by Nathan Anton
***
This was none other than Leros, the Lord of the Underworld who had saved Ghost from a life of torment and sadness. She was a humanoid spider, an evolved version of something so many fear. Ghost lived in the spiders’ den outside the Dark Palace and was part of the monarchy-ruled spider society, or so she thought. Ghost was born with green hair instead of blonde, black, red or blue and was thus a new type of spider. Depending on your colour, you were part of a different clan and blessed with different powers. Ghost was looked down upon from the moment she hatched, and kept living on the scraps of other clans until she was old enough to mature. Her power was a paralysing toxin that sapped the strength of anyone she so much as scratched, pricked or exchanged germs with. This power caused much distrust by the other clans; clumsy mistakes and accidental poisonings escalated their hate and rage. Prejudice turned to torment, which turned to bullying, and then eventually she began to suffer assaults from other spiders in public. They wanted her gone, like a mistake, like an unwanted child; they feared and hated her.
Ghost was quick, quicker than her counterparts, but one day she was finally forced into a corner by the other spiders. They jabbed her with their appendages, taunted her to tears and spat on her where she sat. Not all spiders were against her; some were sympathetic but lacked the courage to help, as banishment from their respective clans was all they would receive. In Ghost’s hour of need she called with all her thought for someone or something to save her.
“Save me...”
It was then that the cavern ceilings shook horribly, webs snapped and spiders fell, distraught. A man dropped down into the cave with a deafening crash, and looked up with a vicious glare. Ghost’s tormentors retreated into the shadows, as well as any jeering onlookers, till the cavern was silent.
Leros approached the tiny Ghost as she curled tighter, protecting herself from further danger, which was all she knew. Such desperate pleas for help attracted Leros and Aimi, the rulers of the Underworld. Leros had heard the call; he had felt the fear and throbbing want that drove him to this place. He was angry such a thing was taking place in his land and had torn a gaping hole in the Underworld just to reach the victim. Leros picked up the poor spider and held her like a princess as he marched towards the leaders that had ignored this abuse.
Ghost was scared; she thought it was the end as this unknown being was taking her deeper and deeper into the cavern. But then she realized, she sensed no form of attack, no aggressive behaviour towards her .She felt at peace, safe even, in the arms of her hero. As the pair approached the royal spiders’ domain Ghost felt her appendages unconsciously holding Leros as if to say:
“Never let go.”
Leros kicked down the pitiful door leading to the royal chambers where the spider leaders resided. The room was large and looked like a castle throne room but with countless holes and webs decorating the ceiling. Four spiders dressed in a royal fashion were playing in the middle of the large room, whispering and laughing at each other, unaware of the events outside. Leros needed no introduction and briskly walked to the centre of the room, the spiders now closely watching him and his captive.
“Explain,” he said calmly.
The other spiders were perplexed and had no reply to his word.
“EXPLAIN!” Leros shouted, rattling the foundations of the chambers.
The spiders all jumped out of their skin and grovelled at the feet of their king. The black haired one, obviously in charge, spoke:
“My lord how we govern our society is our choice, is it not? We felt this matter did not concern yo–”
The spider glanced upwards, now transfixed by the fury erupting from Leros’s face.
“I am in charge of this domain; all its citizens are my concern!”
A great pillar to right of the party shattered into nothingness, then the spiders stiffened and Leros continued.
“I should flush you all down my toilet for your deception.”
The spiders cringed at the thought.
“Right…” Leros calmed down.
“What caused all this?”
The group sat in discussion and Leros felt pity for the poor creature as the story came to a close. Ghost turned out to be an evolved species that had no clan or kin to call her own. She was the centre of envy and hate from her fellows, without even knowing why. Leros stood once more:
“I will take care of this one,” he said.
The forgotten Ghost looked up, her human eyes sparkling in reverence.
“They will cause you no more harm my dear,” Leros said softly, stroking Ghost’s pale cheeks.
All of Ghost’s remaining eyes sparkled, as she looked up to her champion. A warm feeling arose in her chest, a feeling she’d never felt before.
“You,” Leros pointed at the leaders, “Will notify me of developments such as this or face a harsh budget cut. Budget cuts mean no more fancy dining on first class bugs,” Leros joked.
The spiders congregated around Leros’s legs, grappling him and begging for forgiveness. They had seen their wrongdoing and vowed to never mistreat another child.
From this point on, Ghost’s adventures in the Dark Palace started. Ghost would never forget the event and loved Leros with all her tiny heart.
