"Now I've got you!" A voice screeched from the cave ceiling. Before I could react Claude pulled me into him my face turning immediately red.
"Lidia, I told you this was Grimsly's cave." Claude said still holding me close.
"I, Uh. Yeah… I guess I wasn't listening." I stuttered looking around for Grimsly.
"Oh how cute, Claude has his little butterfly wrapped up in a web."
"Oh, has the bat not moved out of his cave?" Claude asked still not letting me go. The cave was nearly pitch black and I had no light source except for Claude's eyes. He could see in the dark because of his other form I suppose. To be honest I didn't want him to let me go, I felt safe and comfortable, even brave in his arms.
"Humph, don't bring my mother into this. She's already against me."
"Who wouldn't be? You pry into my life and can't handle rejection. Oh and you also creeped on me!" I said annoyed, Grimsly was the type of person who liked arguing, but never won.
"Well, I… What are you even here for?" Grimsly said. I heard his wings flutter somewhere else. Claude held me a little tighter in his arms.
"That is none of your concern Fruit Bat." Claude said walking further into the cave with me.
"Why isn't it? I do live here! And Hey! Fruit bats are just as efficient at eating insects as you disgusting eight-leg!" Grimsly said still fluttering what seemed to be over-head. I sighed getting annoyed with his antics. I really would appreciate some light, but that would endanger the rare species. If it was in fact, living here.
"Grimsly? Ya know, you are kind of cute when you get mad. Why don't I go outside with you and we can talk? Perhaps where I can see?" I asked putting charm on.
'Why are you doing this my mistress?' Claude whispered into my ear.
'Just watch and turn into a spider please.' I said Claude releasing me. I no longer felt his prescience. I walked towards the light of the cave and walked out into the open where Grimsly was waiting with a rose in his mouth. 'WEIRD!' I screamed in my mind.
"Hey, did you burn down your house, cause you're smokin."
"How nice… Uh, may I use you cave for my research? It's really important. We should make a promise…" I asked trying to find Claude. I couldn't find him in his spider form anywhere.
"Are you gonna research me? And I'll even sign a contract." Grimsly said getting a little to close.
"Only if you don't scream." I said choking back a laugh.
"Ahh, well then let's begin your research." Grimsly said leaning in to kiss me. Just then golden silverware flashed in between us and Grimsly pulled back looking to the direction where the silver where came from.
"I wouldn't do such a thing to a lady." Claude said appearing behind me. He wrapped his arms around me protectively and scowled at Grimsly. Did Claude actually care? I leaned back into him and said to Grimsly,
"I'm sorry, I just really need access to your cave. It has rare specimens. If you really care about me, you'll let me."
"Fine… but only if your butler doesn't come." Grimsly said grinning.
"Only if you'll direct me around the cave, promise not to anything you might regret and promise to safely return out of the cave." I said thinking the deal through. I damaged Grimsly once I could do it again.
"Sure thing babe…" Grimsly said offering me his arm. I didn't take it and walked into the cave trying to get my bearings. I nearly tripped on a large stone when Grimsly grabbed my arm and pulled me near him.
"I got you babe." He said stroking my hair. I shoved him and walked away in disgust. Sure he was quite charming, but Claude was the one I loved, even if I didn't say it out loud.
"Grimsly, I don't know what you are getting at, but please. Stop what you are doing. I'm in love with someone else."
"What am I doing?" Grimsly said chewing on something.
"Hey? What are you eating?" I asked momentarily forgetting my anger. I couldn't see at all in this cave and only at that very moment I would need light to see the spider, but the spider needed darkness to thrive.
"Oh, what? These spiders in here. They've been a real pest lately and mum's been forcing me to eat them."
"For the good god's sake Grimsly! That must be the specie's I've been looking for!" I said fishing around in my workbag for the jar. I unscrewed the cap and held it out to where I thought Grimsly was standing.
"What makes you think I'd help you? I only agreed to lead you safely through this cave. Now if you'd make the deal a little bit more interesting…"
"GRIMSLY! ARE YOU HAVIN YOUR FRIENDS OVER? IF SO SHOW THEM WHERE THE FOOD IS. THIS HANDSOME SPIDER DEMON ASKED FOR SOME." A voice sounded from the mouth of the cave. It was so dark even the light at the mouth of the cave seemed like a lightening bug that was lost.
"MOM! GO READ YOUR HEALTH MAGAZINES!" Grimsly shouted.
"DON'T YOU TALK TO ME LIKE THAT YOUNG MISTER!" Obviously Grimsly's mother shouted back. While Grimsly was involved in the shouting match I heard him reaching for another spider. Once I knew for sure it was in his hand I took his hand gently and led the spider in the jar screwing the lid shut. I had my first specimen! Now I just had to get a few more. I readied another jar and waited for Grimsly to pick another one up. This went on for quite a while until I ran out of jars and Grimsly stopped angrily shouting at his mother and grabbing for food. I chuckled and heard as Grimsly turned to me and said in a calm but annoyed voice.
"I'm sorry. That was my mother, she can be a handful sometimes."
"That's alright. I'm actually ready to leave now." I said clinging to Grimsly's arm to hopefully speed the process along.
"Ahh. Are you sure you don't want to stay? I have a wonderful entertainment center if you know what I mean." Grimsly said as I sweat dropped.
"No, I just want to go home." I said stepping away from Grimsly.
"Oh come on. Just stay a little bit longer? I do enjoy your company. I would give you a new world, one that Claude would never give you." He said inching closer to my face making me nervous. I could feel his breath on my face and I brought my hand up to slap his face. My hand met its mark and a loud echoing sounded off of the cave walls. I heard Grimsly crumble to the ground and I immediately crouched down to see if he was okay. I still didn't know my own strength.
"Are you alright?" I asked looking down at where I thought Grimsly was. I felt his prescience and affirmed where he was. Maybe Claude's ritual brought me more benefits than immortality although I wished I could see in the dark.
"Maybe if you kiss the wound…" Grimsly said sitting up, meeting my face. He cupped my cheek and I slapped him away slightly softer this time. I sighed in annoyance and said,
"Grimsly, stop."
"Fine… are you done snooping in my cave yet?" Grimsly said angstily standing.
"Yes. I well, heard all that I needed. Thank you…" I said awkwardly patting his back.
"Humph. Let's just go." Grimsly said walking me to the front entrance of the cave. I smiled for the first time at him but the smile fell when I saw Claude fighting with someone dressed almost like he was his twin. This was going to be interesting.
A/N Dear awesome followers and reviewers,
I have returned from hiatus and I promise I am working on a bonus chapter as well as Chapter six. Ta-ta!