literature

Contest: Queens and Pawns

Deviation Actions

DrowKat's avatar
By
Published:
724 Views

Literature Text

*****

Lolth hissed at her memories: the last days when she was Araushnee. She glared at a mental image of Angharradh and her former lover Corellon; the two that made her into what she is now. The looks of Araushnee were deformed to a point; she still held her beauty in her face and most of her upper body, however the rest of her was condemned to be the grotesque form of a giant spider. It was all because of that goddess, Angharradh, the only rival to her beauty and power when she was a true goddess. Nevertheless, Lolth smiled at her improvements. Corellon turned her from a goddess to a tanar’ri, forced never to see the trees of Arvandor; banished with her children, Corellon’s children. She was never meant to gain power and become a goddess again. Nevertheless, her love of power and revenge fueled her to become so again, a close rival to the power Corellon once stripped of her. A cruel smirk crossed her delicate features, plotting her triumphant return. All the Elf gods will either die or bow down to her, the rightful ruler of Arvandor. She changed her form back to her old body of Araushnee. “He will regret he ever loved me.”

“Remembering the old days, Mother?” A tall and handsome Drow male stepped out of the shifting shadows of the place his mother was currently visiting. This was where the tanar’ri Araushnee landed from Arvandor, where she slowly began to become Lolth. He ran a hand through his long white hair and gleamed with the thirst of power and revenge in his crimson eyes, another thing he inherited from his mother. “Not good for your health.”

“So I see that your health is due to you forgetting about your twin, Eilistraee.” That name alone brought a growl to his lips and a dangerous look in his eyes. His mother laughed, he truly was her son. “What brings you here?”

“A game challenge.” His mother looked intrigued; such games with her son actually brought her some peace. The chaos that ensues between the competitions between the two always tends to make them laugh. The only joy they can share and truly love, is watching the Drow kill each other. It did help keep the Drow population down. “Sschindylryn. 11th house, Matron Vikhra, Raiding 10th House, Matron Sassvri.”

“Fine, Vhaeraun. Both houses have shown progress, but Sassvri has refused to kill a male and as I can see a male under your lead, like many males in Matron Vikhra’s house. What are the terms in this game?”

The young god smirked. “Mine against yours. No direct intervention.”

Lolth purred. “Well it wouldn’t be fun if the pawns knew they were pawns. It is best when they think they were queens.”

“The board is set. Your move.” The deities smirked darkly, as the Queen of Spiders made her first move.

*****

Sassvri was deep in prayer surrounded by her two daughters and the other priestesses of the house. Her sharp features, although considered more beautiful then most, was contorted in worry. They have lost favor of Lolth, and that only meant death. They were trying to summon a Yochol, a handmaiden of Lolth, to guide them to either repentance or death. Sassvri was boasting that she will find a way to regain favor but she was beginning to fear her demise. Word had it that Matron Vikhra was going to raid the now weakened 10th House and without Lolth’s favor, Sassvri had no chance.

The matron’s snake whip hissed by her side, all three heads writhed to life and were awaiting something, after several days of dormancy. She kept the once inanimate weapon to her side only to assure her daughters that she will regain the favor of the Spider Queen. This was a good sign, but Sassvri was no fool to think that could also mean her own destruction; she had seen far too many foolish matrons, before her, fall to their own weapons and she was suspicious. False hope was never good to believe in and worse was to become arrogant over one simple advantage.

*****

Vlandril returned to her position. She knew her brothers were not entirely faithful to the Spider Queen and yet they remained alive. That simply infuriated her. The only pleasure of her day has been thinking of seeing Xenshai chained and his skin slowly melt off by acid inch by inch. He probably would not be as cocky then. She smiled at the thought. Vlandril was not pretty but she was not ugly either. She was average and seemingly unworthy of attention by males or females. She liked it like that, because she simply hated everything, including herself. Killing was her only joy and even then, it got boring. Tonight was no exception, Matron Sassvri had no chance of winning and so there was no challenge in Vlandril’s eyes. The priestess sighed and leaned against a nearby cavern wall, watching the slave fodder get ready to be killed. After all, the surely dead 10th house still had some defenses and fodder are unimportant anyway, except for being able to spring traps and die. She smirked; she told those same slaves that she was granting those who lived freedom. None, she was sure, would survive even if they avoided the traps. Killing worthless fodder always cheered her up. She smiled, in her own little dream world, completely oblivious to the two figures watching her every move. She snapped out of it, a scowl replacing her smile as she called her fodder to attention. The battle will soon begin.

****

Sassvri felt the presence of the handmaiden and quickly looked at the repugnant creature. Yochols were once Drow priestesses, maybe even beautiful once, but in death and in service to the dark goddess they looked as if they were made of melted wax. This one in particular looked even worse than any other she saw before. The matron tried not to show her disgust.

“You summoned me.” The Yochol’s voice seemed to gurgle, as if her very being was being eternally melted. Sassvri bowed in respect, even though it sickened her to be in its presence, it was after all the highest honor to become a handmaiden, after you were dead that is. The matron of the 10th House was not going to take any chances to dishonor her goddess anymore than already done.

“Yes, Handmaiden of the Dark Lady.” It gave off no emotion on its melted face; Sassvri doubted it could anyways.

“Why did you summon one of the Goddess when you are in dishonor?” The Yochol seemed bored and monotone as if she has done this far too many times before.

“Why have we fallen into dishonor? What will make Lolth favor my House once again?”

“A male lived when he should have died. Your devotion to him is sickening in the Lady’s eyes.” Sassvri’s eyes narrowed, angry with herself.

“Xjiri.” She spat the male’s name out. A male fooled her, although he was an excellent lover, and made her look like a fool. He promised he would be in Lolth’s favor. She growled in annoyance to her own weakness, good lovers were hard to find nowadays and Xjiri was more than good. The Yochol smirked or at least the matron assumed it was a smirk.

