NOVEL WEB Chapter One Thirty-Five Banishings and Walls
Arrieta looked up, the church had certainly come out in droves, but some part of her couldn’t help wondering why she hadn’t been banished yet. Her mind drifted back a couple of hours.
She’d spent hours telling Milith the story of her fateful encounter with Xeria Cloudfeather, her goddess. It had been many years ago, but she remembered it. She remembered that encounter as clearly as it had happened yesterday. At the time she’d recently celebrated her eighth birthday and Mom had gotten her a wonderful gift. She smiled at the thought, it wasn’t that special, but to someone so young the toy had been far more magical than it was. She’d loved that little box of toy wands, and she’d taken her best friend into the woods to play a game of wizards and witches. That had been a lot of fun but while she was out there she’d found something.
Young Arrieta paused as she looked over the place she’d found. The toy wand in her hand fell to the ground. The trees had opened up to some place... beyond magical. Right in front of her was a small pond, its shores overrun with blooming flowers, shimmering leaves swirled around them and golden light shone upon the space refracting through the ethereal fog that filled the clearing. Somehow that fog made the light... more. Yet none of that was what she had her mind on, instead she focused upon the structure floating above the pond. It seemed to sit on the mist creating the impression that the glowing light was holding the heavy structure in the air.
It was clearly a temple, the walls were dark, very dark. They were so black that they seemed to absorb the very light, and they were contrasted with gold trim. Pale white steps led up to the door with a pair of winged women holding the porch roof up. They were so well carved that they looked like they could come to life with a moment's notice. Both girls were so gorgeous that they would have turned every head that gazed upon them. Dressed in flowing silk dresses that did little to conceal what lay beneath. Each had large swollen bellies, one breast was out, a baby nursing on the teat and they weren’t the only girls here. A pair of young girls sat on either side of the stairs, a jar of water in hand from which an endless source of water flowed into the pond below. The details on their faces were just as lifelike. On either side of the path leading to the temple were lovely gardens with flowering bushes, and lovely trees. Several more young girls could be seen seemingly frozen as they played. It seemed like they could just spring to life at a moment's notice, as if the place lay frozen in time.
The roof was a polished red with gold trim. Majestic windows dotted the walls, with statues of young women on either side of each window. On the upper levels she saw several spacious balconies with silver railings. The entire place was clearly a temple of some kind, yet she’d not heard of one here. What god did this temple venerate?
Curious she drew closer and out of the fog she noticed steps leading up to the ones she’d seen above, but where those looked to be stark white stones these steps glimmered in the fog. Behind her a voice called, “Arrieta? Where are you?”
She called back “Over here!” while testing the steps with her foot. As tenuous as they seemed to be, she found them solid.
Arrieta took the first step, then the second amazed how the steps felt under her feet. They were smooth, warm and soft, yet sturdy enough to hold her weight. A grin touched her face, and she rushed up the steps. Stopping briefly she ran a hand along the girl on the left, she even felt lifelike, warm soft, fleshy yet strangely firm. The silky dress she was wearing was soft too. Curious, she pulled on it, and felt it move. Did it come off?
As it turned out it did, she was able to lift it right off the girl revealing the detailed features beneath. They were so lifelike, she could believe this girl was just frozen in time, every detail was perfect, but she was so pretty as to be unreal. Arrieta put the dress back on the statue and made her way to the door and slipped inside. The room beyond was well lit with walls of black and silver, motifs covered each wall. Arrieta stopped to gaze at them, they were so pretty, the detail incredible. She saw images of pregnant women and their daughters, many of them with lovely wings. Others without, all of them seemed happy. Moving deeper into the temple they transitioned from happy wholesome scenes to scenes of lust, pregnant mothers exploring each other's bodies, young girls watching or playing such games themselves. Those motifs told her a lot about the god venerated here. Arrieta had no doubts that this temple belonged to a fertility goddess, the lack of men on the walls spoke to a goddess that favors females. Mom said such gods were rare in these parts, the temple must have been old.
It certainly didn’t look it, it looked timeless. Reaching the end of a hall, she stepped into a wider chamber. Statues of pregnant women lined the walls, which were covered with elaborate murals much like those in the halls, only more grand. In the center of the room was an altar, two younger women stood on either side of the altar, they were entirely naked adorned only with flowers. Standing prominently between them and behind them was the central figure of the altar. A winged woman who stood almost two meters tall, her features were perfectly divine, she wore a silken dress that left her right boob entirely out in the open. It was well shaped with a healthy teardrop shape. The areolas were a little puffy, yet a lovely delicate pink and capped with a pair of swollen nipples that glistened with just a bit of moisture.
Down lower her belly had the swell of a woman six months pregnant. Her physique was well toned, and her skin had a light creamy tan to it. Behind her a pair of wings were spread wide, they were gorgeous. A lovely mix of golden brown feathers with silver and red highlights, they went well with her hair which had a similar mix of colors. Yet Arrieta found her gaze drawn most not to the exposed breast nor the wings, but rather her eyes. They were fierce golden eyes set in a lovely face with sharp majestic features.
