Aliyana Mureay
Part 2
‘Oh, gods! What... what the fuck was that? Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK! I couldn't have made that sound! There is no way that sound came from me. Maybe there is some kind of monstrosity around here? Yes, that has to be it! I’m in the lair of some terrible monster because that fucking demon my beloved Mistress wants to punish me. Wait... that thought was weird but why?’ While I was still wondering about what was wrong with that thought, a slight stirring in my bonds startled me.
It was near impossible for me to move at the moment and yet I could clearly tell that something small was crawling around very close to me. If this odd sense was to be trusted, then whatever it was not even a centimetre away from my skin and there was more than one! ‘By all the gods in existence, don’t be spiders! Please, don’t be fucking spiders or insects!’ Despite my pathetic begging, it was almost too obvious that it was exactly what I hoped it wasn’t. Trying my best to wriggle away from the creepy crawlies bought me at most a few seconds before the inevitable happened. ‘Oh, gods they are fucking massive!!! Ewwwww!!!’ When they started crawling up my shoulders I had to bite my lips to not scream out in terror. Yet, despite having bitten right through my skin and tasting blood, something else left me far more horrified; I was hearing... voices!
“QUEEN!” “Queen...” “Queen!” “Queen~.” ‘Wha- What?’
“Queen?” “QUEEN???” “Queen...?” “Queen~?” ‘THE FUCK IS THIS!?’
“Is hurt?” “IS HUNGRY?” “Scared...” “Snuggles~?” ‘Go- GO AWAY!!!’
“Away?” “AWAY!?” “Away...” “Snuggles~!” ‘Eww! Ewww! Ewwww! One of the things is clutching to my throat! Eww!’
“Queen unhappy!” “NO HOGGING QUEEN!” “Spiders... scare...?” “Snuggle~ Snuggle~ Snuggle~!” ‘Wait are those... things listening to my thoughts? .... No snuggles! Go away! Leave me be! I am very unhappy!’
“WANT HUG QUEEN TOO!” “Queen unhappy much!” “Like Snuggle~?” “Spiders... scare... problem...” ‘This... this is too much! I have officially gone insane! I’m trapped in some dark places and of all things I am imagining that I can talk with spiders... huge spiders!!! Okay... no! That’s it! I’m getting out of here, no matter the cost!”
“Queen... angry...” “Better move!” “RETREAT!” “But me love queen~!” ‘Tha- That’s right! Buzz off! Move! Just... leave me be!’
Apparently what ever enabled them to hear my thoughts finally relayed the information that they were clearly not wanted here. And yet when they skittered off of me I felt something I hadn’t expected... longing and sadness. If I didn’t know better I could have sworn that part of me recoiled at the idea of parting with the spiders; but I knew myself better than anyone else and I hated spiders! Well, technically insects were worse considering their grubs were the most disgusting thing in existence, but spiders ranked a close second on the list of things Magea didn’t need. Therefore I grid my teeth – all the while pointedly ignoring how weird it felt – and pushed those foreign thoughts out of my mind. Instead I focused on the one thing that was most important at the moment, namely getting out of these damned bonds!
But no matter how hard I struggled, what ever was holding me seemed to only ever slightly give in but never actually rip! After what must have been at least another half an hour of futile struggling I calmed down enough to finally assess my situation in full. A sigh escaped me as I thought about it and this time I couldn’t ignore how inhuman it sounded. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, what had been done to me had set thing in motion I could barely hope to stop. If I was right, and I feared as much, then the blood my Mistress had fed me was slowly turning me into a demon.
Hadn’t it been me that this was happening to I would have even been curious about the workings behind it. But considering that I had absolutely no desire what so ever to become a demon myself, I was more furious than anything else. Though the worst thing was by far the suspicion as to what kind of demon I was turning into. A Watcher... I had read papers about them, describing not their appearance but their use as spies and assassins by the Fallen Empire. The only silver lining in this was, that if what the scrolls had said was true then at least it might be possible to sell this as an achievement to my father.
My family had always been on the... lower end of nobility. Unlike most noble houses there was no defining feature be it animalistic or other wise. The only reason for why my family even still counted as one was that our name was old and known despite basically no actual documentation existing. From what I had been able to piece together in the last few days this actually was beginning to make sense. If all noble houses where the result of demonic inbreeding, then this must have applied for my family too.
