On that night, a family of now three watched in open-mouthed horror at the broadcast, covering a terrorist attack in the heart of New York City. Dan, Rebecca, and Clayton Havenbrook stared at their son/brother, unloading a clip at the head of a major corporation, then as Delacroix was saved by his helicopter they watched him turn and walk off the 75-story building. In the coming days, there was a media frenzy, a circle of sharklike cameras and microphones shoved in their faces whenever they went out. And they had to go out, for a week later, there was a funeral.

The body had been quickly transported and prepared, the service on a grey, humid morning with the sun threatening to break out. Scott’s father sat there stone-faced. His mother quietly wept. And his brother kept shaking his head. The when and the how Scott had joined a terrorist cell for an assault on the company were on many people’s minds, but the most pressing question, the one no one had been able to answer, was why.

“I have no idea why the young man was deluded into thinking killing me was a good idea. If it was a bout some anti-capitalist ideal, it was wrong. Even if I die, my company will go on. It’s a total mystery, and if I had done something to wrong someone I am sorry. I just feel for the poor boy’s family, they must be going through so much. Please, keep an eye on your children. In light of this, I am highlighting several groups that could help troubled youth, if you have any questions please consult our website or call our toll-free phone number, we have trained therapists on hand twenty-four hours a day.” Desmond Delacroix had said in a statement to the press, and had been generous enough to pay for the service in full. They had enough to worry about he’d said, an unseen smirk playing across his face.

It was a closed casket funeral, deep in the cemetery away from the prying paparazzi. The body had been reconstructed, but the damage had been too great for viewing. Not many people came’ his grandparents, an aunt who was never particularly close, and the Harris’s.

“I am so sorry for your loss. I know the fear and pain of nearly losing your child, I can’t imagine what you must be going through right now.” Mr. Harris had said afterwards. “Amber is…away at the moment. She doesn’t know yet. I…when she gets back, we’ll break it to her gently.”

Now the bright summer days seemed cold and dark. Dan stopped off at the bar every day now. Rebecca let dishes pile up and laundry go unfolded, just grabbing McDonalds for every meal now. She just didn’t have it in her to cook anymore. Clay was out late at night, driving around town with a scowl, no fixed destination.

There were unseen observers at the funeral, too far away to be noticed. Scott’s former apprentices had been hidden behind a tree to pay their respects. They had no official way to attend, but Riley and Connor knew he’d understand. He’d drilled the importance of secrecy in to them, after all.

Riley had bawled her eyes out for the entire day after the news broke, to the confusion of her family. Connor had been in a similar melancholy state, and even now hadn’t shaken it, a day after the funeral. He’d been loath to admit it, but learning from Scott had been fun. He’d become closer to the teen than he’d thought, and his absence made his chest ache. Riley was nearly inconsolable, even as she stole away to practice what little Scott had taught her. It was her passion, and the only thing that made her feel better; in fact, going over the mystic formulas made her feel connected to him, even ephemerally. They’d searched high and low, revisiting Blackwell Manor and informing the Captain and the Simmons, but Scott’s spirit was nowhere to be found. Al mournfully held his wife up, while the Captain sorrowfully and somberly held his hat to his chest and recited the Lord’s Prayer. Riley was sure such a powerful necromancer would have come back as a ghost, but apparently he’d been at peace, or at least at peace enough to move on.

But her own practice wasn’t enough, not with the meager notes she’d had on her. Now, at midnight, Connor and Riley had snuck out of their houses to meet at the warehouse. The full moon shone balefully overhead, framed by the clouds from earlier today.

“You sure about this?” Connor asked, already knowing the answer. Riley nodded, her brown eyes shining.

“It’s what he would’ve wanted. Probably.” she said. They took out the key from the fake rock next to the door, and stepped foot into the sacred necromancy lab for the first time in over a week. This time, there were no bustling undead, no industry performed by corpses. Scott had consolidated his zombies, harvesting their tissues to create his elite bodyguards. Riley shivered as they walked through. It was unnatural. The air seemed too warm and still, without the heavy feeling of oppression and menace that it normally had. The chains on the special table, where Scott had to restrain…difficult subjects, didn’t even creak ominously at their passing. She sighed.

