Chapter 9: Nowhere to Go
Xiao had trapped Dara in an endless nightmare; killing her would be too much of a mercy, and Xiao did not believe in mercy. As for Tae, since he dared to hide Dara, Xiao decided she would trap him in a different kind of nightmare.
Caihong had finally come to, but her vitals were still too weak for her to get about and thus remained unaware of her Mistress's dealings.
While Song searched desperately for Xiao, unbeknownst to him that she was right within palace grounds.
Xiao had placed a protective barrier around the hut she'd found Dara and Tae. Nothing could get in or out. Opening the gates of the Underworld, Xiao summoned the worst of creatures and sent them directly to Dara.
Xiao allowed one or two demons to seep out to keep Song busy while she worked. A sharp-tailed lizard demon headed down the mountain. At the same time, a raven demon with bronze claws headed towards the Imperial Palace, only four miles away.
The spider demons strung Dara up while digging their spiny legs into her sides. One of the spider demons nips at Dara's feet, its fangs leaving two puncture marks on Dara's ankle and two more on her calf.
Xiao allowed Dara to regain consciousness but the pain brought on by the spider demon's bite was too great. Yet even unconscious, Dara screamed as the demons continued to treat her inners as playthings. The queen spider had cut open Dara's abdomen and was in the process of extracting her organs.
"Oh, your Grace won't you let us play with this one," one of the spider demons reached for Tae only to recoil in pain. Xiao had placed a protective barrier around Tae, knowing the spiders wouldn't be able to help themselves. Since Tae's only crime was falling in love with Dara, Xiao would spare him this once. Had Caihong died, well, that would be another story.
Xiao released an exasperated sigh, "Don't be greedy; just be grateful for what you have been given."
The spider queen looked up from her work, "how is our old friend?"
Xiao had summoned the spider queen and her minions due to their past relations. Caihong had saved the spider queen's offspring, and ever since, a life debt was born. Xiao knew the spider Queen would know what to do with Dara when she arrived in this plane of existence.
"The little bird is resting," Xiao examined her nails as she looked towards a whimpering Dara, "I somehow feel like she hasn't understood her mistake. Let her rest for a moment."
Xiao waited until Dara came to Dara's vision blurred; her innards twisted as if something were moving inside her.
"I see you are finally awake," Xiao pierced a sharp nail into Dara's cheek, "do you know what your mistake was, or should I tell you?"
Dara struggled to speak at first, "y-yu-you c-ca-can't me."
Xiao laughed, "What was that? I didn't quite catch it. Did any of you understand her?"
The Spider Queen and her minions laughed but said nothing.
"See, they didn't understand you either." Xiao took a step back, raised her hand, and struck Dara across the face with the back of her hand. "You coveted something you shouldn't have, but I wouldn't have resorted to such measures even then. No, that wasn't your real mistake."
Xiao sat atop a crate, legs crossed as she leaned back, "Do any of you know what her mistake was?"
One of the spider demons stepped forward, "she dared hurt your little sister."
Xiao snapped her fingers, "Bingo, you laid your filthy claws on Caihong, my one, and only family. Even demons know better than to touch her, and here you are, acting as if you can do whatever you want."
The King won't spare you," the spider demon that had spoken rushed forward and punched Dara in the mount.
"Her voice makes me sick," the demon said before reaching for Dara's tongue.
Without moving from her seat, Xiao said, "Not yet."
Leaning forward with her head tilted to the side, Xiao said, "Song will never know of this, and even if he did, by some twist of fate, find out, he wouldn't dare harm me. You see," Xiao hopped off the crate, "Song can't ever hurt me, or he will die."
With a needle made of pure darkness, Xiao punctured Dara's heart. "You can't be saved."
"Your Majesty," the spider demon closest to Dara dared ask, "may we have her now?"
With a wicked smile, Xiao reopened the gates to the Underworld, her only response.
As the Spider Queen stood before the gates that led home, she extended her hand, "this may come on handy one day."
"Thank you, Tocatl," Xiao took the small vile containing a life-saving elixir only the Great Spider Queen could grant.
"Due take better care of that child," Tocatl said, "there are only so many times I can keep her from crossing over."
"I will keep your words in mind," Xiao would only bow her head to four people, and Tocatl was one of them. With a hand placed above her heart, Xiao inclined her head and closed the gates to the Underworld.
Xiao erased all trace of Dara and the Demons; she even sent Tae back to his palace and ensured he wouldn't wake until sunrise.
The demons that had come were only here to help her and did not deserve to die. Thus, Xiao set out to find the most stubborn of the two, the raven Calli.
Of course, Calli would have headed towards the Imperial City; why would that raven ever do anything that didn't create great disarray.
As Xiao approached the Imperial City, she took in its grand splendor outside its walls. Merchants set out their goods. Children and adults alike enjoyed an acrobatic performance. The smell of grilled meats wafted into the night air, mingling with sweet date cakes and candied haws.
Xiao had thought the night market below the mountain was grand. Still, it did not compare to the market outside the Imperial City. Caihong would love the lively place and its yummy food.
As screams pulled Xiao from her musings, the smell of death mixed in with that of spilled plum wine. Xiao followed the cry to find a colorfully dressed female crawling away from the dead noble. Guards rushed in from all directions, but what they sought was no longer there.
It seemed Calli had already left the palace and was now tormenting the locals. Picking up on the bird's magic imprint, Xiao flew unseen amongst the people and found Calli standing over yet another victim.
"You were to create a distraction," Xiao landed before Calli, "not harm the innocent."
Calli's black eyes shimmered with mischief, "I don't have to listen to you," the bird cackled, "I'm free to do as I please." Calli raised her arms as if taking in her surroundings. "What are you going to do about it?"
Xiao smiled as she crafted a sword out of her energy. "Unfortunately for you," Xiao advanced, ensuring to cut the bird's head off just as the Imperial guards turned the corner, "there is no going home."
"Drop your weapon," a guard dressed in dark blue robes stepped forward, "how dare you cause chaos in the Imperial City."
Xiao disintegrated her sword with a smile and said, "for a high-ranking official, you don't seem all that bright, General."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
EvaPeony
EvaPeony fun fact the title for this chapter was inspired by Bad Omens's song Nowhere to Go
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone