Chapter 56. Whispers in the web

I came to much later as the timer in the corner of my vision indicating when we would return was only just ticking below the last hour.

The only problem was I was completely bound. And not in the fun sexy way but in a everything but my head was covered in spider silk.

I also had no idea where I was as the entire area was pitch black. At least I wasn't dead.

"Okay, you got me." I called out to the darkness. "Just please tell me you left the Centaur alone. I would rather not have to find out if your venom has a negative effect on her pregnancy."

There was movement within the web I was bound to before I felt more than saw the entire spider part of the jumping rainbow crawl over top of me.

"You would care about the Centaur before yourself?" The words flowed like honey as the owners face came inches from my own. Her breath hot against my cheek.

"What self respecting man wouldn't?" I turned the question around trying to face the woman but she moved as she did so. "She is to be the future mother of my child."

"Oh I'm sure you care about that child very much." The voice spoke but this time with distain. "I'm sure it has nothing to do with her milk production increasing as the child grows."

There was more movement and I felt one of her spider legs run up the side of my bonds. It found my ribs and dig in.

"I'm guessing if I said I do care at all you wouldn't believe me." There wasn't much of a question in it but I still got an answer.

"No. I have yet to meet a truthful Deed owner."

I rolled my eyes. "So then jumping rainbow why have you kidnapped me then? You don't seem to want to believe anything I say so why am I here or more importantly, why am I still alive?"

"Voras." The voice said as an answer. "My name is Voras."

"Right... And my names Clovek. Still doesn't answer my question."

"I want you to sell me all of your Livestock." There was a hiss at the end of the sentence and something warm and sharp punctured through the silk to settle against my neck.

"Not going to happen." I spat back instantly.

"Do not be mistaken, Mister lier. This was not a request." The fangs made a drag against my skin but didn't break through. Yet.

"I think you are the one who's mistaken. There's nothing you can do that will make me sell them." I gritted my teeth. Zeldi suffered for years. I could put up with this for an hour.

"Even death?" The words should have sounded a lot scarier but honestly they sounded more like an escape.

"Especially death." I replied turning to her fangs.

There was a sound of surprise from in the darkness before a sigh. "Typical."

The silk holding me up was broken and I felt weightless for a few seconds before another web caught my cocoon. Only this time I could feel the blood all rushing to my head. Seems I was upside down.

Voras, my kidnapper lit a small lantern that was held in place by her silk above me and I got my first good look at who I was dealing with.

My first impression was her size. Even above me like she was she was easily taller but with all of her legs spread out in her web, she was easily longer horizontally than Zeldi was length ways.

Her back legs grabbed a bundle of thread from her spinneret and connected it to the web before she decended towards me in a very spider like fashion. Though the almost hour glass pattern in blood red was hard to miss against the black of her abdomen.

"Black widow." I mumbled automatically.

Voras stopped as our heads were the same level, one of her spider legs poking through my silk bindings to hold me still.

She was stunning. The black of her abdomen mimicked in her hair which was way longer than it should have been but held tight against her back by a small silken thread. The six eyes I was familiar with on spiders found on her but two were the same as humans in a red that matched her pattern while the other four were smaller and almost hidden by her hair. Not hidden enough though as the top leftmost one remained shut, a scar trailing away from it into her hair.

"You should be scared." She stated and she was right, but instead I found her lips. They were small almost cutely so yet the unmistakable dent of her fangs was easily visible. A subtle reminder of how I was here in the first place.

"You expect to be resurrected  on your property once you die don't you, Deed owner?" Her human hands came up to my chin and forced my gaze from her lips to her eyes.

"Yes." I answered not sure what else to say.

"And if I told you that your resurrection would be at the hands of your current livestock, would that scare you?" She hissed making sure I saw her fangs.

"Not at all." I replied doing the childish thing of trying to lick her hand.

"Really now? You believe that both the Centaur and the Dragon would both sacrifice their own freedom just to bring you back?" The question was said with mirth as if she couldn't believe it.

