Markus.

  Terror.

  It was, perhaps, the easiest way to describe his feelings, convoluted and confusing as they were.

  Markus felt himself curling inwards as the massive arachnid carried him to her nest, the somewhat emascuting ‘princess-carry’ that he was currently engaged in completely paling in comparison to the individual performing the deed…

  “S-spider…” Was all he could reasonably whisper…

  Yes, he had seen the webs, and yes, he had seen the cocoon. And yet, part of his brain really hadn't put two and two together.

  After all, silkworms made a somewhat webby material, as did moths! It hadn't been a total and complete dead giveaway—p-plus, he’d been distracted!

  Y-yes, distracted…

  But how very terrible that truth was.

  “Don't be such a baby… You’ll love it, trust me.”

  “You're a spider!”

  “I’m half human—or elf…” The monster reposted, as if, for a moment, forgetting about her long ears. “Either way, I have it on good authority that I’ll be needing to shove stamina potions down your throat all night. I’d even be willing to wager you won't st through the first pump.”

  Markus—swallowed at the spider’s words, equally paralyzed by the whisper and visual horror of her skittering legs as he was slightly disgruntled by the monster's assumption.

  A single pump?

  N-no… he’d manage to go longer than that—right?

  “Are you serious about that wager?” He eventually asked, seizing something to focus on beyond the nightmarish aspects of his crippling boyhood phobia that had him momentarily returning to those days when he was a small child, screaming for his father’s assistance…

  “About how long you’ll st before you pop? Oh, well, I was serious about my confidence in the matter; why? Do you want to make a bet?”

  “I’ll st longer than a single thrust.”

  “Will you now?”

  “Ha, there’s no way you could possibly think I wouldn't!” Markus scoffed, thinking back, embarrassing as it was, to how much effort he often put in to actually reach climax while—ahem, taking care of his urges in his spare time.

  How much of a difference could there reasonably be? Surely not enough to go from however many jerks it usually took, all the way down to a signal thrust...

  This was in the bag!

  And if the monster was this confident, then—

  “Say we agree to it," he pressed, "what would I get if I win?”

  Slowly, he felt the retively quick pace the spider was crawling at begin to lessen, not bleeding off all her speed but defiantly easing it as she apparently considered him.

  “If you win…” She began softly, “What is it you’d even want?”

  “Marriage!”

  “HA! No…” The spider barked with a far too cute snort, though she did look down at him with an amused flush to her features. “Not that I’d even entertain such a thing at this point in my life, but were I to do so, you’d need to work harder than that.”

  “T-then what about getting you to agree to actually—you know,”

  “What? Be your boo? No, sadly, I don't think I can really do ‘exclusivity.’ I sort of have a standing agreement with Abby to help her with her whole monster-woman thing.”

  “H-her what?”

  “Monster-women.” The spider reiterated, then paused for a moment, cocking her head as she did so. “Oh, sorry, she calls it ‘monster-girls…’ ugh, as if there’s any real difference, yet every time I don't get it right, she gets all snippy.”

  “W-what are those—exactly?”

  “Why, me, of course!” The monster enthused, lifting him up and pcing him in the air!

  For a moment, Markus panicked as he saw her hands pull away from him, but when he didn't fall…

  Wait, was he stuck to something? But he hadn't even felt it...

  Still, Markus couldn't so much as move his arms, simply finding himself bouncing back and forth as though he were—

  Oh no…

  She’d stuck him to her web, hadn't she?

  Gods, this was something straight out of his worst nightmares! A-and yet, as the spider backed up a few steps, spying her arms to the side as if to show herself off, Markus felt his rampaging heart settle a fraction as she spun, letting him get a good look at her entire form.

  “You like it?” She asked, coming back to face him, hands almost demurely resting at her waist.

  Admittedly, Markus was horrified!

  While he might not squeal like a small child when encountering an arachnid, that had, upon a time, been his default reaction.

  And while he was indeed sporting the most uncomfortable erection he’d ever had, Markus was confident the reason for it had less to do with the massive creature that the beautiful girl was riding on, rather than the fact it was—well, her.

  “Y-your very beautiful,” He stammered, being entirely truthful as he gazed at the stern but angelic form of the goliath's upper half. “B-but, I kind of have a small teeny tiny fear of—”

  “Really?”

  “Y-yes?”

  “Oh good! You’ve no idea how badly I wanted to find someone like that! Okay, honest truth time, does the spider part of me actually freak you out?”

