The Midnight Flower Series : Ari Constantine

The Maze Spider Head

I'm panting and trying to catch my breath.
My dress is long gone from all the snagging and rips.
Mommy and daddy are going to be so angry with me.
Mommy had this dress custom made with the finest spider silks and daddy paid a hefty price to have it made within 5 days plus a couple others. The woman was so honored to tailor me and everything.

The daytime sky; its bright crimson shade long turned to that of a dark purple indigo.

Ari stopped calling for me long ago and I suspect he did this on purpose.

He knows I hate this place.

Every now and again I'll hear a whisper of guidance on where to go like: go left or go right or turn back.

It's whisper like hiss of a voice brings a shiver to my spine and it's worse because I can't see.

I've done run into multiple giant spiders and hid as best I could under the brush as they skittered by with their hissing breath and venomously drooling mouths. They know I'm here and are harmless during the day when the sky is red but now, I'm free game and they're just waiting to pounce on me like a feast.
I shudder and suppress a whimper as one of the spiders stops in front of me.

My heart is pounding and I do my best to stay still while my hands cover my lips in a death grip.

The spider breaths in heavily as I stare in horror at its many needle sharp teeth and green liquid drooping from its hungry famished jaws.

A loud chittering comes from the beast and after a pregnant pause it lets out a ferocious hiss. Its large mouth dislocates open and splits in five different directions like a star and becomes two times the size of its head and I let out a horrified squeal through my fingers.

Its long spindly legs start severing through the bush and I instantaneously dive out of the way as it screams out its fury.

I run as fast as I can and try to keep my panting under control which I'm unsuccessfully doing.

Remember your training dammit!
I internally scream at myself.

I quickly think back to the training my father had me endure with survival but unfortunately no giant hungry spiders were involved.
What I did train with was their human form.

They have multiple black eyes and pale purple skin with what they assumed a "humans body" should look like if they also had two extra sets of arms. They move gracefully and are very quick and strong.
Many times they showed me how to dodge their pouncing and bites.

I NEED A GIANT STICK!

The spider, hot on my trail let out a howl of rage as I sidestepped its flung web trap.

"Dammit!" I shout out before I decide to launch myself into the air.

The spider leaned on its hind legs and swiped at air.
A triumphant HA flew from my lips as I flew towards the long spindly vines.
I did my best to grasp onto the smallest one and I began to yank; my wings doing their best to help me.

A screech and a giant booming shake startled me and I let go of the vine by accident falling down.

There's no time!

In horror, I see the spider predatorily creeping its way along the vines above me; with a triumphant glee in its many eyes, it lunged on top of me.
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The Kings POV

Political talk and ways to make alliances were almost everyone's go to topic tonight.
I engaged with dozens of different creatures tonight while my daughter stood by me.
Well, that was until I asked Ari to take her elsewhere when one of her future suitors started to ogle her like a piece of candy.
I'm relieved to know she wasn't paying attention but getting frustrated which turned my relief to disappointment.

'Take Midnight outside for some air. Keep her safe and make sure she stays by your side.'
I relay to Ari by telepathy.
He struts over as fast as possible and rearranges his features to a neutral expression before bowing.

"Lord Barron; Your Magesty, please excuse Princess Midnight and me. I am going to escort her through the gardens for some fresh air." Ari Constantine said with mannerism and grace. His training is going splendidly.
I cut my gaze over to him and he nods his head before whisking my daughter away. That faerie side of her is going to be dangerous one day if she doesn't get the proper training.
I think to myself internally sighing.

"Ahem! As I was saying your highness, when will you be marrying Midnight off to me and the others? I must say I prefer them as young as 13 so that the offspring count can start early. Not to mention the others that she needs to marry and give children to as well. I'm not really one for sharing tho." Lord Barron says with pompous.
I whip my head around and feel my features harden.
A low growl escapes my vocals and everyone stills around us including him who lets out an awkward chuckle.
I take a deep breath when I feel my claws extending and do my best to keep a level voice.
"I'm afraid that marriage talks are off the table right now but do enjoy the party." I say dismissing Lord Barron who lets out a sniveling hmph.
This is going to be more difficult when my daughter is older.
They're all getting impatient but I just want her to be a kid for now. Hell she hasn't even drawn blood yet.

My wife comes over to me and wraps me in a hug. I inhale at her scent and trail kisses along her jaw and neck as peals of laughter pour from her mouth like liquid. Such a beautiful forest faerie.

"Join me for a dance my queen?" I whisper to her in a husky voice.

Her emerald green eyes shine with adoration and mischief. I'm always left breathless when I look into her eyes. There's no white or black yet I'm always captivated by her beauty.

I glide her across the dance floor and slowly her wings unfurl and add mystery and allure to our already intimate performance.

A womans scream fills the air causing quite a few different creatures here to go into a frenzy.
The crowd parts and I don't have to ask what's going on when I see my daughter in a disheveled state. Not only is she disheveled, but she's covered in blue gook and dragging behind her the head of one of the maze spiders.
I stare in disbelief as she continues to walk up to me and her mother and the closer she gets the more horrified I become.
She's covered in scrapes and bleeding in several places, her red hair looks like a bats nest, her royal blue eyes are dull and flat.

She stands in front of me and then her mother screams. I flinch but Midnight has disassociated entirely from the situation.

Where the fuck is Ari!
I think in rage.
"What happened to you? Where are your wings child?!"
My wife cries out pain lacing her voice.

"I ran through the maze and we got separated." She says in monotone.

Before I can reprimand her actions she falls limp and stays down.
"Call the doctor!" I roar out.