A Flick of the Tongue

"Anyone know how the ferocious black widow eats its prey?" The professor asked.
Biology was a bitch of a class, and listening to the professor drone on and on about insects or arachnids or whatever they were was driving me crazy. Don't get me wrong, I loved nature and its disastrous beauty, but sitting in a class with over a hundred students didn't make it any more entertaining.
It was hot and humid, and the University of Pittsburgh's air conditioning wasn't keeping up with the number of students in class today. The classroom was more like a sauna between the body heat and everyone breathing. I couldn't care how a spider ate, but then again, I had a morbid fascination with strange creatures.
My name is Damian Montianu. Sounds exotic, but it's not. Most of my friends, the few I have, think my Romanian background is full of vampires and werewolves, and I always laugh and joke that none are in my family tree. They laugh, too, but it beats the truth.
My family tree branched to the Other Side and then some. Most of us are witches or warlocks. I believed my aunt was a vampire, as she has looked the same for twenty years. She's undead or has a damn good cosmetic surgeon. In my family, it could be either.
My phone buzzed in my front right pocket. The professor hated modern technology, especially smartphones, and he said they made people dumber, which he wasn't entirely wrong. I needed it, as it was also a police scanner. The app was sketchy on a good day, but I had a duty to protect the innocent, and the only way I could do that was to stay on top of what the police did.
Right now, Damian, you have an excuse to leave class. I don't feel good about this person's death. When I read my tarot cards today, they spoke of impending death and my ties to it. I'm learning about a spider in class when I should protect others.
I'm far from a superhero, but using it for evil isn't my thing. I sometimes use it for general silliness, but what should a guy do with it? Some practical jokes are better with magic. My phone buzzed again. They found a local student dead, and the cops weren't giving out names. I can't blame them; they should tell the family before the media picks up on it.
"You can see the image here…" the professor droned on over the details.
"Ugh, could this get any more boring?" I whispered.
The lady next to me snickered. The lecture became worse because I didn't want to be there. It's not like I could walk onto a crime scene, but I had my ways of staying out of sight and out of mind when I needed to. Magic had its advantages, and I used them to my benefit, much to my parent's dismay.
As I said, general mischief was a regular part of my childhood. I wasn't a bad kid, but I got into my share of trouble. Most kids fear the creature that lives under their bed, and I wrestled it and made it clean my room. I didn't want it to stick its cold and clammy hands on my feet at night.
I stole a glance at my phone. The address was on the other side of the campus, near the dorms. That wasn't a good sign. If the cards were correct, I needed to find out what happened. I had friends in that area, and staying lax on death would only lead to more.
The three rivers contributed to the convergence. Who needs ley lines when I lived in a region where three significant waterways mixed? The most vital part was Point State Park. Between boat races, the Monongahela, Allegheny, and the Ohio River, the energy that flowed through this area was powerful.
I did my best work here. It was all ritualistic, but it gave me a boost when I needed it the most. The park was a hub of activity for people and pets. It made doing my magic risky, but few ventured to the park at midnight. Even the non-superstitious avoided the witching hour.
My watch showed twelve-thirty. I still thought a watch was fashionable in the age of computers and phones. It was also practical and analog, and I used to keep track of things besides time. Apps couldn't keep track of magic, but a regular, run-of-the-mill watch could.
On the Other Side, time was not consistent. Tech didn't work there; if I needed to cross over, I needed to know real-world time. It was easy to lose track of time over there, which could cause many problems.
My biggest problem was finding an excuse to get out of class early. It would affect my grade, but not too much. Fuck, I hope it doesn't. Saving people is more important than an A in biology. I stuffed my book and everything else in my green backpack.
Not a color I'd choose, but my mom bought it to claim it matched my eyes. It did, but that wasn't something I worried about. I inherited them from my father and my looks, and I got my personality and magic from my mom. Everything about me was a mix of both of my parents, and that drove them crazy.
"Mr. Montianu, where do you think you're going?" The professor asked.
I didn't realize I had stood and shouldered my backpack. Everyone in class stared at me, and things were a bit awkward. That's my style, though. Making and keeping things uncomfortable for everyone, and I'm embarrassed.
"Yeah, I forgot to eat lunch and am feeling dizzy," I said, walking behind a bunch of students to get to the aisle that led to the doors.
"Again, Mr. Montianu?" He asked.
I froze and wondered if I had used that excuse too many times. Did I mention I was a bit awkward? That's my personal gift to myself. It was a curse, but a few said it was endearing, which translated as them calling me weird. If they only knew how true that was.
"Yeah, all this talk of the black widow eating made me realize I missed breakfast. Personal health and nutrition are essential for learning and absorbing precious knowledge," I said.
It was all bullshit, but it elicited a few classmates' laughs. The professor sighed and shook his head. I took off, not wanting to hear a reply. Later, when I had time, I'd deal with the professor as I'm sure he'd email me and let me know how important my education was and other shit.