"Yes." I replied again.

"Oh you are adorable Mister lier. I can't tell if you are stupid or just dumb." Voras laughed as she snapped more of the silk holding me up.

Before I could reply I was falling yet again only this time no webs stopped me. This time the ground decided to introduce itself to my face with a sprinkling of small stones.

I'm not proud of it but I might have cursed very loudly.

"If you truly believe that they value your life how about a deal?" Unlike my decent Voras calmly joined me on the ground with her abdomen still pointing to the web above us. If I squinted I could make out the thin silk between the two.

"What kind of deal?" I spat out tasting blood. I think I bit my tongue.

"The kind that means I will get your Livestock if they don't resurrect you." Voras answered coming up and picking up my cocoon with a single one of her legs. The feat of strength made clear.

The lantern had also come down with us but in a much more controlled decent. It lit Voras up from the side and showed off her figure.

Contrasting to the black of her abdomen, her skin was the white of someone who didn't see the sun at all though that didn't affect her figure. She was the perfect ratio of soft curves and hardened lines with a chest I would have easily said was huge if I hadn't seen Zeldi's before.

It was all hidden however behind silken wraps that showed a multitude of different colours. The name jumping rainbow made a lot more sense if she covered her abdomen the same way. It was almost amusing to think the Drow didn't realize how deadly of a spider this jumping rainbow was.

"I'm not really seeing an advantage for accepting that kind of deal." I tried to sound bored but winced when my jaw reminded me it was bruised.

Voras clicked her tongue. "True I suppose. How about if I sweetened the deal by offering myself if you are resurrected? Not that I think you will be."

"Again I'm not seeing any advantage to that." I said back.

Voras laughed and if I wasn't tied up I'd have thought it was pretty. She then connected the silken thread she'd been holding to the back of my cocoon and spun me around.

"What if I was to tell you I am a Livestock myself? Would that change your tune." Voras taunted.

She let me spin around and around for a good thirty seconds before abruptly stopping me by grabbing my throat. "Well then, Deed owner. Willing to risk your life for another Livestock? Or is the thought of your life in another's hands too much?"

"Only if you promise to be helpful." I got out. Dizziness was causing me to see multiple of her and the threat of her hand around my throat wasn't helping.

"Oh Mister lier. I will be the most helpful Livestock you have ever seen. I will drown you in my silk till you have enough that you can't do anything else with it. I will help you make your farm the most successful thing in this world and I will protect you and your other Livestock better than even a Dragon. But only if they choose your life over their own freedom." Voras laughed again with all the mirth of someone who didn't believe that could happen.

Deed owners deal: Death of the Deed owner.

With Clovek's next death if he is resurrected by his Livestock, Deed owner Voras will revoc her deed to him and become his Livestock. She will do whatever she can to promote her new Masters success.

Or

With Clovek's next death if he isn't resurrected by his Livestock all of his owned Livestock will be transferred to Deed owner Voras.

Do you accept?: Yes / No

"I hope you know what you're doing." I chuckled back at her as I mentally selected yes.

"Hunny I get to kill a Deed owner and free more Livestock in the process. This is what I dream of doing in my sleep." Voras's hand tightened.

"What.. if.. I'm. Different?" I croaked out. The feeling of air not reaching my lungs starting to cause problems.

"If you are different then you are one of the few." Her voice turned cold. "But you Deed owners know nothing of what it's like for us Livestock. You know nothing of feeling forced to find a farm only to be treated like a slave to its Master. The only truly successful farms are those run by other Livestock. So take some happiness in knowing that Centaur will be given the Deed after you die. I will make sure she's taken care of and will no longer have to serve another."

I couldn't get any other words out the pressure of her hand changing to make sure I couldn't. So instead I gave Voras the best smile I could manage.

Just before my vision went dark I found myself looking at the scar on the top of her head. She was troubled and probably had good reason to be, but I trusted Zeldi and Tarakona. Hopefully when this Arachnid woman joins she would come to trust me as well.