Sabrina - (1)

Sabrina Black dashed through the city streets of Leeside feeling completely elated. The night sky didn’t hurt her eyes and the streets provided her a healthy playground to sprint, jump, and climb. Like a puppy, she felt the thrill in the simple act of activity. She was an uncaged bird, free to enjoy the city at his behest. The streets were empty and quiet, Sabrina dashed barefoot through a mirrored puddle that captured a moon. She leaped upon a cobbled wall and crawled to its roof as easily as a person climbing a ladder.

Her palms sprouted fine hair as she climbed, then retracted back into her skin giving her the appearance of a regular human again. She breathed in the night air with solace, then darted forward with incredible speed. She leaped to the next rooftop with skillful acrobatics, landing softly on the slick tiles. Below she heard a whimper of a girl, inside the building. Sabrina’s hearing was impeccable, she could even feel the slight vibrations ripple through the tiles, implying a worried parent who went to calm the girl, to make the girl…quiet.

Leeside was after all in their control, its populace mostly hiding in their homes, too afraid to venture the streets, especially at night. The High Guards that once held the palace now followed him, her father, and the ‘Webbed Children’ were the new rule of law. Many of the city inhabitants had fled the city, fearing the wrath of their new leader. Some camped outside, awaiting the return of the Empire army that headed to Wetbrook; but her father assured her that, her mother would deal with them in due time.

For now, Sabrina could just enjoy the newfound freedom, taking full advantage of the city's structure to practice her abilities. She found she could run faster, jump higher, hear, see, smell and taste more acutely. When fed, she felt invincible. She was the product of two strong parents her father said, an embodiment of perfection. She need only listen to his wisdom, obey him, and he promised she would be a queen one day.

Sabrina slid down the side of a narrow slate roof to propel herself forward into the streets again. She ran past a cat before it even knew she was there; if she were hungry it would have fetched a satisfying snack. She instead continued her journey, wall running sideways with bare feet to traverse the rooftops again. The city wall was just up ahead, and she now passed some of the Webbed Children patrols below. They were well suited in carapace armour of black and purple. The armour glistened in the moonlight and was well molded to fit the soldier wearing it. The armour was a gift from her father, each bearing the sigil of a spider on their breast.

Most of the Webbed Children were comprised of members who joined before the city fell, some however joined afterward when they saw the power her father possessed, only to further bolster their numbers. They all belonged to him but were led by a man named ‘Skinner’.

The city wall was within jumping distance now and Sabrina stuck to the stone wall with ease. Climbing, she hurdled over the arrow slitted edge and landed beside a group of guards, high guards to the Duchess. The men continued their patrol of the wall, halberds in hand, not even acknowledging Sabrina as she silently landed in front of them. They were after all completely obedient to her father’s will, some got to calling her father: The Weaver of Will. Fitting she thought.

As she leaned over the edge to peer down at the seventy-foot drop, she saw torchlight from the surrounding refugees. The displaced citizens were no danger to the city and her father instructed Skinner not to scare them away, on the principle they might need them later, whatever that meant.

Sabrina mounted the wall to rest on the ledge overlooking the north. Miles of field extended before her, thin cut streams sliced through the land like veins. She looked down notice her painted toenails. Thana had painted them for her, the same colour her mother used too when she was young: black. The thought of Thana sent a wave of thrill to wash over her, Thana was the one person that truly understood her.

Sabrina sat there a moment, her legs dangling over the edge of the city wall. She looked westward over the vast ocean that spilled out to the horizon and wondered if her mother was heading back home. She thought about what she’d say to her mother, the questions she’d have. When Sabrina was a baby and given to the Torrent Orphanage, she believed both her parents were dead. Now she had two of them and even an auntie. The reflection made her stomach fill with butterflies.

A sound suddenly reached Sabrina’s ears causing her to veer her head backwards, it sounded like the fluttering of wings, small and distant. A red bat broke through the night above. When it arrived above Sabrina it dived, landing heavily on the stone wall Sabrina sat on. A puff of red smoke exploded as the bat landed and, in its place, a vampire appeared. Her hair was greasy black to reflect the moonlight, her eyes a set of burning rubies.

“Sorry I’m late,” Thana said looking down at the drop below. “I got held up.”

“It’s okay aunt, I haven’t long got here myself.”

Thana looked surprised by that.

“Still having trouble with your spider climbing?”

“Oh, no, not that,” Sabrina lowered her head in embarrassment. Thana smiled.

“You got carried away with your potions again, didn’t you?” Thana asked.

The silence clarified the fact. Sabrina never let go of her passion from the apothecary, despite everything that had happened to her. While she roamed the city by night with Thana, in the daytime (While the sun was up), she practiced her craft. The resources required for such practice were no longer an issue. What would usually cost months of wages to purchase, be it: equipment, ingredients. Etc; Now was at Sabrina’s fingertips. She need only ask Skinner what she required, and he would have his men bring such items hastily. Sleep had become a worry of the past too, Thana informed her that an Arachne could stay awake for a month if they needed to, only requiring sleep when it was time to hibernate.

“You have a strong mind Sabrina,” Thana said, “You get that from your mother.”

Sabrina looked up, “When is my mother returning?” she asked.

Thana shifted, placing a pale hand on her thigh.

“Soon child. She is probably on her here as we speak,” Thana said standing, “Now, we have training to do and—”

“My lady, your Grace!” cried a voice from the wall, Thana and Sabrina paused to look at an approaching group of WC. They were led by a man named Pyro, second hand to Skinner.

“What is it?” demanded Thana. Pyro slowed his pace and approached alone, his men hanging back. The man's dirty blonde curls grew tangled, along the left side of his cheek was a ruin of burned flesh.

“The King requires your company,” Pyro stated, lowering his head. Thana took a glance back at Sabrina, her face a mixture of emotion. ‘Was her mother back already?’ The idea caused a lump to form in her throat.

“If it pleases you my Lady, your Grace. Allow me to escort--”

“No need,” Thana objected, “We came here to train, the least he can allow us, is to train on our way back to the palace.”

Before Pyro had a chance to accept, Thana vaulted over the wall, letting the night swallow her up and disappearing out of sight. Sabrina smiled, feeling an electric buzz of excitement course through her. She followed Thana, running vertically down the city wall. When she landed, Thana was already awaiting her.

“Let’s see how fast you are today,” Thana asked, but before she had time to move, Sabrina was already giving chase, not willing to give Thana any head start this time. Thana smirked seemingly impressed with her sudden initiative and lunged backwards, disappearing in a cloud of red smoke. When the smoke cleared, a small red bat fluttered away. Sabrina chased Thana through the city, ducking and leaping over abandoned wagons; the thrill of the chase was intoxicating. When the palace grew larger and bolder, Sabrina gave one last burst of energy, gaining on the small red bat. She reached out and managed to touch Thana right before they arrived at the palace.

There was a puff of red smoke as Thana returned to her human form.

“Good job Sabrina, you’re getting faster,” Thana said panting. Sabrina failed to conceal her happiness from spreading to her face. It was the first time she had caught Thana after all. Sabrina allowed herself to pant too, leaning down on the balls of her knees. Ahead was the Palace, inside would be her father. She grew anxious at the prospect of possibly meeting her mother for the first time.