Spiderling

I can't remember before the webs. The earliest memory wrapped in pain and grief. My predecessor penetrating my limbs, blood gushing out, my screams her entertainment. Gradually, the pain disappeared.

Once the screams stopped, she grew bored of me. She tossed me out of her nest, like a newly fledged bird. This twisting forest world was eternally night, made for the spiders.

Prey always came to them. Sinners. The webs punishment for their human lives. It always ended the same for the 'flies'. The soul would give out, the body turn to dust, to feed the barren forest's growth.

If a sinner became boring, some other lower ranking spider would take them. No fly would escape torment, no matter how numb. I was no different.

Spider to spider, time was irrelevant. The only difference the manor of feeding. Pain, fear, the tools they used, always unique for each spider. The last one was fond of using needles.

I awaited the inevitable. Only to be surprised, the spiders stopped collecting me. Ignored me. I walked from forest to forest, emotionless. Unmoved by my new freedom. Till movement caught my eye.

A fly, new, young, tasty. For the first time in so long, a feeling. I rushed in, my new speed, as unnatural as the webs. The fly spoke in a language I didn't understand, his scream dinner bells to us all.

I pulled him close, breathing in my first prey. New limbs from my back, shimmering, snow white in color, sprang forth. They pierced the fly's shoulders, lifting him off the ground. His blood drooled out, down my spidery limbs and to the ground. He stared in shock, fear, and muttered in the other language again.

My first taste of delicacy, savory, and even hints of sweetness. Another spider screeched my way, craving the same spoils. It's large size and dark blue skin intimidating. Dropping the prey, I fled to the tree tops. The spider went about its way back to its nest.

I traveled for days, searching for a less populated area to claim. I found the edge of the forest, new growth at its end. I wasn't alone, other small spiders called this home. Their first nests littering the trees, guarding them fiercely.

Watching, listening, I learned how to build a home of my own. It's webbing enclosed an area large enough to surround my body with an opening as a door. I felt the hunger eating away at me, my new form needed substance.

I waited as the others did around me. Time went on as always, eternally. Abandoned flies wondered in, fought over by the group. The prey that made it here didn't last long, turning to dust quickly.

As the smallest, weakest, I was not allowed to eat. Starvation was not possible, but the need to feed was maddening. I had no strength, no ability. My only option was to appease the other spiders.

My human form would be my lure. Females were rare here, so even a beautiful male would receive affection easily. I climbed below to the forest floor, following the scent of water. A cave was hidden below ground, the entrance unguarded.

Caves were prized, used to attract females. This one was avoided for good reason. The inside walls were coated in crystal clear ice, mirror like, the floor a water way to the depths of this world. No place to make a nest for hatching.

Hanging on the walls, I gaze into the reflection. A monstrous, white, giant spider with glowing violet eyes. Mesmerizing, the body was glittering, appearing as a similar crystalline ice to the cave. The body shifted looking more human, but with an exoskeleton covering, four glowing eyes, and two pairs of spider legs coming out the back. The arms and legs were ended by clawed fingers and toes.

The final human form made me lose my grip on the wall. I tumbled into the shallow water. The cold felt comfortable, homey. I admired myself. Long white hair with matching bleached paper lashes. Lovely light violet irises, a feminine soft face, and a lean body. A perfect bait for a male spider.

Clothing wasn't an issue, I prepared in advance. I used shed, stained it black with blood from a fallen spider. I used my claws to shape it properly. Once I determined my human size, I mended it together with silk. To ensure proper temptation I left little to the imagination. A top that only covered to just below my nipples, leaving my arms bare, and two holes in the back for my upper pair of spider legs. The pants ended at the knee. Lastly, I parted my hair so it stayed to one side at the front, cascading down to the end of my shirt. A piece of black claw was made to be an earring for the exposed side.

Making my way back, I walked instead of the usual journey in the trees. I walked slow with purpose, swaying, a soft smile. I arrived to many sets of eyes staring down from above. This was nothing new, it was almost expected. I only had to wait for perspective owners.

My aim was the higher ranked spiders in the group. The ones who got the lion's share. The large reddish brown spider, or the smaller sickly green one. My brow twitched, a lower ranked spider dared make a move. He got to eat, but barely, not worth my time. He and a few other low rankers approached, eyeing my up.

One of the males was about to attempt to touch me, but a shrill hissing sound came from above. The reddish brown male made the ground shake with the force of his landing. The others scattered in terror.

It was rare for spiders to speak, there was no point, a hiss would do just as well. They only spoke to their partners, or offspring. As a result spiders rarely had names, they simply remembered appearances, rank, ability. This spider was no different.

He made his intentions clear, gently pressing a leg to my cheek. I moved my hand up to it in response, but it never reached its goal. A voice rang out, calm, yet every spider shook in earshot.

"That male is mine."

The strong male leaped back, readied itself for a fight, looking for the source of the sound. A single drop was all it took, he rolled in pain, screeching. The green male had used his venom, something he rarely did. It was clear who the real boss was in this group.

"You are mine now." He climbed down, relaxed, staring at my eyes. "Refer to me as Envy." He points a claw at himself.

I grin, trailing a finger down a leg of my new master. He leads me back to his nest, carrying me on his back.