I do not own Everyday Life with Monster Girls.
A/N: Some Mature content ahead.
"Hey Craglin?" Jack asked as they approached the front door.
The sobek glanced down at Jack while joining him on the lawn. "What?"
"Can you do me a favor?"
The MON agent shrugged. "What do you need?"
Jack eyed the large front doors just ahead of them. "Can you stand right behind and catch me."
He narrowed his eyes. "Catch you?"
Jack motioned at the house with his chin "I've seen this show. I'm probably about to be glomped."
"Glomped?"
"Tackle hugged." Jack defined.
The agent blinked. "Oh...oooohhh." He slowed his pace and sidestepped around the fragile human. "Yeah." He chuckled lightly. "I can do that."
Jack took a breath and turned the knob. "I'm home." He announced while he cleared the frame. As he suspected his homestays were waiting for him.
Unexpectedly, none of them so much as twitched a muscle. They just stared at him.
Syleris and Dawn regarded him intensely. Tetra's arms were folded and her scrutinizing gaze bore down on him. Sula seemed to be clenching her teeth and her golden pupils held a small spark behind them.
Guilt yanked at his heart and almost physically forced him to look downward and avoid their eyes.
Craglin stepped in just through the door but didn't close it. He eyed each of the guests but didn't comment.
"You left without telling anyone." Tetra stated severely.
Jack nodded lethargically. "Uh-huh. I'm-"
"You didn't even take your phone so we could call you." Dawn cut in.
He closed his eyes tight and shut up. He knew what he was in for. Better just to let them air their grievances.
"We're family now Jack." Sula reminded him harshly. "You can't just run off on us."
"You're supposed to be resting." Syleris bit out. "Getting better."
The MON agent raised a claw. "To be fair, he was sleeping when I found him."
"WHAAAT!" All four exclaimed.
Jack shuddered. He wanted to melt into the floor and disappear.
Sula held up a trembling fist. "Jack...you...idi-" Her voice strained. Tetra side stepped and placed a hand on her shoulder. The lamia clenched her mouth shut.
The arachne cleared her throat. "Jack, please look at me."
He swallowed and held his head up. She gazed at him intently. "We'll talk about this later. For now, you need to get back to bed and rest."
Jack sucked in a breath and held up a hand. "But I-"
"BED!" All four shouted and pointed toward the stairs.
Jack dipped his head and walked toward the steps. He raised his eyes just enough and looked back. He spotted Isaac sitting on a chair in the far corner. He was watching him passively.
"I didn't thank you for visiting me."
Isaac lifted a hand. "You don't need to Jack. It's always good to see you."
Jack's eyes fell. "Yeah. Good to see you too."
He turned back and ascended the stairs. Agent Sheena stood right outside his door.
"C'mon Jack." She held up a roll of gauze. "Lets get inside and I'll change that for you."
Each of the monster girls looked toward the only other human in the house. Isaac leaned forward and held his chin on his knuckles."I have never seen him like this."
Craglin ducked back out of the front doors. "I'll... go back to my patrol." He closed both doors as he left.
Isaac sucked in a breath and let it out. "But I think have an idea of what's going on."
Each of them stayed silent while he gathered his thoughts. "He's never run away from home. That'd be something Matt would do. Maybe even me." He waved a hand. "But Jack?" He shook his head. "Never."
The lamia leaned forward.
"He always was a bit of a momma's boy." Isaac elaborated. "He could have joined us when we moved to California but he elected to stay."
"I know he did that to stay near mom, for her sake. But Matt and I...we had to get out." He paused. "And then they died."
He blinked a few times. "And the reason he stayed behind, died with them."
Each of the girls stances withered in sympathy.
"He took it the worst." Isaac continued. "No one expects that to happen to your mom or dad especially not both. But he..." Isaac closed his eyes and frowned. "We should have stayed with him longer. After the funeral. Should have helped him deal with the house and everything else."
"He told he us he could take care of it..." He shook his head. "But he couldn't. So he gave it away. And then he went back to his boring job."
Isaac nodded a few times and let out a breath. "Turns out that giving the house away was the best thing for him." He glanced up and waved at the homestays "You ladies are the best thing that's happened to him since our parents died." He smiled.
They lifted their heads a bit.
Isaac furrowed his brow and stared ahead. "So why would he run away from this?" He waved a hand. "Sure things aren't perfect. Being kidnapped and bitten for one."
The tall running harpy, Syleris, narrowed her eyes. "For one?"
Isaac looked right at her. "He told me about the nightmares." She lifted a wing helplessly. "You know about the nightmares right?" He looked at each of them individually. Only the arachne and the lamia nodded.
He leaned back on the chair. "Well I know they're an issue." He paused. "'Cause I had one too."
All four stared at him in mild shock.
He pointed at one of the halls. "I spent the night in one of the rooms down there." He casually pointed at Dawn. "You stabbed me with an icicle."
Her eyes widened and she lifted a hand. "I..no I didn't."
Isaac shook his head. "In my dream, you did."
She blinked rapidly and held her arm to herself. "I...what...what do I do?"
He frowned. "I don't know."
The arachne stepped forward. "Jack told me this morning, that when he...spent the night with me...he didn't have a nightmare."
Isaac leaned his head back. "Huh...that's interesting..."
She narrowed her eyes. "What are you thinking?"
Isaac placed a finger to his chin. "The cause, assuming it is you ladies... might also be the solution." He rubbed it a couple times. "But if he knows that...why would he leave?"
The lamia's shoulders drooped and she glanced down. "It's...I think it's my fault."
The other monster girls turned their heads and Isaac focused his attention on her. "What do you mean?"
She took a heavy breath and let it out. "I...let him know that I love him."
Syleris raised an eyebrow. "You too?" She looked down for a moment in thought. "Wait. Was that what your were being so weird about after the full moon?"
The lamia nodded. "I..." She lifted a hand. "Maybe it was a spur of the moment thing and emotions were running high but..." She lifted her head and faced all of them. "When the medics took Jack away that night I...realized that I loved him."
She held her hands together below her waist. "I didn't understand why until yesterday. I called my mama and told her that I wanted to leave. To find a different host or even..." She wrung her hands nervously. "To go back home."