  Taken aback, Markus, unsure what she really wanted, simply nodded his head. His actions, in a completely unexpected manner, making the fey woman blush rather brightly and even look a touch embarrassed…

  “Ugh, I was really worried I didn't, you know, really capture the whole arachnid thing, you know? I mean,” The spider continued, twisting her lower abdomen in a, oddly enough, genuinely bizarre and captivating way as she kept right along with the conversation as though she didn't even need to think about what she was doing.

  “Obviously, a giant monstrosity of anything is scary for most people, but there’s just something about spiders that always gives individuals creepy crawlies! I mean, Abby’s not scared of them, so she sort of just said it looked really cool and went full fan girl, and there’s been a few others I’ve come across that literally shit themselves, but it’s nice to have genuine confirmation that your still terrified of me, even though you seem to be some sort of pervert like Abby is.”

  “I'm not a pervert!”

  “Please, Markus, you're about to have sex with a giant spider. If you have a better word that fits, be my guest and correct me.”

  The young man opened his mouth as if to protest—then abruptly shut it, noting the smug grin from the monster who finished what she was doing, seeming to connect various strands to pces that didn't appear to have any purpose.

  “About the bet, then?”

  “What about it?”

  “You said you're helping—Abby?”

  “The dungeon.”

  “Right... anyways, you said you were helping Abby, so you couldn't be exclusive… why would that—”

  “Oh! Oh… mhmm… so, don't be upset—” She began, actually looking a touch apologetic while nibbling her lip, “But, well, you’re involved, so it really doesn't matter. Anyway, I'm going to be helping her by serving as her ‘monster mommy.’ We're basically going to be abducting people, and then I’m going to breed them and take their seed so we can create all manner of wonderful hybrid abominations.”

  She paused, tongue clicking before her gaze brightened a fraction, the spider cpping her hands twice in quick succession as, a moment ter, the inky-dark chamber suddenly bloomed to life with light!

  “I’ve actually got our first ‘baby-daddy’ still wrapped up!” She enthused, gesturing towards a strange cocoon that was—oh…

  The area around the pelvis was exposed, dispying the currently limp and unmoving member of a man who looked to have been tortured.

  Markus wasn't even wholly sure what he was looking at…

  His eyes locked on the bizarre sight wherein a human man was strapped to the web floor of the spider's nest.

  Only two parts of him were visible through the stands. And while the implications behind his lower half exposure made his hands clench with rising displeasure, the sight of his upper half gave Markus chills.

  The man—whoever he had been, looked positively gaunt. Features appearing as a warrior might after spending months in bed after taking a grievous injury.

  He was unconscious, not at all stirring from their conversation nor arrival, but the peculiar thing his mind tched onto was the odd array of what looked like three transparent water skins filled with—

  “Are those potions?”

  “IV drip.” The monster nodded, smiling cruelly in the other boy's direction. “There’s another one that you can't see which is giving him nutrition as well, but the three up top are hooked up to his veins. One for health, one for stamina, and one for mana.”

  “I-is he alive?” Markus asked, now somewhat fascinated by what he saw. It was almost like they were forcing him—well, to live! An utterly confounding thing to say, but…”

  “Yes, he is alive, and yes, he’s likely conscious. S-sadly, his mind is kind of—ehh… 'not always there' is maybe the best way to describe it? He’s done quite well so far, anyways!” She added, waving her hand through the air as Markus, blinking and following the gesture, suddenly realized something that he’d managed to miss…

  The—wriggle—of a rge, wet, and web-covered egg was the first indicator that Markus might not have truly understood the monster's warnings…

  Dozens of eggs…

  All the size of his torso.

  Each one was softly woven into a warm bnket of silk as they rested at various points throughout the spider’s nest, most, if he paid attention long enough, performing a genuinely horrific wobble as the obscene and vile life within stirred, almost like they could tell their mother had brought home more ‘fresh food…’

  “Are t-those…”

  “My children? Yes, after a sort. Though, their mother’s instincts aren't exactly too prominent… Yes, I do have some desire to protect the lovely creatures, but I doubt I’ll be sticking around to see their first steps…”

  Swallowing a mouthful of drool, the monster wiped her lips, turning to offer him as warm a smile she could muster, “Without the proper emotional attachment in this form, I’d likely try to consume them all… No, best they are given a chance to grow up a little and get stronger before they meet ‘Mother Dearest.’”

  “S-so…” Markus whispered, eyes growing wide at the grotesque beauty of profane life… “Does that mean you've been—with him?”

