound. It was so much louder. As it bounced around the inside it amplified. Through the crystal, I could still see the girls laugh, but it was muted enough where I could barely hear it.

After a minute of me laying there, tormented by every FWIIIIIIIP from the ridiculous thing attached to my mouth, I noticed the air was getting stale. I was just re-breathing the same air over and over. Eventually there would be no oxygen. The sun added to it, making streaks of sweat run down my face. I had long since giving up digging myself out, but as I felt panic rise, I couldn't help but make fruitless attempts. However, with my wrists in handcuffs behind my back and my legs trapped inside that preposterous mermaid's tail, all buried in heavy sand, not even a professional escape artist would be able to do anything. And I was very much not a professional escape artist.

Then, the glass bowl was lifted, just a little bit. I drew deep breaths as quickly as I could, not caring at all about the toots.

"We've decided we will let you-"

FWIIIIP! FWIIIIP!

"Seriously, let me fini-"

FWIIIIP! FWIIIIP!

"Princess. Be silent for once or I swear we'll leave you there."

I held my breath. Please. Anything.

"As I said", Friend something or other said, going deliberately slow. "We've decided we will let you go on one condition. Blink if you understand. No sound."

I blinked. My lungs were indicating they were starting to get interesting in a new breath.

"We will put the bowl back over your head, just once more..."

I blinked. Please. Hurry. I needed to breathe.

"All you need to do is to go thirty seconds without unfurling that silly party blower in your mouth, okay? Once you manage that, the bowl goes off, and we'll get you out."

Blink. Blink. Blink! Please! Yes! I could do thirty seconds! This had to be more than that already. I'll get out of here! Just put me in there so I can take a breath first!

"Your lungs are probably burning right now, so I won't talk for any longer. Good luck, Princess!"

As the bowl was once again lowered over my head, there was something positioned between the sand and the rim. As I looked down, I could see a purple spray cannister with pink hearts. The aphrodisiac spray. No. Please.

PSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

My best bet was to hold my breath for thirty more seconds. If I didn't inhale any of the spray, it wouldn't affect me. As the empty can was extruded, I saw fingers start to count. One. Two Three.

The problem was, I couldn't do thirty more seconds. I was already at my limit from holding my breath during that slow explanation. They had tricked me!

Five. Six. Seven.

I couldn't do it. My body betrayed me, and I took several deep gulps of air, making an awful noise in the progress. And along with that precious oxygen, an insane amount of that aphrodisiac. My entire world went pink. Hot pink. I was so hot. I needed... I needed to touch myself. Please. My entire body was an erogenous zone. Like I could come from someone touching my pinky. And all the parts that were sensitive even under normal circumstances... I can't describe it. Like a blowtorch, but with the flame substituted for pleasure.

I heard a loud FWIIIIP! and realized I had already taken a breath. Or more likely, I made a grunt. I saw the fingers start over. One. Two. Three.

FWIIIIP!

One. Two.

FWIIIIP!

One.

FWIIIIP! FWIIIIP! FWIIIIP!

For every breath, I inhaled more and more of the spray. It was impossible. My eyes rolled up in my head as I surrendered to complete ecstasy.

---OUTSIDE THE BOWL---

"Do you think she's learning any life lessons under there?"

"Not likely. If anything, it looks like she's having the time of her life."

"Yeah, I've counted five orgasms already, and that's just the ones I'm completely sure of. It's like one every two breaths."

"You almost sound like you’re a bit envious?"

"Hmm... I think I prefer to be on this side of the bowl. But she's very entertaining to watch."

"Yeah... I'm almost sad we have to remove the bowl eventually. She needs to breathe, but that will evaporate the spray."

"Oh, don't worry about that. I bought it in bulk. There's at least ten more cans of the stuff in my backpack."

"How lovely! And with little Princess private beach we don't have to worry about any interruptions."

"Schh, you guys! I'm trying to keep count! She almost made it to 'two'!"

"Oops, she came again. I think that's... seven?"

"Happy birthday, Princess!"