Tetra leaned forward. "Sula no. That's crazy."
The lamia lifted a hand and the arachne stopped. "Please, let me finish."
Sula relaxed her arm to her side. "Mama Daphne reminded me of why I came to America in the first place. But she also said that she and my husbands anticipated that I would fall in love with my host."
"Husbands?" Isaac lowered an eyebrow.
Tetra turned toward him. "She comes from a society that does not produce males naturally. They require human males to procreate."
He glanced up at her and nodded lightly. "Okay, I knew that about lamias." He narrowed his eyes. "But don't they umm..." He trailed off and leaned back in the chair. Sula's expression got a little less friendly.
"No." She slithered up right to just a foot from his knees. "We don't kidnap and enslave men."
Isaac didn't say anything very loudly. Sula closed her eyes briefly and backed off a foot. "We recruit men to live with us." She folded her arms. "To live with us as our husbands. As equals." She gazed down at him. "My tribe treats them with respect."
Isaac nodded a few times. "Okay...good to know." A pause. "So...you already have multiple husbands."
The lamia nodded. "Yes."
"You said that they knew you were going to...fall in love with your host?"
She nodded again. "Yes."
Isaac tried to keep his face neutral for his next question. "And they're okay with that?"
She smiled a bit and nodded a third time. "Yes."
He blinked. "That's...uh...ummm..." He tried to settle on a non-offensive term. "different."
Sula almost giggled at the lack of comprehension. "Yes it is."
Suddenly a thought dawned on her. Her eyes widened and her breath stuck. Isaac leaned back in his chair with worry. He raised a finger at her. "Uh...is that normal?"
The other girls regarded the lamia with some concern. The harpy stepped up. "Uh Sula? You okay?"
The lamia darted her eyes at Tetra. "I..I.." The arachne just watched. Sula gasped and clasped her hands to her cheeks. "I can't believe it." She looked ahead unfocused. "I did the same thing."
Tetra waited.
"Goddess." Sula held a hand to her chest. "I'm such a hypocrite."
The arachne's lips creased a millimeter.
Isaac looked between them. "I...think I skipped a page." He blinked a couple times. "What's going on?"
Tetra studied the lamia a moment more before facing the man in the chair. "I believe she just realized that when she expressed her..interest in your brother, she made the same mistake I did." She placed a hand on her chest. "The same mistake she called me out for."
Isaac looked to the side and then back to her. "What mistake?"
The arachne pressed her lips together. "I...pounced on Jack when I first kissed him. Took him completely by surprise." She glanced down. "When I did that... I broke a promise I made."
"What promise?" Isaac asked.
"That I wouldn't force him in any position that encouraged us to break the law."
Isaac's eyes narrowed. "Break the...oh right." He glanced upward. "The Prohibition on Sexual Relations clause." He nodded a few times. He eyed both girls. "And now he's got two ladies in this house vying for him." He shook his head. "No wonder he's freaking out."
Syleris folded her arms. "That law is so stupid." She spat.
He chuckled. "I'm not entirely sure of its purpose myself but..more importantly," He waved a finger between Tetra and Sula. "How's he supposed to choose?"
The arachne stepped forward. "He doesn't have to."
Everyone else blinked and looked at her with confusion. She tapped Sula on the shoulder and then waved forward. "Come on. We need to talk."
Sula followed the arachne up the stairs, not entirely sure what she was doing. Tetra approached Jack's door and rapt it briskly. It opened promptly and Agent Sheena stood in the frame.
"You should let him rest." She stated.
Tetra nodded. "We just want to talk."
The agent stared at her a moment. "Fine." She held up a finger in her face. "But no funny business."
Tetra shook her head. "Not on the agenda today." Sheena eyed them both. Then she exhaled and walked passed. "Fine. Don't take too long."
Tetra jerked her head toward the door. "Come on." Sula squinted but didn't protest. She followed her inside. Jack was laying still with his eyes closed. Sula made sure to get her whole tail in before she closed the door.
He opened his eyes and breathed in sharply. He raised his head and looked at them both. "Tetra, Sula what are you...?"
"Jack." The arachne raised a hand. "We need to talk."
He shrunk back an inch and slipped his arms out from under the sheets. "Um..I'm really sorry about running out...th-that was..." He lowered his eyes. "I...shouldn't have-"
Sula slithered up and grasped his hand. "It's alright Jack." He looked up at her in mild astonishment. "I don't think that's quite what we need to discuss." He gave her a curious look and faced over to the arachne at the foot of his bed.
She lifted a claw. "It's related, but this will hopefully settle an issue."
"Oookay." He sidled himself backwards and propped his back on a pillow. "Then...what's up?"
Tetra took a moment to compose herself. "We both love you Jack."
He blinked once and glanced between them. "Yeah...I... gathered that."
"And I understand that Sula has proposed to be a third romantic partner."
Jack swallowed and nodded silently.
"You might assume that there would be conflict between Sula and I in this arrangement."
He raised a hand and parted his lips to say something, but instead he chose to nod noncommittally.
The arachne smiled lightly. "But there doesn't have to be any conflict between Sula and I."
The lamia righted her head and gazed at the other woman. "There doesn't?"
Jack rattled his head and raised a hand. "I,I,I..don't understand."
Tetra waved toward Sula. "I am perfectly content to...share, as you once put it." Sula and Jack's eyes regarded the arachne with something between suspicion and outright disbelief. She closed her eyes a moment. "You think that I am monogamous. That I would love only one person."
Sula and Jack gave each other a look. "Uh yeah." Jack faced back to her. "I kinda figured...by the way you talked and...well." He shrugged his uninjured shoulder. "Other..things." Sula nodded but didn't say anything.
Tetra cantered over to the other side of his bed. "But you both forget..." She smirked and leaned forward. "That I've made love with multiple lamias before."
Jack's jaw dropped and his eyes all but fell out of his head. Sula gasped. Her entire being brightened, and she clasped her hands together.
The arachne lifted a hand to her mouth and giggled. "You should see the look on your faces."