Turning on the lights seemed wrong, so they navigated Scott’s desk by flashlight. Connor nearly jumped when his light played over something large and white, but it was just a motionless Bones. Riley started rummaging through the desk.

“C’mon, c’mon, where is it?” she muttered as she searched.

“Is it still even here? Did he take it with him?” Connor said, opening a filing cabinet.

“No, I don’t think so. I could’ve sworn he left it on his desk when he left. I guess we’ll have to search-”

Riley…

Her head turned sharply, as she heard her name whispered. There was a slithering, slimy rasping sound, and she turned her flashlight to follow the noise. The light fell on the small bookshelf behind the desk, filled with anatomy books and astrological maps. There was nothing that could have made that sound.

“Did, did you hear something?” she asked Connor, going over to inspect the area.

“No. Why?” he said, pulling out his notes, consulting them for the spell to take control of Bones. It wasn’t like Scott was going to be needing him.

“Nothing. Never mind, anyway. I found it.” Riley said, picking up the Necronomicon. Her brown eyes began to flicker and glow a dark, foresty green.

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“Damn it…this is all your fault, Crenshaw.” Cross said dully, scratching her signature on the last of the reports. It had taken a week for the proper paperwork to be filled out. And it did not help that her partner had been in the hospital with a dislocated shoulder, bruised lungs and three cracked ribs. Then, after two days of recovery, he had disappeared, saying he was headed to one of the head honchos in the Pentagon. She’d barely seen him, and that was probably for the best.

“Nnnrrrrgg…when I get my hands on him…” she muttered, snapping the pen in her fingers. She had been sullen and moody all week, unlike the professional demeanor she had before. Her barely-contained anger and frustration threatened to boil over constantly, making it hell on the aides.

It wasn’t just that they’d lost people. Margaret Cross was an experienced cop; there was more than one friend she toasted to for their absence. But now, now there were two more of them. Two children, lost. Amber, and the kid. One had vanished from the world entirely, the other was six feet under it. And it was her fault, as they were her responsibility. She’d wanted to go to the Havenbrooks and tell them the full story, but Crenshaw sighed and pulled out his gun.

“I’m sorry. They weren’t in the loop, they stay out of the loop. Official policy, no matter how you might feel. I’d have to shoot you myself, if I knew.” Crenshaw said dully. To his regret, as the tirade she’d gone on got her ejected by orderlies from the hospital, one with a freshly broken nose and additional recovery time for Crenshaw, who now had a broken gun. But his point had been clear, and she couldn’t fight everyone she was now working with. No matter how much she might want to.

She had growled and started pacing when there was a timid knock on the door.

“Come in.” she snarled, and a younger agent, white as a sheet entered cautiously.

“Uh, ma’am? I-I don’t mean to disturb you, but…”

“Out with it.” she snapped, drawing herself up to her full height, four inches over his. He gulped and nodded.

“Well, you see…there’s an intruder.”

“What?” She narrowed her eyes. “So stop him.”

“Uh, that’s the point, ma’am…we can’t.” he said, trembling. Cross donned her jacket.

“Let’s move.”

They went down into the main command center, where technicians and agents were all in a scramble, outside monitors displaying what could only be described as an onslaught as a hooded figure dodged gunfire, pummeling and incapacitating agents with swift, sure, and pinpoint precise strikes to knees, necks, and organs.

“Eight minutes ago a car parked at the edge of the lot, and he got out. H-He ignored the warning signs and walked straight in. The first two guards didn’t stand a chance, and while our reinforcements were able to force him back out, as you can see…” the aide trailed off.

“He’s not human!” someone screamed as the figure lifted one of the smaller agents above his head, throwing him into a group of others. He used that chance to break through the entrance, sprinting the doors and agents with his shoulder down like a linebacker.

“Bring up the main hall!” Cross shouted, and the monitors displayed him charging through her men, barely slowing to deal with them. She saw one of them hiding behind the turn in the corridor, gun at the ready. As the hooded figure passed he pointed the weapon at the figure’s head. Cross knew what was next before the hooded man; a pull of the trigger to send a bullet into his skull. With the hood, the man had no peripheral vision. So it was with great surprise when the figure turned and there was a flash, a gout of flame searing through the barrel, cutting it off. The agent stared in shock at the gun as the figure ran off, having just enough presence of mind not to fire.