It had always struck me as odd how basically every woman of my family had been pale, black haired and skilled in illusion magic. But now that I knew about the demonic stain it made far more sense, all of my ancestors had carried the same blood in them. A shudder went through my frame when I imagined what my late mother could have done with the powers of a demon. I knew I wasn’t the nicest of people but my mother – may she never return – had been an entirely different thing all together. She had, by all accounts, been a vile, venomous and vicious woman. What little love she held for me was spend on not outright killing me when I annoyed her.
I hadn’t been that surprised when they had publicly hung her for murder, treason, arson and assassination. Apparently she had plied the trade of an assassin without me ever knowing. And while I had only been a child back then her last words still hung in my mind. “Look at you fools! Burying the heritage of this Empire beneath lies, papers, and laws... I embraced what I am. There will be a time when all of you will have to as well. Until then we will be waiting, watching.”
‘We will be waiting, watching.’ The memory played in repeat in my mind especially my mother’s last action. She had known that I was in the crowd, she had looked right at me and smiled. I would never forget that smile, all sharp and jagged edges. At the time I had thought it to be my imagination or a trick of the light, what if it wasn’t? What if she had known the truth about what we were? What if she had found a way to slowly turn herself into whatever I was becoming now?
While the thought did scare me to the bones it also gave me a bit of relief. If it indeed was true then I expected that I wouldn’t have much to fear from my father. He had actually loved my mother, and almost obsessively so even. Even now, years after her death, he still lamented how the world could have been robbed of such a striking woman. And if he could love her despite all that, maybe he wouldn’t mind if I can back as some horrible spider monstrosity? I mean, let’s just face it, that was exactly what I was in for.
Considering that the change had already started I decided that it would be best to take stock now while I was somewhat calm. I was just about to explore my mouth with my tongue when I remembered what had happened. ‘Right... that one is... gone. Okay, I’m not going to freak out. I will simply consider the positives and negatives! So... no more speaking is bad because it will make communicating and problem but... I will also never again be forced to participate in social gatherings or will be expected to properly entertain guest! Positive?’ Despite my desperate attempt at seeing anything positive in my current situation, I couldn't really bring my self to overcome what my Mistress had done to me. I had tried to take her will away, enslave her to my words just to show the worth of my name. Yet she had in turn not only taken away my very ability to do so but had even robbed me of my humanity.
But no matter how hard I tried I couldn't hate her for it. This thing inside of me – it must have been the demonic part of my soul – revelled in her attention. The few words she had spoken had fully enslaved this part in but a heartbeat. And considering that I couldn’t even bear to think of her as anything but my beloved Mistress, this part was growing. Perhaps soon enough all of me would feel that way and I wouldn’t even keep the ability to question my unwavering affection.
I understood now why Miss Aldeno had been so scared off her, even if she had tried to hide it. The way my Mistress Acathia could impose her will on other demons and even mere changelings was... alarming. Even humans like Aldeno herself had a hard time resisting her if what I had spied the other day was to be an example. ‘Maybe just accepting my fate would be the wiser option? Become her cute and adoring little puppet? Ah... no. If she chooses to enslave me it will be on my terms and those alone! She can have my body, even my soul... but my mind... that I can still do something about.’ Once more a grin crossed my lips cracking them almost to my ears. Only this was not a happy one, no this was one of desperation and grim fatalism. I knew what I could... no, what I would do, even knowing that I was permanently mutilating my soul. But... what did a demon needed empathy for anyway, am I right?
As much as I dislike that there was apparently no way of getting over it. Considering that I was trapped and couldn’t free myself, relying on the... spiders was my most valuable option. Yet this obviously didn’t mean that I liked them. I did not. Not in the slightest. They were spiders and I hated them. But sometimes one had to do something they didn’t like to achieve greatness after all. And so I hesitantly ordered for them to approach. It was honestly a rather creepy feeling of having them inside my mind and listening to my thoughts. Yet I could not help it. This work must be done. Slowly one by one, as if scared of approaching me, they came closer. Apparently my earlier outbreak had left quite the scars on their minds, as even now they were not as chatty and loud as before.
“Queen?” “ QUEEN!” “Snuggles~?” “Not... scared?” ‘Doesn’t really matter now, does it? I’m your... Queen. And therefore you will do as I say, right? Good, now let me out of this... thing!’
“But...” “Uhm.” “WHY?” “Not comfy~?” ‘Ugh! No, it is not comfy. I want out now.! And if you will not help me . I will get out myself!’
