Chapter 63 - 60: Little Spider
Steam curled gently through the dimly lit bathroom as water sloshed softly in the oversized tub. Ellen sat on the edge of it, sleeves rolled up, carefully bathing the unconscious arachness. Despite her massive spider half, the tub—likely constructed for alien anatomies—was just barely large enough to accommodate her. Ellen had positioned her in a way that let her rest with minimal strain, her spider legs slightly curled and tucked to avoid awkward bends.
Ellen's touch was surprisingly gentle for someone known to tear through Ethereals with brute strength. She started with the arachness's human half, the part of her that was now exposed for the first time. The black, hardened exoskeletal plates that once covered her torso had come off like discarded armor, revealing smooth, pale skin beneath. It was clear she took care of herself—her skin, though faintly glowing with an otherworldly pallor, was soft and unmarred.
Ellen used a cloth soaked in warm water and cleanser, working slowly down from her shoulders. She wiped carefully along the collarbone, down her arms, across her back, and the sides of her neck. There was something serene about the way she moved—deliberate, respectful. As if acknowledging the trust this unconscious being had unknowingly given her.
Moving to the spider half was more challenging. The chitin plates gleamed faintly in the steam, a deep black with iridescent hints. Ellen grabbed a longer brush and some gentle polish-like soap she had stored for moments like this, scrubbing along the joints and legs with practiced precision. She worked around the segmented body, brushing in smooth, long strokes, and carefully cleared any debris stuck between the legs or beneath the plating.
Once she was satisfied, Ellen drained the tub and lifted the arachness with practiced strength. She dried her gently with towels, moving carefully over her human half first, then the spider half—wiping each leg and joint dry until no moisture remained. Her touch was tender, almost maternal.
She carried her to a temporary room aboard Acheron's spaceship. The room was dim and warm, lined with cloth and starlight peeking from the viewport. Setting the arachness down on the custom bedding designed for her frame, Ellen opened her pocket dimension and pulled out a folded skirt. It wouldn't fit over the spider half, but it was something. She draped it nearby in case she wanted to use it later.
Without another word, Ellen turned, stepped quietly out of the room, and shut the door behind her.
She exhaled. Now she needed to find Acheron. They had unfinished business to talk about—especially after the bounty hunt incident. Her boots echoed in the metallic corridors of the ship as she began her search.
Ellen found Acheron in the spaceship's living room, her long black hair cascading down her back as she tended to a row of exotic plants lining the window. Despite the chaos that always seemed to follow them, there was something peaceful about this moment—Acheron humming quietly, misting leaves with care, as starlight filtered through the viewport.