The Spider Queen

(Alpha Star System- Planet Gaia)

(Hireyn City- Private Amphitheatre)

Hireyn city was located two hundred thousand miles away from the capitol. It was a city surrounded by several thick metalloid walls.

An exclusive no- fly zone that encompassed the entire city was enforced by a team of police and all unauthorized vehicles would be shot down.

This city was for aristocrats only.

Commoners no matter how wealthy or powerful were not allowed to enter unless accompanied by someone with a noble bloodline.

In the northernmost region of the city was a massive amphitheater that was usually the home of plays, shows and other live performances.

However today it served a different purpose.

The air buzzed with excitement as thousands of nobles entered the amphitheater and sat down according to their ranks.

Dukes and other high ranked nobles sat down towards the front row while barons and viscounts were assigned to the back rows.

No one complained since this was an expected arrangement.

The stage of the amphitheater had been expanded and now included a red carpet on the ground that led to its centre.

The red carpet ended at a raised platform that was wide enough to hold twenty people.

A spotlight was currently shining down on the platform and bathing it in a warm yellow glow.

The symbol of House Peterlor was printed on the many flags that hung around the amphitheater.

The symbol had been changed several times over the centuries and it was now a pale skinny hand grasping a circlet of shattered glass.

It was supposed to represent the early trials of House Peterlor when they were lesser nobles who only owned a single moon.

In addition to the decorations, dozens of mechanical androids walked around the open hall passing out food, glasses of wine, and other refreshments.

Men and women wearing dark clothing melted away into the shadows and observed the room for any unseen threats or disturbances.

There were other security measures of course.

Even getting close to the amphitheater required one to go through a series of checkpoints and security barriers.

Sophie was not going to take any chances.

Speaking of Sophie...

The hybrid girl closed her eyes as a make-up brush was lightly tapped against the side of her cheek.

She could feel a thin film-like substance being placed over her lips to make them appear redder and someone was zipping up the back of her dress.

She was currently getting ready in a side room connected to the hall.

Four maids fussed around her as they tried their best to make sure she looked as good as possible.

"Remember I just want light make-up," Sophie gently reminded as she felt something hit the top of her forehead.

Today was the day.

Truthfully... she felt nervous.

It still didn't feel real even though she was just minutes away from inheriting the position as the head of an upper ranked noble family.

Would her father be proud of her?

Sophie didn't know but she could only hope that he would be. She missed him. There was a part of her that did not want to go through with the ceremony.

There was a sense of finality to it.

It was as if she became the duchess of House Peterlor then a connection that she shared with her father would disappear.

Obviously it was an irrational fear but...

Sophie let out a heavy sigh as she resisted the urge to place her face in her palms and rub the sides of her temples.

No... she had to do this.

"All done!" one of the older maids said in a proud tone.

Her words snapped Sophie out of her musings, and she opened her eyes. There was a large mirror in front of her and she could see her reflection.

A gorgeous young woman stared back at her.

Her beauty was so great that it appeared to be unnatural as if she had been created by the gods themselves.

She had sharp angular facial features, golden eyes, pointed ears and fangs that gleamed slightly under the light.

She wore a long black dress with four holes cut of its back for her terrifying blade-like appendages.

The dress was a midnight black colour and precious stones had been embedded into the fabric that glowed brightly as she moved from side to side.

These rare gems set against the darkness of her dress resembled stars in the night sky.

Sophie's lips curved upwards and the person in the mirror also smiled. It was a smile that did not reach their eyes.

Knock! Knock!

There was a light tapping noise against the door and then it swung open. Cleo walked into the room and her jaw dropped to the floor.

"You... you... look... wow..." the princess stuttered nervously as a fierce red blush appeared on her cheeks.

She was wearing a light blue uniform and her usually messy black hair had been braided into a single long ponytail.

"Do I look good?" Sophie teased as she walked up to her girlfriend and gently stroked the side of her cheek.

"When the ceremony is over... I'll..."

The hybrid girl leaned in closer and whispered some naughty words in Cleo's ear that made the princess' blush get even worse.

Seeing Cleo made the smile on Sophie's face more genuine.

In just a few hours the ceremony would be over and she would be able to return to her normal life.

Go back to university, hang out with her friends, and do bounty hunting missions across the Hydra Star System.

She could play virtual reality games using her headset and spend a lazy afternoon surrounded by books.

She would have to spend a great deal of money to hire mercenaries and administrators to run the various companies under her control, but Sophie considered the expenses as necessary.

She would make the big decisions but for minor matters it was better to outsource the work to competent people.

"I... I came to tell you that it's time," Cleo whispered softly as she stretched out her palm and took Sophie's hand.

She gave her girlfriend's hand a light squeeze of comfort which Sophie appreciated. She squeezed back and enjoyed the warm touch of Cleo's skin.

"Any troublemakers so far?" Sophie asked quietly as she walked towards the doors still holding Cleo's hand.

"Well, I heard there were a few nobles kicking up a fuss about the quality of the wine that they were served but other than that..." Cleo replied with a wink.

"Just the usual complaints and fussing."

Sophie laughed softly at her girlfriend's words. She opened the door and arrived at a winding corridor that led to the main stage.

Her enhanced hearing could detect the conversations happening around the large hall and while some were positive others were... less so.

"What type of succession ceremony do you think that the heiress to House Peterlor will choose?"

"Well, I do see some priests from the Nephilim Church over there so maybe a religious one? I don't think her father was religious though..."

"This is a disgrace! A hybrid cannot be the head of an upper-class noble family! What kind of message would that send!"

"Keep your voice down you idiot! We are just barons... do you really want to fall on the bad side of a duchess?"