Third person POV.
The pale-faced lady sat on a black chitinous throne, with three-jointed pairs of pincers protruding on either side.
— Accursed monotony. I hate it... I wish one of my girlfriends would come to dispel my endless boredom, — she whispered sadly, observing as a vast number of spiders of different species and sizes wove spiderwebs of Existence and Non-Existence.
These Spider-Weavers contained the Souls of deceased Stellar Cultivators or sufficiently powerful monsters that had evolved from the core into full-fledged vessels.
One of the pale-faced lady's attendants entered the cavernous hall, adorned with stalactites hanging from the ceiling and walls.
The dark-skinned girl lowered her scepter and kneeled, — Priestess, a mortal has come to visit us. You are already acquainted with her; her name is Morena, she is an Empress and your longtime girlfriend...
— I know who she is, Moira, — the lady interrupted, raising her elbow. She cast a sly glance at her subordinate, who perfectly matched the style of this dimension. The girl who had risen from her kneeling position was none other than the Queen of Spiders, born from the dark elf race.
Moira wore a black dress with a large cutout on her abdomen. Golden elements and patterns, including a royal crown, were woven into the garment. Four pairs of spider legs extended from her shoulders, and as her weapons, she used a whip made of deadly snakes and a scepter with the Flame of Souls, which allowed her to control the Weaver Spiders in passive mode.
— Are you in the mood to receive a guest, Priestess?
The pale-faced lady nodded in response to Moira's words, clarifying, — Has she paid for entry into the Limbo dimension?
— Of course. I would not have dared to disturb you if the debt had not been paid, — Moira said, leaving the spacious hall.
The attendant opened the door and ushered Morena Sirius inside, leaving them alone with the Priestess.
— Greetings, venerable Priestess. I have arrived in this dimension bearing gifts, to implore a request, — Morena respectfully spoke, bowing her head before the lady seated on the throne.
— Phooey on you! I thought you came to visit your beloved girlfriend. Speak, why have you come! If your request turns out to be a waste of time, you will regret disturbing my endless mundane life! — the Priestess grandly proclaimed, crossing one leg over the other.
Morena calmly raised her eyes, fully aware of the potential risks.
Empress of Mortuus, the Queen of Undeath, did not show any signs of external fear, but internally her heart was overwhelmed with growing anxiety, «Damn it, why did I even come here! But I need a stronger soul artifact because I didn't immediately remember that Niks can break any contract made through a Soul Vial. My actions with Thanatos will be meaningless if, in the end, Niks is capable of destroying the effect of the marriage ritual. Perhaps she is one of the few who understand charms and curses. And only a more powerful entity like Femiarta can provide the means to make the ritual unbreakable. I still don't believe in the uniqueness of this boy, but I trust my intuition.»
Morena swallowed her saliva, gazing into the devouring eyes of the Priestess known as Femiarta. Looking into the dark red pupils of the Priestess, Morena understood who was truly capable of erasing the boundary between Existence and Non-Existence.
Femiarta appeared as perfect evil: sharp claws, a firm bust, perfectly smooth skin shining like jade. Her black and crimson attire tamed her godlike appearance and figure. Seductive and frightening temperament added horror to her overwhelming presence.
Against the Priestess of Chaos and Orderliness, Morena seemed like a pale sky and a fading star. Empress Mortuus continued the conversation in an official tone, — I have come to you because I want to obtain a means to make the marriage ritual and its effects unbreakable.
— Really? Marriage? Morena, weren't you the one who cried at my feet a hundred thousand years ago, asking for magical powers that would allow you to turn your father into undead and give you complete control over him?Weren't you the one who ran away from marriage? — the Priestess fervently asked rhetorical questions, bending two fingers on her hand, — What irony that now you have returned to where it all began.
— Ah, well... I'm not sure if I need this means now. But my heart tells me that if I don't do it, I will miss an important stage in my life, — Morena explained, clutching her chest.
— Have you forgotten that I grant only three requests to each guest who comes to my dimension? And the price for each of the three requests is exorbitantly high. If you gave the treasury of the Sirius dynasty for the first request and pledged that your Galactic Empire would forever be on my side for the second, then what are you prepared to give for the third request? And is an unbreakable marriage truly important? — the Priestess provocatively questioned.
