Gabby fell to the ground, scared frozen of what the heck she had just seen. Murasaki too, was in fact too scared to move, but knowing that Gabby might get in trouble, he quickly held her hand to motivate her to stand.
The woman, not the woman they saw before, now looks like a big spider head, but with human hair. She couldn't believe that she had just saw it morph into something so gruesome.
JORUGUMO: Since you're both so annoying and won't even fall to my first trap, I decided to use the snow to my advantage. Unfortunately, you two will end up being my meal.
A manly voice coughed above them.
The dove flew down and whispered something into her ears.
The woman must have realized her mistake, then apologized, to both's belief.
JORUGUMO: Maybe one of you then. Need the other for hostage.
Murasaki didn't waste any time and quickly pulled Gabby out of the way.
MURASAKI: Run Gabby! Run!
Gabby held on to his hands and they ran together. Tired, almost breathless, but they kept running.
They didn't know that one spider could be so fast at snow. And after her eight spider like legs emerged from her coat, well, one could say that they needed a miracle to put the gap between them longer.
MURASAKI: We're not losing her!
GABBY: Gah! Uh, maybe we need to contact Red.
MURASAKI: Sure! Go!
Gabby looked at his summon above.
GABBY: Uh, summoning Red?
MURASAKI: What the hell was that?
GABBY: Well, I don't know! I've never done that before! He was always with me!
The crow was about to send signals when Jinko, still in dove form, tackled it to the ground.
The crow splitted in three. Hiding the other one, whilst the other remaining helps attack Jinko, now morphed as his true form.
The two crows at defense mode morphed into Red's silloutte.
Unlike the real one however, it's as if it's just a tall shadow figure, holding a scythe.
He have white eyes, and a white scar-like mark on his left eye. It doesn't talk, doesn't have a mouth, half Red's strength was there, but his only memory and purpose was to protect Gabby.
JINKO: Hm, well that's interesting, Red have climbed the ranks, hm?
...
GABBY: Red?
MURASAKI: What's with the night mode?
GABBY: I don't know, but...we need to continue running.
MURASAKI: I'll carry you.
GABBY: Don't you dare. You'll tire easily!
JORUGUMO: GOT YA!
The spider woman leaped, catching the distance between them. The last remaining crow tried to make a protective shield for the two of them, but its flare wasn't enough to close it for two.
MURASAKI: I think it's made solely for you.
GABBY: But if you leave...
MURASAKI: It's better than not even one of us surviving, Gab.
GABBY: But...
MURASAKI: I won't die. Promise.
...
Gabby woke up, her head spinning in pain as she finds herself on the spirit realm.
A blonde woman, with brown eyes and pale pink lips, greeted her. When she saw the realm she was on, she was still as breathless.
She looked at her hands, still cold and trembling. She was then reminded of the event that had just recently took place. Red, was on his way to rescue Murasaki.
But fear was still apparent. Specially when she saw how Jinko pulvurized Red's summon.
She hopes that Murasaki would be safe, but she also fears for Red's safety. Thankful enough, she knew he would not usually fight recklessly, without backup. Or at least, most of the time. He probably learned from their encounter with the White Prince.
But...wait, she didn't saw him seek any help, what if...?
She panicks.
The purple type reaper sensed that immediately.
QIDA: Hi. Qida here. Don't you feel good up here? Want me to guard you personally below?
GABBY: Huh? O..oh. Hi.
QIDA: Are you hungry?
GABBY: No.
QIDA: Don't worry. Red is now a rank 99. He'll ace it.
GABBY: But that also means that Jinko may have gotten stronger. Plus, he has that...spider woman with her. Ugh...I really like spiderman when young...I didn't expect that genderbent.
QIDA: Pardon?
GABBY: Ah, nothing! I'm sorry.
QIDA: Why are you sorry?
GABBY: For a lot of things actually.
QIDA: Nah, you're no trouble at all.
GABBY: Eh?
QIDA: You slept a lot after you got here.
GABBY: I figured but Red might get in trouble because of me, too.
QIDA: Nah, he'll be fine. That kid can carry his self. Now, want to take a tour at this realm?
GABBY: Is that even allowed?
QIDA: What? I'm bored. Just don't touch anything.
GABBY: Oh, alright..
QIDA: Good. Now follow me.
...
Murasaki felt a painful sting when the spider put its claws on his skin.
Mind you, this spider's big.