Jack blinked a few times and dipped his head. "Th...that's...that's right." He looked back up at her. "You...told us that..." He lifted his head and raised a finger. "The first day here." He blinked a few more times. "You told us you had..." He faced downward a degree as he tried to recall the exact wording. "experience."
The lamia's cheeks reddened and she clamped her mouth shut with barely contained excitement. Tetra chuckled and pointed across the bed. "I think I broke her."
Jack turned back. "Sula." He patted her arm. "Sula!"
She shivered and backed away from the bed. "I...I'm here...I..I'm.." She placed her hands over her chest. "I can't, I don't." She swallowed and tried to compose herself. She took a slow breath and glanced over at Tetra. "Goddess, are you sure?"
Tetra nodded. "Entirely." She raised a claw. "I wasn't raised quite like other arachne." She lowered her eyes a degree. "I developed a bit... differently."
Jack heard the subtext in that statement, something he recognized from a friend who'd grappled with...identity issues. He turned back toward her and raised a hand. "And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that."
She closed her eyes briefly and smiled warmly. "Thank you Jack." She looked down at him. "You really are the best host ever."
He smiled back. "I try."
Sula shook her head and held up a hand. "I never asked but...when did you meet other lamia?"
Tetra's eyes lowered a hair. "That's a story that...needs some context."
Jack pushed himself up and righted his back parallel with the wall. He crossed his legs Indian style and faced her directly. "I think we can make some time to listen."
Tetra sucked a breath apprehensively. "I'd rather, just, tell everyone. Get it all out in one go."
Sula narrowed her eyes and advanced around the bed. "What's wrong with telling just us?"
Tetra closed her eyes. "It's...painful."
Jack and Sula traded a look. Sula's eyes held a question and Jack nodded in confirmation. He slid himself off the bed and stepped toward the arachne. He took one of her hands in both of his. She cracked open her eyes slowly.
Jack held her gaze a moment. "It gets easier."
She closed her eyes again and nodded. She breathed out once. "Alright." She dropped her hand from his and backed a step. "Get comfortable. This might take a while." Jack and Sula nodded.
Sula coiled her tail under herself. Jack crossed the room and pulled in the chair by the window. Tetra let out some thread and whipped up a quick sling for her abdomen.
She crossed her arms and pedipalps and faced them both directly as she began.
"I have to get the most excruciating detail out first." She sighed but didn't look away.
"My mother...is a murderer."
Madrid, Spain. 20+ years ago...
Hector lurked along the alley as silently as he could. The occasional flashes of red, blue and yellow from the city fireworks bathed the cracked stone walls in colors they never held naturally.
Just ahead was a man. Hector recognized the light gray hoodie and black striped track pants, but not the dark short brimmed hat. The figure turned his head left and right, obviously checking if anyone was paying attention.
Apparently not sensing Hector's presence, the figure climbed a set of stairs to the left and opened a wooden door. He darted inside and closed it behind him.
Hector narrowed his eyes and crept up to it. The planks had been worn down at the ends and the handle had rust spots along the outer edge. He waited a three count before softly ascending the stairs and peeking through a gap.
He just caught the heel of the man he was following finish climbing a scaffolding ladder. Hector backed his head and grabbed the handle. His thumb slowly depressed the latch and he pulled the door out gently. He slipped inside and held the door open with his fingers. With both hands he pulled it in just enough to give the appearance of being closed.
He turned back to face the room. He blinked in recognition. This was a remodeling site he and his brother worked at almost half a year ago. They had to abandon it when the contractor refused to pay their wages.
Why would he come here?
Hector looked up and tried to spot any sign of his quarry. The scaffolding reached all the way up to the wooden ceiling but he couldn't see anyone up there.
He had to go somewhere.
Hector gripped the metal ladder and tried to stealthily climb without making noise. The random pops and booms from the fireworks outside aided his efforts and covered the occasional groan of the steel accommodating his weight.
He peeked over the top. As he feared, no one was there.
Did I lose him? How did he get back down with me seein-
He squinted and noticed a fine crack in the planks of the ceiling. The light from the fireworks illuminated a sliver cutting perpendicular to the grain. If they hadn't, Hector doubted he would have seen it even in the daytime.
He finished his climb and stood right under the crack. He reached up and ran a finger along it. It felt smooth, finished. With a little effort he pushed and a square section of the ceiling recessed upward at an angle.
A trap door? Incredible.
He looked down at the scaffold level he was on for something to gain a bit of height. A stack of paint cans was positioned just under the trap door. Upon further inspection, Hector recognized a fresh dirty shoe print on the top of the highest one.
He smirked and placed his foot in the same position and grabbed the railing to haul himself up. He pushed the trap door with his other arm slowly. There was a soft click as the door reached a perpendicular angle.
He paused a moment and stopped pushing. He inched his hand away and the hatch stayed in place.
Hector grunted approvingly and grabbed the lip of the entrance. He braced himself and pulled up with great effort. A streak of panic shot through his spine as his feet left the stack and he failed to get his chest over the edge. He darted his head around and tried find something else to grab onto.
Dangling just above his brow was a rope with a knotted end. He thrust his arm upward and latched on. He pulled with one hand and pushed with the other to get his waist over the edge. Hector crawled a foot or two and pulled his legs in.
The room he was in looked finished, refined. Not at all like a dusty attic that he expected to find. This place was someone's room.
The light from the fireworks shone on a wardrobe, a dresser and a long wooden table. As he stood up he noticed a lot of sewing utensils arrayed neatly on one side and several bolts of cloth stacked on the other end. Along the ceiling were thick strands of something the reminded him of a spider's web that crisscrossed the ceiling.
He took a step further to investigate when he heard a sound ahead of him. He ducked down and side stepped to the wall. A door was partly ajar on the end of the room and he could just sense some motion on the other side. He crept closer and could hear rapid breathing... and a woman's moan.
Hector smirked and reached inside his back pocket.
"Oh hermano, you are in so much trouble now."
He readied the cheap traveler's camera he bought earlier and made sure the flash was on. He stood up and walked casually toward the open door.
"Better cover up the little woman and yourself hermano." He announced and shoved the door open the rest of the way. "I wouldn't want to scar poor -DIOS MIO!"
A flash of blue incandescence from a side window illuminated a horror.
