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Spiders were common in Hell, along with all of the other creepy-crawlies that humans tended to fear and loathe. Carmilla didn’t mind them at all now, in fact, she tended to enjoy the sight of arachnids, given her lover's power over them. However, when she finished her weapons designs one evening and headed into the kitchen to decide on some supper, she was surprised to see a large black one sitting on her counter waving at her with its front legs.
Confused, Carmilla took a closer look at it. It was a much larger spider than what she normally saw in her home, with long slim legs and green stripes slicing across its carapace. Given the similar color scheme, she wondered if it was created by Zestial. Though, on second thought, none of the spiders he controlled were so large or brightly colored.
She was interrupted from her thoughts by her daughters walking into the room. “Hi Mom, we did the drop-off. No issues.” Odette said, setting a clipboard down on the counter when she noticed the spider. “Oh, I’ve never seen one like that before. Where’d it come from?”
“I’m not sure.” Carmilla said as Clara walked over to see what all the fuss was about. The spider waved a front leg at the three of them.
“Aw, hey little guy!” Clara giggled and waved her fingers back. “It’s kinda cute.”
“It seems to want something… I wonder if it’s one of Zestial’s.” Carmilla mused. “It certainly looks like him.”
At her words, the spider started tapping both its front legs on the counter, as if it understood. The Carmines all leaned closer.
“Do you think it has a message for us, or something?” Odette wondered.
“If it is, he’s never contacted me this way before.” Carmilla squinted slightly when the realization hit her. It couldn’t be…
“Wha-Zestial, is that you?!” She exclaimed. The spider bounced up and down on all eight legs, as if it were trying to simulate a nod. It took Carmilla a moment to formulate another sentence in her shock, but then she had an idea. “If it really is you, tap the counter twice!”
The spider did so. Carmilla took a step back, her mind racing, and the girls both gasped in surprise.
“No way!” Clara blurted out. “You turned yourself into a spider?” Zestial tapped his legs again, unable to provide any verbal answer.
Carmilla laid her outstretched palm on the counter and he crawled into her hand, allowing her to pick him up and bring him closer to her face. Now up close, she could see the only truly recognizable part of him were his four distinctive green eyes, barely visible on his tiny face, blinking back at her. “Mi amor, what happened to you?” She whispered.
Odette snapped her fingers. “I have an idea.” Grabbing a pen and a piece of paper, she hastily scrawled down the letters of the alphabet. “Zestial, you can tap the letters to spell out what happened to you.”
“Good thinking.” Carmilla lowered Zestial back onto the counter, and he began scuttling back and forth across the paper to tap the letters, Clara writing them down and sounding them out as he did so. It took him almost five minutes to formulate a full sentence.
T-I-S - I-N-D-E-E-D - I - Z-E-S-T-I-A-L - I - W-A-S - A-T-T-A-C-K-E-D - A-N-D - R-E-D-U-C-E-D - T-O - T-H-I-S - S-T-A-T-E
Clara read it back to everyone and they turned to the spider. “Who attacked you?” Carmilla asked, already making plans to hunt the bastards down.
I - A-M - U-N-S-U-R-E - T-H-E-Y - A-M-B-U-S-H-E-D - M-E - F-R-O-M - B-E-H-I-N-D
“And they turned you into a spider? Do you know how?”
N-A-Y - T-W-A-S - N-O–T - T-H-E-I-R - D-O-I-N-G - T-H-I-S - H-A-S - H-A-P-P-E-N-E-D - B-E-F-O-R-E - W-H-E-N - I - W-A-S - G-R-E-A-T-L-Y - W-O-U-N-D-E-D
“So it’s reversible then?”
Y-E-S - B-U-T - I-T - T-A-K-E-S - T-I-M-E
Despite the circumstances, Carmilla let out a sigh of relief that he would be okay eventually. “Oh, good. How can your true form be restored then?”
I - W-I-L-L - W-E-A-V-E - A - N-E-W - B-O-D-Y - F-O-R - M-Y-S-E-L-F - I-T - W-I-L-L - T-A-K-E - A - F-E-W - D-A-Y-S
That wasn’t quite the response Carmilla was expecting, though she had grown quite used to Zestial’s… more demonic aspects over the years. Clara also looked surprised, but Odette looked thoughtful. “I suppose if you have a stronger demon form, it also makes sense that you can be brought down to a weaker one too.”
