The Spider Queen

(Planet Caorn- Jasimin Island)

(International Spaceport- Gate 014)

Gate 014 was very quiet. There were only two people sitting down patiently in the waiting area for a spacecraft to arrive.

One of the girls was a seven-foot-tall hybrid with golden eyes and four blade-like appendages jutting out of her back.

She wore a plain black dress and a pair of combat boots that matched her attire.

The girl sitting next to her was a beautiful pale-skinned woman with gorgeous black hair and piercing green eyes.

She wore a simple pair of jeans and a navy-blue shirt. The two girls did not speak but their fingers were intertwined.

"You don't have to do this alone you know," Cleo whispered quietly as she leaned her head against Sophie's shoulder.

"Babe… I really want you with me but… I need to this by myself," Sophie replied softly as she gazed outside the window.

Dozens of spacecrafts were landing on the ground outside the spaceport, and she could see metalloid stairways emerging from their hulls.

Passengers walked down the stairs while metallic androids carried their luggage and carts. It was a busy sight.

"Principal Malik begged me to stay," Sophie tried to lighten the mood with a joke.

"Especially when the results of the second stage were published… I swear his tail drooped so low to the ground…"

"You don't have to pretend to be okay… I know how much this tournament meant to you," Cleo whispered gently as she touched Sophie's palm.

Sophie's voice trailed off and she blinked rapidly to fight back the tears that were welling up inside her eyes.

It wasn't fair.

She trained so hard… just to be able to follow in her father's footsteps and it was all for nothing.

He would never see her performance.

Sophie's fingers curled up into a tight fist as red-hot fury surged in her heart. She wanted whoever was responsible for her father's disappearance to pay.

She would kill them.

She would make them suffer.

A faint crimson mist began to spread from the corners of Sophie's golden eyes as her powers responded to her dark mood.

No… get a grip… stop this…

Sophie took in a few deep breaths and forced herself to calm down. She inhaled and exhaled while silently counting to ten over and over again.

She could not afford to lose control.

Not when so many eyes were watching. She was going to be the next head of House Peterlor, she could not afford to have any scandals.

Sophie was not naïve enough to think that her coronation would proceed smoothly.

Even with the help of her father's allies, there was enough anti-hybrid sentiments among the upper class to prove troublesome.

At least there was one advantage in her favour… she was the only heir.

Duke Peterlor had no children other than her. Sophie was also pretty sure that all of her closest relatives on her father's side were dead.

No one could challenge her for successorship.

Sophie let out a heavy sigh and grabbed Cleo's hand. Feeling the warmth of her girlfriend's palm did give her some comfort.

She was not alone.

Even though she felt lonely… there were people around her that cared for her well being.

"I am disappointed to not be able to take part in the final stage," Sophie confessed truthfully as she turned to face her girlfriend.

"I thought about using my Rsychosis technique to make clones to compete in my stead but… it really wouldn't be the same."

"Plus my mirror copies aren't as strong as me… if I compete then I always want to show my best effort."

"Everyone will know you were the strongest," Cleo smiled warmly as she leaned forward and kissed the bottom of Sophie's chin.

"And besides… there is always the next tournament. It won't be until we reach fourth year but… I have faith that you will be the number one."

"Thanks babe," Sophie's lips curved slightly upwards as she replied.

She opened her mouth to say a few more words when an announcement came from the speaker overhead.

[ATTENTION PASSENGERS OF GATE 014. YOUR SPACECRAFT HAS ARRIVED! PLEASE PROCEED IN AN ORDERLY FASHION THROUGH THE TERMINAL]

Sophie checked her wrist communicator and saw a message from Katarina. Apparently, the spaceship was ready for departure.

It was time to go.

Sophie slowly got up from her chair and looked at Cleo with a trace of reluctance in her gaze. She didn't want to leave.

Returning to planet Gaia… made it all seem real.

Her father was dead, and she needed to take control of his business empire.

She needed to plan his funeral… succeed him as the new head of the household…

Thinking of all these things made Sophie feel sick to her stomach and yet she could not allow a trace of hesitation or fear to show on her face.

Those vicious nobles would eat her alive for displaying weakness.

Sophie did not know what to say to Cleo so she simply pulled her into a tight embrace and fiercely kissed her on the mouth.

The kiss was long and lingering… Sophie could taste the sweet and intoxicating flavour of her girlfriend's lips and it was utterly addicting.

Finally, Sophie took a step back and broke the kiss. A small trace of saliva stained the corner of Cleo's lips and the blush on her face…

No… stop it! You need to leave!

Sophie shook her head and tried desperately to push down the thoughts that were running through her mind.

"I'll see you… make sure you win for me," Sophie spoke solemnly as she took one last look at the princess and then turned to walk away.

"Take care of yourself… call me every day, okay?" Cleo cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled as Sophie's back got further and further away.

The hybrid girl nodded and then drew in a shaky breath.

She walked through several long and winding corridors until she eventually arrived inside a massive hangar.

In the corner of the hangar was a medium-sized spacefaring vessel heavily armed with the latest shielding technology, cloaking devices and class one weaponry.

Katarina was taking no chances with her safety and had sent one of the most dangerous starships in Duke Peterlor' fleet.

Sophie nodded at the attendants standing by the door and proceeded towards the metalloid stairs that led to the interior of the starship.

In a couple of hours the news of her departure from the tournament would probably spread across the Virtual Net.

Sophie absentmindedly wondered what the reactions of the netizens would be like.

Would they feel sorry that they could not see her performance in the final round?

Or would some people be grateful that the first placed genius would no longer be a hybrid.

She walked up the metalloid stairs and was greeted by a squad of several men and women wearing the white uniform of House Peterlor.

"Greeting young miss," a middle aged man with a burn mark on his cheek bowed respectfully to Sophie.

The rest of the servants followed his lead and waited for Sophie's command.

"At ease. Take me to my private quarters," Sophie coldly ordered as she stepped inside with confidence.

From here on… she could not remove the mask on her face.

She was the calm and collected future duchess of House Peterlor.