However, since their kind isn't poisonous, he was only in pain, because her claws are still injected on his skin, but other than that, he's not drugged or anything.
JORUGUMO: Hmmm. You're not even shouting. I want my prey to shout.
MURASAKI: Pff, shout? Why? What kind of fetish is that?
JORUGUMO: *sighs* Will you ever be polite? Thank the heavens I'm not that aggressive yet.
MURASAKI: Be polite? Wow. At times like this, does manners even matter? You're going to eat me anyways. Not to mention, you're taking my tongue first.
JORUGUMO: Yeah, that's right. But I don't want to take it without giving you giving me a torture play.
MURASAKI: Damn...you...
JORUGUMO: Hmph, fine. Let's get you ready then. You bastard.
She transformed into her humanoid form, then got a sharp shard of metal she has since old times. It looks unsanitary, with obvious blood stains on the tips. She might have used it a loooot of times by now. And Murasaki is definitely in big trouble.
MURASAKI: Now...what should I do to escape?
He knows that spider silk will be weaker when exposed to water but...he can't see anything nearby. He can maybe melt snow but how will he get out? The woman is clearly blocking the opening.
The spider woman sensed that something is not right. She looks at the persistent Murasaki, now face on the floor as he tries to crawl his way to the outside of the cave.
JORUGUMO: You look ridiculous. Do you really think I can't hear you?
MURASAKI: Huh? N-no. I'm just doing this because I wanted to be a worm when young. I just miss doing silly stuff. Since...you know, I'm gonna die soon.
JORUGUMO: If ever Red comes, yes. You'll definitely die after I kill him first.
MURASAKI: Are you really stronger than a reaper?
JORUGUMO: It depends on his age. By now I'm 257 years old on this form.
MURASAKI: That's...way too old.
JORUGUMO: Yes. And I'm getting kinda hungry. I wish that friend of yours come soon.
"Friend? We're not friends."
Murasaki told himself. He actually doesn't deserve his help.
He had been rude and controlling. Never really caring for him, but only for his and Gabby's own happiness. He have only seen him as a mere object. Not a friend.
MURASAKI: What if he don't come?
JORUGUMO: Impossible. He won't bail you. Most definitely that girl you're with. I'm kinda hungry too. And I want that precious stone to make myself more beautiful.
MURASAKI: Ugh, whatever you're talking about, you could have fixed by makeup.
JORUGUMO: Makeup doesn't work for our skin, stupid!
MURASAKI: Well, sorry, I didn't know. How should I know?
...
Red teleports there and there, but the snow and the almost identical bald trees look the same. He tries to sense his distress signal but he's not yet familiar with it that he can't tell which is his.
He cursed under his breath then began searching for a possible trail, but their footsteps...were already covered up by snow.
He tried to look anywhere, until he decided to send his crows to search. He only stopped when he realized that he should save his summons for later.
Red was about to continue when an alluring voice called him from a distance.
He knew what it's supposed to be.
He needs to find Murasaki faster because it's trouble right there.
It's a snow siren.
Snow sirens are part snow yokai and demon. They can become allies, and can become great enemies.
They usually lure men, can be animals, humans, spirits alike, to find them. They either wed with you, follow you, or kill you right on spot, depending on their mood. One must be familiar what each song represents, but since Red had never been in this situation before, and have only heard stories about them, he isn't sure what song she represents.
It was loud, slow, and pleasing. He can't really tell what she's saying because she doesn't use words.
Either ways he tried to get away as soon as possible.
But the song, her singing, seems to be even louder each time he takes a step away. What is this sorcery?
The last thing he needs, is a distraction from his rescue mission.
But gosh.
The moment he took three steps further, the woman revealed herself.
She was tricking him with her voice all along, leading him to where she is with her powerful ability to modulate sound and make it seem she's far away.
Her skin, frosty white, and her white hair, blends perfectly with the falling snow. She turned, and that made Red quite still.
She have beautiful tantalizing blue eyes. Much lighter than his.
Her lips were pale pink and her smile was so...sweet he can't help but look at it.
But the thought of Gabby quickly made him shook his head.
No.
She isn't that beautiful.
The snow siren didn't like his hesitation.
She took his hand, to his surprise, and gave him the softest look.
He only sighed however, half disgusted, then pulled away. Continuing his journey to find Gabby's friend.
The snow siren grew annoyed, then followed him.
RED: What do you want from me?
She looked at him deep in the eyes, then grew quite shocked. As if she had just discovered something.
"I will help you", she said willingly.