Carmilla nodded, getting down to business. “Alright Zestial, what can we do to help, then?”
I - N-E-E-D - A - P-L-A-C-E - T-O - W-E-A-V-E - M-Y - B-O-D-Y
“That won’t be a problem, we have plenty of room for that. Anything else?”
Zestial paused for a long moment before continuing to tap out words. I - A-L-S-O - N-E-E-D - P-R-O-T-E-C-T-I-O-N - F-O-R - I - A-M - N-O - S-T-R-O-N-G-E-R - T-H-A-N - A-N - A-V-E-R-A-G-E - S-P-I-D-E-R - I-N - T-H-I-S - F-O-R-M
That statement sent a chill of worry down Carmilla’s spine. Zestial was one of the most powerful and feared demons in the Pride Ring, having survived almost six centuries of exterminations, and now that he was completely powerless… Visions of a squashed, eight-legged corpse ran through Carmilla’s head for a moment before she realized Clara was speaking.
“Oh, that’ll be easy! We’ve got the best defense system in Hell. Nobody gets in here but the four of us.” She boasted. “And you don’t have to worry about anyone swatting you, right, Mom?”
“...Yes.” Carmilla replied, coming back to her senses. “Yes, you’ll be safe here, Zestial. But does anyone know you’re here?”
I - D-O - N-O-T - B-E-L-I-E-V-E - S-O
“Good. Oh, on that note, do you need us to take care of anything in your territory while you’re here?”
N-A-Y - T-H-E-Y - W-I-L-L - B-E - F-I-N-E
“Alright. Is there anything else you need?”
Y-E-S - I - W-I-L-L - R-E-Q-U-I-R-E - O-C-C-A-S-I-O-N-A-L - M-E-A-L-S - T-O - K-E-E-P - M-Y - S-T-R-E-N-G-T-H - U-P
“Of course.” Carmilla stood up when she saw Zestial spelling another sentence out.
I - T-H-A-N-K - T-H-E-E - A-L-L - F-O-R - T-H-Y - H-O-S-P-I-T-A-L-I-T-Y - I - A-M - S-O-R-R-Y - T-O - B-U-R-D-E-N - T-H-E-E
“Nonsense, Zestial, you are far from a burden.” Carmilla smiled as he crawled onto her hand. “Now let’s go find a good place to weave your new body.”
In the end, they decided the corner of Carmilla’s bedroom was the best place for Zestial to set up shop, as it was secluded, shady, and would be a well-protected room in the event of a home invasion. And in truth, Carmilla wanted him close by her, as if he was in any other room of the tower she doubted she’d be able to resist getting up to check on him every five minutes throughout the night.
She settled into her bed with a book, but she was unable to focus on anything other than the black and green spider steadily weaving an elaborate web up near the ceiling corner opposite her. Zestial’s movements were mesmerizing, the silken strands catching the dim lamp light as he circled them around the web. Carmilla watched him in silence for a long while until she drifted off to sleep without even noticing she had, as Zestial worked tirelessly into the night.
The following day was a busy one for Carmilla, with lots of important work to take care of, and so she had to rush out the door in the morning and didn’t get home until it was almost dark out. When she walked in the door, she found her daughters eating a supper of Chinese takeout, and to her surprise, a small plate with a bit of leftover steak on it that Zestial was sitting on.
“Hi Mom! We left you all those dumplings you like.” Clara said through a mouthful of rice..
“Thank you, girls. I thought we agreed on empanadas tonight, though?” Carmilla said as she sat down at the table.
“The empanada place was closed today, so we just got this instead.” Odette explained.
Carmilla glanced over at Zestial as she loaded up her plate, and saw on closer inspection that he was taking miniscule bites from the steak he was sitting on. He waved one leg at her in greeting, and she smiled back. The four of them ate in silence, all tired from their long day, and it was only after cleaning up the kitchen and Odette and Clara left to relax that Zestial skittered over to the alphabet paper.
I - T-H-A-N-K - T-H-E-E - F-O-R - T-H-E - M-E-A-L He painstakingly spelled out.
“You’re welcome, amor. How is the body coming along?”
A-T - T-H-I-S - P-A-C-E - I - E-X-P-E-C-T - I-T - W-I-L-L - O-N-L-Y - T-A-K-E - A-N-O-T-H-E-R - T-H-R-E-E - D-A-Y-S - O-R - S-O
Carmilla raised an eyebrow. “I hope you’re not pushing yourself too hard, Zestial. We’re happy to have you here as long as you need, you know.”
