About that red pen

jennifer_brozek, about your red pen. Do you remember when your enemies had abducted you? No, I didn't think so. Please allow me to refresh your memory. They had taken you to the western interior of the Dark Continent to you as bait for their sinister plans where your love, Dr. Percival Bannister, wouldn't find you. Bound and gagged, they you in the cave of ancient dweller hope the fresh, young blood that coursed through your veins would lure it out and devour you, exposing it to their attack and bringing final death upon you. A most efficient victory would be theirs.

The Ancient Dweller did something they were not expecting. An ancient power such as it was has a web of control that stretches far and wide, including more than just the kine. So the ancient dweller called its minions to carry deeper into the cave. Thousands of the small weavers worked together move your incapacitated form, protecting you with their spun silk, and bringing you to their master.

The sound of water echoed through the subterranean lair. Drip, drip, drip.

That was when you opened your eyes. The cave was glowed softly with iridescent lichen. Sheets of spider silk clung to the ceiling, to the walls, to the floor, and to you. You quickly pushed back a rising panic deep within you and the explorer in you reasserted herself.

You remember reading traveler's tales about a spider demon the locals both feared and worshipped. Percy had promised to take you on an expedition to find this cave once the matter with the Obelisk was settled once and for all. This would have been better with him here surely, but he wasn't and your survival was on the line. More importantly, this was an important scientific find. For that reason alone, you decided, keeping your wits about you was paramount.

"Are you afraid?" The voice like the old south wind and startled you.

You kept your eyes downcast even though you couldn't see the ancient dweller. "Yes, I am afraid." Your voice echoed through the lair.

"You have disturbed me," it said. "I should kill you where you stand and drink your vitae until your skin flakes into ash."

"Please," you said, "before you kill me may I ask you one thing?"

"You are an interesting woman. What is it that you want?"

"I would like to see you, please."

The silence that followed was deafening.

"Why do you want that?"

"I've spent my whole life finding things that have been lost and forgotten so these things may live again. If you were to let me see you, I would be fulfilled."

The ancient dweller studied you from its hidden position. "I will let you look at me, but it will cost you your red pen."