5. An enemy to my friend is my….? #3
Of course he knows these lands hold shifters of the most dangerous kinds.
Buried beneath this ice are bodies he has left in his wake, erasing fays for as little as raising their tones, to initiating a battle with him.
I can’t be convinced otherwise after he reappears at Rebirth time and time again drenched in snow.
“Must you use such unbefitting language, Angie?” He side-eyes me. “And she’s fine. By some chance, if Kyra did encounter one and was killed, then she wasn’t a fay after all, and I’m justified. Plus, a favor would’ve been done on my behalf.” His smile widens.
I suck my teeth, contesting his bullshit.
“We’re leaving, and I don’t care if she’s a mortal or a fay; you’re forbidden from killing her.
” Not allowing him a rebuttal, I wave my hand and undo the magic.
Kyra’s complexion has turned a blistering, murky red shade, and drops of water freeze into thin sheets of ice beneath her footing.
Yet, she doesn’t miss a beat and continues stampeding towards us.
Fury shows in the depths of her features, and though this cold has her flesh lined with miniature bumps, the shivers of her muscles aren’t enough to cool her anger. I cast a warming incantation, but with her teeth bared and fists clenched, I feel I’m adding kindle to the flames of her rage.
“If the mortal passes our Awakening, she’ll live. For however short that time may be, is up to you. There’s your warning.” He sneers and magic gathers over his hand as he prepares to summon a sigil .
Kyra approaches in haste, ready to attack when a pair of mastodonic reptilian eyes appear through the white mist behind her, accompanied by an even larger pair of sharp fangs, glistening against the sun’s rays.
What the hell is that? Its body slithers closer, stretching upwards to an unclimbable height, until a silhouette casts an ecliptic shadow over us.
“Look out behind you!” I scream, and Kyra glances back before scurrying around me in a panic.
“What the fuck is that?”
A clamorous rumble trembles the earth, and a viper slams down, creating an explosion of snow from its sheer weight. My hands flex, ready to conjure an ashen sigil.
“Don’t move,” Ethan advises.
“Fuck that. I’m not dying here,” Kyra bites.
“I don’t care what you do, mortal. Angie. Don’t. Move.”
The viper’s scales pierce the ground with ease, advancing and kicking up debris as a roaring hiss shakes my core. Like a statue on display, I freeze. This majestic, yet terrifying beast commands fear, and I unwillingly oblige. Ethan, on the other hand, doesn’t and ventures closer.
“Don’t you dare,” I warn, gritting my teeth, yet he refuses to heed me.
The viper lifts skywards and slams again, prompting a massive whirlwind of snow, engulfing them both, leaving Kyra and I ten or so feet away.
Whatever spell was cast upon me, relinquishes, and I move in front of Kyra in case it attacks.
Legend states their speed is unmatched. They are able to strike before a fay can finish a single blink.
It’s fucking insane. If it takes Ethan out, it’ll be up to me to get us back safely.
Although, I’m not sure how, when it can attack faster than I can summon a sigil.
While Ethan holds its attention, my wrist flicks, and I mutter the barrier spell, “Obex,” placing a translucent ward of protection around us, with sparks of white light. Trapped inside, I strategize a way of getting all three of us out, but movement gains my focus as the snake strikes.
Kyra whispers, “Do you think he’s dead?” And I groan.
“That’s a Saw-scaled Viper, the deadliest snake in our realm with venom so potent, your organs liquify. A full-grown viper can destroy hundreds of fays with one swing of its tail, and its fangs are sharp enough to slice through mountains in a single bite.”
“Yeah, he’s definitely dead then,” she says, without care.
Another hiss roars beyond the snowy fog, and from its tail, a gust of wind clears it. I peer where the viper lays and find Ethan unmoving beneath its head. Horror pounds against my ribs with an increased thud, but I refuse to accept this possibility.
“Stay here. If I can’t kill it, I’ll return you to your realm.
” Scuttering through the barrier, panic rises along with my palm, and the beast leans forward, blocking Ethan from view with its mouth agape.
Drool spills from the corners like acid rain.
“Freeze!” I command, but it has no effect.
In return for a failed attempt, jaded eyes glow, warning me against getting too close.
Another deafening hiss locks my body before I slide to a complete halt. Once warming blood, now turning cold, drifts through my veins at a much slower rate, materializing into stone-like crystals.