She lost herself studying the statue, she knew it was one but she was so lifelike, so unreal she could just see her springing to life. Arrieta knew this was a goddess, Mom often told her to stay away from gods, but how could she stay away from someone so pretty. How long she’d been standing there she didn’t know.
Suddenly a voice spoke up from behind her, “Am I really that pretty?”
Arrieta turned and blinked, behind her stood the woman the statue depicted, only she was far prettier in person. Her skin was simply radiant, her dress was similar as well, only it came with a split in the front that started just above the belly button and ended at the hem. Having seen bird women before she half expected to see a down of feathers around her pussy, but there was nothing there but smooth skin. Her stomach was also a bit larger than the statues, not much yet still noticeable. Speechless she simply nodded.
The other woman giggled, “Well aren’t you precious, but what brings such a young Abyssal girl into my temple of all places?”
Her mind raced, but she just didn’t know where to begin. All she could say was, “... So pretty.”
The goddess moved closer, and then suddenly swept her up. Next thing she knew they were in another room, reclining together on a sofa. The goddess smiled, “you’re adorable, but really I do want to know.”
Arrieta looked around, as the goddess gave her something. She looked at it questionably, “What’s this?”
“It’s called a controller, we use it to play a game,” she pointed at an object in front of them, “You use it to command your avatar. Why don’t we play a game? We can have some fun while we chat.”
Arrieta nodded and settled in to enjoy this new game with the magic box. For a bit they just chatted about the game but eventually she started talking about what brought her to the temple. How she found it while playing with her friend.
“So where’s this friend of yours? I don’t see her in the temple.”
“Um, she was out in the woods. She called looking for me, but I guess she missed the temple.”
“Ah, I see. So you just came in here out of curiosity.”
She nodded, “But I’m having a lot of fun with you. More than my friends usually offer.”
“Somehow I don’t doubt that,” then she frowned, “Speaking of friends, you are Atarli right?”
“Half-Atarli but yeah I am.”
“As I recall your kind eat the brains of young girls, and babies. Ever eat your friends?”
“Mom slices their brains up, and feeds me a portion. They are always so loopy after, the girl I came with? Her turn is today, so I brought her out for a fun experience in the woods before her brain gets sliced.”
“Ouch, poor girl, but I don’t blame you for that. Ever do it yourself?”
Arrieta shook her head, “Mom doesn’t let me.”
“Ever eat a baby?”
“Mom only ever cooks a baby for special occasions such as family gatherings. They always seem to really like roasted baby, but I’ve never been allowed so much as a taste. Mom says they are overrated, but...”
“You’ve been curious,” she sighed, “I can’t really blame you but I don’t really approve of eating babies.”
“You don’t?
The goddess giggled, “I’m a pregnancy goddess. Babies are gifts, something to be treasured, not eaten.”
“Why?”
“Ever play with one?”
Arrieta shook her head, “Mom doesn’t let me near the little ones.”
Putting down the controller, the older woman smiled, “Then you are in for a treat.”
Young Arrieta curiously followed, the Goddess took her into another room. She gasped, it was a nursery, dozens of cribs with little girls moving around the room. She saw blocks, little horses, dolls and more. They seemed to be having so much fun too. Behind her the goddess pushed her forward, “Go introduce yourself.”
She looked back, nodded and before she knew it joined them. At first she wasn’t sure what the goddess had been talking about, but it wasn’t long before she knew. Babies and toddlers really were precious, they were so fun to play with.
While watching the little girls she’d been playing with curl up in their cribs, “So Arrieta, what do you think?”
“They are so cute. I think I understand.”
“I was hoping you would.”
“Can I... join your church?”
“Oh, what brought that on?”
‘You are so fun and pretty. I want to see you more.”
The goddess fidgeted and then after a while, “I’ve never had an Abyssal follower, but I guess it will be alright but you will have to follow the tenants of my church and I won’t allow you to eat a baby. If you do? I’ll smite you.”
“Can I eat their brains?”
She sighed, “I’d prefer it if you didn’t but I know you need to eat brains to live. Just don’t do it too much, okay?”
Arrieta grinned and hugged her, “Thank you!”
“This might be a little unpleasant,” said the Goddess, as she pressed her palm to her belly. Arrieta gasped as her belly grew warm, almost unpleasantly so but it wasn’t painful.
The girl looked down after, admiring the golden image on her skin, “What’s this?”
“A divine mark, proof you are in my church. If you want to talk, just pray and don’t worry I’ll visit often. I have much to teach you young Arrieta.”
She gave the goddess another hug, this was the best day of her life.
It really had been, but of course upon coming home Mom did have a few questions. They just didn’t happen right away. Arrieta still remembered that moment like yesterday as well.
