The Web of Iron

Chapter Nine: The Emperor Appears

William awoke to find his arms and legs bound in a spread eagle position. He was no longer wearing his armor; the weight was gone. But he could see nothing. Something sticky was covering his eyes. He strained and tried to break free, but his limbs were sluggish.

Then the silk was pulled from his eyes, and he found himself in the center of a circular room. There was a balcony above him with many windows looking out onto a starry expanse. At the base of the balcony was Kiyora. She was trapped within a clear crystal, and blue energy poured out of her.

Yet it was sapped away by wires into the walls themselves.

Glancing around, William saw his sword on his discarded armor. Suppose he could only get to it. Then he could get out of here. But the threads held him tightly.

Then Rioletta walked sideways from behind him into view. She was smiling. One clawed hand reached up to cup him by the cheek. He found his eyes drawn to her now naked upper body.

"My, you've awoken, haven't you? I can see why Arraxia likes you. I'm lucky I claimed you first," she said, licking her lips.

He tried to speak. But the silk was covering his mouth. Rioletta responded by lowering her claws down to his shirt and stabbing one claw through it. He tried to keep from screaming as he felt her fingers drive themselves into his flesh. Down went her hand, and he could no longer control himself. He yelled, but the sound of muffled.

"Oh, don't bother trying to call for help, darling," said Rioletta. "My webs are very good at containing screams, and no one can help you. Black Star has been naughty of late, but it may be worth it for the pain I can feel from you. You've proven a frightful nuisance. I was nearly out of the system when you destroyed my cloak.

"Now I'm being pursued, and I'm going to have to fight off the Dreamer Elves before I've broken, dear Kiyora."

She moved forward so that her cheek was pressed against his. Her arms wrapped around him gently. William found himself reacting in his lower body despite his best efforts. How could he be attracted to this monster?

"I like you," whispered Rioletta. "Beneath that metal shell, you look delicious. Not an elf, but one can tire of the effeminate sort. Now, what shall I do with you?" She licked his cheek with a forked, violet tongue. "I suppose I could bundle you up like the others, but this warrants a personal touch."

Then she pulled back. She opened her mouth to reveal fangs. She bit down on his neck. William stopped himself from screaming this time as she sang her fangs in. He could feel his blood being drained, and he felt lightheaded. Then she pulled back, licking her lips.

"Yes!" she screamed in a pleasured tone, a voice filled with passion. And she gripped him by the throat. "Still, it's not just blood I want from you." She grabbed the tears in his shirt and began to rip them away. "How would you like to be the father of a new brood of spiders? Half-demons are much more durable than those silly raishans. It'll be no trouble. It'll be a special pleasure to have my way with a goddess's servant in front of her.

"Now, why don't we begin?"

She leaned in as if to kiss him. Then there was a flash, and the vessel shook around them. Rioletta looked upward in a fury. William followed her gaze and saw something strange through the windows. It was like a tree, yet the roots seemed to have tangled together to create a ship. It had golden leaves and was surrounded by a shield of light.