It was easily as big as a car, taller even. It had eight jointed legs, black arms with claws and six red eyes. Its torso was exposed. A splash of dark red liquid ran down its massive breasts. The fangs in its open mouth dribbled red onto its lower lips.
Tulio hung limply from a pair of its appendages clutched around his waist. His eyes had rolled back in his head and his bare blood-stained chest was still. His neck was punctured and dripping onto the floor.
Hector's stomach wretched in revulsion. He dropped the camera and backed a step. "Dios."
The creature's eyes burned into his memory as it stared at him. Then they gazed down at its victim. Its clawed hands slapped onto its face and an unholy scream pierced Hector's soul.
He spun and dashed to the open trap door. "Dios, dios, dios..."
He slid his legs in and dropped to the scaffolding. His feet smashed the little tower of paint cans as he hit. He lost balance and flopped on to his back.
"Grah!"
The cans he kicked rolled off the planks and splattered with a loud crash on the concrete floor below. Hector opened his eyes and immediately spotted something moving on the other side of the trap door. His breath seized up and he swung his legs to the side. He flipped over and placed his feet on the diagonal support bars. He rapidly climbed down the unsafe way from the top of the scaffold.
He let go of the steel at about half. He landed well enough with a grunt and sprinted for the door. As soon as his feet hit the spilled paint he lost his footing and pitched forward. His hands braced in front of him and he bellowed as the wet floor crashed into him.
Hector rattled his head and spat out a glob of paint. He pushed his body up with both hands and screamed. A lance of pain shot through his right wrist. He must have injured it when he hit.
He gritted his teeth and pushed off with his feet. Despite the slick floor he reached the door and prepared to bust through it.
Half a second before he touched it something snagged his back. He spun around and saw the six-eyed creature atop the scaffolding. A line of thick thread was in its hands. The other end of it was attached to his jacket. It started to tug the line.
"NO!"
Hector ducked and threw his arms up at the same time. The force of the creature's pull ripped his unzipped jacket off of his body.
He whirled back to the door, bashed through it and dashed out into the street.
One week later...January 7th
"So, one more time." The detective put his elbow on the table. The overly bushy gray mustache barely hid his smug smirk. "What happened to your jacket?"
Hector shut his eyes and exhaled in frustration. "I told you, it stuck some kind of rope to my collar. I got it off and ran out."
"Mhmm" Detective Muniz hummed. "From atop the scaffold." He tapped the pen on his notepad, obviously not writing a thing. "Over a hundred feet away, in the dark." He rotated his wrist around a few times. "To take your...jacket."
Hector pounded a fist. "To get me too."
"Mhmm." Muniz nodded. "But you got away."
"Yes." He bit out.
The detective inclined his head. "But your brother..."
"Is dead!"
Both men glared at each other. The detective swallowed. "Missing."
Hector threw up his hands. "It cleaned up the evidence!"
Muniz closed his eyes briefly. "The...monster...woman."
Hector gritted his teeth. "Women are human. That thing was not."
The detective sighed. "I think we're done here."
Hector stood up out of the chair. "No we're not. It's still out there."
Two officers 'escorted' Hector out of the station and dumped him outside. He brushed himself off and stood back up.
"Hector Velasquez?"
He turned toward the foreign voice to his left. A woman in a light beige trench coat and wide brimmed hat approached him. She had close cropped blonde hair, wore wide black shades and black tennis shoes.
Hector narrowed his eyes. "Who're you?"
She offered her hand. "My name is Emilia Wolfe."
Hector just stood there. "What do you want? To make fun of me too."
She shook her head. "No Mr. Velasquez. I just want to ask you some questions about what happened to your brother."
He reared his head a bit. "Why?"
She lifted her hand and removed the shades. Her eyes were mismatched. The left was blue and the other black. "Because I believe you."
He narrowed his eyes. "Who. Are. You?"
She lifted her other hand and flicked her wrist. Where there was nothing, now she had a small card between her fingers.
Hector took it and studied it a second. The back was blank. The front had a silver eye symbol and the words 'Wolfe Preternatural Service' printed in black. He looked up at her a moment then back to the card and read it again. "What are you?"
She placed her shades back on her face. "I'm a paranormal investigator. Mr. Velasquez."
He raised on eyebrow. "What like...you try to prove Fish-Men are real or something?"
She nodded. "The mermen and merwomen of Atlantis." She waved a hand to the side. "Though some of the females prefer being called mermaids for some reason." She raised a finger. "Even their queen."
Hector squinted at her. He glanced back at her card and then back to her. He dropped the card. "You're loco." He turned around and walked away.
"There were spider webs in both rooms." She stated.
He halted and spun around. "How?" He blinked several times. "How did you know that?"
She offered a hand. "In your report, you mentioned spider webs in the room with the trap door. But there were webs in the other room as well, correct?
Hector narrowed his eyes. "The police haven't released anything yet. How'd you know that?"
She smirked lightly. "I have my ways."
"No." He barked. "How did you know that about the other room?"
Wolfe inclined her head. "Because that was an arachne you encountered."
He furrowed his brow. "What's an arachne?"
"Are you familiar with centaurs?" She asked.
"Uh, yeah." He nodded.
"Think that, except swap out the horse body for a giant spider."
Hector's eyes widened as he input that clarification. He raised a hand. "That..that's what I saw." His voice took on a growl. "That's what killed my brother."
She adjusted her shades. "Still think I'm loco?"
He took a moment to calm himself down and try to think rationally. "Yes." He balled his hands into fists. "But you seem to already know more than they do." He thumbed behind himself toward the station.
He stared at her a moment more. "You're going to help me find my brother's killer?"
Wolfe nodded. "Yes."
A beat. "When do we start?"
Jack's room, present day.
"They never apprehended the arachne that killed Hector's brother." Tetra gazed at the floor as she continued. "Caught up with her a few times. But she fled."
Sula and her host shared a brief look. Jack raised a hand. Tetra lifted her head a bit and nodded at him. "She um... became pregnant that night?"
Tetra closed her eyes and nodded again.
"..gods.."
Sula lowered an eyebrow. "Wait...she was on the run while she was pregnant?"
