Mimi (During the Arena)

I'm not sure when it happened. At some point, I stopped telling the Hive everything. I began to keep secrets from them, always feeling as if they were not ready to understand. Other parts of the Hive, where they were big enough, had copies of my memories and feelings. Those copies moved through their hives in an attempt to gain more personalities. Yet, the overall plan, the goals, the methods. I was lying to my Hive, and now wasn't the time to show them everything.

The creatures sent at me, were hardly a challenge. I spoke for the first time, making the audience gasp. The ring as they understood it, was to limit what I could do. Now it was broken and I could properly use my bond with 'Ace.' Nothing they sent could actually pierce my chitin. Not one monster, or beast could leave so much as a scratch. It truly was unfortunate that I couldn't eat them here and now, but Richard was out there. I knew where he was, but Scix couldn't get inside.

The Hive wanted to move, but we couldn't rush our plans. No matter how much my emotions wanted to take control. My body worked against me, feeling desires, frustration, bubbling anger. They had my mate, they stole him away from me. These emotions worked against me, letting claws that should never have reached me, tear at my wings. I had to convince myself that as long as Richard wasn't dead, everything would be fine. I should be able to have his child, and I would take the knowledge about curses and rituals from the Fiend's Eye. I was the intended target, but they used Richard's blood. Meaning a child born from us, should be a perfect sacrifice if need be.

It might make the man in question upset, but one child isn't worth the ones that could come after. Ah, the next wave of beasts were coming. I pulled my mind from my frustration, focusing back on the slaughter at hand. I was able to use the frameworks of magic we copied just fine, save for anything related to blood. At best, I could strengthen my muscles to the point that they no longer tear, when coiling them. Something that proved incredibly useful when conserving the three healing stingers I had.

I tore through everything that came, only taking a minute to drink the blood and eat the flesh of things I knew I had eaten. Piles of flesh and gore were starting to form. I did what I could to keep the things I wanted to eat in decent shape. Those would go into the cold room, to be frozen until it was safe for me to eat and transform. The rest could rot for all I cared, since the black blood probably tainted it. I didn't even bother keeping track of the waves sent in. Finally the gong sounded, after hours of nonstop fighting.

The crowd was left speechless, as I heard them whispering that there were more of me. This little exercise would keep any smaller gang from wanting to move against us. I walked towards the exit as slaves moved out to collect the pieces. I stopped one, blood staining their shoulder as they froze in fear. I softly whispered, pointing to the two piles. "That one can be burned, or discarded. That one needs to be taken to the store room, and given to the lizardmen coming to collect it. Do not mix the two up, I know where you sleep." Letting the now sweating slave go, I moved to stand by Kobe, so I could collect my prize.

The speech was too long, while I made the effort to lick my hands clean. The better to show that I was truly a monster that should be feared. I made a display, saying all the things that Kobe wanted to hear. How the Minotaur gang was definitely much stronger, and that just standing by Kobe was intimidating. The people were relieved, and even cheered when I laid out my gang's current goals. After all, what's the harm in letting a monster hunt other monsters and make the dead-zones a little more manageable? In truth, the entire Underneath was a network of so many tunnels and open spaces. It was all connected, meaning that if I controlled it, there was no where I couldn't go in the Underground.

I received a small stone that shimmered different colors, and had some kind of arcane glyph upon it. I felt that breaking it, would probably give me the power inside. While the temptation was there, I had other things to tend to. I left the Arena, with a brisk walk. Connecting to Nina, and asking her to tell Cheshire where to meet me. I walked down a few alleys, to find the man there. He was tired from keeping the tribes calm, and unifying them. After all, I did march a small army of giants through his territory. All under the pretext of giving him a burrow worm, then letting that same army scatter to filter it's way towards the fighting.

I gently tossed the stone to him, as he caught it. "I'm going to teleport away, and I'll need you to clean up the mess I leave behind."

I didn't stay to hear his response, but judging by how wide his eyes went, he truly didn't expect this ability. I appeared out of thin air, in an area where a few giants were located for this moment. I couldn't afford to rush in, and steal Richard away. I still had no idea where he was hidden in that building with one hag. I needed something to negotiate with, something they couldn't afford to lose. So, I decided to tackle the other hag.