However, I didn't want to take the chance. There was a monster on the loose, killing students. I bowed before exiting, which got me a few more laughs. General mischief strikes again.

I stopped short of the murder scene, out of breath. Running was far from my sport, and I knew I'd need to work out at some point. An audible popping noise reached my ears, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
Next to my right stood a tiny figure made of twigs twisted together with a few bits of cloth for clothing. It was Braggs, my friend, and a member of the Seelie Court. He glanced at me with a grin and wide-open eyes with purple irises.
With the Fae, there was more to them than fairies, pixies, and the sort one would see on Disney. Braggs was different and one of the few people I trusted in my life. To put that much in, the Fae said a lot, as they were unreliable on the best days.
"What are you doing here, Braggs?" I asked.
He shuffled a bit. "Just seeing what the commotion was. I sensed you were here and figured if there was a dead body with you near, then I needed to be here as well."
"I don't think they'll let me get closer, do you?" I asked.
"Definitely not. Human law enforcement is quite touchy over that sorta thing," said Braggs.
"I could use my magic, and they'd never know I was there," I said.
"It may not involve you at all, and I think it's best to leave it alone," he said.
One benefit of having Braggs was he knew all about the Fae, which was more than I read in most magic books and stories my mother told me. He was a bit of a coward and did whatever he could to keep me out of trouble.
No one saw him either. Ordinary folk couldn't see him unless he wanted them to see him, which was close to zero in the chances it would happen. Most people who saw me talking assumed I was talking to myself if they caught me, but that never bothered me, and it kept them away, which was best as I didn't get along with most people.
"I'll meet you over there," he said, taking off, scurrying through people's legs, before a last dash to the body.
Fuck. If only I could make myself invisible.
True invisibility was rare, and few wizards ever achieved it. I could turn everyone's attention away from me, and the spell would make them purposely ignore me as if I wasn't there. It worked well unless there was video or other photographic equipment around.
Magic and tech didn't always mingle well, hence my analog watch. I closed my eyes and concentrated, letting the power flow around me. I gave it my intention and pushed out toward the crowd and cops surrounding the crime scene. The lingering taste of honey and chocolate lingered in my mouth from its use.
It was always odd and made me think back to my childhood. It triggered many memories, but the moment forced my attention, and I stood, reflexively swallowing.
The spell's energy flowed and weighed like a down blanket, light and comforting. Usually, this would've been a complex spell, but years of use getting into trouble made it come to me easily. What once needed a lot of components and a ritual was now simple concentration.
I walked through the crowd with no one giving me a look. Smiling, I couldn't help but love that it worked so well. Braggs jumped up and down next to the dead body. I dodged past a cop who gestured for the crowd to keep back.
I ducked under the tape. "Calm down, Braggs."
"We got a stiff one here, but he's a little dry, though," he said.
"What do you mean?"
"Look for yourself," Braggs said.
I knelt and removed the cover. A quick glance showed everyone either looking away or talking amongst themselves. It's still working and better than I thought. No matter how many times I used my magic, there was always the lingering doubt that I'd fuck it up or it would last long.
With a glance at the corpse, I choked back a gag as the musky stench reached my nose. It smelled sweet, like decay or the waste of a paper mill. Pungent and awful, I gagged again. In the open like this, he shouldn't have smelled so bad.
He was fairly thin, wearing a dirty tank top, unlaced shoes, jeans, and scraggly brown hair. His skin was taut over his skeleton, as if all the fluids inside him had been drained. He was also a dull yellow color with puncture wounds in his chest. Two, to be exact. Now that's interesting, if I say so myself.
I didn't see any blood, but after a thorough look, I didn't expect to find any. His mouth was open in a wide, soundless scream. I wiped the tear off the man's right eye after I grabbed a tissue.
It wasn't a tear like from someone who cried, and it was thicker, more like a runny gel, like his eye oozed. Part of the tear clung to the victim's dry, parchment-like skin.
"What the hell is this?" I asked.
"That is called none of our business. I don't think we should mess with this, Damian. Nothing good will come of this."
I gazed at it for a minute before shoving it in my pocket to analyze later in the college lab. Standing, I strolled into the crowd near the cops and waited, listening to their conversation. I needed more information.
"This is the third one this week like this. I think we have a serial killer on the loose," said the officer to a man in a white lab coat.
"I agree that this seems too much of a coincidence. I need to get the body to the morgue to do an autopsy, and the captain will want answers fast," said the lab coat man.
"The detectives will make the call as long as the press doesn't get a hold of this. It's bad enough that the college isn't aware of this. Too many students," said the cop.
"I agree. They'd go into lockdown once they find out this isn't just the third victim but the third student," said the lab coat man.
Three students? What the hell was going on here? I walked away from the crime scene along the fringe of the crowd and let the spell fade away like a whisper from a lover at night. The silence inside me grew as the energy escaped my grasp and dissipated back into the world.
