The Crimson Tale of Conquest

For the next three day, Anastasia has observed Lucilla. The bags she saw underneath her eyes the other day have become more and more prominent as time went on. The poor woman looked like a walking corps as she dragged herself from place to place. She also noticed that Lucilla went to the bathroom constantly. Not to use it, but to wash her hands. Randomly throughout the day Lucilla would look down at her hands, frown and make her way to the closest sink and aggressively scrub at them. Those moment usually ended in her growing frustrated and punching a wall.

Today was the night of her sister funeral, and she looked about as bad as she could get. Her cloths looked well put together, so it looked like she tried to be presentable, but her eyes. Her vibrant crimson eyes were dulled and devoid of life. Her hair a messy tangled mess cascading around her. The moonlight barely reflecting of her hair as it's normal sheen was muted. She didn't wear shoes, but Anastasia was told that was normal for her.

Even her niece who was appose of holding a funeral here for strangers held her tongue when she laid eyes on the Silver haired woman. They watched as she stood next to the fresh open grave, the casket sitting above the hole ready to be lowered. No one from Anastasia's side apart from herself and her niece was present. Other than them, only the four other individuals Lucilla brought with her were present.

"Ready when you are Lucilla." Judieth said softly.

"Yuki isn't even here...." The silver haired woman lamented quietly looking down at the casket holding her sister's body. Taking in a breath and slowly releasing it she looked back at Judieth. "I- um, I'm ready."

Together with Maisy and Cristina helping the two of them, they lowered the wooden box into the grave. Once it touched the bottom, Lucilla and the others let go of the ropes they were using to lower the body, letting them fall into the grave. Once they finished that, the crimsoned eyed woman walked over to the mound of dirt nearby and grabbed a handful before walking back.

"I'm...." She paused, a look of uncertainty crossing her face before she continued. "I'm sorry. I should've been better, and I promise I'll do better. I- I won't let Yuki die. I'll protect her."

After making her declaration, she tossed the dirt into the hole. She stood in place for a few seconds longer, before backing away, letting Judieth take her place. The Doctor walked over to the grave with her own hand full of dirt. She looked into the grave, before tossing the dirt in. For a second, Anastasia thought she wasn't going to say anything, but she then put her hands together in prayer.

"Veris may you safely guide this soul to the afterlife. May they be welcomed into the home of the dead. May Ovana take care of this soul and let them spend their days without worry. May Morella Crimson rest in peace, so that those she left behind can live on without worry."

After she finished Judieth backed away from the grave. No one else stepped forward. Sara didn't know Morella well enough to feel comfortable stepping forward. Maisy was in a similar situation as the young girl and silently stood off to the side. Cristina felt it would be inappropriate if she tried saying something as if they were close friends. The only two people with any relations with the water Nymph present had already said their piece and wear standing next to the large pile of dirt, already picking up the shovels.

"I would appreciate it if the rest of you left." Lucilla said, shovel by her side.

"Of course." Anastasia responded. She and everyone present excluding Judieth made their way back inside the Citadel.

-- -- --

With a piece of parchment in her hand, Lucilla sat in her bedroom alone looking at it with nothing but the moon light from her window illuminating the room. It was a pencil sketch that Morella had made, with the three of them standing in front of the Fay Forest. They never arrived at the Forest together, making this an unfulfilled dream that would never come true. Her sister didn't have a lot of personal effects, making this one drawing one of the only things she has to remember her by. They had found it on the Nymphs body while preparing it for the funeral.

She found herself starring at this picture a lot lately. Every time she woke from a nightmare, she would seek it out for comfort as sleep escaped her once more. Whenever she closed her eyes for too long all she could see is her sister being bisected by the Hero. The blood of her sister that only stained her hands before had slowly crept up her arms from every subsequent nightmare, making her albino skin look dark in comparison. The bags underneath her eyes had grown fairly noticeable to everyone, even at a casual glance.

Thanks to these sleepless nights she's bumped into their host in her living room multiple times already. Lucilla wasn't entirely sure when the Arachnea Queen sleeps since she seemed to always be up no matter the time. She appreciated the company.

*Knock, Knock*

"May I come in?" Requested Anastasia from the other side of her bedroom door.

Lucilla heisted slightly before getting up from her bed and made her way to the door. Pulling it open she was greeted with the spider woman in her humanoid form, concern etched across her face. Stepping aside, the Crimsoned eyed woman gestured for her guest to enter. With a nod of thanks Anastasia walked into the room, sitting down on one of the sofas located in the room.