“OH!” “Let’s help!” “Sure~!” “But... other queens said is bad... to stay in cocoon until changed.” ‘Shush... Smarty. Nobody wants to listen to you anyway. Just get me out of this damned thing! Now!’
“OKAY!” “Yep!” “Then snuggles~?” “Fine...”
Finally, after what felt like days of hanging here, the Spider-siblings, simulacrums made of my own magic – whom I had, in my great wisdom, named Dummy, Clingy, Smarty, and Bobby – crawled up onto the... cocoon. ‘Fuck, I’m really turning into a spider-demon. This may just be the worst day of my entire life. Well, except maybe for the day when I bit off my own tongue, which probably was yesterday, or something.’ While I had been lost in thought the spiders had already gone to work. Slowly but surely, one by one the strings holding up my cocoon loosened and fell down to the ground. And all of a sudden, with a scream more befitting of a little girl, I dropped to the ground like a wet sack. Had I not already known that I was turning into a demon, I would have probably been scared at how little pain I was feeling. But as things stood, I just started to wriggle around and clawed at the binding, still holding me.
Despite really having wanted to get out of the cocoon, once I actually was out the feeling was unsettling. Part of me was screaming in my mind to crawl back inside. Yet, the rational part of my brain won out because I knew that I couldn’t. I still had work to do. But despite my iron will born from the desperation of the lost, the most terrifying thing was yet to come. The very moment I tried getting up, I failed, for my legs could no longer carry me. Actually, it was worse than that... I couldn’t even feel my legs at all! While my arms were weak I could still move them but for my legs it was different. If I hadn’t known better, I could have sworn that I didn’t have legs in the first place. Even poking them led to no response, no sensation, no pain and most definitely not even the slightest twitch.
‘No... it no longer matters. I can freak out about being a cripple after I save my mind from certain doom!’ Gritting my inhuman teeth in anger, frustration and maybe a little bit of fear I stopped trying to get my legs to work. Instead I focused on what I knew worked, namely my arms. Despite the darkness I could tell that they had already changed. The slight scraping sounds that came from me dragging my body forward were unlike anything my former skin could have produced. A few flicks against my forearm confirmed my fear, my skin was chitin. A rough chuckle escaped me as I took in the speed at which my body changed. There was no way of stopping it anymore. But if I were to become a spider I would show my Mistress why one didn’t mess with something poisonous.
‘Well then... Dummy, Smarty and Bobby... I need you to get me a few things from outside. Let none see you and make sure nobody notices you taking what I need while you are still there. Oh, and if you see any demon... run away.’ One by one they filed out of the room once they had received the list of ingredients. Only Clingy was still with me. Partially because I might need aid with setting up the magic circle and perhaps a bit because she was kind of cute... for a spider that was! With her assisting me – or mostly clinging to anyone of my bodyparts she could reach – the most tedious part was done soon enough. It was worrying that my blood smelled different than it had before, but technically it was still from my body so this should still work. After what must have been about an hour the other girls finally came back carrying what I needed. Once I had put the finishing touches to the circle and imbibed the elixirs I could feel myself falling into a fugue state. When I had reached the proper trance I began forging my mana into a singular ethereal blade. With this tool, I should be able to cut off the slivers of my soul that my mistress’ touch had reached. For better or worse I began cutting.
When I awoke I was unsure as to how much time had passed but I could instinctively tell that my ritual had both worked perfectly and utterly failed. The first indication for it was that while I could still feel a connection to my Mistress I couldn’t bring up the will to care about it. In fact... it was hard for me to care about much of anything at all. Looking around I noticed how my field of vision had increased and could even feel far more eyelids than before blinking in simultaneity. Before I would have freaked out about it but now I merely noted that it was actually rather practical to have. Curious enough it seemed that some of my eyes where in places where I had hair before. I gently reached up to see how that worked and discovered that I didn't really have hair anymore, instead, from the top of my head grew several long and thin chitinous spikes, they must have looked like a ponytail... well, if one were to shave the sides of your head and have eyes above your ears.
“Huh... scree...” ‘Oh, seems like I still can’t speak... impractical.’