— Understand me, Priestess, this is very important for my secure future.
An irritated Femiarta snorted and stood up from her throne, approaching Morena closely and saying, — Apparently, your chosen one is so powerful that he can escape from your clutches... Speak his name, quickly!
— I cannot tell you that. If it's a mandatory condition, then it means I came to Limbo in vain, — Morena respectfully spoke.
She understood that she had piqued Femiarta's interest, but Morena had no desire to talk to her old girlfriend about Thanatos.
Morena turned towards the exit and tried to leave, but a strong pressure fell upon her, pressing her into the stone floor.
— Where do you think you're going, little one? Milk hasn't even dried on your lips for you to leave whenever you please! — Femiarta stepped on Morena's throat, intensifying her regal screech, — SPEAK the name! I need the name of that despicable trash! I thought I had an obedient and asexual girlfriend, but you abandoned me for the vile male gender too! I've lost so many girlfriends whom I considered close... I thought of all of you as my adoptive family! But it's as if a curse has been cast upon me... horror. I feel like venting my anger on several billion galaxies!
Lying on the cold floor, Morena listened to Femiarta's complaints, with her oxygen supply cut off. And this had been happening quite frequently lately.
After the last quarrel between several participants, which had occurred almost eighteen years ago, Femiarta's mood had always been foul.
— I won't betray you, Priestess, — Morena barely managed to say, grasping Femiarta's sandals at her throat.
— NAME! — Femiarta shouted with an alien voice, lifting Morena and beginning to choke her with her hands, — SPEAK THE NAME! I will find out anyway, you treacherous filth!
— A-ah... we're girlfriends, you won't kill me... You couldn't kill Niks back then, and you won't be able to d-deal with me now, — Morena spoke the bitter truth, — His name is Thanatos, he is her child...
Femiarta bit her lips until they bled and angrily threw Morena towards the door.
*Explosion*
Morena crashed into the sturdy door, creating a tremendous energy impulse that shook the entire Limbo.
— Kra-arkh... — Morena groaned, curling up in a small ball from unbearable pain.
«Damn it, I've offended Femiarta greatly... As usual. She is very headstrong, sensitive, and tyrannical» Morena pondered, gradually aligning her broken bones.
The Priestess's eyes reddened, and a treacherous lump of saliva formed in her throat. She clenched her fists until they bled, fighting the desire to end Morena's miserable existence.
— Get out of my house! Take your stupid artifact and never return! If you, Niks, Isida, or Syrma ever appear in Limbo, I will destroy all of you! Agonizingly and painfully, devouring the souls of all your loved ones! — the furious Priestess of Chaos and Orderliness pointed to the exit and screamed hysterically, — GO AWAY! Disgusting traitor!
Morena watched with sadness in her eyes as Femiarta's tantrum worsened. Looking back at the past, Morena sorrowfully observed her present girlfriend.
Disturbing the entire energetic space with shockwaves, Femiarta continued to stomp her foot and insult Morena for her yet-unmade choice.
— I feel sorry for you, but I am too weak to suppress your emotional suffering, — Morena confessed to her girlfriend, tears welling up in her eyes.
She wiped them away, took the necessary soul artifact, and left the dimension of Limbo.
*Squeal*
There was no trace left of the majestic aura. Femiarta, surrounded by loyal and working spiders, fumed and shouted into emptiness.
— Aa-aa-arr! Bitch! Niks took Morena away from me!
Femiarta tried to calm herself down, inhaling and exhaling the cool air.
«Why does Niks take away everyone dear to me? Did I go too far overboard with his charisma settings when the big-eared creature came for his Soul Vial? Damn it, my experiment had failed before it even started! I shouldn't have helped Nix save that baby. I should have let it die, or just killed it....» she pondered, coming to a disappointing conclusion.
Femiarta didn't know if it was a coincidence that this boy took away her girlfriends or if he had already become a merciless monster, created with her assistance.
— MOIRA! — Femiarta shouted, summoning her attendant.
She instantly entered the hall and asked, — I await your instructions, Priestess.
— Send your sister to the planet Earth in the Milky Way galaxy. She must monitor the boy and, if possible, subject him to severe trials! Let Thanatos taste loss, convey that to her, — the Priestess commanded.
— I obey, Priestess, — Moira bowed and left the cavernous space.