A ringing sound filled my ears in its absence, and I had to shake my head to clear it away. I hated that shit, but magic comes at a price. I am okay with if this was the worse, I'd pay.
"Are we ready to go, Damian?" Braggs asked.
I saw the webbing near the edge of the park. It was a bit much from a standard spider and made me think back to the lecture in biology class.
"I should've paid more attention in class," I said.
Moving closer with Braggs in tow, I saw that silk strands with semi-opaque stretched themselves over the bush near the trail. Wasps and insects hung in suspension within the strands, along with a small rabbit, withered like the man a few dozen feet away.
"I don't know of any spiders big enough to kill a rabbit in America," I said, gazing at it. "You don't think something from beyond the Veil has crossed over?"
"It's possible, but I don't want to find out. All I know is nothing from the Fae did this. We should go get lunch instead," Braggs said.
"I'm going to follow the web and see where it goes," I said.
Braggs pulled at my pant leg. "That's not a good idea."
He sounded scared. Braggs' eyes were wide, and his mouth hung open. I could see the bubbling wheezing of his breath as if he were drowning. His bark-like skin grew pale, and his wispy hair had become a mess of tangled knots. He was sweating, and his face contorted into a look of panic.
His voice was the high squeal of a mosquito in complete panic mode. "Please, don't go in there, Damian. I feel it's nothing but bad news."
"I know it is, but students are dying," I said.
I entered the trail using the web as a guide. The webbing was sticky and clung to my hand, but didn't leave a tacky feeling behind. I could feel Braggs' hand on my pant leg, but his hand became hot as I paid more attention. The temperature of his skin felt like it was baking from the inside out, burning my leg.
He wasn't built for this sort of adventure or danger. I pulled my wand out of my backpack. Whatever eight-legged monster lived here, I'd be ready for it. I hoped.
 

"Braggs, calm down," I said.
The woods were thick, but the trail spread wide enough for a few people to walk side by side comfortably. Braggs took up about a few inches wide, so that didn't matter, and my skinny ass wasn't taking up much more.
My parents used to joke that I could run through a rainstorm without getting wet. It was a jab at my thinness, and college had helped me put on a few pounds, but that was because I learned about resistance training.
It helped with the magic since using too much wore me out. I was still thin but used the word lean regarding my weight and patience. As much as I loved college and my friends, some classes tested my love for protecting humanity.
"I can't calm down, Damian. How big of a spider do you think did this?" He asked.
The question was more of a metaphor than anything, but he mentioned I was quietly denying it. I should've paid more attention to biology class. Like everyone on the planet, I was not too fond of spiders.
Most were harmless, but I carried this irrational fear of them. I'd stare down the barrel of a gun before I let a spider crawl on me. A shiver ran across my body at that thought.
"We don't know if it's a spider, and it could be many spiders," I said to sound reassuring to Braggs.
As soon as the words came out, I realized how badly they had made the situation worse. Another shiver ran down my spine. Fear was a contagious rash, with brief moments of relief when I didn't talk about spiders.
Other textures mingled with the fear that crippled my mind. Water drops fell from above, and leftovers from last night's rain hit my head. As I followed the webbing, the crinkling of dead leaves and scraping of my shoes on the dirt path echoed much louder than I preferred.
The forest's clean smell held the subtle decay scent in its otherwise vibrant atmosphere. This would be a bad day for anyone to take a mental health walk through nature, and an average person would see all the webbing and go back inside.
Leave, Damian. You know nothing good will come of this. My thoughts betrayed me as usual, but I needed to press on. There was more than my fear in these woods, and it watched me.
Thousands of eyes focused on me, sent a sliver of panic through my system, and it crept up from the back of my mind. They watched me from the darkness, leering. Their gaze sent a small serpent of panic through me, but I knew strange thoughts were always closer than I realized. I had to break that thought of eyes watching me get my mind back under my control.
It didn't take long for my imagination to run wild. I stopped and closed my eyes, hoping to get myself under control, but their teeth were vast and sharp in my mind. I could still visualize them, big enough to tear my head from my body.
Wrap me in its web, a cocoon that would soon become my coffin as it drained the fluids from my body, feasting on my soul slowly. Only madness would save me and not my magic.
A tug at my leg tore me from that visual. Braggs pointed at the side of the path, and it was the body of a desiccated dog, and Webbing covered it with puncture bites on its side.
The body was shrunken, like a deflated balloon, with its hair in lumps along the web. The dried skin pulled back along its muzzle to give the animal an eternal and soundless snarl.
It smelled of musty old paper and death. The sweetness drifted to my nose, making me cringe slightly. It was so intense I could taste the bitterness in my throat like fine dust after running sandpaper over wood.
"We need to go back, Damian," Bragg's said.
"Yeah, you may be right. This could be too much for me to handle."
Whatever did this wasn't an ordinary spider or a typical tarantula. I've seen enough monster movies to know to turn back and run, but I froze in place. Paralyzed. Damian, get the fuck out of there!