“Elevator camera, now! Everyone fall back, get ready here! Point every gun you’ve got at the door!” Cross commanded, drawing her Glock and checking the ammo. On the monitor, the intruder used that weird fire to cut a square in the floor of the elevator and dropped in, swinging and using the elevator cable to rappel down. Cross swore; now they wouldn’t know when he’d be coming. “Everyone ready, NOW!”

Not a full minute later, a blade pierced through the door, prying it open. Cross and the other agents opened fire but the intruder had anticipated that, rolling to the ground before the doors finished moving. He sprang up, large and quick, looming over the agents. Screams erupted as steel and fire flashed, cutting gunbarrels in hands off with smooth precision. The figure had a sword, unadorned and three feet long with a cross-shaped hilt. Cross groaned.

“Hold your fire! Everyone stand DOWN! That includes you, buster!” she hollered, putting her gun away. The figure, pausing for the first time, stared at Cross.

“Detective!” he said, pulling down his hood to reveal the long golden locks and smiling, lightly perspiring face of Leo Manning. “Oh, I do apologize for my rough entry, the guards wouldn’t let me in and Lagdinras told me I would find answers here. I’ve been away visiting colleges, and on the news I see one of my friends attacking a corporation, and then walk off a ledge. So please.” He leaned back, resting his sword on his shoulder, but every inch of him screamed lion among a herd of sheep. “Care to fill me in?”

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Drip, drip.

“You know mother, it’s a lot quieter around here nowadays.” Yun said, reclining on the couch.

Drip, drip.

“It’s nice. It’s peaceful. I’m feeling much better than I have in years.

Drip, drip.

“I’ve had this knot in my stomach, every time I come home from school, every time you passed by or called my name. I hated that. I could never relax, never really relax, in my own home. Don’t you think that’s deplorable?”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Drip, drip.

“But now I’m feeling better. I’m getting more sleep, and I don’t even have to go to school anymore, not if I don’t want to. I bet you hate that, don’t you, not being able to foist me off to a high-paying career so you can live off my money. I know that was the plan.”

Drip, drip.

“But, as you’ve found out, plans change. I have my own hopes and desires. You drove me to this, you know. But now, I’m free. You can never bother me again. After all, my plans overrode yours in the end.” Yun popped a red pill into his mouth and swallowed, staring at his mother’s head mounted to a stake and driven into the middle of the living room, with a smile. He took a deep breath and let it out, letting all his tension flow away. “Now then. What to do with you?” He turned his head to the gigantic bright red, yellow, and black centipede curled up behind and next to the couch, four feet wide and over thirty feet long. If you counted from its’ slavering twelve-inch mandibles. Both blood and saliva dripped onto the carpet. Yun sighed. What came next? He glanced to his left. There was a massive mound of gold and silver jewelry, along with valuable gems and a truly enormous pile of yuan. Yun estimated a couple billion easily. With that pile of cash, he’d never have to work a day in his life. He shook his head. There was nothing stopping him now.

The Gudan ritual had worked perfectly. After months of gathering insects and stuffing them into the jar, with painstakingly written sigils and seals written from his own blood, the ceremony was complete. The only bug that had proved strong enough, that had survived to consume the others, had emerged to be his servant. Yun was quite surprised at first. After so long, with so much secretive effort, he’d thought he’d simply lost his mind. But no, once the jar was ready he’d unsealed it, a gaping maw of pure darkness. From that void emerged his centipede servant like a geyser, spilling into his room and wrapping around his stunned, laughing body. It had worked, the spell was real! He felt no fear, because the centipede couldn’t hurt him, not yet at least. It crawled out his window, bringing him more and more cash and valuables every day. Which led to his mother discovering it yesterday, which led to a fight, which led him to command his servant to come out of the hole underneath the sink and tear her to pieces. Now he was rich, powerful, and free. He stared at the pile of treasure and smiled happily. There was no one left to tell him what to do. But that did leave the question: what did he want to do next?

