The last sunlight bled through the thick smoke, turning the metal towers a dull orange.
Steam rose from the vents and drifted across the upper platforms, carrying the smell of oil and ash.
Dozens of guards stood near the main gate, their armor dimly lit by lanterns hanging from broken beams.
Bedrolls lay scattered near the cargo lifts, weapons stacked close by. The air felt tired — heavy with worry and smoke.
Near the edge of the platform, Mayor Halden stood with a few officers. His fine coat was wrinkled and dusty, his face pale and drawn.
He kept glancing at the sealed freight elevator — the one leading to the lower decks.
“How long have they been down there?” he asked quietly.
“Seven hours, sir,” one of the guards replied. “Should we send a search team?”
Halden’s jaw tightened. He hesitated, his eyes darting to the elevator. “Let’s wait another hour. If they still haven’t—”
A loud clang cut him off.
Metal footsteps echoed from below — steady, growing louder.
The guards stiffened. Hands went to weapons.
Then, through the haze, figures began to emerge.
Lucien came first, his cloak torn and covered in soot, his golden eyes glinting faintly in the lantern light.
Behind him were Cassian, Grey, Leila, and Rook, each scarred and dirty from battle — armor cracked, clothes streaked with black spider blood.
They looked like they had just climbed out of hell.
A hush swept over the platform.
Last came Kael, his steps heavy. In one hand, he held something large — dripping faint green fluid.
He stopped a few paces from the mayor and dropped it onto the floor.
The wet thud echoed.
A giant spider’s head rolled to a stop at the mayor’s feet, its fangs glinting in the firelight.
Halden stumbled back, eyes wide. “By the gods—”
Kael’s voice was rough, dry from fatigue. “Here’s your killer,” he said.
He paused, wiping the blood from his hand onto his coat. “And she had a lot of friends down there.”
He met the mayor’s gaze. “Dead friends.”
Silence followed. The wind whistled through the broken beams above, carrying the faint scent of burnt silk.
Lucien stepped forward, his voice calm but cold. “Dimitri and his men are still down there, securing the perimeter.”
Halden stared at the spider’s head. “So... is it safe to go down there, my prince?”
Lucien looked back toward the dark shaft. “Safe? Maybe — if she didn’t survive the fall.”
Halden swallowed hard. “She?”
Lucien nodded slightly. “The mother — an Arachne. Half human, half spider. Old, smart, and deadly. We pushed her into the substructure. It was a long fall... but we can’t be sure she’s dead.”
The mayor’s voice trembled. “You mean—”
Leila cut him off. “We mean she’s gone. For now. If she’s still alive, we’ll know soon enough.”
Lucien gave Leila a look, then turned back to Halden. “The nest was huge. Dozens of spiders. We found more bodies down there — or what was left of them.”
Halden paled. “What? More dead bodies?”
His voice wavered. “That can’t be right. I never received reports of more missing workers.”
Lucien’s gaze hardened. “They’re down there, paperwork or not.”
Kael let out a sharp breath through his nose. “You had bodies piling up under your feet, and nobody noticed?”
Halden’s face flushed. “Half my workers sleep two floors from the boiler room! But they never told me anything about spiders.”
Rook, sitting on a crate nearby, muttered, “Yeah, I bet they’re all blind.”
Halden glared at him but said nothing.
Lucien stepped closer, his tone calm but cutting. “Mayor Halden, this wasn’t negligence. This was ignorance. Those nests weren’t new. Some had been there for months — maybe longer.”
The color drained from the mayor’s face. “Months…?”
Grey nodded once. “The webs were layered into the pipes. We found rust beneath the silk. This wasn’t recent.”
Leila crossed her arms. “And if the Arachne was breeding down there, it means there could’ve been eggs. Maybe still are.”
Halden turned pale. “Gods, eggs—”
Kael scowled. “Relax. We burned everything that moved. If anything survived, it’s hiding deep in the vents.”
Lucien’s eyes stayed fixed on the mayor. “Post extra guards around the lower shafts and tunnel exits. Double the night watch. If you value your people, don’t leave this to chance.”
The mayor nodded quickly, wiping sweat from his brow. “I—I understand, Your Highness. I’ll see to it myself.”
Lucien gave a brief nod and turned toward his team. “We’ll file the full report with the guild tomorrow.”
He paused for a moment, then added quietly, “...And to the temple.”
Halden lingered by the freight elevator, staring into the black mouth that led into the depths. The air rising from it was still warm — and faintly sweet with decay.
He whispered, almost to himself, “The temple? Ah, yes, they should know about it. Since Arachne is a demonkin after all.”
Lucien's gaze stayed fixed on the darkness below. “Arachne don’t just appear in human cities. Not without reason.”
Leila shifted uneasily. “You think somebody brought her here?”
“Maybe.” Lucien’s tone was quiet but firm. “Or she found a way to sneak into the city — by taking a human form.”
Grey nodded. “A powerful Arachne can easily do that. And she was powerful.”
Halden’s eyes widened. “But why come here? She’d know she’d be hunted if anyone saw her. The risk was too great.”
Lucien finally turned to face him. “That’s the million-gold question, Mayor Halden.”
The mayor rubbed a trembling hand across his face. “I’ll notify the High Priest in the morning. The temple owes this city an inspection.”
Cassian gave a curt nod. “Good. Have them check the skyport thoroughly — if they’re so devoted to cleansing demonkin.”
Kael crossed his arms, exhaustion clear in his posture. “Let’s find an inn and rest for the night. I need a hot bath.”
Rook snorted softly. “And I need a hot meal.”
A faint smile tugged at Lucien’s lips, though his eyes remained distant. “Let’s do that. We’ll return at first light.”
The team began to scatter — but Lucien lingered behind.
He walked toward the freight shaft and looked down once more. The metal echoed faintly, the air below too still… too deep.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that the Arachne was still alive down there. Watching. Waiting.
Behind him, the torches flickered in the wind, and the night grew colder.
Far above, the first church bells began to toll — their sound distant and hollow — marking the arrival of another uneasy night in Blackbarrow...
Meanwhile, somewhere in the city.
Mira was still walking toward the skyport, her cloak drawn close against the evening wind.
But then — a building on the side road caught her eye.
A tall iron sign swung lazily above the doorway, creaking in the wind.
“Adventurer’s Guild of Blackbarrow.”
She stopped for a moment, watching the light flicker from the windows.
The sound of laughter and clinking mugs spilled out into the street, mixing with the smell of smoke and ale.
Her eyes softened. “Guess it’s the same everywhere,” she murmured, and moved on...
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