Phantom Chained

Chapter 3. Intrusion. Elm.

Quod est inferius est sicut id quod est superius.**

The nebulae become clearer, the stars dimmer, and a vibration builds inside me, turning the perception of this layer inside-out.

Et quod est superius est sicut est inferius, ad perpetranda miracula.***

A silent explosion expels chunks of nebulae and shards of stars. Before me, I see the furry tentacles of a spiral galaxy. I need to get there, into the middle, into the core. Help me, Fortuna mia, sei tutto per me, lo sai, Preziosa!*

I freeze in expectation of Cerberus. Soon I start moving cautiously, every second fully expecting to see my damsel's guardians. But time passes, but I am not met by anyone. No sword-wielding angels threatening the filthy demon, no impenetrable wall covered in Arabic script to repel the cursed Djinn. What the hell, there is absolutely nobody here!

This can only mean one thing: my girly is completely indifferent to religious doctrines. Even if she was pagan, I would've had to come upon some long-haired man with a hammer. I still remember how one of them once chased me all the way to Atman, not letting me set foot anywhere near the Gates. But a complete lack of guardians? That's a pleasant turn of events.

I walk through the gates as if walking into a hospitable home.

On the next layer, I don't have to fear losing my pitiful leftover energy anymore, there's plenty inside here. I rise up and take a look around, enjoying being able to feel again.

Right behind the Gates, I am greeted by a continuous stone wall covered in tunnel holes. The entrance is covered in knotted and torn webs, and there is a cave on each side of the wall. Father's cave is empty, nothing unusual. Hooked chelicerae stick out of the Mother's cave.

Motherly protection isn't something I want to mess with. I need to hurry up and get through this damn web. No big deal, I'll just... little by little... almost...

Che cazzo! The sticky web caught against me.

Ma che pirla!

The chelicerae twitched, followed by two hairy appendages appearing, and the couple of black eyes already having me in focus. I can only stay still, pretending to be part of the scenery. But you can't fool the brood mother that easily. Forward or back? I don't know what the spider's attack will entail, but turning back would certainly be worse than death.

What is she waiting for? To my complete surprise, the spider indifferently scuttles back into her cave. Wonderful. Hey, mommy, so it's okay if I take your daughter and...

Huh... whatever, it's better for me anyway. Makes me feel bad for the girl though. Not really an orphan, but not needed by anyone either.

Nobody but me, my dear. I'm running to you, losing my head from desire and hunger.

The stone labyrinth is empty, save for a few tiny childish defences flopping onto me from within the holes. I flick them off without slowing my pace. The rest fussily chase after me like chicks behind their mother, how amusing! Ah, how long has it been since I've last laughed? Or sang? Maybe I'll sing something right now.

Core, core 'ngrato,

T'aie pigliato 'a vita mia,

Tutt' è passato e

E nun ce pienze cchiù.**

Just like that, with a song, I fly from the dark tunnel onto a field overgrown with flowers. The sweet scent of irises slightly intoxicates me, but I am already drunk with the anticipation of immeasurable happiness. Fortuna mia, I am in awe of your generosity; a dense field of flowers with not even a hint of a path anywhere. My baby, virgin, pure! She is fully, completely, from head to toe, to the last drop, mine.

Above the flowery meadow stands tall a house. Not quite a castle, but towers, balconies and lancet windows are present. It's an ordinary view, every girl dreams to live in a stone-laced like such, filled with their hopes and dreams.

And one of the biggest dreams of a young princess is getting captured.

The kidnapping of a princess is an embodiment of the desire to be unique, important, needed. But after that... maybe the prince comes along and kills the dragon, maybe the dragon turns out to be a lovely prince himself. In every case, the transition from princess to queen is accompanied by intense intercourse.

My advance is met with forked flames rising and surrounding the house. The girl is afraid and resisting with full strength. Cara mia, you can't scare a dragon with fire!

I allow myself to spend the rest of my strength to absorb the flames into myself, making them rage inside. Wavy streams of hidden desires rise to the surface; streams of romantic images, of girly midnight fantasies. They grow and thicken by my will, forming an image of the perfect lover, one that this girl's body can't refuse no matter how much her mind protests.

With a swift kick, I break down the carved wooden door.

Beautiful maiden! Accept your Dragon!

*(From Latin: Horrible emptiness, Argus the All-seeing, I have nothing, I care about nothing.)

**(From Latin: That which is below is relative to that which is above.)

***(From Latin: That which is above is relative to that which is below in order to create miracles.)

*(From Italian: Dear, you're everything to me, you know it better than anyone!)

**(Elm sings a famous Italian song, 'Core 'ngrato')