Tetra nodded her head a third time. The lamia placed her hands protectively across her belly. "Goddess, I can't imagine..."
Silence pervaded between the three of them. Jack looked between his two housemates, judging if they should continue. He raised his hand again. "If we want, we can...do this later."
"No." Tetra stated. The other two looked toward her. "I...you both need to hear the rest."
Jack swallowed. "Okay..." He adjusted his seat as he lowered his arm. "So, she ran. What happened next?"
Tetra raised her eyes at them. "My mother found a deep dark cave in Greece, of all places, to build a nest. She laid her egg, and waited for me to hatch."
Sula raised a hand this time. "Only one egg? Don't spiders and arachne typically have... more than that?"
Tetra inclined her head. "Typically." She confirmed. "I only know that I am her only living offspring that she raised." A beat. "If there were others...if I had any sisters...or would have had any...I do not know."
She let the possible implications hang in the air a moment.
"My first memories are of her and her alone." She shook her head. "There was no one else."
Jack took in a deep breath and let it out. "So...what happened next?"
"Mother and I continued to evade humanity. We would stay near friendly monster-folk who also avoided humans. But never for more than a month at a time. We were always on the move."
She glanced up and stared across the room. "Until a few years ago, not long after the human governments publicly acknowledged that monsters existed."
Approximately three weeks after the reveal. Southern France.
She waited.
Her prey was almost in position.
Perched high in a tree, she could track it visually. It snorted and pushed around the dirt with its broad snout. It grunted and brandished its tusks in the air.
The boar was alone. It had wandered into her territory.
Tetra had seen to that.
Less than an hour before, she spooked the team of boars into scattering. She felled a tree branch in the middle of them and they all sprinted in different directions. Eventually they would regroup. But one or two would draw near one of her carefully disguised traps.
She couldn't try to capture the whole team. Even these dull beasts could overpower and overrun even her strongest webs if enough of them ran into her trap enmasse.
But a singular boar would be no trouble at all.
The creature trotted along the forest floor, wary and cautious but still ignorant of the true danger it was in. It took two more steps toward the trap.
Tetra forced herself to remain patient, calm, indifferent. She slowed her breathing. Both in her chest and her abdomen. She'd done this a hundred times before and she would do it hundreds of times more in the future.
Mother had taught her well. She could survive without her now. The proof of it was mere moments away...
The boar took its last steps. A snare tightened around its front hoof and dragged it forward. It squealed in panic and reared up on its hind legs. The back of its head jostled another tripwire and two more snares wrapped around its feet. They tightened and pulled them in opposite directions.
Tetra had only seconds to claim her prize. Her threads were thin enough to barely be seen by even her eyes, but that sacrificed their potential strength. The boar could break loose and escape, if given enough time.
She rapidly descended from the tree by letting out a thick thread from her spinnerets. She remained as silent as possible as she rappelled. No sense in giving away her approach. She opened her mouth and prepared to bite.
She landed on the poor creature's back, letting her considerable weight smash it to the dirt. She grasped its head with her claws and sunk her fangs into its neck.
The boar spasmed and attempted to throw her off, but it was already too late. Her numbing venom was already taking hold and robbing the boar of any sensation. Its muscles weakened and collapsed.
She withdrew her head and cooed into one of her prey's ears. "Shh, shh, shh." She stroked its face gently as its struggling abated. "It'll be over soon."
When the boars body was still she located a soft section of its neck near an artery with her claws. In one swift jab, she plunged them in and then withdrew her arm.
The poor creature barely reacted to the killing blow. Her venom had done its work. It could feel no pain as it bled out quickly and quietly.
She tied more threads around the boar's legs and hoisted it a couple of feet to allow the blood to drain out as fast as possible.
Her work completed, Tetra cleaned her claws and wrapped up her prize. She prepared to carry it to her mother's cave. They would eat well this week.
She took in the beautiful Pyrenees on her stroll back. The sun was just starting to set as the ground began to slope upwards. The mountains cast long shadows under the orange sky.
Tetra turned her eyes upon the cave they were staying in-
Something was wrong. She could see firelight emanating from inside it.
That shouldn't be happening. We always find a place that can hide a cooking fire.
She tried to think of any reason mother would set a fire that could be seen.
Tetra gasped.
She wouldn't. It's got to be a signal of some sort. Mother's in trouble!
She dropped her prey and scrambled up the mountain trail as fast as possible. Her long longs allowed her to traverse the rocky path with little trouble or any noisy commotion. Just outside, Tetra slowed and tried to approach more stealthily. She could hear voices, but not mother's.
What is going on?
"Ahem."
Tetra glanced upward. Atop the entrance a small breed arachne with a dark green carapace waved at her. Her iron gray hair fell around her cheeks in small curls. Her black shirt had frills along the neck and sleeves. A thin brown belt secured a black skirt over her waist.
"You must be Tetra. A pleasure to meet you." She was perched atop the rocks of the entrance.
Tetra narrowed her eyes. How did I miss her? "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
She held up a hand. "Beg your pardon. My name is Cherise. I was asked to intercept you here and inform you of the situation."
Tetra scowled. "What situation?"
Her slightly cheerful expression mollified a bit. "Your mother is wanted for questioning by the human authorities."
Tetra blinked several times in complete confusion. Then she rattled her head. "What? What in the world are you talking about?"
Cherise's eyes lowered a hair. "Oh my, you don't know do you?"
"Know what?" Tetra bit out.
She swallowed. "This is gonna sound a bit crazy but...the humans have officially acknowledged that monsters exist." She placed a hand over her chest. "That we exist."
Tetra blinked some more. "What in the world are you talking about?"
Cherise sighed. "Come on. Follow me." She skittered under the top lip of the entrance and walked along the cave ceiling.
Tetra kept a skeptical expression and mentally prepared herself to attack or flee, should the worst occur, but she followed nonetheless.
The small breed lead Tetra to a simple campfire about a third of the way into their cave. Standing around it was a large breed with light brown fur and vertical black stripes covering her carapace. Her skin was heavily tanned and her solid black eyes regarded the newcomer cautiously. She wore a white t-shirt and a brown loincloth around her waist. Her wild mane of dark brown hair shot out in all directions.