Yun was snapped out of his daydreams by a knock on the door. Was it one of his mother’s friends? He certainly didn’t have any, not offline at least. He cautiously got up and opened the door a crack.

“Hello?” In front of the door was a tall, gorgeous woman dressed in a suit. She smiled disarmingly.

“Good afternoon. Is this the residence of Yun Saici? Are you he?” she said demurely.

“Yeah? What’s up?” he asked.

“May I come in to discuss the matter with you?” she said, and the centipede crawled from the couch along the wall, still hidden from view but ready to strike. Yun glanced at it, the pile of money, and his mother’s severed head nervously.

“Uh…no, not at the moment. My mother’s…out at the moment, she doesn’t like people over when she’s not here.” He said quickly.

“Very well then. Mr. Saici, I’ll get to the point: you’ve been taking the Taboo we’ve provided for several months now, and we’re most impressed with what you’ve accomplished.” she said pleasantly. He stared at her, wide-eyed.

“W-What? N-No, you got it wrong, I-”

“-have enormous talent! Oh, my!” Yun didn’t know what happened. One second she was outside in the hall, the next she’d somehow slipped past him and was in the apartment. He looked at her, then the door. The chain was still on it, open only a crack. Then he remembered the head in the living room, a head which she was…admiring? “Magnifique. I didn’t know you were an artist, Mr. Saici.” She drifted over to the centipede while he stared, slack-jawed. She put her fingers delicately on its carapace, gently tracing the arc of exoskeleton near its quivering jaws. “…beautiful. Simply beautiful, Yun Saici. You have quite a talent for this.”

“You’re…not upset?” he said, finding his voice at last. She chuckled.

“Heavens, no! Mr. Saici, I am a representative of the Society of the Third Eye. We work hand in hand with Metatech Pharmaceuticals, who supply both us and the world with Taboo. Our morality is not as…conventional as you may be used to. We understand these things. Overbearing mothers, societal expectations and pressures…” She sighed and shrugged, as if saying ‘what can you do?’ “But that, in fact, is why we were formed. We are an organization created to change the world. And we will do it through Taboo. And we’re currently recruiting like-minded individuals, who might be able to perform some jobs for us, as well as provide some extra security. We can provide you a new direction, Mr. Saici, a new direction and a new dimension in which to practice and refine your skill. How’s your English, Mr. Saici?” she asked suddenly.

“Uh, not so great, I guess. They had some classes in school…”

“Ahh, you’re a smart boy, I’m sure you’ll pick it up in no time. You will of course be compensated handsomely for your efforts, as well as access to all the Taboo you desire. So what do you say, Mr. Saici?”

Yun took a moment, weighing her words. He eyed the treasure, and his servant. If he ran away, he’d have to be rid of both. The authorities would eventually corner him, and even with a servant bringing him whatever he wanted he’d be killed or jailed. But she was offering a complete out, with all he could ever want. He gave her a sickly grin.

“Sounds fantastic. When do we leave?”

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Light years away, roughly five days ago from present Earth time, Amber hummed merrily as she laid down gravity web, reinforcing the bonds of matter, expanding into more space. It was dizzying, being on the edge between existence and void, but she’d fallen into nothingness three times by now, and her new instincts hadn’t failed her. With a single spell, she’d caught herself with a strand of gravity web and swung back up to her siblings and their laughter.

‘On your left.’ Xx’lpng said telepathically, carting a web of magnetism.

‘Right, got it. We’ll need some more nuclear force over in the west quadrant, its’ looking a little shaky.’ she thought back.

‘Oh, look at you, little miss in charge. Give it three ages, you’ll be our supervisor!’ he laughed.

‘Aw, that’s not it.’ she deflected humbly, blushing. ‘I’m just getting the hang of this, is all. We just need to adjust the balance of weak vs. strong nuclear force over there.’

‘You got it, boss!’ Xx’lpng thought cheekily.

