The Master dragged me out through the open archway behind the Queen. I couldn’t move a muscle, just flop along in numb paralysis. My mind whirled. She had touched me. Our majestic Queen had touched me. My stomach was covered in her eggs. But the glory of the moment gave way to my dawning horror as the Master dragged me farther from her exquisite presence.
The caverns on this level were all covered in the glowing slime. Shallow pools of standing water flanked each side of the path I slid across. Although I couldn’t turn my head, I could see to each side.
In each of the pools lay shapeless forms, ringing the edges and extending into the water. In that first chamber, I couldn’t tell anything more than that.
The next chamber held more of the pools. The forms that ringed the edges were more recognizable here. Six or eight to a pool, the great gray water beasts were positioned with their heads out of the water and what remained of their bodies submerged. The beasts were all dead, shriveled husks, thin and hollow.
In the next chamber, the truth became so obvious that even in my confused state I could hardly miss it. The water beasts were still alive. So were the boys.
Two boys that had disappeared over a week ago lay alongside the beasts, their heads on the edge and bodies in the water. Their chests were sunken, cheeks sagging under dull skin. Only their slow breathing and the darting of their wide eyes hinted that they still lived. An older woman lay next to them in the same state.
Their bellies were squirming masses of larvae. Beast and Lowform alike were covered in giant larvae, each as thick as my thigh and as long as my forearm. Shiny and pale, their bodies waved in the shallow water, heads buried in the living flesh of their hosts. And beside them all lay the Feral from the beach, the pale thing that had burst from the trees and run straight for me. He had been stripped of his clothing, the eggs on his belly large and glistening.
The Master dragged me into the next room. Four of the water beasts were already positioned around the shallow pool, submerging the eggs cemented into their gray skin in the warm water. Gil and Jerome had been laid next to them, faces out and bodies in. Their chests rose and fell slowly, making ripples in the dirty water. Their bellies were covered in eggs, tunics pulled up around their necks. The Master laid me next to Jerome.
I struggled to move, but my arms and legs felt as if they were no longer attached to my head. My eyes moved a bit, but I couldn’t turn my head to meet the gaze of the boys on each side of me. It was just as well. What could our panicked eyes have shared?
There was no illusion in my mind. This was how I would die. Emotions warred inside my still body as I lay there in the pool, listening to the quiet breaths of the water beasts, my friends, and myself. Was there any higher honor than to die for the Queen? To give my body to nourish new Masters? In a tiny way, I would be part of those Masters who were born of my flesh. Though I would die, I might live in them.
Idiot. You’re nothing to them. You’re no better than a stupid water beast. Worse, actually. You walked willingly to your own death.
The thought seemed to come from some other Noah. Never in my fifteen years could I have imagined such treacherous ideas.
But it’s true. You’re no different than a shellfish. They harvest you and still you thank them for it.
I wanted to scream, but no sound came from my throat.
The glowing blue walls faded to black overhead in the quiet cavern.
***
My finger twitched. It made a little splashing sound in the water.
It’s wearing off. Maybe you can escape.
I concentrated, willing the finger to twitch again.
The finger was stubborn, but my right toe responded.
Yes! That’s it. Move the foot. Stand up. Run.
I was almost able to wiggle my whole right foot when my vision darkened as a Master loomed over me. Its tail made a whooshing noise as it swung around to sting me, but I felt nothing.
My foot went still.
***
The betrayal was agony.
I trusted them. Worshiped them. Our magnificent Masters, who cared for us and protected us . . . how could they use me like this?
Because it’s what you were born for. They are great, and you are small. Be glad you can serve in this way.
The unuttered scream rose in my throat. We breathed in darkness.