At this moment, I became the stereotypical B-Movie victim. I waited for the monster to show up, but I heard many clicking sounds as the corpse of the dog moved slightly.
My eyes widened in fear as black spiders with bodies the size of my fist moved across the dog. Their mandibles clicked open and close as they all faced me one by one, their hairy legs quivering with anticipation of their next meal.
Braggs was in full panic mode. "Run, Damian!" he shouted, but I couldn't move. It seemed like time had stopped, and I was stuck in this nightmare.
One of them leaped at me, and I swiped it to the side with my wand. The rest swarmed toward me like a tide; all they wanted to do was pull me under and feast.
I stumbled backward, trying to escape them, but they kept coming closer. Finally, I tripped over a root and fell hard on my back. They jumped on top of me and started biting into my skin.
I screamed as loud as I could, calling out with my magic. Fire seared my body as my magic torched each one, turning them into dust. Brushing myself off, I staggered a bit as I realized their poison was still in my system.
"Braggs, I've been poisoned," I said, dropping to one knee.
"How many bit you?" He asked.
"There were at least a dozen, but I lost count. Got any Fae magic to get it out of me?"
"Some, but it won't be as strong as it needs to be. Maybe combine it with yours," Braggs said, leaping onto my knee. "After we're done, we go."
My breath came out like a rasp. "Yeah. We can get a pizza."
I closed his eyes and touched my wand. We combined our magic before, which got us some spectacular results, but never with healing. No matter how much magic we had at our disposal, the common cold was incurable. Hopefully, poison from supernatural arachnids is.
My wand glowed a reddish color as Braggs channeled his energy into it. After he let go, he opened his eyes and sighed.
"It's not much, but it may be enough to get back to the crime scene and hope the ambulance is still there," he said.
"For sure."
I pressed the wand against the bite and willed the poison out of me. After a few seconds, the strange liquid that resembled a tear on the man at the crime scene ran out.
I braced for the pain, but to my surprise, it wasn't as bad as I had expected. The dizziness dissipated, and my breathing returned to normal.
I couldn't believe I was still alive. After a few minutes of rest, I stood up and felt strangely energized.
"Thanks, Braggs," I said, with a sense of awe in my voice. "That was really amazing."
He nodded his head, looking almost proud of himself. "It's not every day you get to help someone escape an attack from supernatural arachnids," he said before grabbing my arm and helping me walk.
"Let's get out of here. I need to read up on what creatures these are, and I may even need to call my parents for helps. They know people," I said.
"You ordering out for the pizza?" Braggs asked.
"Definitely."
I kicked a rock at the webbing, which vibrated, sending an airy sound. It was like an ethereal hum that faded softly in the air as it traveled down the path before growing silent as the distance stretched from me.
"I think that was a mistake," I said, stepping away from the web.
I didn't want any more small spiders, let alone alert their pissed-off mother, to come charging down the path toward me. Goosebumps rose on my skin as more than one shiver raced through my body.
"A big fucking mistake. Braggs, get out of here."
 

Braggs took off in front of me. His spindly, twig-like legs moved faster than I believed was possible. I increased my pass to a slight jog, my wand in a death-like grip in my hand.
I wanted to be ready for anything. After having all those spiders on me, I couldn't help but shiver in revulsion. It was almost unfathomable in how it felt. Every primal urge inside of me urged me to move faster with breathtaking intensity.
The horror of that moment relived itself in my brain. As a human, I was supposed to be at the top of the food chain, not a spider. Unfortunately, the Other Side had its food chain and humans like me weren't at the top anymore.
Either way, the horror of the moment sunk its icy pincers into me. A chill passed through me and even the warmth of the rising sun couldn't warm me up. This would probably lead me to therapy, and I doubted any drug would help relieve this newfound phobia.
Note to self: kill all the spiders. Those small ones were big enough, and I didn't want to see how big their mother was. After killing them all, I had a feeling she'd hunt me down or another to make up for the loss.
The piercing scream reverberated through the woods like a screeching metal door being opened and closed for an eternity. It sent chills down my spine as it echoed between the trees, like a warning bell to all those that heard it. The sound was so loud that even the birds flew away in fear, and I had to cover my ears with my hands to protect myself from its intensity.
I paused and shook, fear running through my veins. Whatever it was sounded both human and predator. I didn't want to find out. In fact, I wanted it all to end happily with no more spiders crawling on my body, their mandibles feeding off my flesh.
Another scream echoed through the woods like a siren, long and piercing, cutting through the birdsong in a shrill cry. It was a noise filled with terror, a deep-seated fear that pulsed through the air, vibrating across the trees and disturbing the peace of the forest in its wake. This time, it sounds human, like someone in trouble.
It was loud and sharp, like a shockwave of terror erupting across the woods. It was high-pitched and strained, like someone in excruciating pain. The sound echoed off the trees, filling the entire forest.
