The Spider King's Bride

Monica had been chosen. The Mark had been made, and the Kiss had been claimed. For this reason, Suki ran as fast as her paws could carry her. The scene from the night before played mercilessly through her head.

Suki, a beautiful brindle cat with golden eyes, had prowled through the house of her people, the Goodman family. Mr and Mrs Goodman slept in their bedroom. Suki had run to her owner, Monica's room. She could smell danger. She knew not where the sensation came from, but instinct told her trouble was brewing.

When she reached Monica's bedroom, Suki's fears were confirmed. A tall man clad in black leather, with long black hair, pale skin and eight red eyes on his forehead, cupped Monica's cheek, and kissed her lips. Fangs extended from his mouth which he would have pressed to her throat had Suki not leaped on his back and sunk her teeth and claws into him. The man cried out and jumped back, trying to yank her off. Suki bit again holding on with her claws, tasting blood. The man finally threw her to the floor.

"Do not interfere again, she-cat!" The man snarled.

"Leave my human alone!" meowed Suki.

The man laughed. "I am the Spider King! This human woman will be my bride!"

A knock at the door made them both look up. Monica's parents came in to check on their daughter. The Spider King had vanished, and Suki had curled up next to Monica. For this reason the next day she ran as fast as she could searching for a neighborhood dog named Rufus. He was not a stray by choice. He had had an owner years ago, but she had disappeared, leaving Rufus to fend for himself. Panting, she finally found him in an alley. She greeted the large bloodhound with a bow and a cry.

"My human is in danger!"

Suki summarized the encounter with the Spider King. Rufus's ears went flat and he growled.

"I have a score to settle with that monster! His brother took my owner, Miss Joelle by name!"

Suki noticed a scar running along Rufus's right paw. "I'm so sorry!"

"Tell me how I can help you," he said.

"I need you to take me to the Raven King," said Suki. "He and his people eat spiders daily, but I doubt they would listen to a cat because I eat birds."

Rufus led Suki down to the slums where the ravens held court. The Raven King was twice the size of his people, and made Suki tremble. For her owner's sake, she swallowed her fear and told of her encounter with the Spider King.

"Monica is a good human!" Suki said. "She took me in when I was a stray kitten. She's kind to all the animals in our neighborhood, and the other humans. She's even kind to the insects in her garden. That's how the Spider King got in! She wasn't afraid of him when she found him on her flowers. That's why he's in love with her!"

"The brother of this villain also took my owner," said Rufus. "They are the cousins to that monster humans called Vlad the Impaler. We shall not let them claim another victim."

The Raven King nodded. "My people and I are indebted to this woman. She fed my flock last winter when we nearly starved." He spread his wings. "Brothers and Sisters! Let us quickly depart, for tonight we shall have a spider feast!"

The Ravens cawed as they followed their King, Suki and Rufus back to the Goodman household. All the animals prowled and waited until the sun went down. When the night was at its darkest, Suki let Rufus in through the pet door. Then they went up and looked through the crack into Monica's room.

They did not have long to wait. The Spider King in tarantula form slipped through the crack in the window. He transformed and was about to bite Monica, when Rufus and Suki burst into the room and pounced on him.

The Spider King's cry was the signal the Ravens had waited on. Using their wings and beaks, the Ravens pushed up the window, and managed to get him out of the house.

"Come to my aid, Brothers and Sisters of Arachna!" cried the Spider King as he transformed.

A whole swarm of tarantulas appeared from under the grass, behind the bushes, even crouching in Monica's garden. The Ravens swooped left and right, eating the spiders as quickly as they could. Rufus and Suki attacked the Spider King, biting and clawing with all their might. Suki meowed in victory when she tasted blood.

"You think you've won have you?!" cried the Spider King. "The more of my blood you drink, the longer you will live! Enjoy the curse of immortality!"

"Enjoy this!" The Raven King dived and attacked his enemy.

Soon his subjects swarmed over the Spider King.

"You will not have her! You will never have another victim!" cawed the Ravens as they began ripping apart the Spider King.

Suki covered her eyes with her paw. When all became quiet she looked up. The spiders were dead or eaten, and there was no sign of their King. The Ravens fluttered to the ground and bowed before them.

"Your human owner is safe," they said. "Thank you for such a delicious feast."

The Raven King sucked the last spider-leg into his beak and nodded. "We will keep watch. Spiders will still arise, for it is their duty too keep the insect population in check. From here on, we will be certain no more Spider Kings arise to take another bride."

Suki bowed. "Thank you, your majesty."

The Ravens bowed and took to the air. Suki turned back and was shocked to see Rufus bleeding.

"Do you need help?!" cried Suki.

Rufus licked his paw. "Nothing I haven't endured before. I shall be on my way."

"Nonsense!" said Suki. "Come live with me and my humans. You've done so much for me, let me help you!"

Rufus wanted to refuse, but after much pressing he accepted her offer. The next morning the Goodmans awoke to find their cat bringing an injured dog to them. They took him in, bandaged his paw, and adopted him. They named him Champion (Suki still called him Rufus, but he admitted he enjoyed his new name).

Monica herself was never aware of the dark adventure which had taken place outside while she slept. Subconsciously she still remembered the Spider King's kiss. She still felt the warmth of his love like a tiny flame in her heart. That love though was soon given to another, or rather the one whom it was meant for all along. She met a man at the college she attended who was also studying to be a scientist. They married and moved, taking Suki with them.

Rufus remained with Monica's parents. The two still visited and stayed the closest of friends. When Monica had children, Suki became the most faithful watch cat and babysitter. Monica's husband always said she was better than a guard dog. True to the word of the Spider King, both Rufus and Suki lived longer than normal pets. But it proved a blessing, because they protected the Goodman family their whole lives.

The Ravens continued to fly and watch, keeping an eye out for any spider activity. For the day would come when another Spider King would arise, demanding a new bride. And when one came, they would be ready.

THE END