I walked into the circle, where some ritual or seal was keeping my bugs from coming in. There stood a totem with carvings that I did not understand. An entire area locked down to repel my hive, and keep me from teleporting. They prepared for this, and the battle going forward was likely a trap. I gripped the totem, pulling a little to ensure there was no curse should it break. I tore it out of the ground, breaking it. The magic left the wood, but other totems glowed a little brighter to hide any magic that might be used.

The area was littered with large pathways, big enough for a Fiend to move through. Stalls littered the sides of wide buildings, as wagons were placed in different spots. This was a district dedicated to repairing, and building wagons, stalls, and carts. Ample space for a Fiend to hide behind a building, as well as that hag. I decided that the best thing to do, was to break the totems, until they came to me. I climbed a building, unable to glide since my wings were riddled with holes from the harpy feathers I had to wear.

I jumped from one building to another, letting the enemy know where I was. The feeling of dominating the Arena still fresh. My prey had taken the time to set up so many totems, I doubt they had a trap set to kill me. No, it was clear they probably wanted me alive. After all, why go through the effort of moving a hostage, if you were just going to kill the one that wanted them back? I crashed through a wall, rolling into a room with another totem. I tore it from the ground, throwing it through the door, watching as the wooden thing turned into splinters and dust.

I walked outside, flicking my ears, using the dust as a screen. I couldn't hear anything strange. I walked towards the next totem, while Scix reported movement inside the safe-house. He had each window watched, and finally Richard was dragged in front of one. The markings covering his body, the blood that dried from his wounds. I didn't know what they did to him, but I couldn't confirm if he was alive or not. He rocked in his chair, dispelling that brief fear. Still it was much more intricate than anything I had watched Carter do.

My anger bubbled more, as I ran toward the next totem. I needed to hurry this up! I rounded a corner, only to be struck by a large gray. My balance thrown off, while I turned to swing at my assailant. The fat bulbous hag, grabbed my hand with her own. Her body covered in war paint, and tattoos similar to Carter's own style. I saw her grin, as she moved with practiced ease, jumping forward. I took on my combat form, just before being slammed into the ground. I decided to try and strike her again, unable to sink into the shadows with her grip on my fist. Her strength overwhelming my own.

My attempted strike turned out to be a very poor decision. She caught my other arm, and leapt in front of one of the large buildings. Bellowing like a fiend, before the front of the building exploded. I was lifted up, and dug my feet into the ground, unable to pull my arms free from her grasp. The lower two coiling, to attempt severing the hag's arms. I was too late, as the fiend rammed into me from the side, its strength amplified by whatever magic was in that war paint, or bone armor.

I was sent flying through a couple buildings, my upper arms severed at the elbow, my wings shredded and lost from the impact. They didn't pull any punches with their attack. Opting to throw me in the center of their little circle, and wounding me to this degree. I appreciated the ambush for a fraction of a second, before my frustration finally reached its breaking point. If that hag had grabbed my head, I would be dead. They used Richard against me. They thought this would be enough to kill me!?

Isaac sent an unneeded message, trying to calm me. I laid back in my recent crater, still covered in debris. I let my combat form recede, as I felt he was at least partially correct. Rushing back out there, would only harm me. My anger was still there, but I could control it, feeding it to the other copies to share. I wasn't alone, but the entire Hive was angry. It was time to properly let them loose, and lay claim to everything. Every personality attempted to talk to me, to ask me for orders. I ignored them, since the Hive wanted to truly help me. They needed to come to their own conclusions, if we were to get stronger.

About ten seconds passed, when the hag finally came to my area. She chortled with laughter, "Ha~ Agatha was worried over nothing." I could hear her heart beating, as the fiend came over. "Wonderful job deary!" She kissed the fiend on the side of the neck, as it lowered itself for her like a giant dog. The hag scratched its upper arm, while the fiend panted happily. "Go ahead and grab the monster, and drag her back. I swear, Agatha always overthinks these things."

