Ben Riley POV
"Where the hell am I?" I murmured while looking around this new place that I've woken up to.
It looked like a cave maybe a cavern with blue crystals and streams of water everywhere.
I turned slowly in a circle "okay so either I'm dreaming... or that spider-bite somehow drugged me."
A low clicking sound went through my ears and not just from one direction but everywhere at once.
The crystals dimmed.
Shadows thickened along the cavern walls and then something massive shifted behind me.
I turned slowly.
My breath left my lungs.
A colossal arachnoid form unfolded from the darkness. It's obsidian chitin gleaming like polished armor, legs arching high above me, and eyes glowing faint crimson in the dim cavern light.
I stumbled back.
"NOPE-nope, nope, fuck nope-"
One of her massive legs lowered, blocking my retreat with unsettling gentleness.
Her voice ringing through the cavern not from a mouth but from the air itself "why do you tremble, little mortal?"
I nearly tripped over my own feet.
"Why do I-?!" I gestured wildly at the enormous spider "you're a giant demon spider thing! SO PLEASE DON'T EAT ME I CAN TELL YOU NOW I'D TASTE TERRIBLE. HELL I AM SURE I'D GIVE YOU DIABITIES OR SOMETHING!" I shouted in a panic.
A soft, amused exhale reverberated through the chamber.
"Hmm perhaps approaching you in this form might have been too much ohohoho~" the giant spider began to transform into that of a young woman.
She had a rather fit body with blonde hair tied up in twin pig-tails, red eyes that glowed faintly like embers, and a gold-and-black dress that shimmered like polished treasure.
A black cloak draped over her shoulders, and a delicate crown rested upon her head as if it had always belonged there.
I was left staring gob smacked.
She clears her throat delicately and folds her hands in front of her like some noblewoman greeting a guest instead of the former giant spider that nearly gave me cardiac arrest.
"Oh why do you still tremble, mortal?" she asks, tilting her head "my bite brings death only to those of evil intent."
"ONLY?!" I squeaked.
She puffs her cheeks slightly.
"Oh my, you are loud," she presses a hand to her chest "I said I would not eat you."
"That wasn't the only concern!" I exclaimed.
Her expression shifts from a less theatrical, to a more... honest one "no I have a better for use for you," she says walking up closer to me.
I try to back away only for my back to hit the wall behind me "I will bestow upon you the curse of power," and before I can even register it, she bites me in the same spot where the Spider bit me by the neck.
I try to scream but the sound never leaves my mouth.
The cavern shakes.
The blue crystals flare violently, turning crimson one by one.
Her lips pull away.
I stagger, hand flying to my neck "what the hell did you do to me?!" I angrily demanded.
"I have made you my champion Benjamin Riely. I am Ereshkigal. Sovereign of Kur. Warden of those who fall between breath and silence. Goddess of spiders... and endings."
Her red eyes lock onto my furious one "and I have chosen you," the tone in her voice falters for second...almost like she was embarrassed.
Hah as if I would believe that.
"Chosen me for what?! I am just a guy there's nothing special about me!" I argued.
She lets out a huff while crossing her arms together "it does not matter mortal. Once you were bitten by one of my Spider's you are mine to do with as I please. However, you can be assured that I won't hold you against your will or force you to do anything with malevolent intentions," Ereshkigal began to explain.
Raising a finger up into a lecture like pose Ereshikigal continued "you are to be my champion and as my champion we are connected at all times. This in turn will allow me to experience the outside world..."
I deadpanned "I think I get it now...your just a lonely goddess aren't you!" I accused.
This broke her composure as she let out a stutter "l-lo-lonely?!" her face turns a violent shade of red "h-how dare you reduce a sovereign deity to something so... so..."
She turns away sharply, cloak fluttering "I am not lonely. I merely... observe from afar with dignity."
I stare at her with a blank face "...so that's a yes then."
She whirls back around "it is NOT a yes!"
Her foot catches on absolutely nothing.
She trips.
A literal Goddess of the Underworld trips in the middle of her own cavern and barely catches herself before face-planting.
I blink before a laugh escape from my lips.
She straightens up completely red faced "oi what are you laughing at idiot! Stop it...or else I'll eat you," Ereshkigal tries to threaten.
"Hahaha sorry I didn't mean to laugh it's just weird to see a supposed Goddess act so human, but also because it was kind of funny," I said trying not to laugh again.
She coughed into her fist "yes well I'll have you know that I did that on purpose. Who knows I could be trying to make you lower your guard mortal."
"Doubt it," I quipped back.
"Ahem whatever as I was previously saying. You are my champion. This was a calculated divine decision not... an emotional one," Ereshkigal quickly changed up the subject.
"Right," I mutter "because I totally believe you now," came the sarcastic response.
Her eyes narrow.
"Benjamin Riley," she says, voice lowering, losing some of the theatrical bravado "do you know what it means to rule a realm where no one visits willingly?"
I open my mouth.
Close it.
She continues.
"I watch. I judge. I guide souls to their proper rest. I ensure order where there is none but when the gods withdrew... when humanity forgot..." her voice softens, almost fragile, "Kur grew quiet."
The glow in the cavern dims slightly.
"I have watched the surface through my spiders," she admits "I have seen the cities they've built, the wars they made, their laughter, anger, and loneliness."
Her gaze locks onto mine "so, when I felt you enter my realm I knew that this would be my only chance."
That catches me off guard.
"...Your only chance?" I asked.
"Yes." Ereshkigal nods once "I've desired a champion for quite some time, but none have ever passed the initial bite. But now through you, I may walk where I cannot. Through you, I may see the wonders of what I have been denied."
Her fingers twist slightly in her cloak before she forces them still.
Something in my chest tightens.
"So , I'm basically your Uber driver for the mortal realm is that right?" I questioned.
She blinks "...I am afraid I do not know what that is."
"Never mind," I muttered.
She huffs "well any who my authority now courses through you. The spider that bit you was mine. I merely completed the rite."
"Rite?" I look down at my hands "what exactly did you do?"
Her expression sharpens "I've woven a small part of my authority into your soul and rebuilt your body that's all."
"Authority?" I inquired.
"Spiders are mine," she says simply, "as are many others including the endings of mortal life."
That totally doesn't sound ominous at all.
"You will climb as they climb. Strike as they strike. Sense danger as they do and when the time comes..."
Her eyes flicker to a darker shade of red "you will decide who deserves an ending."
The cavern trembles slightly "whoa, whoa, whoa," I lift both hands "let's not jump straight to murder-god vibes. I mean I am not going to go around killing people or anything like that."
She puffs her cheeks again "I did not say you must slay indiscriminately! You mortals are so dramatic."
"Well excuse me, maybe you should learn to properly word what you say," I shoot back.
Her eyes twitch as she forces a strained smile "in any case our bond ensures I may influence your growth. Guide it. Strengthen it. I would prefer you become... formidable," she continued.
"Because?"
"Because I do not choose weak champions," she says immediately, her pride flaring then quickly shifted to a softer one "and because if you are to walk among monsters, I would rather you not be devoured."
"Huh monsters what do you-?" I was cut off by the cavern beginning to dim.
"You will wake soon," she says.
"Wait that's it? I still have a lot more questions Goddess!"
Ereshkigal folds her hands "fear not Benjamin Riley any other questions you have will be answered soon enough," she says.
Then with a blink everything turned to darkness once more.
"Aww damn it that was so embarrassing!" where the last words I managed to hear.
Heh...cute I thought.
-end of chapter two-
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