Next to her stood a long-legs arachne. Where the large breed had think powerful limbs, the long legs were thin and extensive. If she stretched them out end to end, Tetra had no doubt that she could touch both cave walls with plenty of slack. Her long sandy blonde hair fell around her elbows. Her carapace was a light caramel with dull darker stripes along her legs. Her skin was a few shades shy of pale Caucasian. Her uniform's top half was white with long-sleeves. The bottom half was black and tapered into a long flap over her waist.
Tetra glanced between all three of them, as Cherise took an empty position by the fire. "Who are all of you? What do you want?"
The long-legs raised a hand. "Hello... Tetra is it?" Her accent placed her from somewhere in northern Europe. Denmark if Tetra had to guess,
"Yes that's my name." She confirmed. "What is yours?"
The long-legs placed her other hand on her chest. "I am called Edee." She waved toward the small breed. "You've already met Cherise." The small breed smiled lightly.
Edee waved toward their third companion. "And this is Valentina." The large breed grunted and nodded.
Tetra studied the three of them a moment. "What do you want with my mother?"
"We don't want anything." Valentina stressed. "But the humans seem to be interested in her." Tetra placed her accent somewhere along the Adriatic, probably the Italian side.
Tetra folded her arms. "And since when do arachne cater to humans for anything?"
The trio glanced between themselves. Then Edee faced Tetra directly. "Since they have offered to establish formal relations with all arachne."
Tetra scowled. Such a bold faced lie was unbecoming of any arachne.
"I don't think she's heard any of this." Cherise opined.
Valentina grunted. "Really keeps you in the dark doesn't she?"
Tetra narrowed her eyes and glared. "What did you say?"
The large breed turned and faced her. "Every monster has heard of the humans' announcement. Their governments have given up trying to hide us from their ignorant public."
Tetra was taken aback. She had to be wrong. Mother would tell her something important like that. Mother taught her everything. She wouldn't keep anything like that from her. "You're lying."
Valentina gritted her fangs and leaned forward. Edee grasped her arm. "Patience sister." She cautioned. "She doesn't know."
Valentina growled and jerked her arm out of the long-legs grip. "You're not my sister."
Tetra lowered her stance and prepared to defend herself. "Where's my mother? What have you done with her?"
Cherise raised both her hands placatingly. "She's just inside Tetra. Please, calm down."
Tetra raised her claws. "You lie to me about the humans and expect me to believe that? What's really going on?"
The large-breed's eyes inflamed. "I'll show you what's going on!" Valentina was about to lunge when a thread wrapped around her arms and tugged her backwards.
"That. Is. Enough."
All four spider women turned toward the new voice coming from deeper in the cave.
A main-line arachne with a white carapace and dull yellow legs stepped into the firelight. A simple violet gown covered her shoulders to down around her pedipalps. Her arms were adorned with a pair of silver circlets that had gold inlaid with a symbol. The one on the right arm was a spear. The one on the left was a distaff. A black leather belt around her waist was secured with a silver buckle that had a golden shield inlaid in the center. All three were symbols of the goddess.
She held the string that hindered Valentina in her claws. Her red eyes regarded the four of them with some disappointment.
Tetra's face went slack in recognition. "Mistress Khristeen."
Mother skittered around from behind and stood by the mistress. A casual observer might conclude that Tetra and she were actually sisters. But that would overlook the subtle creases along her cheeks and under the eyes. She also wore a dark gown but didn't sport any jewelry.
She faced her daughter directly. "Tetra, apologize to our guests."
Tetra lifted a hand. "I..I."
Mother inclined her head. "Tetra." She all but growled.
Her daughter dropped her arms and bowed to Valentina. "I beg your forgiveness."
The large breed harrumphed and snapped the threads around her arms by flexing a few muscles.
Mistress Khristeen stepped up behind her. "Valentina." Her tone held a note of warning.
The large breed eyed the woman behind her and gritted her fangs a moment. Then she faced back to Tetra. "Accepted and given."
Tetra lifted her head back up to thank her, but she had turned toward the fire, clearly not interested in anything more Tetra had to say.
"Tetra. I sent you out to get food." Mother stated. "Why have you come back empty handed?"
She lifted an arm. "I..did get food. I caught a boar."
Mother's eyes lowered. "Well, where is it? Or did you manage to lose that like you lost your manners?"
"I, I dropped it to get back here." She stammered. "I thought you were in danger. I saw the light and..."
Mother raised an eyebrow. "Clearly, I am fine, child." She waved toward the entrance dismissively. "Now go retrieve dinner for our guests before some jackal starts gnawing on it."
"I...yes mother." Tetra nodded and turned back to the entrance. She quickly descended the slope and located her kill. It seemed intact. She picked it up and brushed off a bit of dust and dirt that had clung to its hide.
When she returned, only Cherise and Edee were present. They had set up a spit to roast the boar.
"We can take care of that Tetra." The long-legs approached and held out her arms. "Your mother wanted to speak with you further inside."
Tetra hesitated before handing over her prey. "Are you sure? As your host I should-"
Cherise raised a hand. "It's alright Tetra. This isn't exactly a social call."
Tetra stood there a few moments as the other two took over. "Where is mistress Khristeen?" She asked.
"She's having a 'discussion' with Valentina outside." Cherise answered.
"You should see your mother, Tetra." Edee advised. "She has something important to tell you."
Tetra narrowed her eyes. Something about the 'finality' of her statement felt wrong to her. She walked a few steps toward the back.
Cherise stepped away from the fire suddenly and held up a hand. "Ah, one moment miss Tetra."
She turned back to her guest. "What? What is it?"
The small breed folded her hands over her waist. "Miss Tetra...do you..."
Tetra narrowed her eyes. "Do I what?"
Cherise glanced up. "Do you... remember your father?"
Tetra winced and dropped her jaw a bit. "What?"
"Do you remember your father?" She repeated.
Tetra's jaw opened fully and her eyes fluttered. "I...I ..." She forced her eyes and mouth closed. She took a slow heavy breath.
And another.
She opened her eyes. Both of them were staring at her. The boar had hardly been touched. She looked between them.
