Her

A motherly entity creates the perfect children, and they must pay homage to Her. If they don't, they must face Her wrath. Based on the album cover for Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin.

The sky was a glowing burnt orange, and the vast stone structure stretched on and on. The deep well gaped as the dark abyss yawned downwards.

This had been built for them by Her, and in return, they paid homage to Her. They had been sculpted perfectly by Her, with white pasty skin and platinum locks. They had never seen Her, but they were always grateful when the sky glowed vibrantly that one hour every two centuries. That was when they bowed to and worshipped Her.

They were, sadly, infertile in the minds of us, but they could create life, in a way. They did not birth infants, but they could produce creatures with the shapes of their bodies. This was their offering to Her.

On the occasion, one would not be able to please Her, and they were punished by Her. Their bodies would be twisted at the waist, making them unable to crawl or create a replacement. When the sky no longer contained Her, the light would fade, and they would retreat further down onto the structure. Except those who failed.

Unable to crawl or defend themselves, the Twisted Ones would lie in agony on the structure, near the dark deep well. When Her light had fully left the sky, a dim orange hue cascaded over the stone monument. And the creature from deep within the well could emerge.

They had never seen it, either. They just knew from their creation that it had been an abomination, a mistake. It had not come out as well as they had. It was not pure white with platinum locks. They didn’t know what it looked like. They just heard the screams of the Twisted Ones as it dragged them down into its lair.

This may seem cruel to those unfamiliar with their ways. But this was just their cycle. Her cycle. They were loved by Her, but nature had to be allowed to take its course of survival of the fittest. All of the Twisted Ones were grieved by Her. Since they were created, they knew of the undying love for them from Her. And it tore and twisted Her up inside every time one failed. Enough for Her emotions to materialize.