  “Yes.” The spider admitted, giving him a slightly regretful look, but not one that seemed to shift her resolve. “That’s why I can't be with you, Markus. I agreed to do this for Abby, and even if you might have come first, you are just a tiny—drop in the bucket…

  “I don't mean that offensively, only that there are greater things in my life than some silly comments two people made with each other while within the heat of the moment…”

  “So you’ve been—intimate with—”

  “Other’s? Yes! Oh, don't make that face, I wasn't some pure maiden when you met me, and I can assure you it makes no difference besides. If anything, more experience just makes things more fun.”

  Markus found his jaw working for several long moments, rising anger and frustration coming to the forefront of his mind as he stared at the woman he loved, struggling to comprehend how she could be so—ugh! Flippant!

  Did he truly mean nothing to her? N-nothing at all? But, then again, why all the effort of trying to keep him away?

  If she genuinely didn't care, honestly didn't like him, why was he alive?

  That thought resonated in him for several long moments. Their conversation psing to a stifled quiet before his lips let out a whisper.

  “I’ll do it…”

  “What?”

  “I’ll volunteer as your breeding stud! I-instead of him!” Markus vehemently excimed, nodding his chin towards the broken body that y in the distance. “I’ll do it willingly, so there’s no need to keep me tied up, plus I’ll—”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  The spider groaned, her shimmering hair cascading behind her as she looked up to the ceiling as if petitioning the gods what she’d done to deserve this. “What is with you?” She rebounded a moment ter, growing irate as she poked his chest with a bded finger, her digit sinking easily into his flesh in a way that made her hesitate and pull it out but not back down.

  “Why are you so fixated on me? Why are you so freaking determined? I treat you like shit; I insult you; I tell you to go away and leave me alone, nearly eat you, cause emotional trauma, crack your psyche like an egg, and still you persist!

  “What is it? Why are you so freaking impossible to get rid of?”

  “B-because I love you…”

  “Ugh! You can't love me; you hardly even know me!”

  “Doesn't change how I feel.” Markus countered, his resolve firming in light of the spider’s evident frustration.

  Her hands reached out to his face, quivering as though she wanted to strangle him, gleaming razors coming within a hair's breadth of his throat before she managed to pull herself away. Silently screeching to the air as she skittered off to the center of her nest, pacing back and forth with a clenched jaw.

  “You’re so much worse than Brandon! God fucking damn it! Is this a joke? Is this the actual punishment? Let me think I'm scot-free, let me have some fun, then dump this fucking bullshit right back at my door, knowing I’m—I’m…"

  “Maybe—”

  “Don't talk!” the monster hissed, a vibrating finger fshing to point at him, her voice distorting to a static tremble of genuine rage.

  Markus promptly shut up. Swallowing without making another move as the spider’s pedipalps unfurled themselves from their tightly held prison, fshing out to strike at the air at speeds too quick to follow.

  For a time, the monster simply stood there, resting near the center of her web. Staring at one of her eggs, though, more than likely, it wasn't what she was contempting.

  “You're going to betray your kind, you know.” She muttered, still not looking his way. “Abby’s going to invade, just like the desotion. We're going to take as much of this world as we can, and these monsters are how we're going to do it.”

  She turned then, starting to walk back towards him, almost appearing to creep rather than stride as her long legs each individually took their own nguid step. “I’m making them better than nature ever could. Even without the system, they’ll be—very dangerous…”

  One of the cws from her pedipalp lifted, rising to a height of Markus’ head where it rested there, a single drop of venom leaking from its tip, the glossy bck substance catching his eye as it eventually fell.

  “Just a scratch would kill you.” She continued, the fang shifting until Markus had to lean as far back away as he could! The glimmering tip nearly touching his eye. “Just a single scratch… And we're going to make an army… Not just of creatures like me—” She stated, retracting her appendage so it could elegantly curl bright back beside its twin.

  “No, we're going to be creating all kinds of nightmares to haunt those that already live in this world. This—’monster sying’ business… Well, neither of us thinks anyone would be willing to give it up. So, if diplomacy isn't going to work, then we’ll shove our monster cocks, right down this world's throat until it submits. Do you understand now?”

  “You won't be creating dungeon monsters that will stay in some deep dark cave… You are going to be fathering your species' repcement.” She hesitated then, mouth opening before she sighed, rolling her wrist as though it didn't matter. “Okay, not repcement; Abby wants humans and elves around to exist as breeding stock—so fucking ridiculous… But you see my point!”