"Why are you asking me this?"
Edee raised a hand. "Please miss Tetra. Answer the question."
For more than a moment she thought she was on some sort of trial. She studied their faces. There wasn't judgment there. More like... concern.
She blinked. "I never knew him. He died before I hatched."
Edee lifted her chin. "How did he die?"
Tetra stared ahead. "I don't know."
Cherise narrowed her eyes. "You never asked your mother?"
Tetra didn't quite glare at her. "I asked plenty of times."
They shared a brief look at each other. "And...what did your mother say?" Edee asked.
Tetra's lips creased down a degree. "She never answered." She closed her eyes. "She only said...that he died." She opened them back up and took another slow breath. "I trust I've answered your questions thoroughly." She put some hostility into her tone.
Both of them reared their heads back. Cherise raised her hand. "We didn't mean to upset you."
Tetra frowned and growled. "Then don't ask potentially upsetting questions to a complete stranger." She pivoted and stormed away from them.
What the hell was that about?
She could just see her mother ahead in the dark cave. Tetra stopped and attempted to calm herself. She clenched her hands and tried to slow her heart beat. In a spasm of resurfaced anger her right fist slammed into the cave wall. She recoiled and shook her hand, letting the physical pain distract her.
Keep it together.
She gave herself a five count before proceeding through the cave. Mother was dashing around the chamber where they kept their few belongings. She was stuffing things into the sacks and tying them off with silk.
Tetra glanced around. "M-mother what are you doing? What's goin-"
Mother whirled at her. "Oh, Tetra hurry. Get your things." A spike of worry in her voice made Tetra feel tense again. "We need to leave."
"W-what why?" She held up her hands. "Mother!"
The elder arachne picked up an empty sack and shoved it at her. "Don't argue with me. Just get your things"
Tetra held the empty bag. "I..I don't understand. Why are we going? Why did mistress Khristeen come here?" Mother ignored her. "What did they want?"
"Don't argue." Mother spat. "Just get your stuff and let's go."
Tetra never liked seeing her angry. Mother got especially vicious when she was angry. And Tetra was about to throw herself into doing what she wanted again, but something insisted that she probe further. She clutched the empty bag and stood up straight.
"They asked about father."
The elder arachne had her back to her, but Tetra could observe her movements slowing. Her arms gathered tools and utensils in a deliberate, conscious manner. She placed one more item in her sack and then faced her daughter. "What did you tell them?"
A flare of frustration spiked her emotions. "Nothing!" She barked. "You never told me anything!" She held up a hand to emphasize her statement. "So I told them that I don't know anything."
Mother closed her eyes and grimaced sadly. "Oh child."
Tetra blinked several times. She'd rarely seen regret on her mother's face. She'd also never not been immediately back-handed for raising her voice to her only parent.
"Oh child." Mother repeated and opened her eyes. She approached and cupped Tetra's cheek. "I'll tell you what happened." Tetra's expression blanked. Her eyes welled up.
"R-really?"
Mother closed her eyes briefly and nodded. "Yes." She placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "But first we need to leave." Tetra blinked several times and wiped her face with her sleeve.
"Now." Mother continued. "Please get your things."
Tetra swallowed and nodded. And just like that, she was a dutiful daughter again, obeying her mother.
Most of their stuff had already been gathered. They traveled light, packed light. Material possessions that couldn't be forgotten or left behind had to be small, portable. Clothes could be re-woven and replaced. They could always hunt for food or steal it when necessary.
Mother hefted her pack and Tetra followed suit. "When we leave, we can't stop. They'll try to follow us."
Tetra frowned "Why are they here?"
Mother dipped her head slightly. "They're here for me."
Tetra leaned forward. "Why?"
A noise like a rock being rustled drew their attention to the front of the cave.
"We need to leave." Mother repeated. "Now."
Both arachne skittered further into the tunnel until they reached a position near the back. Although it opened up into a larger branching cave system, Tetra and her mother had no use for the extra space. But it was a great location to plant false trails.
Along the walls were web after web of threads of various thicknesses and types. Inside the immediate large chamber were various knick knacks and items that might be mistaken for their value.
However, the true escape route was right above their heads.
Mother located the correct string and pulled it down. A section of the rock ceiling flipped downward. The back side of it was attached to several thick cable-like webs.
Both ascended into the vertical tunnel. Tetra resealed the hidden entrance with a few more threads and followed her mother up the vertical tunnel.
There were fewer webs and threads to assist in climbing as they reached the surface. That was a trade-off they accepted to keep the true escape route hidden.
Mother poked her head slightly out of the opening to scan for anyone watching. Apparently sensing no one she waved her daughter forward. She had a slightly slimmer frame and thus was able to slip through the opening with their packs and sacks easier.
Tetra advanced through, stopped and paced in a circle to find any observers. She didn't see any either. She motioned her hand toward her mother and accepted the last of their sacks of personal items they couldn't depart with.
Mother slipped through the opening, picked up her sack and advanced down the slope.
"You didn't actually think you'd get away this time did you?"
Tetra's heart jumped. She widened all her eyes and glanced around in an alert almost panic. Mother's shoulder's drooped.
"It's time to stop running, Rosalinde." Mistress Khristeen stepped out from behind a large boulder. Valentina clambered and mounted it. Her black eyes narrowed.
"Mother. Back to the tunnel we'll-" Tetra spun around and prepared to sprint but halted. Edee and Cherise emerged from their 'hidden' escape route.
Tetra glanced about trying to find any path they could take to avoid them. She didn't see any.
"Mother, we've got to get out." She glanced toward her parent. She was just standing there. "Mother?"
Khristeen motioned her head at Cherise. "Well?"
The small breed cleared her throat. "She doesn't know. She's innocent."
Mistress Khristeen nodded and faced Tetra directly. "Tetra, I need you to step away from your mother."
"NO!" She cried.
Valentina crouched low and prepared to pounce. Khristeen inclined her head. "Tetra you have to step away. You have to let us take her."
"No." Tetra dropped her sack and stepped between the large breed and her mother. "You can't take her."
"Idiot girl." Valentina spat. "You don't know what you're doing." She pointed a claw at mother. "You don't know what she did."
