“Nothing but everything,” sang the Spider King as he slowly lowered himself to the floor of the cave. A thousand eyes locked onto him. Each a group of eight to his own two. The last of the line in the Arachnai— Bel stood by himself.

In another age, Bel would be known by his family title, Baal. But Bel Aracha didn’t live in another age. Nor did he live in the land of his ancestors. Instead, he stood in the vast network of caves in the southern states.

The air hung heavy in the cave. A damp, fetid mess. All the glossy eyes staring back at him. They waited for his pronouncement. They hadn’t waited for nothing.