The Eating Woods, #2
Eldritch
by Keri Lake
Contents
Chapter 78
Overview
Lost in the Rotting Tree’s root labyrinth, Maevyth is hunted and overpowered by a Cadavros‑puppeted Zevander. To free him from possession, she pretends to accept an eternal bond and makes him drink her blood.
Zevander collapses as his scorpion stings itself and spiders pour from his mouth, leaving him lifeless while Maevyth begs Morsana.
Summary
Maevyth wanders a fog‑choked labyrinth of roots beneath the Rotting Tree, disoriented by hissing steam pockets and a nauseating green glow. Hearing something close in, she flees until Zevander—void‑eyed and feral—tackles her, pinning her and searing her from within with golden heat. Recognizing Cadavros’s control and the absence of Zevander’s will, Maevyth resolves to stop the monster wearing his face.
Choosing a desperate gambit, Maevyth lies that she accepts an eternal bond, offering herself to distract him. As he loosens his grip, she slashes her own throat with a metallic nail and forces him to drink her blood, hoping to undo the possession even at the risk of killing him.
A distant voice bellows “No!” as Zevander recoils, panic flickering in his eyes. His scorpion familiar tears free, then repeatedly stings itself. Zevander arches in agony, choking as spiders spill from his mouth and fade to smoke; then both he and the scorpion go still in a crushing silence.
Maevyth checks for breath and heartbeat, tries to rouse him with shaking and breath, and breaks down when his skin cools and he does not wake. Cradling him, she cries out to Morsana to give him back, left with the apparent cost of her choice and the dread of what she may have done to save him from enslavement.
Who Appears
- MaevythLost beneath the Rotting Tree, she tricks possessed Zevander into drinking her blood, leading to his collapse; pleads to Morsana.
- Zevander (Zev)Puppeted attacker with void-black eyes; burns Maevyth from within, drinks her blood, scorpion emerges, and he collapses motionless.
- CadavrosImplied controller of Zevander’s body, driving the predatory assault until Maevyth’s blood breaks the hold.
- Scorpion (Zevander’s familiar)Separates from Zevander, repeatedly stings itself, then lies still as spiders disperse from Zevander’s mouth.
- MorsanaDeity invoked by Maevyth in desperate plea to return Zevander after his apparent death.