  “I’ll still—mhmmfff!”

  The spider quickly smothered his mouth with her hand, gring at him with an incredulous look. “Still?”

  Markus nodded! After all, it really didn't sound that bad to him, what was the worst that could happen? The kingdoms of the world were powerful, what the heck could a single dungeon truly accomplish? N-not that he was going to mention it, it did enjoy living, after all.

  “So..." The monster muttered, her eyes lidding as she stared at him. "Say I turn myself into a giant centipede. Are you going to be willing to go down on me and provide pleasures? Sking your thirst on my monstrous body's sexual fluids? What about a crab? Or a lizard? Maybe even some kind of bird? Don't think I'm going to let you get away without oral py; that’s one of my favorite parts about sex, you know.”

  “I—” Markus began, licking his lips as he paused, considered the women's challenge, then lifted his chin. “Show me how to do it, and I’ll make you scream my name.”

  The spider blinked at him, then a second time, a small chortle of beautiful ughter escaping her as that earnest and genuine cheer that he’d fallen in love with finally bubbled to the surface.

  “Haha... Alright, you know what? I don't even know if I care anymore!”

  “So, the wager we talked about?” He insisted, grinning to himself as the spider abruptly froze, another flush coloring her cheeks as she let out a weary huff, shaking her head in acceptance.

  “Fine. But the best I can do is male exclusivity. Abby has this—female adventurer impregnation idea that she’s completely bonkers about, and I’m—sort of involved with her in our own strange little way…”

  “No other men?”

  “...no.”

  “I’ll take it!” Markus enthused, almost wanting to offer his hand to shake before he realized how stupid that would probably look… thank the gods he was still webbed…

  “Remember, you still have to st through a single thrust while inside of me—” She reminded him, reaching out with her hand to gently caress his cheek. “Plus, there is what I want out of our deal should you fail to endure.”

  “And that is?”

  “A bite.”

  Markus wavered, his wide grin faltering a fraction, the smile rising back up as he realized it was a joke right before it slipped right off his face. The monster wasn't ughing…

  “A bite?”

  “From anywhere I choose.” She grinned, thick ropes of drool slipping from her widening grin as she stared at him, still holding him as a lover. “I—admittedly, might have some feelings for you, and strangely enough, my nature has a queer way of expressing those desires… I want another taste—” She whispered, moving so close that her hot breath sent chills down the nape of his neck.

  “I often think about your fvor—delicious, by the way… And, I’d be a liar if I didn't say it hadn't been on my mind more than once recently… But what I want is something that's more substantial than mere blood..." She made sure he saw the way she licked a single coated finger before grinning at him in earnest.

  Then she swallowed, the sound of significant quantities of liquid being pushed down her gullet, causing Markus’ asshole to tighten… “Y-you want to—eat me?”

  “Not all of you!” She ughed, batting pyfully at his arm, as though what she’d said was somehow—not at all insane! “Just a bite, I promise. It won't be life-threatening, and I’ll render aid, but I do want a rather sizable chunk to really sink my teeth into…”

  The purring desire in the monster’s tone had Markus wanting nothing more than to whimper in fear! S-still, he’d made his decision; he knew what he wanted. And he wasn't going to let her intimidate him into backing down!”

  “Agreed.”

  “Oh… that backbone’s rather attractive… in more ways than one…” She cooed, one of her talons trailing along his side. “Just remember to be judicial in its use, one of us will be wearing the pants. And so long as you understand it’s not yourself, you’ll make me happier than my ex ever could. He never learned that simply bending over and presenting was the easiest way to get me to calm down…”

  Then, the spider departed and chuckled at him as her entire body shifted until her enormous rear was resting right before him. She jiggled it, hands above her head to expose the soft pits of her arms while smiling with all her teeth, peering over her shoulder as Markus watched the hypnotic ripples move through the bck abdomen as if it were made of flesh.

  “Ummm—what are you—”

  “Oh, didn't I tell you? Ha! Well, I’m sure you’ll love it as well. Either way, before we get to our wager, I believe you said you’d be willing to prove your capacity to adequately pleasure me.”

  Again, the monster smmed her enormous backside into the webs, causing her nest to gently stir, even as her rear wobbled in a captivating sway…

  The young man wasn't wholly sure what this part of her had anything to do with his cim, but as the spider lifted her massive posterior towards his face, ughing with sadistic glee, Markus could only widen his eyes with the dawning understanding of what—precisely, he’d agreed to…

  Madmcgee