I - A-M - A-W-A-R-E - M-Y - D-E-A-R-E-S-T - C-A-R-M-I-L-L-A - B-U-T - I-N - T-R-U-T-H - I - A-M - Q-U-I-T-E - E-A-G-E-R - T-O - R-E-T-U-R-N - T-O - M-Y - N-O-R-M-A-L - F-O-R-M
“I can’t say I blame you for that.”
T-I-S - A - Q-U-I-C-K-E-R - P-R-O-C-E-S-S - T-H-I-S - T-I-M-E - A-S - I - H-A-V-E - D-O-N-E - I-T - B-E-F-O-R-E
“You’ll have to tell me the story of what happened the first time. Though-” she added hastily as Zestial began moving to a new letter, “It can wait until you’re back to normal.”
T-I-S - Q-U-I-T-E - T-H-E - T-A-L-E - B-U-T - I - S-H-O-U-L-D - R-E-T-U-R-N - T-O - M-Y - T-A-S-K
Carmilla picked him up, and rather than sitting in the palm of her hands, he scuttled up her arm to rest on her shoulder as she brought him back to her room. When she walked in, she was shocked at how much the web had grown. In only a day, it reached from the ceiling to the floor, and had grown increasingly thick. Exhausted from her busy day, Carmilla let Zestial crawl from her arm onto the wall, and then she dropped into bed and fell asleep within minutes, unaware of the tiny green eyes gazing at her from across the room.
By the following morning, the web was taking the vaguest shape of a person, and when Carmilla returned in the evening, had become recognizable as a humanoid figure, the strands of the web growing denser in the centre. She couldn’t help but marvel at the process as she settled into her armchair. She became engrossed in her book, but after a time noticed movement in the corner of her vision. Zestial lowered himself from the ceiling on a rope of silk to the end table next to her, and Carmilla put her book down.
“Do you need a meal?” She asked, grabbing the alphabet paper and setting it next to him.
N-A-Y - C-L-A-R-A - B-R-O-U-G-H-T - M-E - L-U-N-C-H - I - M-E-R-E-L-Y - N-E-E-D - A - R-E-S-T
“Ah, I see.”
They sat quietly together for a few minutes, Carmilla not wanting to exhaust Zestial with his responses. But after a while, she looked over to see he was tapping out another sentence.
A-G-A-I-N - I - T-H-A-N-K - T-H-E-E - F-O-R - T-H-Y - H-E-L-P
“Of course, mi amor. You’re part of the family.” She smiled, but it turned to a frown when she saw what he was saying next.
I - W-O-R-R-Y - T-H-A-T - I - A-M - I-N-V-I-T-I-N-G - D-A-N-G-E-R - U-P-O-N - T-H-O-U - W-I-T-H - M-Y - P-R-E-S-E-N-C-E - H-E-R-E
“Why do you think that?”
I - A-M - P-O-W-E-R-L-E-S-S - L-I-K-E - T-H-I-S - I-F - T-H-E-R-E - I-S - A-N - A-T-T-A-C-K - I - C-A-N-N-O-T - H-E-L-P - T-H-E-E
“But we’re in no more danger now than we are on any given day. Nobody knows you’re here, or that you’ve been weakened.” Carmilla pointed out.
I - D-O - N-O-T - K-N-O-W - T-H-A-T - F-O-R - S-U-R-E - M-A-N-Y - K-N-O-W - O-F - O-U-R - B-O-N-D - A-N-D - C-O-U-L-D - G-U-E-S-S - W-H-E-R-E - I - A-M - A-N-D - T-H-O-U-G-H - I - E-S-C-A-P-E-D - Q-U-I-C-K-L-Y - T-H-E-R-E - W-E-R-E - S-T-I-L-L - W-I-T-N-E-S-S-E-S - T-O - T-H-E - A-T-T-A-C-K - A-N-D - M-Y - W-O-U-N-D-I-N-G
Carmilla held out her hand for him to crawl onto. “Look, Zestial, I understand your worries, believe me. And we’ll be extra vigilant. But nobody’s attacked us, Vox isn’t reporting on what happened to you, and not many people are even wondering where you are from what I’ve seen. I don’t think there’s much to be afraid of.”
