Day turned to night as the tree sat silently being the only true witness to what happened to Gual. There were three there last night, two shrouded in cloaks, but I knew what they were as the darkness swirled around them; one more than the other.

“I know why you’ve come.” Gual’s voice boomed through my ears.

“Do you.” One responded female.

“You have been sent by Dumah to silence me,” snarled Gual, drawing his sword.

“Aren’t you the clever Feles.” The second cloaked was male. “Dumah can’t have you and the queen intervening in his plans for much longer.”

The female nudged him. “Shut up, you always talk too much.”

“Sorry,” he rubbed his head revealing some of his green scales.

Gual suddenly dashed forward, he wasn’t going to allow them the chance to attack him, now he knew what their intentions were to kill him.

They both jumped away, but it looked more like pulled up into the branches of the tree, but they had not been fast enough to escape Gual’s first strike.

The one he managed to strike caught their cloak, tore down the middle revealing exactly who his attackers were.

Their upper body was slender, then behind was her large abdomen, skin as black as a starless sky with a red marking on her abdomen. Eight eyes upon her face, two were bigger than the rest, black hair with red tints of colour, she had two arms, and six legs. The sight of her made me shiver.

“I was hoping to keep this rather simple, but you seem to have more bite than we were told.” The female had been unmasked.

“You’re a Latrodectus,” gasped Gual. A Latrodectus was the cousin of the black widow spider, known to have venom strong enough to kill anyone in a matter of hours.

“Very clever,” she clapped. “I do hate being identified but it won’t matter once you’re dead.” She jumped into action, down from the tree, directly towards Gual, drawing a small green dagger, they entered combat.

There were both evenly matched as the Latrodectus body moved just as agile as Gual’s Feles body, surprising for an Animalia with so many legs. Both attacked and avoided each other’s attempts to kill the other. The sound of steal on steal rung in my ears, sparks flying from the metal of their weapons constantly connecting with the other.

The second stayed back perhaps he was simply observing or was he waiting for an opening so he could back up the Latrodectus, by Gual’s body language he was already aware of the possibility.

The Latrodectus pulled herself up in the branches her web had still been connected to it, she then dropped herself behind Gual. I thought it was all over, but Gual sunk into the shadows, then reappeared a few meters away.

“I’m impressed you’ve lasted this long against me,” she grinned with excitement, so sure she knew the outcome. “Usually, I’d have my prey poisoned by now.” She touched her fang with her fingertip.

“I’d heard rumours of a Latrodectus that took on assassination jobs, their poison being so deadly, capable of taking a life within hours of being bitten.” I felt a shiver go down my spine. “The poison is said to be agonising as it takes one’s life.” Hearing him speak, did he know the risk, the danger of the battle. Did she really kill Gual? My answer would come at the end of this battle.

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“You are well informed, no surprised for you position among the knights and Guardian within Cathopia,” commented the Latrodectus. “But knowing your fate will not save you from it.”

“And I know only one of us will leave this place.” Gual jumped into attacking again, his blade glowing pure black, as he went to strike, she defended, but Gual’s sword went straight through slashing her across the chest.

The Latrodectus cried out drawing a second dagger, swiping with fury towards Gual, he moved effortlessly avoiding each one, he was amazing; I’d never seen him fight before, only the best could be chosen to protect the crowned Princess Tigra, how was I meant to try and fill his shoes?

Gual had been on top of things, handling himself, managing to get a few more hits in, which infuriated the Latrodectus even more, but then she smiled her expression filled with a strange pleasure. Was she enjoying herself.

Without warning the second cloaked figure jumped into action, slithering across the ground. Gual glanced back as he avoided an attack from the Latrodectus but was left open as he wrapped his entire body around Gual. Was this second Animalia a type of Serpentes?

“I am tired of you wasting time here,” hissed the male. Gual was struggling to break free as the Serpentes tightened even more around him. “I came to test your skills for my master, not watch you play with your prey. I am most disappointed.”

“I was just getting to the best part,” she snapped.

“It doesn’t look like it, he’s done more harm to you then you to him.” I caught a glimpse of more green scales, definitely a Serpentes. “If you cannot defeat a simple Guardian then you are of no use to us.”

“I am perfect for your master, allow my poison to prove that it is far more potent than yours Sniper.” Sniper was that the name of the Serpentes.

“I don’t know.” Sniper looked at her sceptical, then let out a yelp, quickly pulling away from Gual, who had stabbed him with his dagger.

“This prey is not finished yet.” Gual remained composed even though he knew he was clearly out matched.

Sniped hissed holding the wound that had been inflicted. “He still has too much bite.”

The Latrodectus raised her arms as glistening webbing appeared all around. “I was just playing around as I set up my little trap.” She grinned, pulling her arms towards herself, the webbing tightening all around, coming in on one spot, trapping Gual in a mass of webbing.

“Gual!” I shouted, even though I knew he could not hear me. I stared on horrified, not sure if I wanted to finish watching this. My heart pounding as the Latrodectus jumped elegantly onto her webbing, walking casually towards Gual.

Gual was struggling to break free, the webbing tightening cutting into his arms and legs. “I wouldn’t bother, the more you struggle the more strength my web absorbs and the tighter it becomes. You see it’s a very unique capability only my family possesses.

“Damn,” cursed Gual dropping his dagger.

She stood right above him, looking down most pleased. “It was so much fun fighting such a respectable warrior, but I hope you don’t disappoint me, so I can enjoy your pain a little more.” She moved a little closer, coming to his ears. “I do enjoy my preys screams.” Gual’s eyes widen as she dug her fangs into his shoulder. Gual fell to his knees, his expression was filled with pain, but he did not make a sound.

“Well, I miss judged your skill, well done,” applauded Sniper. “Now make it look like suicide, can’t leave a trail.”

“Of course.” She dispersed all the webs apart from the ones around his neck, they thickened becoming like rope.

“You won’t win against the light.” Gual spoke struggling against the painful poison. “Your master will lose like all the times before, he has returned.”

“Cracking jokes, just before death,” chuckled the Latrodectus. She leaned down picking up the dagger. “I’ll keep this to remember you by.” That was the dagger meant for Zack. “Sweet dreams.”

“Zack.” Gual said his sons name as he closed his eyes.

I pulled away from the tree just as she was about to hang him. I opened my eyes tears streaming down my cheeks.