‘I told you, I-’ She was ready to stomp her foot, when something caught her eye. She turned her head for a closer look at Earth. She focused her senses and concentrated. It was a gift all the uylata shared in concert: when they were together, their strength and psychic powers were added and shared between them, allowing them to see across galaxies and lift and manipulate the primal forces of the universe. Amber used her fantastic vision now to peer all the way to the Milky Way, onto Earth, on top of a tower in New York. There was darkness, a pervading shield that not even her superior vision could penetrate. But that wasn’t important. She regarded Scott with idle curiosity as he was falling off the skyscraper. Falling, falling, falling…

“NO!” she cried, and reality shifted around her. “W-What? Eek!” She wobbled and nearly fell over, of-balance. What was going on? What was she doing here? Scott needed her! Everyone was in trouble! Scott…Scott was…!

‘Hey boss, I gotta-’ Xx’lpng thought as he wriggled up, but then saw her expression as she stared at him, wide-eyed in shock. ‘Amber? What’s wrong?’ he thought, emanating concern.

“X-Xx’lpng? I…you…I…” she started, but a wave of bubbles cut her off.

‘Amber, I can’t understand those sounds you make. Think clearly.’

‘O-Okay.’ She took a deep breath, then realized she couldn’t, as there was no air. ‘I-I just saw Scott, he was my boyfriend, he is my boyfriend, he was falling and he…and he just hit the ground! Humans can’t survive falls from those heights! And-and then everything was different, like I was walking a tightrope and now have to think about walking the rope and…’

‘Oh dear.’ Xx’lpng sighed mentally as she descended into psychic babble. ‘Amber, listen to me, calm down. You’ve just lost the programming Mother Uylata provides us when we ascend into service. Everyone goes through it, though it usually takes a few centuries before they do. It helps to prevent homesickness and the chosen from running away. What happened?’

‘It was-it was Scott. I-I’m sorry, but I have to go, I, I can’t-’

‘You can’t what, Amber? You’re not a mortal anymore. I’m sorry, but it’s best to leave mortal concerns to the mortals. Our work demands that we stay here and keep existence form collapsing. We as individuals don’t matter anymore, and that includes our mortal families and attachments. I feel for you kiddo, I really do, but it’s too late. Let it go.’ he emanated sadly, wrapping his bubbly tail around her shoulders.

‘But I…but…’ Amber stared at her white siblings, working hard to expand. She turned back to the Earth, so tiny and far away. It really did seem so small and insignificant. Especially when she realized the grand scale she operated at now. What was a few people in a place so far away, so removed from her now? In less than a hundred years, they would all be gone anyway, as time and society marched n. There was pain, yes; but if she did not stay here, the universe could in fact collapse. She stared at her hands, snow-white and now so deft and strong. She shook her head.

She too, was once so small and insignificant. If she couldn’t help her friends at the lowest level, how could she help at the highest?

She clenched her fists and looked up at Xx’lpng, eyes filled with determination.

‘I know, brother. I know what it means to stay, and to leave. But now that I’m fully me again, I know I have to do this. It’s not right otherwise.’ Through her telepathic plea, he could feel her earnestness and desperation, not to mention her subtle rebellion, if things were left the way they were. He sighed again.

‘I thought you were purely a nice girl, but it turns out you’re a problem child too.’ he mentally chuckled.

‘All girls are, at heart.’ she thought sweetly, giving him a big, innocent grin.

‘Well, I’m not getting caught up in that. Fights between women should stay between women, so let’s get it over with. Come. We’re going to see the uylata spider. Avesh.’

“Avesh.” They shot gravity webs out and climbed down, towards their mother.

An hour in Earth time later, the grand web of the universe began to shake. Amber gulped. She knew who her second mother was, and her mission, but it was the first time meeting her arachnid matriarch. AS the shaking grew more intense, she suddenly felt very, very small.

If it weren’t for the collective psychic perception of the uylata, Amber wouldn’t even be able to see the spider. Legs as long as stars delicately set down upon gossamer gravity strands, pure white fur bristling on her body, eight eyes the size of mountains opening and closing alternately as she made her way forward, mandibles waving. The sheer scale of the uylata spider was mindboggling. Larger than a planet, Amber wasn’t even a speck in front of her. The great legs came to a stop, and Amber and Xx’lpng ascended webs to approach her eye level for inspection. AS the milky white orbs focused on them, they bowed low.

‘Greetings, Mother Uylata! We beseech you, please harken to our call!’ Xx’lpng opened formally.

