Arachne swung her entire body around, catching the small body with her bulk. The tentacle slipped off of smooth carapace as the carnivean flew through another charred wall.
More of the wall tumbled over as Arachne gave chase. Creaks and shudders in the house went ignored. She reared back, intending to send several legs into the back of the prone demon.
None of them hit their target.
Using the tentacle, the demon knocked herself across the room and into a kitchen. She slammed into the refrigerator. It teetered and would have crushed her had she not thrown herself out of the way again.
The sight sent Arachne into another fit of maniacal laughter.
The fridge falling probably wouldn’t have killed the tiny thing. Despite her lack of size, she was still a demon.
It might have held her down long enough for Arachne to end her.
Not giving her a moment of respite, Arachne gave chase. She raked a leg across the carnivean’s chest. Whatever scraps of cloth the demon once wore had long since been shred. Another thin line of black spread over her chest.
Arachne missed the tentacle. The demon twisted into the attack to avoid losing her last tentacle.
The carnivean had to know she already lost. Perhaps something in her contract prevented her from fleeing or just ending it herself.
Not that Arachne wanted her to. But she was starting to get worried. Her Eva hadn’t joined against the carnivean, yet was taking far too long against the jezebeth.
Arachne had fought one in the past. Annoying, for sure, but mostly harmless. They’d pop like a balloon if anyone even looked at one funny.
No time to think about that. Arachne had to jump out of the way as the tentacle tried to latch onto one of her legs.
The few strands holding her claw to her arm snapped as Arachne jumped. She grabbed the claw out of mid-air, twisted, and threw the claw.
It caught the carnivean straight in the face. If her fingers hadn’t curled back in flight, it would have stuck.
As it was, the carnivean merely stumbled back.
Stumbling would have to do.
Arachne charged forwards. Two of her legs plunged into the carnivean’s. They split downwards from mid-thigh to knee. Black blood, muscles, and fat all spilled out onto the floor.
Another two legs similarly sheared the demon’s arms.
She was too slow to pin down the tentacle.
It lanced forwards, gripping tightly around Arachne’s throat.
And started constricting.
She could feel cracks forming in her carapace under the pressure.
Arachne’s remaining arm swung out at the tentacle–almost of its own volition.
Her sharp fingers completely severed it from the carnivean’s head. She quickly raked her fingers against her own throat. She couldn’t risk it having any kind of mental connection to the creature and continuing squeezing.
The pieces fell away to the ground with a slop.
“I believe the humans would say ‘checkmate’ at this point,” Arachne said with a laugh.
The carnivean’s eyes burned a bright red as she glared into Arachne’s eyes. “Just end it.” Her deep voice laced hate into each syllable.
Arachne was about to oblige. She wanted to. Crushing the stupid, weak demon’s head with her sole remaining claw would be nothing short of euphoric.
Staring into the demon’s glowing eyes gave Arachne another idea.
“How human-like are your eyes?”
Anger bled away to confusion for the briefest of instants before the carnivean’s face twisted into a scowl. “What?”
“I might be convinced to let you go. You’re in a sorry state, but even if I were to tear off all your limbs, it has to be better than the oblivion of Void.”
A shudder traveled up Arachne’s legs from the pinned demon.
Arachne grinned. She had her now.
“What do you want?”
“Your eyes. They’re human enough, despite the slit pupil and red iris. They’re around the right size too. Though, if my claws and legs are any indication, size won’t matter after a while.”
The demon glanced between all eight of Arachne’s eyes.
Searching for deception?
She better search well.
“You cut my eyes out and you will let me go?”
Hope glimmered in the carnivean’s eyes. Arachne had to keep herself from bursting out laughing. She’d be taking the eyes one way or another. Now that the idea was in her head, she couldn’t let it go.
The only difference was the level of willingness from her captive. If she struggled, Arachne might end up damaging the eyes. Small nicks might be able to heal, but anything big would ruin the eyes. That wouldn’t serve any purpose aside from unnecessary torture.
Not that Arachne took issue with unnecessary torture.
Rather than answer the demon, Arachne moved one of her sharp fingers right next to the demon’s face.
She inched it closer.
Slowly.
Closer.
Arachne would slice her eyelid if the carnivean so much as blinked.
She slid her needle-like finger up and around the eyeball. It was a tight squeeze, she was sure part of it was damaged. Arachne tried to put most of the force onto the surrounding skin and bone. Black blood stained the eye as it dripped down.