"I know I don't know!" She shouted. "But we have to get away, we have to leave. She promised."
Edee stepped forward one pace. "It's too late Tetra. We can't let her go free."
Tetra whirled at the long-legs. "Why?!"
When Edee didn't answer she stepped up to the small breed. "Why?!" Tears started streaming down her cheeks.
Cherise turned her head away. Tetra balled up her hands and threw her fists into the air. "Why won't anyone tell me!?"
A hand laid on her shoulder. Tetra glanced down. Mother stood beside her. Tetra blinked and lowered her arms. "Mother?"
Rosalinde lifted her head and faced the Mistress. "May I speak with my daughter?"
Valentina dropped down from her perch. "Like hell."
Khristeen thrust her hand at the large breed. "Stop."
Valentina gritted her fangs. "She's just trying to buy time to escape." She thrust a claw at Rosalinde. "If she actually cared about her daughter she would have told her the truth years ago."
Something in Tetra's abdomen shifted. A sickening sensation that she thought she couldn't feel anymore returned. A malaise born of a silly child's idea that couldn't possibly be true: My own mother is lying to me.
Mistress Khristeen stepped forward. "Rosalinde will not try to escape." She paused to invite anyone to challenge her. "Will you Rosalinde?" Mother dipped her head in acknowledgment.
The Mistress nodded. "Then please give us some space.." Valentina's head trembled in rage. "..And I will take Rosalinde's confession."
Edee and Cherise shared a look. They both took a few paces back but kept Tetra and her mother in sight. Valentina crossed her arms.
Mistress Khristeen gave her an expectant gaze but the large breed just stood there.
Khristeen rolled her eyes. "Impossible creature." She shook her head and faced back to mother. "That's the best you'll get from her. I suggest you make this quick, lest you test a large breed's infamous patience."
Mother nodded. "I will." She leaned down and retrieved an item from her sack, a scrap of paper. She handed it to her daughter. Tetra took it and studied the photograph. It was a human man she'd never seen before. "That's your father, child."
Tetra's claws quivered. "You...you had this the whole time?" Her voice broke.
Mother shut her eyes. "I...tried to spare you the burden of knowing." Her sullen eyes cracked open. "But now I know I was just trying to hide it from myself...what I did."
"What did you do!?" Tetra demanded.
Mother breathed out once. "I killed your father."
Tetra's face widened in shock and she dropped the photograph. Her legs went weak and her abdomen brushed the rocky ground. Her breathing picked up pace.
"How?" She glanced up at her mother. "How did he die?"
Mother didn't move. "I loved your father." She smirked a bit. "He was adventurous, vivacious and his wit could make an old kitsune jealous."
She drew in a breath and let it out. "I loved your father. But I lost control."
Tetra sniffed. "Lost what?"
"I lost control that night." Mother repeated. "And when I tasted his blood..."
Her daughter stood up straight. Each of her eyes widened in disbelief. Mistress Khristeen winced in disgust.
"You.. you..." Tetra couldn't say it.
"I gave in, child. I gave in to the instinct, the curse." Mother's voice turned bitter.
"You...you..."
Mistress Khristeen swallowed bile. "The first known to do so in centuries."
Tetra darted her gaze at her. "Wh-what?"
The mistress nodded. "Arachne have killed humans before." Her eyes hardened and settled on Rosalinde. "But none of us murdered our own mate. Not in a very very long time."
Tetra started hyperventilating. "That's ...that's..." She held a hand over her heart. "That can't be true..." She backed away and shook her head. "It's not true. IT'S NOT TRUE!"
She started sobbing. In less than an hour the world had cracked and fallen around her. She'd wanted so desperately to know the truth. But mother always evaded, always focused on something else.
And when her daughter would push too hard, she struck her down.
In the truth's absence, Tetra concocted several alternative reasons of why her father was gone: He suffered an accident and mother couldn't save him. He had a terminal medical condition that he succumbed to. He was a soldier and tried to do something heroic but was killed in the attempt.
It never occurred to her that he was murdered.
Rosalinde reached out to her daughter. "I am so sorr-"
Tetra slapped her hand away. "Don't touch me!" Her teeth clenched and she raised her head. Her eyes scorched into her mother. The monster. The murderer. The father killer.
Mother swallowed and stepped back. "You have every reason to be angry at me."
"Damn right she does." Valentina commented.
Mistress Khristeen gave the large breed a stern look. She shrugged unapologetically.
Tetra balled her hands and relaxed them in a spastic rhythm. Her head boiled and her vision turned crimson.
Mistress Khristeen said. "We need to take her to the hu-"
Tetra lunged and struck. She aimed for the eyes. Rosalinde lifted both hands to intercept, but her daughter's bestial rage battered through. Her claws sunk into the temple and tore into the face.
Mother screeched and retreated.
"Tetra stop!" Mistress Khristeen seized her left arm and pulled back.
Tetra swiped again and attempted to open the throat. "YOU KILLED HIM! I HATE YOU!"
Valentina stepped up and grabbed her other wrist before she could do more damage. "Calm down, girl."
Tetra ignored the powerful arms holding her back and lunged again. "YOU LIED YOU LIED YOU LIED. I HATE YOU!" She kicked out with her pedipalps and tried to leap out of their grip.
Rosalinde stared at her daughter's vitriol in shock and horror. She held one hand to her head. Edee and Cherise came to her sides. The long-legs produced a cloth and wiped down the blood. "Here, hold this here."
"Get her off the mountain." Khristeen commanded.
Cherise nodded and placed a hand on Rosalinde's arm. "Come with us please."
Rosalinde nodded and took one last look at the living reminder of her crime. "Remember what I taught you, child."
"I HATE YOU!" Spittle flew out of Tetra's mouth.
Rosalinde shut her eyes. "Yes, yes. I'll go." She said. "I need to...I need some air." She turned and followed Edee down the slope of the mountain.
Tetra made one last attempt to hurt the woman who murdered the man she should have known. "I HATE YOU!"
A/N: Thanks for reading.
Sorry for the delay on this chapter. Summer is always busy and I had another writing project I wanted to complete.
Please, as always, comment and review.