Coming back from town, her friend in tow Young Arrieta came face to face with her mother who was waiting for her. Their relation was obvious at a glance, her mother while more mature still looked rather young, easily in her mid twenties but given her blood she was much older. They had the same bright gold and blue eyes and the same hair. Long light blue hair with golden highlights that shimmered in the evening light framed a youthful face. Her skin was a lovely creamy tan, while five pairs of perky breasts ran down her torso.
Her sex was naked and hairless with a bit of moisture leaking from the lips. Lips that gaped just a little and by how swollen they were told her Mom had sex very recently. Below that, instead of legs like her, Mom had a long tail whose length was marked with a dozen pairs of boobs on each side. Mom grinned, “Arri! How was your play?”
“I had a lot of fun!”
“Glad to hear it, but be more timely next time, your friend is late.”
“Sorry,” replied Arrieta as she followed Mom into town. Idly she looked around and wondered when she would get one of her own. Dozens of young women were moving about, most of them were pregnant with large swollen bellies, but they were still working. Off to the left a dozen pregnant girls were pulling in a cart full of food. Mom preferred to have the pregnant girls out working in the fields, while the ones that weren’t pregnant were kept in town to be bred. Said that way she got more babies out of the girls. Speaking of the babies, she’d learned a lot from mom on the best way to raise them. Mom said that mother’s milk was okay, but it was best not to give a baby her mother’s milk, but to give them their own. Atarli milk would keep the baby very docile, in fact as long as she was dosed, she wouldn’t cry and her brain would grow faster. Part of why it was so good to give it to them.
A dozen girls rounded a corner, half of which had their brains hanging out. Perfectly normal around here, Mom kept the younger girl’s brains out more often than not. It was important to allow easy access to the brain, but as they grew older she’d start putting them in skulls so they could play. The brain being out during play time was a good way to get it dirty, and no one wanted to wash dirt out, you’d lose flavor that way.
She watched the girls for a bit, as they headed into the inner nest. Passing into the nursery, she noted the babies resting peacefully in their cribs. Their brains were secured by a spike to the wall, with tubes pumping a cocktail right into the tissue. Arrietta had seen the procedure often, Mom would take the brain out soon after birth and then secure it into the clamps. She’d feed them her milk at intervals but keep their brains out as much as possible. The brains end up very dry and need moistening however, so she puts them in special fluids to soak flavor.
Off to the left, she could see the birthing chamber, where several pregnant girls were settled in the birthing cradles. They were mom’s design, they allowed a mother to give birth on her own. They kept the mom at a comfortable angle allowing the baby to just drop into the collector, which would automatically conduct the brain removal procedure and get a baby transferred to her crib. Mom said it worked quite efficiently. Of course there was a reason she was getting all industrial on the process, she had quotas to meet and customers to feed.
Mom led her into a room, and directed her friend to sit down. Her friend happily sat in the chair indicated and Mom worked her brain out. For a while things were silent, as Mom worked, she was slicing chunks off in clean even strokes when she finally asked, “So what’s with the mark?”
Coming back to the present, she turned towards Lydia who was surrounded by strange lights. Milith spoke, “By the power of the lords, I judge you guilty, may you repent for all time within the hellish depths of Abyss, I banish you for all time never to return.”
She’d been speaking lines like that for a bit, each one drew more power, the magic was intense. Even those blind to magic would be able to see this and she felt strangely honored to see it.
Lydia gave her a look, “I don’t know what’s worse being sent to the Abyss, or getting sent there because of you? I can’t believe a crazy god worshipping girl who doesn’t even eat babies is the reason for this. How ridiculous can life get?”
Her ranting aside it wasn’t much longer before darkness rose up out of the ground and a beacon of light shone down. She screamed as flames had taken her, and then in a burst of glittering light she was swallowed by the inky shadows, gone as if she’d never been. Lydia was no longer on this plane, returned to the Abyss from which she’s come. It would be difficult for her to return, and from what Mom had told her the place didn’t sound all that great. The Abyss was a land bereft of sensation, pain and pleasure were meaningless there. It was a world of silence without light or smell. Food was tasteless and had the texture of mush, it was little wonder her kind wanted to be anywhere else. If there was one thing Abyssal mana thrived on it was sensation, they relished in it.
Milith then turned to her, as she let the shield drop. Church Guards swarmed into the area, “I’ve decided to let you stay as it seems someone has already taken responsibility for you, but I’ll keep an eye on you.”
“Okay, but um what about the...”
“I’ll look into Bleakwater and I’ll check up on your mother too.”
A guard came up to them, “Princess you shouldn’t be here, it's not proper for a woman to be out on the streets like this...”
Milith sighed, “And I’ve told you, I can take care of myself. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have to check on someone.”
Milith pulled Arrieta up and along and the two of them headed towards Howard. Arrietta just didn’t know what they would find, but she hoped things hadn’t gone too far with his little girl. Yet Lydia was pretty evil, so she could only imagine it was bad.
Phyllis stepped out of the dungeon, she’d had a good time with Misha. Now she was thinking of getting some rest. She blinked, rubbed her eyes then looked again. Was she seeing things or did the town suddenly have a giant wall around it?