Christmas Eve Pt. 3

"Flee like the silkless hatchling you are, dear sister!"

Heavy black legs covered in spear-like hairs shattered the rocky ground behind Quelurillian. Acidic venom spat through the air, splashing from the sandstone pillar beside her onto the tough exoskeleton of her bulbous abdomen. She hissed, squeezing her pedipalps against her fangs to fight through what felt like her skin being gnawed through by a million ants. Even then, the pain caused her to miss a step and she slid to the ground with a ground quaking thud. Her legs flailed for traction beneath her as the claws on the tips of her eight legs slipped on the smooth rocks. Every second on the ground was a welcome respite, but it was a respite that would last for eternity if she didn't find her footing. She could already hear the lumbering steps closing in on her.

"How far the Demon Spinstress has fallen," Quetellia goaded, her red fangs drooling clear, viscous acid. "The general who can kill a thousand single-handedly, sprawled on the ground and trying to scurry away from her baby sister."

"Had my 'baby sister's' sororal affection not involved lacing my food, perhaps she would be the one scurrying for her life."

"Arrogant as ever," Quetellia hissed, rearing her spiny front legs. "But I've already won dear sister Quenn's favor and once I devour you, I'll be able to spend the rest of my days in leisure."

"Is that all you are concerned with?!" The mana in Quelurillian's chest flared, bristling her spear sharp body hair. "You would hand our home to that spinneret sucking traitor for that?"

"You don't have the right to judge me, you filthy half-breed! You're the one who has everything and is throwing it away for something as stupid as 'honor'. So just die for the honor you love so much already!"

"Quetellia!" Quelurillian's voice roared in a buzzing scream. Finally finding footing, she hurled herself like a boulder along the walls of the crevasse, ramming into her sister with all the strength her poison-weakened body could muster. Steely exoskeletons groaned under the impact, scraping and bending as the sisters thrashed in a tangled heap on the ground. Fangs and pointed legs lunged and stabbed as each tried to land a decisive blow while strands of webbing thicker than a warship's mooring lines spread across the ground until at last the smaller black spider's legs were bound tightly together.

"Let me go! Let me go or I'll rip your legs off and leave you for the vultures!"

Quelurillian's moss green eyes leered at her entangled sister's writhing black body. She had no desire to kill her sister; on the contrary, she had been rather fond of Quetellia. It was unfortunate for her sister that she wasn't fonder.

The black spider's agonizing shriek echoed in the night air as the white and brown leg the size of a log stabbed downward and pierced through midnight chitin into vulnerable innards. Black ichorous blood seeped onto the ground and with each passing second Quetellia's struggles lessened.

"Farewell, little sister." Quelurillian raised her leg, pulling up chunks of black chitin with it and readied it for the final blow.

"Enough."

A pointed spear of ice scraped Quelurillian's face and knocked her from Quetellia. From the cliff above a tall woman with wavy black hair that brushed the ground stood with her hand out. Sinister pointed ice pillars hung in the air around her firing frozen needles that forced Quelurillian to retreat lest she get skewered.

"Quenn." The name curdled in Quelurillian's mouth. Her eldest sister, Grand Sorceress of the Southern Sands. "I did not expect the Usurper to openly stand against me after she already sent our youngest sister."

"Quetellia has served her purpose. You've long outlived yours."

"Bold words from someone cowering on a cliff above her poisoned sister. Too much of a hatchling to us down here?"

Quelurillian's form shrank, her eight legs melding together into a pair of legs and arms. Dim moonlight gleamed from her polished bronze armor and her long double-edged sword split the air in front of her. The thick cords of webbing tangled around Quetellia thinned to silken strands and with a flick of her fingers, Quelurillian yanked her crippled sister's body across the sandy stone to rest under her foot.

"And what do you intend to do with that?" Quenn asked, her voice as frigid as her magic. "Surely you are not under the impression our sister has any value as a hostage."

"Do you hear that, little hatchling?" Quelurillian whispered to her feet. "Now decide."

The black carapace of Quetellia's body shuddered beneath Quelurillian's foot.

"I suppose I'm fonder of you than I thought."

"Quetellia…"

Quelurillian groaned and massaged the bridge of her nose. A thin white veil rested on her forehead, covering six of her eyes, and when she lifted her other hand she found it trapped under a pink blanket. On her chest the home's avian knight preened himself, pausing only long enough to give her a nod of acknowledgment.

"What…" The word barely whispered out her mouth and throat were so dry and she stared blankly at the black stains left on her fingers from touching her lips.

"Mana sickness." She closed her eyes again and let her rest on the soft pillow cradling her neck. "I should have been more attentive."