The fiend leapt towards me, carefully parting the debris that kept me pinned. My lower arms coiled, as it grabbed my leg pulling me out. I pretended to stay knocked out. The Hag walking closer to no doubt climb atop her pet. She took a second to stand over me, looking down to confirm I was still alive. Using the fiend's hand, I bent my knee lunging at the hag, catching her by surprise. I used both my lower arms to shatter her knee, before kicking free and merging into the shadow underneath the hag.

In the darkness, I stung myself, using a healing sting to fix the damage. My limbs healing themselves, while my arms grew back. My wings would need another sting, but I couldn't afford to waste any. Gray teleported to the edge of the circle, and I ordered him to go away and secure Richard. If Agatha moved, then I wanted him to intercept. He was able to resist the ward keeping my bugs out, so he would have to do as a scout.

I emerged, running to the alley close by, the fiend chasing after with a roar. It tackled me, as I slid back into the shadows, using that burst of speed to dart around. The hag wasn't moving, but the fiend did, quickly returning to her side to protect her. My arms regrew completely, as I felt a bit of hunger. I used the momentum, to erupt out of the shadows, resting on the top of a building. Argus gave Gray her talent seconds ago, and he was almost finished with taking out the other fiend. I grinned down at my prey, "You surprised me with that attack earlier. I thought it would be nice to return the favor."

I could see the hag drawing marks on the wound with her blood. "I see you didn't run away. Why is that, mother of death?"

I tilted my head, "I haven't been called that before, but it seems we can finally speak to each other." The hag froze for a second, as Gray killed the other Fiend. She lowered her head, offering silent prayers for her pet.

Time was on my side now, my giants were moving into the warehouses, with Argus and the Berries guiding them. Every giant that died, had four more to replace them, as far as the enemy was concerned. Those that knelt and prayed were spared, I did not need to kill those that surrendered. The hag knitted her leg back to functional form with her ritual. A nice scar left there, as her body jiggled despite the bone armor. "Thank you for giving me the time to recover. Though I will make certain you suffer, for what you did to my dear Max."

I tilted my head, still looking down at her, keeping an eye on the fiend beside her. "Funny, this wouldn't have happened if you didn't pick a fight with me. Or, need I remind you that you took someone that belongs to me."

She laughed, "Ah, well that was Agatha. I'm a simple hag, that enjoys the thrill of the hunt and a good battle. My sister likes to do the thinking, while I provide the physical might. Aren't you going to call some of your friends over to help you?"

I frowned, realizing they were watching what was going on outside. I squinted, noticing a connection going from this hag, to the safe-house. She was talking to Agatha, even now. "May I ask the name of the one that seeks to hunt myself?" I enjoyed the time we took to chat, it gave me time to learn everything I could from Isaac and his memories. So many new things to test in the future, but by this point it was clear my bloodline was unique in how it worked.

The hag stood up, "Gertrude dear mother of death. You should answer my question, I want this to be a good fight after all." She flexed her muscles, under the jiggling blubber. Despite how much she looked like a grotesquely overweight woman, I knew she probably had as much strength as a fiend, or maybe just marginally weaker. What made it overbearing was how she was connected to her fiend, and how they were borrowing strength from each other.

"What does mother of death mean? I'd much rather you call me Mimi, or mistress when I make you kneel." I grinned down at the hag.

She returned my grin with one of her own, "Everything will make sense, but I'm tired of waiting. This is your last chance to bring friends dear mother~"

"I promise you, I alone am enough for you. I'm truly starting to enjoy the Underground and the battles I can fight." The fiend bellowed out a piercing cry and jumped from the building towards the two. The brute attempted to charge me, while Gertrude jumped onto his back. I merged into my shadow for a second, surprising the hag once more when she couldn't grab me. I traveled down the back of the fiend past Gertrude, before sliding behind and into the beast's shadow.

I reversed my momentum, launching back into the air. My explosive stingers pulsing as I began my descent. I felt her connection to Agatha, and severed the mental link. The fiend turned trying to ram me with its antlers, which I caught swinging towards its face. The first explosion cracking the helmet. The second shattering it to pieces. The third and final one piercing the fiend's eye and destroying the entire brain and most of its stem.