Instead of trying to force my body to produce human sounds, I resumed the exploration of this new body of mine. Like before I had mutilated my soul – and apparently my mind – my arms where still covered in what I assumed to be black chitin. The only difference was that they now also had spines extending from them and my fingers where claws. I could see the use of having those. Climbing and fighting would probably be much easier like this. Other than this my upper body had relatively stayed the same, save for some bands of chitin encasing my back and front. I even still had breasts, which was odd, though demons were not known to be logical so it was probably fine. My legs looked rather similar to my arms, covered in chitin and a few spines they even seemed able to grasp things which I put down as a positive thing. Though the most extensive change I could see without a mirror was something else.
When I had thought Watchers to be spider demons I had been more correct than initially assumed. In addition to four spiders like appendages extending from my back I also had a big abdomen bobbing around above my butt cheeks. It was at least as wide as my shoulders and tended to move around when I moved. I clenched the unfamiliar muscles in the test and found something even more interesting. I produced silk! I pulled my lips into a crooked smile as I thought it was something I should be happy about even if I didn’t feel like it. At least I could actually make a home for this new body of mine so it must be a plus. And despite the prior disgust, I could no longer feel, I saw no real downside to this body. I was all in all... content.
As I walked around and tested the limits of my form I could feel the four blobs of consciousness, that where my Spiderlings, begin to slowly wake up. I was actually quite surprised that magical constructs like these still needed sleep. But then again the other Watchers had formed them out of my own mana as a gift to me, so maybe there counted as lesser demons instead? Deciding that this would need further research I stepped closer to them. To my eyes, they looked like normal spiders about the size of my palm and curiously they all had different colours. The one I had dubbed Clingy was white, Dummy was grey, Smarty was black and Bobby was brown. Apparently they could feel me staring at them because one after the other they got up and skittered closer. Bobby even performed something that I assumed should resemble a salute that was quickly copied by the others.
“Queen!” “QUEEN!” “You okay...?” “Yay~ Queen~!” ‘I have not quite understood... why are you referring to me as Queen? Considering that you were born of my magic wouldn’t Creator or Mother better apply? If you could explain this I might find out how to properly refer to you in front of peers.’
My question seemed to confuse them because for a while they simply stared at me before sharing glances with each other. Finally, after waiting several moments the one named Smarty slowly stepped forward. She – for apparently they were all female – stopped about a foot in front of me before hesitantly addressing me.
“Queen... you feel... different. We are... worried. Are you... okay?”
‘Hmmm... that is a perfectly reasonable question and ascribes you quite the amount of independent thought. If you are referring to my body than I would say that I am. It is perfectly functioning and acceptable considering my purpose and skills. If you are referring to a change in personality this might come from the fact that the backlash of my ritual seems to have severely damage the parts of me responsible for emotional response. Even if it is difficult to assess by myself, I think it is less of a problem for my work or my studies but it might alienate me in society. I will have to make a full assessment once I have had enough contact with other demons or humans.’
From all of the Spiderlings I could feel differing emotions, yet I had problems properly sorting them. At a guess Smarty was understanding, both Clingy and Bobby were... shocked? And Dummy seemed to not grasp the full extent of my words. Yet before either of them could find the right words to speak their thoughts the door to my temporary lair opened. The person that came in was someone I remembered, though I couldn’t say why in my memories I seemed to both have been attracted to and scared of the demon before me. This would need further interaction and questions to find out. As there was no real reason to stay here and my body was quite hungry I drew on my magic and began drawing words into the air.
“Hello, Fleur. As you can see my change into a full-fledged demon was a success, even if a self-inflicted ritual seems to have had some repercussions. If neither you nor your other half has any orders, that if disregarded will lead to physical punishment, for me I would like to find nourishment.”
“Okay.” The demon I knew as Fleur Bellrose stared at me in disbelieve, I think. “I was told that I can seem cold to others but this... this is an entirely different level. Wait, Acathia wants to know if you honestly turned yourself into a flesh puppet?”
‘Oh, a good description of my current state. I shall try and find out if I perhaps have done this.’ As the twin soul of my Mistress didn’t seem to have anything more to say I nodded my head grabbed my Spiderlings and left the room. I would have to clear some documentation with the city and University because of this, but first I should probably find something to eat for my body...
Wait, so she's no longer a pervert?!
What a pity, right?
Thanks for the chapter!
Very interesting! I lile her already
I lile you too! ;P
@Petrichor and i lile you too
Yay~ Queen~
I normally like the more panicked and resistant at first type of transformations. But I did like how this girl went about coping.