Kass and I left the Manor early the next morning, and took a carriage to the crypt district. It wasn’t really a crypt, but an entire area under the city which housed many of the subterranean races. It might have started small, but over hundreds of years it had been expanded enough to hold thousands of residents.

  Narhas and her followers had been staying in the Spiders Rest, both the largest, and fanciest inn in the district. When we pulled up out front, Narhas was out front, directing a bunch of employees to pack her luggage on a nearby cart. She scowled the instant she saw me.

  “I thought you weren’t leaving until later today,” I said as I slipped out of the carriage.

  “And I thought if I left just a little bit earlier I could avoid your gloating. I guess you’re just as bad as the rest of our sisters,” Narhas hissed. Her followers flinched and slipped away from the both of us. I could only guess that they’d been on the receiving end of Narhas’s fury since yesterday, and didn’t want to get between us.

  “I’m not here to gloat,” I said softly. “I just want to understand why you did this? I left the Abyss so I wouldn’t have to deal with being bullied by any of you anymore, why did you feel the need to track me down again?”

  Narhas stomped angrily, her hands curled, it almost looked like she wanted to strangle me. “Because everything fell apart after you left! Without you to bully we fight constantly, and more often than not I come off on the losing end! I needed to prove myself, and you were the perfect target!” I watched in awe as the big sister I’d always been afraid of threw a hissy fit right there in front of me.

  “How would defeating me prove anything? While I was still back at the abyss you all beat me hard enough that I just gave up fighting. Gave up on all of you. What would beating me even prove?” I asked seriously.

  “I needed a win,” Narhas whined, slumping right there in the middle of the street.

  “Then why haven’t you changed up your strategies, tried to adapt? You’ve been using the same techniques for years now,” I asked blankly.

  “Bringing in help would be seen as weakness, and the others would just pick on me more, you know that,” Narhas hissed. “And what do you care? You just humiliated me.”

  “You humiliated yourself. You came into an arena that had prepared specifically for my combat style, and figured that you would bully me just the same way you did before,” I sighed. “You know when you first showed up I was a little afraid of what you’d do, but during our battle that changed. I don’t fear you anymore, I feel sorry for you all.”

  “Feel sorry for us, don’t make me laugh,” my sister screeched, rising up to her full height, face full of anger. “What could you possibly feel sorry about?”

  “Before I left the Abyss, I thought that’s how things were everywhere. That infighting was required, and strength was the only thing that mattered. Now that I’ve worked at the Manor for several months now, I know there’s more to life than proving your strength to others,” I told her softly.

  “Bullshit! Strength is all that matters. Without it, you will be ground into the dust,” Narhas spat.

  I scowled, “You know, I don’t know why I bothered coming out here. Some part of me thought I’d get some closure, that maybe you’d apologize for what you did all those years, but I should have known better. I may have changed, but it’s obvious that you haven’t.”

  Narhas stood tall in front of me, proud. Where once I found her silhouette so imposing, I now just saw her like a puffed up blow frog, trying to appear bigger than she really was.

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  I stared at my sister for several long seconds, trying to figure out if there was anything I could say that would get through her thick head. Probably nothing meaningful. Maybe one of my less stubborn sisters, but not this one. “If you really want to prove your strength, then work on your endurance. Start working out so you don’t have to rely upon your magic during longer matches. I’m not the only one that noticed, some of our other sisters rely upon your low endurance while fighting you,” I finally told Narhas. “If you really worked at it, you’d probably see significant improvements within a month.”

  Narhas looked at me suspiciously. “Why are you telling me that? Why would you help me?”

  I shrugged, “You said you’re having problems, and I know what you could do to improve. Like it or not, we’re still sisters, and I don’t lose anything by giving you a little advice.”

  Narhas smirked. “You say that, but it’s only a matter of time until the Abyss and Manor face each other in a Duel. And at that time, I’ll crush you properly.”

  I scoffed. “I doubt that, your endurance isn’t your only weakness, just your biggest one. I’ll have other ways to deal with you by the time we see each other again.” Narhas didn’t say anything, she just stood there, smirking. “What?” I finally asked.

  “When that day comes I have no doubt our sisters will want all the glory, and they’ll see you as easy prey. I’ll wait until a few of them wear you down, before coming for you,” Narhas said. “I cannot wait to see a few of them get humbled. Once you’re worn down, I’ll finish you.”

  “And now you try to think ahead, and use tactics?” I mumbled under my breath. “I can’t believe I used to be afraid of you.” I stood up straight, looked my sister straight in the eye, and held out my hand. “I can’t say I enjoyed your visit, but it was good to see you again. I’ll see you again soon.”

  My sister looked me up and down cautiously, before finally taking my hand and shaking. “See you soon,” she hissed in agreement.

  I turned away from my Narhas and her entourage, only to find Kass eyeing the entire group up suspiciously. I gently took one of her arms and led her back towards the waiting carriage. “I honestly thought she was going to lunge at you when we arrived. That girl has control issues,” Kass whispered to me.

  “She has a lot more than that,” I whispered back. “I just didn’t see it before.”

  As we settled into our seats, and the carriage set off, Kass watched me for a minute. “Are you alright? It really didn’t seem like you got any closure back there, but you’re pretty calm.”

  “I’m fine,” I replied. “I hoped that the two of us could reach some sort of common ground, but the two of us live in different worlds now. What we want, and what is expected of us is completely different. I’ll just have to accept that she’ll never understand me.”

  “And you’re okay with that?” Kass asked nervously.

  “Of course. I may have grown up in the Arachne Depths, but I never felt at home there. After leaving, and becoming an adventurer I felt better, but it wasn’t until I came to the Manor that I actually felt at home anywhere,” I told her. “I wouldn’t give you guys up for anything.”

  “Good!” Kass declared as she slithered across the cab and sat next to me, pulling me into a tight hug. “We don’t want to give you up either.”

  The two of us just stayed there, enjoying the embrace for a minute, and when Kass pulled away she just put two arms around my back and rested her head against my shoulder. “So, what are you planning to do once we get back to the Manor.”

  I thought about it for a second, “First of all, I’m going to make sure that George isn’t causing chaos. Even though I left him with Bella, he doesn’t really like to listen, as you know,” I said.

  “Oh, I know,” Kass confirmed. “And then?”

  “I’m going to start doing research,” I told her.

  Kass groaned. “Why? Didn’t you just finish preparing for your match with your sister? What could you possibly want to look into next?”

  “The Abyss,” I said seriously. “We may have won the opening battle, but we still need to fight the rest of the war.”

  Kass snorted, “That is the corniest thing I’ve heard in awhile, but you do what you need to. I’ve got your back.”

  I nodded then leaned into Kass, enjoying her warmth as the two of us made our way back home.

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