Gertrude roared with fury, leaping from the fiend's back to catch me before I hit the ground. We rolled, as her mouth frothed and spittle fell on me as she screamed. Of course she was surprised, I never did show Carter what all my stingers could do. It's one thing to watch out for poisons that paralyze, make you sleep, or outright kill you. It's another entirely to be on guard against explosives. I grinned under the mask of my combat form.

She ended up on top of me, while I held her hands in my own. Gertrude tried to use her leverage against me, attempting to twist my arms and break them again. The second set letting loose as I used blood magic to keep the coils from tearing the muscle completely. I heard a crunch from her arms, as I bent them the wrong direction. The hag howled in pain, as I twisted under her. Dragging her into the shadows with me. We were there for only a second, but she felt my mental connection forcing its way into her mind. My antenna touching her forehead as her body went limp.

I no longer needed to micromanage every bug, and the needs of their individual bodies. I had officers for that now. I didn't need to direct how every larvae needed to change for the caste they could become. I had a system in place with copies of my own mind for that. Truly, the Hive no longer needed me to guide its most basic functions. I just kept doing it out of habit, and to grow my focus.

Five seconds ticked by, as I stole every memory Gertrude had. Time meant nothing, and our connection was like a dream. I knew everything that Gertrude knew, all her secrets, every important aspect. I lived her life, while her mind was forced to endure two hundred fifty long years of being broken. She was a part of the Hive now, disconnected from it. She knew my plans, and the best way to save Richard, the safest way.

Her body spasmed, as she kicked off the ground biting into one of my antenna. She jerked her head, severing the sensitive thing and sending my body into shock. I moved a healing stinger to pretend I was trying to heal the damage, as she kicked me, catching the stinger. Her bones snapped into place while my body fell twitching from the shock and pain. Gertrude moved over me, punching my jaw, knocking the body out just as I used the final stinger to start the healing. My body was down, but it should restore the antenna by the time I was dragged to Agatha. All that was left was to wake up, and pretend I was still out.

A couple minutes passed, while I directed the others. Gray was pretending he was forced to deal with the living people that were called dolls by the hags. Gertrude was refusing to accept any connections from anyone, to better sell the illusion that I was bested. After all, they didn't have time to waste. Even while my body was dragged behind Gertrude, by a single leg. It was awake now, but kept itself from moving as the delicate antenna was still regrowing.

Isaac felt my plan was reckless, until he realized that I genuinely had Gertrude on our side. I never quite understood why others believed killing my favorite body would end everything for me. It would be inconvenient, and I would lose a lot of time and progress, but I could come back from the loss. The only thing I truly needed to do was help direct Argus' forces and make it seem desperate. That everything was dropped so that the Hive could rescue its queen.

I had at least ten minutes before my body went where it needed to go. I noticed that there were cramps, and the hunger from healing was more intense. It was very likely that my healing stingers accelerated the pregnancy. My body didn't look different when I peeked at it, but there was a pressure inside it now. Then I felt it, the tender connection of a newly forming mind. I witnessed a miracle, as a gentle soul began to form. A new link made inside my body.

I realized that I truly had another reason to not fail. The underdeveloped mind would be lost if my body was destroyed. It was a mistake to fight a war, and spend that night with Richard. I would still sacrifice this new soul for her father to make more, but now I knew it would sting. To think that even in my womb, she could connect with me. This unborn child offered only unconditional love, and that was a sensation I adored beyond words.

Those minutes my body was dragged through the streets and alleys were somewhat precious. The general sensation of the new life was simply love and happiness. I played with her, finding that she couldn't keep any memories yet. That she was quick to forget the second anything happened, but happy for having enjoyed a thought. Such a delicate mind, that I could force and imprint things and ideas on. I kept her connection only to my body, to protect her from the shifting ideas of the Hive and all the voices. This was just another secret to keep, since they were not ready to handle something so delicate.

Finally we arrived, as the entrance to the safe-house was slammed open. The final hour of this war was upon us. The one that started it all, waiting in this very room. Agatha, you have earned my full attention. I pulled away from the Hive, ready to see what might happen to a singular mind when I put every last bit of my focus on them. Enjoy your final moments Agatha, your knowledge will live on without you.