Massive, iridescent scales lift into a striking pose, and I find Ethan laying there with a widening smile.
“Your expression appears faint, Angie. Has someone died?” he snickers, staring up amused. I still can’t move while this beast’s magic is in play, but through my forming tears, I want nothing more than to feel my fist crack against his teeth.
“I thought you were dead, asshole!” I blink back the pathetic show of emotions for the likes of him.
“Language, Angie.” Ethan huffs an exhausting breath. “Okay, that’s enough, Celine. Let me up.” He pats her hulking body, but the viper disregards his command, keeping her focus on me. She lowers, almost eye level, and my fists clench, the only movement I’m able to complete.
I’ve stared in the eyes of many before her wanting me dead. But this is unlike anything I’ve known. My magic refuses to come forth, and the skin of my lower half turns to stone.
“You look delicioussss,” she says with seduction.
Kyra scoffs, voicing, “Yeah, fuck that.” My pupils dilate, and a thick lump swells in my throat. I’ve faced off against other shifters and take pride in my training, so to end up here, at the mercy of such a dominating beast, speaks volumes.
The viper’s jaws open, and I gasp from the fullness of her fangs, which are the size of one and a half of me. Preparing to meet my end, I shudder as a long, whip-like tongue invades my mouth as it swipes across my face. Ethan erupts in laughter, and I spit out the thick slime dripping from my lips.
“What the hell?” I heave. Bile races up my throat like an erupting volcano. It takes a moment, but circulation within my lower half returns, and I’m able to move again.
“Once more, mind your language, Angie.” He rubs the viper’s head with what seems to be a pleasing expression. The snake coils its body, reflecting an array of blue, green, and gold, shimmering over her massive form.
Although a beautiful and fearsome creature, she is not enough to keep me from strolling towards Ethan and thrashing him across the cheek with a closed fist. “Don’t ever pull a fucking stunt like that again.
” Breathing heavily and relishing in the pain radiating over my knuckles, I add, “Asshole.” He stumbles back, retaining his annoying as fuck smirk, and wipes the blood from his lips.
Magical aura detonates around us, and a sultry tone speaks past the burst of snow wafting about.
“I like this one, Ethan,” she giggles, and even that sounds enticing.
“Are you not going to introduce us?” The monstrous beast transforms into a woman before us–fully nude–but ravishingly beautiful.
Holy shit. Something other than her magic keeps me rooted .
“Angie has her moments when she’s not using a fowl dialect,” he scolds. “This is Celine, and her clan inhabits these mountains. However, she’s not your typical viper of this size.”
“Is she what I think she is, or…more of a pet?” I ask, raking over her body, which I’m sure appears lustful. But look at her, who wouldn’t? “No offense,” I add, discovering her ‘none-taken’ expression and her pleasing smirk. Ethan clears his throat, and I catch a grin playing around his lips.
“Don’t go getting ideas, lover boy,” Celine gibes, “if anything, you’d be my pet.” Her voice is raspy with a hint of flirting, and my ears perk at the sound. Entrancing . “Are you going to leave that poor girl standing alone?” She gestures behind me, and my thoughts come flowing back.
Shit, Kyra. I turn, finding her muddled with confusion, and drop the shield as I rush over. “Sorry, I know I keep abandoning you,” I apologize over the slush crushing against my shoes.
She presses her lips into a tight line. “Yeah, that’s kind of your thing, huh?” We head back over, and Kyra frowns, nodding towards Celine at Ethan’s side. “Soooo, is she going to put some clothes on or do you people enjoy being nude?”
People? In all fairness, mortals aren’t used to our ways. Not saying all of us parade around nude, but those who prefer it, have every right.
Some enjoy having their body on display. Kind of a, ‘you can glance, but touch me without permission, and die,’ mentality. And let’s not get started on the men. Any chance to show off their appendage is a win in their books. Which is often.
“I have no use for wearable rags.” Celine grins, ignoring the insult of being considered ‘people’ as Kyra notes her exceptional hearing.
“My scales retain heat from within my body, plus, I grew up in these frigid lands. It doesn’t affect me like you’d think it would–for most snakes.
After transforming a few times, you realize how pointless garments are when ripped to shreds. ”
Her silken, auburn skin dances beneath the sun.
Much like her scales, colors flash across her body like water down a flowing stream.
