25. Vesper
VESPER
There’s a safehouse inside the Leafcutter anthill.
It’s underground, much like the one in the Secret Abyss, but this one is completely different.
Where it had been an AppleFrog’s in the Secret Abyss, here, it’s a strange mushroom looking structure nestled inside the dirt tunnel system.
We stare at the entrance as worker ants come up and stack more pieces of mushroom against the outside of it, making it larger with every piece.
“Um . . .” I say, staring at the very unorthodox building. “Are we sure this is it?”
“That’s what the map says,” Locke replies. “We’re right on top of it.”
Svetlana shifts on my shoulder. “It smells.”
Once she brings attention to it, I realize there is a smell to this place. It’s earthy and moist, thickly fragrant enough that it makes my nose twitch with irritation.
“We just need to rest,” I say. “We haven’t slept well in a few days.”
“We need real food,” Locke points out. “We haven’t eaten in . . . I don’t actually know how many days it’s been. Nothing other than that fish that was starting to turn.”
“Four days, six hours, twenty-five minutes, and thirteen seconds,” Cipher supplies helpfully. “Since your last full meal.”
“Brilliant,” Svetlana says. “A few more days and you will starve to death.”
Locke shoots her a look that she ignores. “Are we going inside?” he asks me.
If we had the luxury, I might have said no. The smell is getting more intense the longer we stand here, and I’m not sure I want to carry that with us when we leave. But we don’t have that luxury. If we’re going to survive, we need food and a roof over our heads for long enough to sleep.
“Let’s go,” I sigh and we both move toward the door.
The closer we get to it, the stronger the smell grows, until I have to physically restrain myself from covering my nose.
When we step through the door, I realize the entire thing is made of mushroom.
The bar, the tables, even the floor. It’s spongey beneath our feet as we walk inside and get a good look at the ants bustling around the area.
I expect more of the leafcutter ants. Instead, I realize there are all kinds of people inside.
Sitting at the bar, there’s a Leafcutter ant female nursing a large bead of what looks like water.
Beside her, one of the frogfolk from the Secret Abyss sits, his eyes closed as if he’s sleeping.
Another woman looks human enough, but her clothing appears to be made up of beetle shell, the shimmery green plates catching the mushroom lights and making her stand out even more.
She glances at us and then away. Another player just trying to mind her own business.
Behind the bar, the same human man who had been in the Secret Abyss bar moves back and forth, serving drinks.
Wait. I think I saw him in the Greenhouse Tavern, too, but it was brief enough I might have imagined him.
I frown, confused how he got here ahead of us, but perhaps he simply moves between the safehouses and didn’t encounter any threats.
“This place is a shit hole,” Svetlana declares loudly.
More than a few eyes glare our way and I wince. “Maybe don’t say that so loudly?”
“Why?” she asks. “They should know it’s a shit hole. Perhaps, they will remedy the situation. I should be staying in the lap of luxury, I am a—”
Svetlana continues her rant about how amazing she is as we walk deeper into the building. The entire time we take to order food and find seats at a table in the corner, she doesn’t let up.
“And another thing,” Svetlana continues, “we should work on increasing your XP, Umnitsa. I cannot be associated with a familiar as weak as you. I am the Destroyer of Worlds, the Cutter of Heads, the—”
“For fuck’s sake,” Locke growls. “Do you ever shut the fuck up?”
Svetlana raises higher on her legs in outrage. “No,” she hisses. “But you will when I chop off your head!”
“I could smash you under my boot,” Locke fires back, clearly having had enough of the praying mantis.
Svetlana only gets more heated as she raises to her full height and points her razor arm at Locke. “And I could rip out your eyes and shove them up your asshole so you can finally see how much I despise you, gnat, but here we are!”
I snort and take the mug of fizzing water from the bartender as he sets it on the table. “Your threats are very creative, Svetlana.”
“Why thank you, Umnitsa,” she says, preening under the compliment briefly before flaring up at Locke again.
Locke scowls at the two of us and takes a long pull of his own fizzing water. “I’m going to go wash up,” he says, slamming his glass back down on the bar.
I watch him as he stands, shoots me one last look, and then leaves the two of us to our own devices.
Clearly, Locke and Svetlana aren’t going to be fast friends.
“So how exactly does having a familiar work?” I ask Svetlana once Locke disappears.
“You support me, of course,” Svetlana says with a tilt of her head. “And do whatever I ask of you. Sometimes, you may ask me to do something as well.”
“Familiars are tied to your life force,” Cipher adds helpfully. “Svetlana and you are a package deal, but she is fully capable of autonomy. If you do not form a proper bond with her, she can decide to make your life a living hell. Earn her loyalty, and she will fight any battle beside you.”
“Precisely,” Svetlana says. “You must earn my loyalty, though I can already feel as if we are a perfect team.” She laughs. “Of course we are. Look at me. Any team I am on is the clear winner.”
“Wait,” I say, frowning. “You can hear Cipher? But you’re not a player.”
“Of course I can,” Svetlana sniffs. The bartender returns with two plates of food and she immediately attacks Locke’s plate, stealing a piece of what looks like sausage from his. “You and I are the same, Umnitsa. We are one. Anything you experience, I will, too.”
“Even pain?” I ask frowning.
“Even pain,” she nods. “Do not worry though, Umnitsa. I am tougher than I look.” As if to prove her point, she slices the sausage in half with her tibial spines and latches onto it in victory.
“Of that, I have no doubt,” I reply, smiling at her. “You know, I’ve never seen a praying mantis before.”
Svetlana opens her wings and shows off her full power. “Aren’t I magnificent?”
“Yes,” I admit, reaching forward, but hesitating before I can reach her. “Can I touch you?”
Svetlana levels me with her large eyes. “I’ve been beneath your flesh, Umnitsa. You do not have to ask permission to touch me as long as you do so respectfully.”
Carefully, I stroke my finger along her back and she lifts against my touch, clearly enjoying it. As I touch her, it almost feels as if someone strokes their own finger down my spine. How strange.
“I think we’re going to be fast friends,” I tell her as I withdraw my hand.
“I declare it,” she nods. “We will be an unstoppable force of female rage. Men will quiver when they see us, in fear and arousal! We will chop off their heads together, like a perfect, synchronized swim team.” She dances across the counter and touches my arm.
“You will need new titles of course. ‘System’s Favorite’ does not exactly strike fear into the hearts of our enemies.
Might I suggest ‘Beast of Brutality’ or ‘Feminine Rage Incarnate?’”
My interface pops up a notification and I tip my head toward it.
NEW TITLE AWARDED: Feminine Rage Incarnate
“Very good, Cipher,” Svetlana purrs. “Now our enemies will faulter when they see us coming.”
I laugh before taking a bite of the food on my plate. The flavors explode on my tongue and I sigh. “I’ve never had a friend like you, Svetlana,” I admit.
Svetlana laughs and steals another piece of meat from Locke’s plate. “And you never will again,” she declares. “I assure you.”
By the time Locke comes back, his plate has been completely cleaned of meat, only vegetables left behind. He scowls at the praying mantis and orders another plate, but he doesn’t react otherwise.
I have to hide my smile behind my hand so he doesn’t see.