"Damian, don't go back. It has to be a trap," he said, running back toward me.
"Probably is," I said, turning back.
I jogged back, passed the dead dog, and followed the webbing. Another scream broke the silence, but this time it sounds like a woman. She called for help.
After I rounded a corner, I saw a beautiful woman around my age trapped in a large web. Her soft skin was pale in the sunlight, her green eyes wide with fear and her hair in disarray.
Her clothing was torn, and she was wrapped tightly in a large web with silver strands that glistened in the dim light. Her limbs were stretched out as if she had been struggling against her bindings, and her mouth was open in a silent plea for help.
She struggled to get free from the web, but the webbing kept her limbs stretched taut as she tried desperately to free herself. She looked petrified as she stared up at me, her eyes wide and her face pale. I could see the veins under skin stand out in contrast.
Her dark hair was disheveled and sweat beaded on her forehead. Her jacket and jeans were torn and wet from sweat as it clung to her body like the webbing that enveloped her arms and legs.
The large web held her captive in its sticky silk as her eyes widened in terror. The intricate webbing pattern was delicate, like a master weaver built it for art and catching food. It sparkled in the sun's light, mesmerizing me in its perfection.
A tug at my leg stole my attention. Braggs stood behind my leg quivering in fear and pointed up above the woman entrapped in her silky prison.
An enormous spider about twice my size crept down the side of a tree toward her. The spider's large, bulbous body is a deep black with silver stripes and long, spiny legs. Its mouth is wide, revealing an abundance of sharp teeth, and its eyes are yellow and beady.
It moves slowly but steadily down the tree trunk. Each of its eight legs came to a pointed tipped, ready to pierce their prey. They stabbed into the tree as it made its way toward the woman.
The spider is silent as it moves, but its presence causes a slight rustling in the leaves of the surrounding trees. I could hear the faint creak of branches flexing under its feet and the faint clicking of its mandibles as they scrape against each other in anticipation of its meal.
"Help me, please!" The woman begged.
"Damian, don't. It's a trap," said Braggs.
"Not if I kill the gigantic spider first," I said, raising my wand.
I knew I'd more than my wand. My mother said I relied on it too much and, for the first time, I hated to admit she may have been right. My wand was supposed to be a tool, and nothing more.
It had become a crutch. My mom calls me lazy to use it. Fuck, she's right. Now wasn't the time to worry about regret. I had to save the woman from the giant spider and hopefully save other students from its poisonous bite.
"Please, help me!" The woman cried.
"Hold on," I said.
"Its not like I can let go!" She said.
"That's fair," I said, letting the magic build inside me.
I sheathed my wand and held out my hands, so I fanned them out as my wrists touched. Fire, yeah, a jet of flame from hell should do the trick. Just don't burn down the woods. This is a lot of animal's homes.
My skin burned as a flame ignited against my palms. Sweated beaded on my forehead as I pushed the flame outward into a stream toward the enormous spider. The fire is a brilliant orange and yellow as it flows from my hands.
The magic I used to create it glows and shimmers around me. My skin grows warm and sweat drips down my face as the fire stream forward in a powerful arc toward the spider.
The screech was ear-piercing, a long, low wail that sent shivers down my spine. It was a mix of anger, horror, and anguish. I could hear the sizzle of the fire as it engulfed the spider, like a million tiny bubbles popping in quick succession. The smell of burning spider permeated everything - an acrid stink that was unmistakable and unforgettable.
The intense heat singes everything in the surrounding area, and the remaining flames cast an eerie glow in its wakes. Ash from the spider fell to the ground and covered me and the lady on the web.
"That was one hell of a spell, Damian," Braggs said. "You gonna take care of her next?"
"Yeah, I will."
I raised my wand and pointed it at the webbing that held the woman's arms. Within a few moments, she fell to the ground, free of the web. She stood, brushing herself off.
"Okay, how the hell did you do the fire thing?" She asked.
"That's hard to explain," I said.
She rushed over and gave me a hug. "Thank you!"
"Yeah, no problem."
"Damian, be careful," Braggs said.
The edge in his voice was a warning. I tried to break free of the woman's grip, but she was too strong. Her strength was unnatural for someone her size or mine. I tried to wiggle away, but she gripped me tighter.
It was too late. A sharp pain pierced my neck. My wand fell from out of my hand and hit the ground. Cold, the kind I never felt before surged through my veins. The damsel in distress wasn't human, but a black widow.
Braggs warned me of the danger, and I failed to listen. I was fucked.

 

My heart raced as I realized I had fallen into a trap. Braggs was right. The young woman I had just rescued from the giant spiderweb was no damsel in distress, but the very thing that had set the trap for me.
"Um… what do I do now?" I asked, nearing panic.
"Hell, if I know. You should've listened to me before you played hero," he said.
My senses were on high alert as I backed away from her. Her eyes fixed on me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. I knew better than to let my guard down. This was an old forest, full of dark magic and ancient creatures because of the Other Side. And I had made the mistake of thinking I could save someone without consequences.
