19 - ARACHNE
Blossom and I were kicking off our once monthly hiking date.
Today’s trail was on Soul Mountain, the tallest peak casting a shadow over the city.
It happened to have the best aerial view for those who couldn’t fly.
The lone negative was that the ghosts agreed; with most of their kind choosing to reside within its caves.
Thankfully, I didn’t possess the ability to view the undead, but you still could oddly see into their homes on your way to the top.
Work consisted of a six-hour-long fitting with a huge diva of a sixteen-year-old spoiled client, so I was looking forward to walking off some tension. I could probably also use a fresh profile picture for Text Match and work-out ones tended to outperform others.
“Okay, so here’s the thing,” Blossom started as I stretched, touching the toes of my sneakers. “You know how you’ve been avoiding admitting your feelings about a certain general?”
I snapped upright, glowering at my best friend. “Excuse me?”
Blossom shrugged. “I’m team Athena, you know this.”
“Why are you bringing her up?!”
“ Oh , that. Yeah. She’s here,” my ex-friend said with an oopsie shrug. I searched the street, not finding her.
However, before I could spin, I was handcuffed from behind. Just one wrist.
“BLOSSOM, I’M GOING TO TRAP YOU IN MY WEB.”
She giggled before scampering off. Leaving me alone with the one being I couldn’t be left alone with. I hadn’t gathered the courage to look at her yet.
Last night stung more than anticipated. Especially because of how she clowned me. That dress. The nightmarish kiss. Blossom’s involvement.
Ugh. My stomach was roiling.
“You can’t avoid me for much longer, you know” was her greeting. “We’re locked together for the next two-ish hours, little spider.”
I didn’t move a muscle. Refused to. If we were glued together for two hours, then I would spend them standing here. With my back to her.
“You called me a brat, but I think it’s actually you, Arachne.”
Ignoring her jab, I started inspecting the nails on my free hand.
Then a lean arm grabbed me around the middle, and the next second, we were flapping into the air. It wasn’t completely straight, tilting to the right, which was the only reason I shouted, “Are you sure we should be doing this?”
Our feet landed on solid stone before she answered by spinning me around roughly. “Are you admitting you care about my well-being?” We’d ascended a couple dozen feet, to a cove tucked into the mountain’s side.
The view of the city already breathtaking from here, but I ignored it.
“Why is every question loaded with you?” I demanded.
I couldn’t take it. Her smug grin. That stupid mullet. The way she continued to lay eggs under my skin. I was itching all the time!
Tugging me by our bound wrists so we were chest-to-chest, her other palm flew to my cheek. It was the closest we’d been since she beheaded micro-dick Donald. Which felt like a century ago now. Seeing her with Candy had shoved the other encounters out of reach.
So I hadn’t properly remembered how she felt at all. How electric her touch was. How easy it was to get lost in her shimmery gaze.
However, fuck this.
Athena didn’t know the femme she was dealing with. I refused to back down willingly. Which was why I whipped out the spelled pocket knife I kept in my bra.
Despite having above average prestige, I never roamed unarmed. The knife was magicked to scar any skin it touched, so I didn’t press the blade to her throat with force. Just enough to yank her attention away from my eyes.
Athena’s smirk spread before she barked a laugh. Her stupid toasty palm remained glued to my cheek, forcing me to swat it away with our cuffed hands.
When she stepped into the edge of my knife, and a droplet of scarlet formed against her otherwise unmarred neck, I exploded. “Stop it, you brat! It will scar! Why won’t you relent?!”
“You really think a scar could keep me from you, Arachne?” The mirth still decorating her expression sent my blood boiling.
Why does she have to be so damn attractive despite the mullet?
“Why are you so obsessed with me?! I really don’t understand! YOU COULD HAVE ANYONE!” The last bit left me as a screech. This was what she turned me into: a Karma damned mess.
The general, for such a calculating femme, didn’t even take a second to think through her answer, digging my blade into her throat further.
Her blood splattered against the stone beneath our feet as she said, “Because although you put forth this icy persona, you’re nothing but warmth and creativity under that shell.
Don’t try to deny it. I’ve seen how Spun is the lone brand giving back to the community.
How respected you are among those who you let in.
How your assistant, Jessica, would go to the ends of the planet for you.
It’s your beauty and grace too, sure, but you’re brilliant and thoughtful as well.
“You aren’t like anyone else, Arachne. So, why do you even ask?”
I was stunned. Left gaping at her conviction. My defensive hackles fell as I attempted to compute my response. So did the knife.
This revelation coupled with seeing her last night with Candy altered something.
I didn’t know whether I could fight her anymore.
Blame it the altitude, but I didn’t wish to fight her anymore.
“This was Blossom’s idea,” Athena said, motioning toward the cuffs with her eyes. When met with my scowl she added, “Not that I fully agree with her methods but I became desperate, Arachne. Just give me a chance. Please. I know we could be great together.”
Although my anger sparked again, it was of a more muted variety. “This was not the way.”
“What’s the way then, little spider? You know I’ll do whatever you ask.”
The conversation was feeling too severe for having just reintroduced her to my orbit.
“Can we chill for at least ten minutes before you peer into my chest?” She laughed before nodding. Leading me toward a blanket and picnic basket I hadn’t noticed prior.
I also hadn’t noticed she was wearing my largest competitor’s athleisure set; the one that beat mine and landed them on the map.
A baggy, grey pant with too many mismatched pockets and its coordinating tank.
My eyes must’ve given me away because she laughed harder this time, knowing she’d ruffled me so much. Already . Five minutes in.
“You’re being a nuisance,” I clipped, plopping down in a huff. Making sure my cuffed wrist tugged on hers as much as physically possible. The slash across her throat was healing but she swatted me away when I attempted to wipe the blood.
I wasn’t too upset; she looked even better wild.
“Tomato. Toma-toe,” Athena replied. “Blossom mentioned you might want this.” She passed me a handle of gin.
I wasn’t an alcoholic, just appreciated the tipsy feeling. Not waiting to see if she’d brought any glasses in that basket, I ripped off the cap and took a swig. Haze was a requirement if I was going to make it out of this alive.
What if you have to take a piss?
Damn her.