For too long no one dared to speak… They couldn't speak as they hadn't been able to all night. Tears were coming down in silent stoves now in more eyes then not. And the ones that weren't crying were trying to be strong for those who were. Their tears would come later.

Jaenelle had begun to pace after Karla made it clear what she and the rest of the female black widows thought about Daemon doing something so … so … well male. And she the Queen should have known better when it was Daemon that was invold.

The high Lord however hadn't said a word after Karla's outburst. He had however been trying to reach his son… his mirror… through the abyss. And until the windows shattered he could feel him. Now only emptiness filled the space. His emotions were held so tightly he almost didn't hear Jaenelle mutter.

"He wouldn't have done anything that would risk himself. I know he wouldn't" She paused and looked almost pleading at the rest of the group. "He wouldn't."

Lucivar fought back the sobs as he had been doing all night. Marian had sat near him… and at times had nearly forced him to lay his head in her lap. She was trying to comfort him but she could understand that as much as he loved her… her scent… not from her exactly but that which marked her as a purple dusk hearth witch… was nearly enough for him to kill her. The fact that he knew on some level that this was his wife by his choice… and Daemon's… had kept him from doing just that. It was something he would get past. He had to.

Sniffling yet again he got his mind working enough to remember the letter's that his brother had trusted to him. He shouldn't been doing craft when he vanished them after Daemon had left but he had been so preoccupied at what his brother wasn't saying that he did it out of habit. Now he was stuck with no other choice but to call them in and face the disapproving looks of the healers, the coven and his father.

"Lucivar should you be…" Marian looked down at the papers in his hand."

"It's important sweetheart." That was said through clenched teeth. He just hoped she mistook it from the fact that she caught him and not that fact that it was her.

Lovingly she petted down his hair.

She wasn't doing anything that would arouse him. Nothing that would do anything but calm and sooth. And for that he was forever thankful. And made him remember that this was his wife and not some mousy little bitch that truly deserved his anger. "Cat, Father?" he waited till he had both of their attentions before adding, "Daemon asked me to give these to you."

Letters from Daemon usually amounted to pages of shit that spoke of nothing before getting to the point. Especially when written to him… his brother … who didn't care to read. He knew how but he didn't like it. Then the letters to the High Lord were always direct to the point and full of details… Since he needed to hear those details. And of course letters of any kind to Jaenelle always made her blush because he would pour every ounce of sexual heat into the letter that she would ignore the words.

These however weren't typical letters. The one to the queen was just that. A consort explaining that he could no longer hold that position. He didn't apologies. Didn't explain why. Just in a matter of fact way… had written my contract was up a long time ago. It's time I gave you this back."

"His contract? Daemon didn't have a contract… at least not a written one." Jaenelle wailed.

And that set the mood for the High Lords, again simple written, "A warlord Prince is expendable. Thank you adding the conditions to the web so many years ago. I wouldn't have been able to do this otherwise." Cold swept through the room before it was leashed. I made those conditions because I thought the queen would never order you to something that would amount to you being very much dead. He thought it and directed it out on a spear thread into the darkness. He knew he wouldn't receive an answer.

Before Lucivar could read his Tersa stood in the doorway. She hadn't been there last night. In fact No one knew where she was all of yesterday. But now she stood looking a bit too… worried would have been natural… but she looked almost flustered. "You all sit here thinking you know things that are not certain. Why?"

Lucivar held out his hand to her, "Sweetheart, come sit down. Please?"

She glided over to him and perhaps for the first time he saw something in her that he hadn't seen before… And my the darkness help him… because for the time it took her to cross the room and sit next to him… she wasn't just the woman that gave birth to Daemon. But the Woman who Daemon had inherited half of what he was. Not just the temper but the skills as a black widow.

"Read. MY boy told you to read… so read."

MY boy. Daemon. A word that she always associated with him but today she was emphasizing MY boy. He nodded and very carefully opened the letter… and was glad that he did. The paper had been used as a frame for a web. It was confusing too say the least. Both Jaenelle and the High Lord were black widows… Yet he gave the web to him to read knowing that he couldn't read it. "Tersa?"

A smile formed on her face. "I cannot teach you to read that." Her eyes danced across the room. "No one in this room can."

Tersa, sweetheart. There are more black widows in this room then in most courts." Saetan muttered.

"Only the spiders can read these can of webs." Then she locked eyes with Jaenelle, "Not two legged spider can teach this."

That got him thinking. Daemon didn't want him to read the web but he did want him to take it somewhere. It hurt to be moved with help to get this far. It would hurt just as badly to be tucked back into his room. And Daemon knew that. "Tersa, how long should I wait till I take this to the little darlings?"

She patted his arm, "How long do you wait to find answers." Then she got up and disappeared from the room.

Saetan came over to look at the tiny web. Not so tiny once the paper was unfolded he corrected. Despite his training… despite the fact that he was Daemon's father… he could not see into the web… but he did feel the death webs and knew if he kept trying he would be destroyed along with the web. Sighing he locked eyes with his son. "I know your not well and if you have to wait I'll understand."

"You want me to go see the spiders." Not a question but a confirmation.

"A coach go take him to the landing web. I think Karla would be welcome there since she helped Daemon." The Queen added. Then she locked eyes with her first escort. "If you do anything… I mean anything… that have you less then you are right now… you will not be leaving this house until Hell freezes over and the sun starts shinning there as well. Do I make myself clear?"

Shit. Should he remind her moving would harm the delicate little web. The look in her eyes… the look n everyone's eyes told him that not going …right now… was not an option. "I promise not to do anything that would upset you while you in since a delicate state."

"Just remember that when you find your brother."

So he wasn't the only one who thought Daemon was on that island. Good that meant he could kick his ass before he dragged him home.

Arachna

The small golden spider's crawled over Daemon mangled body. Webs laid where flesh once was. They needed help to save the Lady's mate.

They knew if he had told her what it would do then she wouldn't have allowed him to come. Would have in fact insisted on coming here herself since she wouldn't have been harmed… or at least not like this.