The woman's expression suddenly changed, and I saw a glint of malevolence in her eyes. Before I could react, she lunged at me with surprising speed, her fingers elongating into sharp points.
"Damian, watch out!"
Not that I planned on closing my eyes, but for once I took Braggs' warning seriously. I dodged her attack, rolling to the side and pulling out my athame. My parents used to tell me it was a weapon forged by the best artisans in the land. It was actually my uncle, so they were a bit biased. It had saved my life more times than I could count. But against a creature like this, I wasn't sure it would be enough.
I circled her warily, my eyes flickering between her and the surrounding trees. I could feel the weight of her gaze on me, a tangible presence that made me want to shrink away. But I refused to let fear consume me. I called upon the magic that lived deep inside me, feeling its warmth spread through my body.
My mother would beam with pride, knowing I wasn't using my wand to use magic. She's also judging me for falling for such an obvious trap. It didn't matter as the magic flowed through my body, unlocked from another realm. The forest seemed to come alive around me, its ancient power responding to my call.
The woman snarled, her form shifting and twisting like smoke. I realized with a sickening jolt she wasn't human at all, but a creature born of the Other Side's dark magic.
"I will drink your blood, young wizard. In the end, you'll feed my children," she bellowed.
I tensed, ready for her next attack. But she suddenly turned and darted away, disappearing into the underbrush with an eerie silence. I knew I had to follow her, even though every instinct in my body was screaming at me to run the other way. This was the very thing that had set the trap for me, and I wasn't about to let her get away.
"Please tell me you aren't going after her?"
"I have to. It's not like I can call home for backup. She's be gone before my family showed up. Follow me or not, I'm going after her. I can't allow others to die."
I took a deep breath and plunged deeper into the forest, my silver dagger held at the ready. I did not know what was waiting for me, but I knew I had to be ready for anything.
As I moved deeper into the forest, I sensed a growing malevolence in the air. It was as if the very trees themselves were warning me to turn back. Mother Nature has a way of helping her children, but sometimes, she sits idly by, watching it go to shit. But I ignored the feeling and pressed on, determined to sort this out.
Suddenly, the ground gave way beneath my feet, and I fell into a hidden pit. I landed hard on my back; the breath knocked out of me. As I struggled to regain my breath, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. The young woman had returned, her form now twisting and writhing like smoke. I realized with a sinking feeling that I had stumbled into her trap yet again. Another trap, Damian? Not really stumble so much as ran right into it. You knew this would happen. I did, but it didn't make me feel better.
Before I could react, she lunged at me; her form shifting again to that of a giant black widow the size of Clydesdale. Her spindly legs wrapped around me in a crushing embrace, and I felt a sharp pain as her fangs sank into my flesh.
"Bitch, I'm not on the menu!"
"Oh, you are little mageling. I'll savor your insides," she said as her mandibles clicked back and forth.
My heart raced with fear as I struggled to break free. I knew that if I didn't act fast, the venom coursing through my veins would render me paralyzed, at the mercy of the creature that had entrapped me.
I called upon the magic again, feeling its power surge through me. The creature hissed in fury as my magic flared to life, its power causing her to shift and writhe in pain. But even as I struggled to break free, I felt a strange sensation washing over me. The venom spread, it's paralyzing effect taking hold. My limbs grew heavy and unresponsive, and my vision blurring.
I knew I had to fight back, or I'd die. With all my willpower, I channeled the magic inside my soul and pushed it into my body. A surge of energy coursing through me, the venomous fog in my mind lifting. With a mighty effort, I broke free of the creature's grip. I rolled away, my limbs weighed like Olympic weights. But I refused to give up. I had come this far, and I wasn't about to let some creature from the Other Side defeat me.
I stumbled to my feet, my muscles still sluggish from the spider's venom. But I knew I couldn't let my guard down. My hand tightened around the athame, feeling its power pulsing against my skin. The fact I still held it was a miracle. I focused some magic on it. The knife flared to life with a blinding light, bathing the area in a soft glow.
As the light spread, I saw the creature writhing in pain. Her spider form contorted and twisted. But even as I watched, she recovered as she grew larger. Panic tore through my mind. She's gotten bigger. Fucking great, Damian. Now what will I do?
I remembered my knife had a special power. It wasn't just a simple charm or a trinket to use in rituals. The athame was a weapon imbued with the magic of the ancient gods. How much magic remained for me to see, but I had mine to channel into the blade.
I closed my eyes and focused, feeling the dagger's power merging with mine. Its magic coursing through my veins, filling me with a renewed sense of strength and determination. Now it needed the right words to release the power. My magic was good, but some spells required words. Some didn't. It always varied with the wizard.
With a flick of my tongue, I called forth a burst of energy, sending it hurtling towards the creature. She screeched in pain, writhing in the blast of magic. I knew I couldn't let up, not for a moment. I focused all my willpower, calling forth wave after wave of energy from the knife.