Up close, she could see Zestial’s tiny green eyes blinking at her. It was impossible to read his expression, but she could tell he was still worried. “You’ve protected us many times over the years, Zestial. I ask you now to trust us to do the same for you.” She said softly.
Zestial mulled over her words and then nodded almost imperceptibly. They shared a tender moment, gazing into each other's eyes, and then Carmilla let him skitter back down to the table.
I - T-R-U-S-T - T-H-O-U - M-Y - D-E-A-R-E-S-T - C-A-R-M-I-L-L-A - A-N-D - I - T-H-A-N-K - T-H-E-E - F-O-R - T-H-E - R-E-M-I-N-D-E-R
After that, he headed back to the corner to continue his weaving, and Carmilla went back to her magazine, a smile playing on her lips.
The next two days were much the same. Zestial spun his web for hours on end, only taking breaks to eat and rest, and Carmilla went about her daily life. Finally, on the evening of the fourth day, Carmilla entered her room after work and saw the results of Zestial’s labor.
The web was massive, and the humanoid shape in the centre had become solid with webbing, resembling a large chrysalis, or perhaps the webbed-up prey of an enormous arachnid. Carmilla approached in wonder, and she saw Zestial sitting in the middle of it.
“Zestial?” Carmilla said, but he didn’t acknowledge her, so she let him be. Perhaps he was resting after his hard work. She settled on the bed with her book, glancing up every so often at the web. Time ticked by and Zestial remained still, and just when she was starting to worry that something was wrong with him, he finally moved, crawling to the head of the chrysalis and holding his front two legs skyward.
Suddenly, spiders were everywhere, swarming in from the walls, the windows, and under the door, skittering across every surface in her room other than her bed on their way to the web. Carmilla let out an involuntary and rather embarrassing screech at the sight of so many of them and scrambled up on her bed like a frightened maid. She watched in shock as they covered the chrysalis and burrowed into it, the sheer amount of arachnids turning the wall into a moving mass of legs. After a few minutes, they had all vanished into the web, including Zestial himself, and Carmilla cautiously stepped off her bed to approach it.
The chrysalis was eerily still, and she didn’t dare touch it in case she harmed whatever process was happening inside. She stood before it for a long moment, but nothing happened. Just as she was about to return to bed, she heard a loud thump and saw the chrysalis moving back and forth, bulging in spots as whatever was inside tried to break out. The middle ripped open a bit, and a clawed, four-fingered hand burst out and grasped around frantically.
Carmilla rushed forward and dug her fingers in to tear the hole even wider. After a long minute of straining from both the inside and out, the chrysalis tore open from top to bottom, and Zestial fell from it, naked, wet, and delicate as a newborn butterfly. Thankfully, Carmilla caught him in her arms and carefully lowered him to the floor, where he sat on his knees, hunched over and gasping for breath.
“Are you alright?” Carmilla asked, placing her hands on his shoulders to keep him steady.
He couldn’t answer her right away, but after a bit his breathing slowed down to normal and his eyes focused on her, his face changing into a relieved expression. “Ah… Carmilla… ‘Tis good to be back.”
Carmilla smiled, a huge weight lifted off her shoulders at the sight of him back to normal. “It’s good to have you back, Zestial. Oh, don’t stand up. I’ll be right back.”
She quickly grabbed a towel from her bathroom and carefully dried off Zestial, getting rid of the fluid and the webbing that still clung to him. His skin was softer than she’d ever felt it, and the green membranes of his wings were so vibrant they almost glowed. Once done, she helped him from the floor to sit down on the bed.
“Are you feeling well? Do you need anything?”
Zestial was clearly exhausted, but he shook his head. “Nay… I only need to rest. That process took quite a lot of energy…” He coughed suddenly, and Carmilla passed him a glass of water from her nightstand, which he drank in a single gulp. “I thank thee.”
“Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat?”
“First, I must rest. Else I fear I would fall asleep in my food…”
Carmilla helped him get comfortable on his side of the bed, then she turned the lights out and curled up next to him, pulling the covers over the two of them. Zestial sank his head into his pillow, eyes closed and breathing softly, and a faint smile tugged at his lips when Carmilla reached out to place a hand on his cheek.
“Rest well, mi amor.” She whispered, and then they both sank into sleep, safe and content in each other’s arms.