‘Greetings, young Xx’lpng. It has been too long.’ the spider whispered into their minds. Amber gasped and nearly fell over; the spider’s mind was so much more than she could handle.

‘I am honored, Honorable Mother! But this is not about me. A recent uylata has regained her consciousness early, before those on her home have passed.’

‘Ah, I see.’ the spider nodded. ‘Very well, it will not take but a moment to reassert the programming-’

‘Um, I’d rather you didn’t, Honorable Mother!’ Amber interjected, sweating. If the spider had eyebrows, she would have raised them.

‘Dear child, I am sorry, but the Great Work needs you. That is why I have chosen you. You have proven yourself to be brave, and loyal, and trustworthy. Such qualities are necessary for the functioning of the uylata. I am sorry Amber, but you are needed here.’ She swept up two of her great legs, as if to encompass the universe. At her size, it was easy to believe she might. ‘We are the uylata. We must perform our duty. You and the young man have proven yourselves, but he has been chosen by Zet-Mathaig. I cannot interfere with His selection.’

‘Wait, Leo?’ Amber asked in confusion.

‘Yes, that is his name. The universe grows ever larger, and we need more hands for this endeavor always. The pure of heart are the only ones worthy of becoming My disciples, and you were in a unique position for recruitment. I could not allow my scout to pass on such opportunity, when you were about to regain your full life.’ the spider thought. Amber frowned.

‘Wait, you mean last November after the vampires, when Scott-’

HIiiiiiiiiiiiiiiSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Amber, and all other beings within her telepathic reach fell to their knees, clutching their heads in agony as the spider hissed, mandibles frothing and waving angrily.

‘Do not remind me of that one! He is tainted! Dark! Impure! One such as he has no place in this universe! I would crush he and all others like him, were it my purview! No my child, I could not allow him to taint you as he is, no matter his intentions. His wretched scent marks him as foul, something to be kept away from.’ the spider said, trying to calm down after getting so worked up. Amber stood up angrily.

‘What’s wrong with Scott? I know he’s not perfect, but I’ve seen who he really is, not just that evil overlord veneer he likes to put on, and I…I love him for it! Just ‘cause he’s a necromancer, the best necromancer, doesn’t make him a bad guy! I don’t know what went down, but he might be dead, and my friends are in trouble! Don’t you see, Mother Uylata, I have to go, even if there’s nothing I can do! I’ll morn him, at least, then I’ll come back! But lease, even if it’s only for a short while, I need to go and be there for the ones I care about. You’ve given me another family mother, but I have friends and family back home that need me too! If I can’t care for anything at the lowest cosmic level, how can I truly care for anything at the highest? Please, mother. I love them, and the uylata, and you. Please, let me care for everyone.’ She was shaking, but she would not look away as she implored the cosmic arachnid, which in turn could not look away from her. An instant as long as an aeon passed, then at last the uylata spider sighed and looked down.

‘Dear Amber, there are forces in the universe and beyond you know nothing about, and that should frighten you. If you leave the collective, your power and strength will be diminished. Knowing that, you still wish to go?’

‘I do.’ Amber nodded. The spider sank heavier on her legs.

‘Very well. Go, then. I give you…one week of Earth-time. Make your peace with those of the lower realm, then come back to us.’ she thought sadly.

‘Thank you, Mother Uylata, thank you! I promise, I will be back!’ Amber thought, radiating happiness.

‘I will not be able to reach out to you, but should you need my advice, simply talk to a spider. I will hear the words.’ she said as Amber wrapped her arms on one of her legs in a hug.

‘Don’t worry, everything’ll be fine. Thank you, I’ll come back soon! Avesh! Avesh’noagh, avesh, avesh!’ She chanted, building up power for the longest gravity web she could shoot, firing across galaxies all the way to the Sol system. ‘There. Goodbye, everybody! I’ll see you in a week!’ She waved as she climbed, her billions of brothers, sisters, ungendered siblings, and gn’kkthoshg waving and cheering back.

‘See you kiddo! Good luck!’ Xx’lpng called, waving his tail.

‘See you!’ With a final wave, she started across the universe, crawling across her web faster than light, a determined glint in her crystal blue eye.