The creature hissed and spat, her form writhing and twisting with each blow. But even as I fought, I felt a nagging sense of doubt. Was I really strong enough to defeat this creature, this embodiment of darkness and malice? The giant ass spider that wanted me as her next meal and to feed her children. I shudder at the thought of hundreds of baby spiders crawling over my body. Maybe destiny wanted me to fail, to be consumed by the very power I had dared to face.
My attention wavered, and so did the magic. As the creature writhed and spasmed, I seized my chance. I turned and ran as the power in my hands wavered. My doubt causing me to lose control.
As I ran, the sensation of her watching me with thousands of eyes weighed heavily upon me. I could sense her fury. Hatred, and desperation burning like a flame into my back. It was a constant reminder that I was still in danger.
I risked a glance behind me and saw her in pursuit. Her spider form bounding through the trees with unnatural speed and agility that only spiders could have. A shiver of fear ran down my spine. She couldn't catch me. I'd die if she did. I focused all my willpower and channeled it into my legs, giving me a burst of speed.
I dodged and weaved through the trees like a cat. It was all I could do to stay one step ahead of the black widow. She was fast, faster than anything I had ever encountered. I thought I had lengthened the distance, but something latched onto my ankle.
"Oomph," I said as the ground rose to meet me.
I turned to face the creature, my heart racing. I tried to scramble to my feet, but she had hit my leg with her webbing. The creature had already caught me on her web. The sticky strands of hers wrapped around my lower body like a cocoon.
She dragged me toward her. I struggled and fought, trying to break free, but the web held me tight. Her cold, inhuman eyes gazed at me. She stood close enough for me to see a thousand reflections of myself in her eyes. This is what fucked looks like.
I closed my eyes and focused, feeling the magic surging through me. Its power coursed through my veins and filled me with renewed strength and determination. With a grunt of effort, I summoned a burst of energy, trying to break free of the web that bound me. Her strong webbing proved to sticky and unyielding.
She dragged me dragged backwards, then flipped me onto my back. The spider loomed above me, its mandibles glistening and dripping with venom in the soft light of the sun that filtered through the trees. Braggs was nowhere to be found, and I couldn't blame him. Hopefully, he went and got help. Cops, my parents, a ghost, hell anyone would be great right now.
I knew I had to keep fighting, no matter what. I summoned every ounce of strength I had left, calling forth the power once more. The magic surging through me, filling me with a renewed sense of purpose and focus. I'd pass out later once I got to my dorm room because of the magic, but I didn't have that luxury now.
With a fierce cry, I broke free of the web, sending shards of sticky thread flying in all directions. The creature hissed in fury, but I knew I had gained the upper hand. At least I hoped I did.
I stood while the venom coursed through my veins. My body felt sluggish, like I moved through a pool of jello. I staggered a bit, but regained my balance. As I fought to stay conscious, I could feel the power surging within me, a bright light burning deep within my soul.
I had to keep moving, to keep fighting. I focused all my willpower, summoning the last reserves of energy I had left. Now or never? Fuck, I hope I have more left inside me. With a fierce cry, I launched myself at the creature, my fists and feet moving with blinding speed. Energy gave me power and covered my body in a bluish white light.
The creature hissed and spat, its fangs glinting in the moonlight. I dodged and weaved, striking out with all my might. At last, I landed a solid blow, sending the creature reeling backwards. It hissed and spat; she writhed and convulsed.
As the creature fought to recover, the fierce energy inside me burned like a bright star. Another blow sent the creature tumbling to the ground. I stood there for a moment, catching my breath, feeling the magic pumping through me like adrenalin.
She sprang upright on all eight of her legs and charged. This was going to hurt. 

The werespider's fangs snapped at my heels as I dodged and weaved her attacks. I did everything I could to stay out of her reach. Every time she lunged at me, I leaped out of the way, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Be careful, Damian!" Braggs shouted.
I honestly thought he bailed on me. It seems I was wrong. "I wasn't planning on throwing caution to the wind, Braggs. Maybe some help?"
"What do you want me to do? I may be Fae, but my powers are far from strong enough to compete with a black widow that's larger than a horse."
He was right, and I hated to admit it. Not all the Fae were equal and Braggs was at the bottom of the Seelie Court food chain. I had to deal with the widow myself. But I knew I couldn't keep the fight up forever. Eventually, the creature would catch me, and then I'd be done for.
"Fuck. Any idea?"
"Move faster, Damian," he said.
"Are you fucking kidding me, Braggs?" I said, dodging one leg that threatened to impale me.
I took a deep breath and tried to steady my nerves. My power flowed through me. The werespider lunged at me again, its jaws snapping shut just inches from my face. But this time, I was ready. Well, I was as ready as I would get. Let's face it, there was no way to prepare myself for a woman who changed into a giant black widow and tried to eat me. There's not enough coffee in the morning to prepare a person for a day like that.