"What can I do for?" Lucilla asked sitting next to the Arachne.

"I've come to check on you. See how you're holding up."

Lucilla looked at the spider woman for a moment, unable to answer right away. She wasn't alright, but she had to be. She must be alright. She still had to tell Yuki that she got their sister killed and make sure she's going to be okay. All she had to do was suck it up and deal with it. Taking in a breath to calm herself the monster woman gave finally gave her answer.

"I will be." She turned her head away, unable to meet Anastasia's gaze. "Just give me a moment and I'll get over it. No need to worry about me."

Anastasia frowned hearing Lucilla's answer. Noticing that the young woman in front of her had her hands clasp together, she reached out for them with her bottom pair of hands, holding them between her own. "It doesn't have to be me, but you really should talk with someone." She started.

Before She could continue however Lucilla ripped her hands free and back away, panic evident. "Wait! don't touch me I'll stain you too!" She shouted looking at Anastasia hands.

The older woman looked down and didn't really see what the silver haired woman was talking about. Her hands looked cleaned to her. She looked back at Lucilla wanting answers but stopped herself from speaking when she noticed the confused expression on her face.

"What's the matter?" Inquired Anastasia.

"N- nothing, just... there's nothing there."

Not really knowing what she was talking about, but realizing that something was wrong, she moved closer her. She used her bottom pair of hands to grasp Lucilla's own, and used her top pair to grab her head, turning it to look directly into her eyes. She leaned closer to the younger woman, close enough that they could feel each other's breath hitting them. The distinct scent of a heated forge hitting Lucilla's senses. Too startled to react, the Silver haired woman didn't pull away and just looked into the crimson eyes of the Arachne.

"I'm here for you Lucy. You don't have to talk, but you clearly need some type of support." Anastasia said softly. "If it's just a shoulder to cry on, or someone to vent your frustrations too, I'm here."

"I...."

"You've been having nightmares, right?"

"...."

Lucilla didn't answer her, but her silence was answer enough. "How about resting right now with me present? It's late already, and you need sleep. Do you really want you sister to see you like this?"

Lucilla once again didn't answer and adverted her gaze once more. Since she couldn't move her head, she simply looked down to where her hands were held by Anastasia. However, seeing the blood that had slowly been creeping up her arm rapidly disappearing shook her. The retreating blood wasn't fast by any means, but still noticeable enough for Lucilla to wonder what was happening.

"Well? If you don't want to talk, try sleeping with another person next to you?" Anastasia suggested once more when she didn't answer.

Returning her own crimson eyes to look into the spider womans. She nodded with affirmation. In response the spider woman to her head and laid it atop her lap. Brushing the silver hair that fell over face. The two of them sat in silence, with nothing but the moonlight for company. The heated scent of a forge and Anastasia's soft thighs and even breathing slowly and carefully lulling Lucilla to sleep. Her mind was muddled with fatigue, slowly fading from reality.

"I do apologize for being so forceful." Spoke the older woman, her words barely reaching Lucilla. "But I realized you just weren't responding to a gentle approach. Hope you rest well Lucy; I'll see you in the morning."

With those parting words, the monster woman finally fell into a calm and peaceful sleep.

____________________

Lucilla awoke slowly the next morning. The first thing she was greeted with was the sleeping face of Anastasia above her. She was momentarily confused when the events of the night before came flooding back to her. Embarrassed she carefully extracted herself from the spider woman. Once up she stretched out her body, feeling surprisingly refreshed for the first time in a while. She looked around her room awkwardly, not sure what to do with the sleeping spider.

She went to scratched her an itch on her noise as she contemplated this when something caught her eye. Her hand. It was almost completely free from the white blood. There was still a small amount on her hands, but for the most part they were clear. She stared at them in disbelief for several minutes, only breaking free thanks to Anastasia waking up on the couch in front of her.

"Mmm, morning already?" Anastasia said groggily. She scanned the room half awake, but when her eyes landed on Lucilla she broke out into a smile. "Good morning, Lucy. Did you sleep well."

"I did." Lucilla said, giving her a firm nod. "Thank you, Anna... I needed that."

"You are welcome." Standing she walked towards the door. "Come, let us enjoy some breakfast."

Not looking to see if she was going to follow, the Queen opened the bedroom door and to leave. Lucilla hesitated for a moment before following her out the room hurrying to catch up. They didn't speak, but they walked side by side as they made their way towards the kitchen. Lucilla's own steps, while not lively, were definitely full of more life than before.