(Again, you have failed ) me,” Korapira icily accused the pile of fresh corpses, sitting atop them tired and exasperated Relenting, she released her rage with an exhale “No, no, no Even failure, I must keep reminding myself, brings us closer and closer The children have already proven the principle But it’s so unpredictable And tiring The end seems so far away But we’re on the verge of another breakthrough, my lovelies I can feel it Oh, if only all the little wins weren’t so far apart.” With all tension suddenly evaporating from her body, Korapira sprawled, lounging upon her latest throne, as long, thin tendrils extended from her body to burrow deep within the heaped mound of still-warm flesh The soft skin of the twenty-odd corpses slowly pulling taunt over bone, the lingering luster and fullness of recent life fading Even the terror and agony etched into their lifeless faces seemed to lessen, dissolving into a mockery of peaceful contentedness Writhing sensually as she fed, she reached for every last tasty bit of life to strip away, her face betrayed the ecstasy of the act Sated , she lay curling and sleepy The corpses, noticeably less substantial than before, settled to support her comfortably “I’ll find it,” she whispered, eyes closed “That spirit, that drive, that ambition—that’s all my babies need.” Stroking one withered face, she murmured, “How wondrous and honored you must feel to be a part of all this The next generation! To play such a vital role as I usher in