With a quick burst of energy, I leaped out of the way, my body moving with lightning speed. The werespider's jaws clamped down on empty air, and it let out a furious hiss.
"Stop moving, mageling. I'm hungry and tired of fighting for my food. My children will need to eat," she hissed.
My heart raced as I dodged and weaved. Each of my movements were fluid and graceful, which was pure irony, as I had a habit of tripping over my feet on a good day. It must have been the magic that enhanced my ability. But even as I fought to stay alive, and sprang from one spot to another with supernatural grace, I knew I couldn't keep this up forever.
I needed to incapacitate the creature before it was too late, and I knew just the way to do it. I focused all my energy on the creature and summoned with a fierce cry. A bright light filled my vision, temporarily blinding me, and the magic coursed through me like a bright, burning fire.
This was going to hurt me. If I survive this, I'm taking a huge nap. With a last burst of energy, I lashed out at the creature with all my might. She shrieked in pain as my magic struck her. I didn't kill her, but I knocked her off balance. She stumbled to the ground. I took advantage of the opportunity and weaved a web of magic around it to immobilize her.
The werespider struggled and hissed, trying to break free, but my magic held her fast. I stood there for a moment, catching my breath, feeling the magic coursing through me, making my heart race. She flared her mandibles in a vicious snarl. A ball of fire formed in my open palm, ready for me to send it to the black widow, ending her life.
"I submit, I submit!" she cries out, her voice high-pitched and desperate. "Please, have mercy!"
My first instinct was to ignore her pleas, to let her suffer for the harm she's caused to innocent people. But something in her tone made me pause. I could hear the fear and desperation in her voice, and I realized that perhaps she's not just a mindless monster after all.
Braggs glances at me, clearly wondering what I'm going to do. "Damian, what are you-"
"Stand back," I say, my eyes locked on the werespider's trembling form. "I will not kill her. But she can't stay here either."
With a quick flick of my wrist, I extinguished the fireball. I then channeled my magic to open a portal to the void, a place of endless possibilities and unknown dangers. Only the Elder Gods saw it as paradise. To mortals, the void was pure madness.
The werespider looked up at me, her eyes wide with terror as she realized what's happening. "No, please, don't send me there!" she wailed, trying to scramble away. "I'll do anything, just don't-"
It was too late. The portal swallowed her up, and she disappeared into the unknown depths of the void. I closed my eyes as looking too long would risk losing myself in it. Relief washed over me, followed with unease. I didn't know what will happen to her there, but at least she won't be able to harm anyone else.
Braggs looks at me, a mixture of surprise, horror, and admiration in his expression. "By the gods, Damian. I think she would've been better off dying than sending her there. How merciful of you."
I shrug, feeling a sense of exhaustion settling over me, but I caught his sarcasm. "Perhaps it wasn't mercy, but I couldn't bring myself to kill her, not when there might be a chance for redemption."
"Will the Elder Gods grant her that redemption?"
"I do not know."
The Elder Gods operated by rules only they knew. At least no more students would die from the werespider's bite. No more dogs either. I glanced at myself and frowned.
"Braggs, do I look as bad as I feel?"
"Damian, I've never seen you look worse," Braggs said, twirling in a circle.
As I caught my breath and took in the fight's aftermath. The webbing slowly disintegrated. Without the widow here, the connection to her web and the power that kept it strong failed. I strolled back to the main web and scanned the area, finding my wand. The other gigantic spider was dead, and I didn't see anymore. I couldn't help but wonder about the werespider's true intentions.
"Braggs, do you think she was preparing to mate?" I asked, trying to sound casual despite the lingering dread in my veins.
Braggs raises an eyebrow, looking slightly surprised by my question. "What makes you say that, Damian?"
I gesture to the remains of the spider's lair, the intricate webbing that surrounded us just moments ago. "All of this, it must have taken a lot of effort to build. And the male spider I defeated earlier, what if it was her mate?"
Braggs nods thoughtfully. "It's possible. And if that's the case, then where are her eggs?"
Spiders laid a lot of eggs. Widows killed their mate at times. Both were gone, but it still bothered me. I killed a few smaller ones, but what if there were more? What if one of them was another widow, waiting to mature and gain the power to change into a young red-headed woman?
The idea of a whole nest of spider offspring makes me shudder. "I don't even want to think about it. Let's just be glad we don't have to deal with that mess."
Braggs chuckles, clearly amused by my discomfort. "You're always so dramatic, Damian. But you're right, let's get out of here before anything else attacks us."
We made our way out of the woods in silence. With one foot in front of the other, I kept going, lost in my thoughts. There could be more of them in these woods. If so, I may never find them. I found the path that lead to campus, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there's still so much unfinished here. Pittsburgh, the Steel City, was my home and I'd do anything to protect it. It wasn't perfect, but it was home and creatures from the Other Side loved it here. One thing's for sure, I wouldn't underestimate the dangers that lurked in the shadows soon.