by John Grover
Eyes of the Unseen
In the center of a narrow, dank room with high ceilings stood a font supported on the back of a monstrous, stone spider. It was intricately carved out of black marble, with eight twisted legs arching to raise it off the floor. The walls surrounding the structure were studded with sconces.
Slowly Sinnia made her way down a short flight of marble step, a swarm of spiders trailing behind her. She peered into the font and stared into black water within. Its surface glimmered with the light of the sconces.
Sinnia waved her spindly fingers over the water and it rippled. A scene formed. Murky at first then sharper as the water calmed. She gazed at the battle on the plains. Edon and his army pushed back the first wave and braced for more. They organized, created barriers and discussed strategy, while panting for air. Weary from battle, they kept their scarred faces low.
The dark queen smiled, undaunted. “Do they not know that this time it is all useless?” A spider crawled across her neck and over her shoulder. She sighed. “They cannot win, but let them try. All who oppose me will be dust soon enough. Just as those in the other worlds are. They too tried to make war against me, used every weapon their arsenal all for naught. My minions are unending. They have yet to see the nightmares that await…”
She lifted her hand over the water again. Her eyes shifted from yellow to glowing white. Arise my pets. I need your service. Destroy those who threaten me. Spitters arise!
The Spitters awakened. Enormous spiders that spat acidic venom from long or short range. They crawled from their lairs--out of hollowed trees, from beneath deadfalls, from every decayed and filth-ridden part of the fallen lands. The nightmarish beasts rose to her aid and headed for the plains.