A sleepy groan from behind startled Quelurillian and she snapped all of her eyes open. Though her form was blurry through three pairs, Quelurillian could suppress the smile growing on her lips as her unobscured pair watched Crescent's head bobbing above hers. It was cruel that the moment was tainted by the black splotches staining the human's green sweater and her tear soaked swollen eyes.

"What a softhearted fool. How long have you been sitting here covered in my blood with tear stained cheeks? If you only knew what a curse your affections truly are, how they make my heart yearn to stay with you."

Quelurillian's tongue clicked at the thought. She had given up denying her attraction to the human girl but in doing so she'd knowingly created a vulnerability for others to exploit. What would happen if Quenn somehow found them? The silkless traitor had little issue exploiting their youngest sister, so what would she do to Crescent?

Clenching her jaw, Quelurillian raised her hand to caress Crescent's salt-crusted cheek and stroked it with her thumb. One of the ribbons securing the girl's braids was missing, leaving her dull brown hair half unraveled and draping down. In every sense of the word the girl was a mess; a beautiful mess.

"Would that I could look upon you properly," Quelurillian whispered to herself, touching the silk veil over her forehead. "Will there ever be a day?"

"Enough my wallowing. We are as close as feasible given circumstances. My energies would be better spent enjoying the precious moments we have left. The night darkens and I am sure my illness has detracted the evening's preparations."

"Cress," Quelurillian whispered. The girl's pulse quickened upon hearing her name, causing Quelurillian's to match pace.

"Five more minutes," Crescent mumbled. Her squishy arms wrapped around Quelurillian's and she nuzzled her head against her hand.

"I fear we cannot spare the time. The night grows dark and there are still—"

"I already told them… Illia's not feeling well… Some other time…"

"She canceled due to my health?"

Quelurillian's heart tightened in her chest, refusing to beat. "What am I to do with you? At least clean yourself and change your attire."

"But I don't want to leave… Illia?" Crescent's hazel eyes fluttered wide and she squeezed Quelurillian's arm with all her paltry might. "Illia!" The woman's voice cracked and she kissed the palm of Quelurillian's hand a dozen times. Thick tears dripped down her already salty cheeks and Quelurillian could feel her body trembling under her head.

"I am fine," Quelurillian said, squeezing Crescent's hand. "I apologize for causing you distress."

"Don't apologize! I was just… You were bleeding, writhing around in your sleep and I didn't know what to do and… I thought I was going to lose you!!"

"I…" Quelurillian's words were caught in her throat. She wanted to say that she would never leave the sweet girl's embrace. But that was a lie she could not bring herself to tell. "It was merely, how do you say, a cold. Thanks to your attentive care, I feel much better."

"But you were mumbling in your sleep and convulsing! Don't pretend like this was nothing."

"I was merely reliving a memory. Nothing more."

"A memory?" Crescent's grip tightened around Quelurillian's arm causing a surprising dull ache. "You were dreaming? You told me you've never had dreams! That means something really is wrong!"

An unsettling chill crawled through Quelurillian's innards. Crescent was right; something was wrong. How was the human girl's grip strong enough to cause discomfort? Why, after eighty-eight years, had she just experienced her first dream?

"You worry in excess, Cress. As I said, it was merely a cold. I am more concerned about the delay in tonight's preparations."

"I canceled them," Crescent said, sheepishly, avoiding Quelurillian's gaze and fiddling with the corner of the silk cloth covering her forehead. "I wasn't sure if you'd get better."

"So you spoke true in your sleep," Quelurillian sighed. "I apologize for ruining the evening. I know you were looking forward to it and since I am at fault so please allow me to apologize to Miss Vianna and Miss Kirian personally." She tried to sit up but Crescent caught her forehead with her hand.

"You don't need to apologize for being sick. We can always reschedule. Besides, we don't need other people to celebrate. Anything is fine as long as it's with you."

The sincerity of Crescent's words comforted Quelurillian's heart. The girl truly was a silver tongued fool.

"Then we should wash and change our attire. You look quite the mess and I shiver at the thought of my own state."

"Oh. That… You're right." Crescent's voice fell and she removed her hand from Quelurillian's head, pulling the silk veil away with her and clenching it in her fist. Her hazel eyes looked like tarnished gems and Quelurillian tilted her head on Crescent's thighs to consider the cause.

"Oh! This is the position that often occurs in the animated shows she watches. Such a childish girl. She's even acting as disappointed as they do."

"Ah!" Quelurillian cried after lifting her head and letting it fall back into Crescent's lap. "It seems I am still too unwell to stand. Would it be alright if I rested just a bit longer?"

Crescent's eyes lit up like brilliant stars and Quelurillian suppressed a smile as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It was warm. The blanket covering her. The sweet floral scent soaked around her. The soft body pressed against her head, rocking her back to sleep. It was all so warm.