“You are doomed. Matron Vikhra and her house will rank 10th in the city. And you will die along with your male.” Inhuman laughter filled the room; several Yochols appeared laughing at her with their gurgling and hoarse voices. Sassvri covered her ears, as the laughter seemed to seep any fight she had in her. She was waiting to die. She welcomed it.

*****

“I thought I made clear 'no direct intervention'.” Vhaeraun hissed at his mother’s latest move.

“I didn’t. It is not my fault the pawns of the game summoned Yochol Viggtuii. I gave no instruction either way and didn’t intervene, as were the rules.” She smirked at her slightly annoyed son. “You were never good with details.”

“My turn.” It was his turn to smirk. Both gods turned their attention to the board in front of them, watching the pieces moves to their accord. The Masked God began moving another piece into play.

*****

Sassvri heard the voices stop instantly. She looked up and no melted form of a Yochol greeted her. She looked around like a scared child, frightened of the unseen around her. A laugh from the shadows confirmed one thing. She was not alone. She stood shakily to her feet and glared at the form of the one giving her that mocking laughter. It only took her a second to recognize who it was. She glared more.

“Glaring is not becoming of you, Sassvri.”

“Xjiri…” Her voice was more a growl than anything. He stepped from the shadows and smirked, wearing full amour. He was handsome than most other Drow males and stronger built as well. His hair was cropped short and dyed red, matching the red gleam of his eyes. He was the best fighter she had, the top of Melee-Magthere masters. He had more power than a normal male, save for some of the male masters of Sorcere. “You are the one that brought my House into dishonor!”

“Oh, what a shame.” He smirked more at his mock concern and caring. She snarled and got out her snake whip ready to let them suck the life out of him. He lifted a single finger in the air and wagged it back and forth. “That wouldn’t be wise.”

“Don’t tell me, male, what is wise or not. I am still your Matron!” With that, she snapped the whip in his direction only to have the snakes turn back and strike her. She screamed in pain and furry, as her own weapon started to drain her magic and life away. She fell to the marble floor, already feeling the paralyzing effects of the three bites. Xijiri walked over and knelt beside her.

“I told you. You are no longer in the Goddess’ favor. It would be a pity you should die… a waste of wonderful female flesh.” He ran a finger down her thin-armored back, sending a chill down her spine. “Join with me. Become a priestess of Vhaeraun.”

If Sassvri weren’t in such pain, she would have ripped out the male’s throat at such blasphemy. Her breath began to shallow, the snakes’ poison coursing through her making her weak. He simply watched with a smile. “Sassvri, the Goddess betrayed you. Why not get even? Don’t you want to live? All you need to do is ask Vhaeraun’s favor, and then you’ll be powerful again.”

She didn’t know if it was his words or her simple want of survival that caused her to pray to the Masked God, to become one of his Drow. Slowly, her skin began to burn. The heads of the whip began to burn away, slowly turning to ash. She felt her strength return and she jumped up; the marks the whips should have made were gone. He smiled in absolute pleasure as he placed a simple silver ringlet around her head, as she was still in shock. She turned to him, slightly annoyed with him and his deception. More annoyed now with the fact he forced her to do this.

“Now, you are mine. Bow to me, Sassvri.” Her eyes widened at the insolence. She was HIS Matron. He belonged to her, not the other way around. A searing heat coursed through her, she screamed as it took control of her, forcing her to bow in front of him. He smirked again as he lifted her up by her chin and forced her to look at him. “Now, my Sassvri, call your priestesses of the Bitch Spider and play along with the ruse that you have gained back the favor you so lost. Remember, I can kill you at the very thought of disobeying me. I own you, but I’ll play along that you are still the head of this house, even though I am.”

He kissed her deeply, wrapping his arms around her and she compulsory just allowed him. Xjiri used his magic and took her to her, wait, now his bedchamber, to celebrate his newfound power. Sassvri just gave in to it, incapable to stop it or even wanting to now as he quickly began to un-buckle the leather bindings of her armor. She gave in and enjoyed his little celebration, might as well take the good with the bad.

*****

“Nice.” Lolth purred at her son, beaming with pride. He smirked, liking this game as it unfolds.

“My first Matron turned. Interesting.”

“Sassvri was always a vain pawn.”

“Trying to measure up your loss as someone else’s?” She raised a white eyebrow.

“Maybe.” Running her hand over the board, she picked up her next piece. “My turn.”

*****

Are you sure about this? She must suspect something now. Jehk’ril quickly signaled to Xenshai in the silent hand language. They both were tracking Vlandril still, as Ilmyrn insured their positions were being covered by others disguised as them. Even in the dark, Jehk’ril could guess his brother’s expression to that comment.

She’s an idiot. She thinks all is going to plan. And it is. Xenshai smiled to himself, pleased with the thought of her upcoming murder. As soon as she orders the fodder into position and they do what they do…

Then she orders our troops into the house… The young wizard has gone over this so many times he was getting bored of it. He just wanted to kill her and get it over with.

And then I will run my blade through her cold heart… it’s a nice death for our dear sister… too bad I couldn’t make it torturous… The brothers continued moving in the shadows as Vlandril began getting the fodder ready. Both were smiling just of the thought of picturing her drenched in her own blood, becoming as cold as the rock that made up the cavern they were in. That was a perfect dream and a very realistic one.

*****
This is my contest entry for ~ Lolth-Scourge's Family. It is a continuation of the story started by * Mistresselysia and ~ElBorja. Hope it is worthy of the club! ^_^

© 2004 - 2024 DrowKat
Comments18
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Zireael07's avatar
Brilliant, especially the beginning! I love it!