I can understand if Ethan is attracted to her.
Especially with how her locs drape over her shoulders, veiling her breast in what looks to be miniature snakes, coiling at the ends.
The cold perks her nipples, making it impossible to miss as they protrude anytime her hair swings over them. Maybe Kyra is ant-nipples. I’ll be sure to keep mine away from her, because that’s what best friends do.
“You stated, ‘retaining a lot of heat?’ Do all vipers go through that or just certain people with this ability?” Kyra asks, keeping a hefty distance from our new friend. I can surmise she is still on the fence about trusting Celine. Even more so, Ethan. Also, we’re not people.
“It’s not that simple. Shifters in general deal with heat, gaining some form of signal when their body is changing. My kind becomes extremely hot, dispersing the heat throughout our body, then poof, viper.” She chuckles, and it’s a siren-esk tune.
“How can I tell if I’m a viper or not?” Kyra questions, and Ethan shares a confused glare with Celine, but our snaky friend has more manners and answers without judgment.
“Call it intuition. Vipers know from a young age once our attitude manifests along with our skin shedding and an urge to be alone. Perhaps you’re something else. Something more.” She places a hand beneath her chin in thought.
“Perhaps, she’s nothing more than a sacrifice.” Ethan scowls. “At least then she’ll be good for something.”
“Eat a dick, Ethan. I’m not a sacrifice for anyone, but feel free to try.” She rolls her eyes and scoffs. Do what with a cock? Fascinating. How does one ‘eat’ it? “Anyway, Celine, what if…if…” Her teeth chatter from a rushing draft, and I realize my incantation wore off under the shifter’s spell.
The air thickens, and the weather becomes worse. Sharp, ice-like needles prick my skin as waves of snow surround us. The sun’s warmth begins setting, and though Kyra has more questions, even she can’t pretend the cold isn’t getting to her.
“This gathering has run its course, Celine. I’ll come back soon to catch up,” Ethan says, noticing Kyra’s complexion paling. Disliking her all he wants, she can’t answer his questions as a corpse.
Celine pecks his cheek, which feels more seductive than necessary, and with a final glance to Kyra and me, she backs away.
Her eyes change into their reptilian form before she explodes into a massive viper once more, quacking the ground.
With a nod of her oversized head, she flexes her scales, and I look on in awe as she slithers off, disappearing down the mountain’s side.
“Is everything here filled with beings that can end me? Creatures and magical secrets I’ve never seen before?” She looks at me.
“No, of course not,” I respond in tandem with Ethan’s, “Yes.” But disgust laces his words, and Kyra huffs with annoyance. “Don’t mind him, he’s just–”
“Enough. We’re leaving.”
I should’ve let the viper eat his ass.
Holding Kyra’s hand, I place my other one atop his shoulder.
Ethan flicks his wrist, and a golden sigil appears, plummeting us into a void.
However, it’s not like before. Instead of racing through space, we move at a much slower rate, watching time unfold from sped up images on display, like flipping through a picture book.
Kyra’s grip tightens, and heat radiates between our palms. What if she is a shifter? I wonder, recalling how intense her life essence was when I performed Life Bargain.
Images of wars being fought continue flashing by.
Death and destruction everywhere. Then a clip takes us both by surprise.
We are able to view her battle with the gloom she spoke of.
Right as it comes to the explosion, I fixate on that memory, and it shatters, and we stand in halls of Rebirth once more.
“Wait–go back.” She tugs on his arm.
“No.” Snatching away from her, Ethan gives me an all-telling look before walking towards the boardroom without so much of a glance back. We both saw it. She indeed went up against one of the elite eight. But how?
“Please! I need to know what happened to me.”
Tears wet her lashes, and for once, I wish he wasn’t a complete jerk, but when Ethan makes up his mind, there is no changing it. I learned this some time ago.
“For now, let’s get this over with, and maybe later he’ll show you.”
“Nothing makes sense here. Everything is so damn secretive. Why am I here if all y’all do is withhold shit?” she says in a saddening tone.
“I’ll tell you everything, I promise. But first, let’s answer a question you’ve had since arriving.”
“What question?”
I nod towards the boardroom. “What is this place?”
Kyra wipes her eyes then follows behind Ethan. Something is happening between them, and for the life of me, I can’t pinpoint what. But I will. Mark my words.