Chapter 7 #3
Azul turned back to her, the tincture bottle in hand, and smiled with what might have looked like genuine warmth if one didn't know better.
"You don't need to understand," she said gently. "You just need to trust that I want to help. Can you do that?"
It wasn't really a question.
Nnenna nodded slowly, taking the bottle with trembling hands, cradling it as carefully as she cradled her son.
"Thank you, thank you, Akwaugo."
"It's nothing," Azul assured her. "Truly."
Everything.
As Nnenna rose on shaking legs and made her way back into the storm, Azul watched her go with relaxed eyes. Lightning flashed again, illuminating the Third Wife's retreating form—bent over her son, protecting him from the rain, the small bottle clutched in one hand like a charm.
When the door finally closed, Azul turned back to her bed, bending down to pull out the large jar.
She had heard no hissing for the past two days, so she could only assume the snake inside was on the verge of death.
The smell of rot hit her, and she peered down, golden eyes looking at her next prey.
Once again, she heard that voice. It was small, barely a whisper in her mind. But it caressed something deep in her, as though a bond had snapped into place.
Host, you have returned.
An act of god.
The night stormed on, and Azul found herself sitting across from the little snake; whether it was still a snake she couldn't be sure, for it had somehow obtained consciousness.
The snake coiled around Azul's forearm. She had washed it thoroughly, disgusted by the sheer amount of blood it had been cultivated in. Its scales catching the moonlight that filtered through.
"So you were the voice," she said, not expecting an answer.
You ignored me; I was worried… you would throw me away.
The snake tightened momentarily, as if upset by her reaction.
Azul calmed her heart. As absurd as her situation seemed, it was best to approach it logically. Talking snakes were a thing in this world; why was she surprised? Her coming here was strange in the first place.
I have been trying for three days. You are finally listening, it whined, the voice settling directly into her head.
How didn't I hear you? Was I too far away? she asked.
The little snake raised its head, shaking it. No, you can hear me anywhere you are; it's just that you did not wish to hear me, Host.
Azul let out an audible sigh, feeling goosebumps creep up her skin as thunder struck. "Don't call me host, it feels like I've become some kind of snake mother."
Ah... but if not host, what should I call you?
She went quiet, what should the animal call her? I would prefer if you didn't talk at all. She stared at it, expecting a reply, but the snake merely stared, as if waiting for her to speak.
Host is fine. she said again, and it heard her this time.
Host. I was sleeping for a very long time. Then your voice came, and I could not sleep anymore.
"My voice?" her brows furrowed.
You called, and I answered. I expect I am not the only one that woke up. But I don't know where the others are.
"The others?"
The creature's eyes closed, head nuzzling into her clothes. Host, it is best if you don't call them again; I am here.
"Eh?" Azul found herself confused. Could it be the other things she called for are dangerous?
"Wait! Don't sleep! How do I not call them then?
" She couldn't help but feel anxious. It should've been alarming to see a snake with six eyes in the first place; she just thought it was a strange anomaly of this world.
From her memories, multiple eyes on creatures weren't new.
Host, just don't pick up any strange animals anymore… I need to sleep.
"This is not the time to sleep!" She hissed, wanting to take the thing and shake it.
I can only sleep; I don't have much energy in this state.
Azul calmed down, looking at the thing; its eyes were still closed. "I suppose you are a little small."
I am very small, the snake agreed. That is a problem.
"For whom?"
The world is large. There are birds. There are larger snakes. There are children with sticks. The snake sounded genuinely concerned. I can eat many things, but I cannot eat them if I am eaten first. And I cannot protect you from other Kings when I am this small.
Kings? she questioned but got no reply. Azul pursed her lips, studying the creature more carefully.
It was adorable—if one could call any snake adorable.
The way it spoke, the way it tilted its head, the earnestness in its voice.
She had woken a baby spirit snake. Was it a spirit?
Was it just a different snake species she had yet to hear about?
"What do you eat?" she asked.
Anything. But some things are better than others.
"Better how?"
More nutritious. I grow faster when I consume spirit energy.
Azul paused; all things contained spiritual energy. Beings with higher consciousness contained more, perhaps it ate humans? Or did it mean spirits? Though how was she meant to catch a spirit? "Define spiritual."
Charms. Amulets. The power in blood lines. Living beings with strong spirits. The snake's voice grew almost dreamy. A Shaman would be very nutritious. A Djinn is also good. I can't consume otherworldly entities, so I can only settle for physical bodies.
"You want to eat people?"
It opened its eyes, as if watching for Azul's reaction.
…I can survive on items too.
"But people are better."
It nodded, apprehensively.
Azul was silent for a long moment. The snake coiled and uncoiled lazily on her arm, seemingly content with her silence.
She wanted to ask if it could find its own food; the idea of killing someone for the little snake seemed troublesome. But the creature was weak; it might really be killed before it had a chance to grow.
"Fine." She stood, and the snake tightened its grip instinctively. "I will have to find someone for you to eat."
Something nutritious?
"We'll see what the palace offers." Azul moved towards the doorway, then paused. "Do you have a name?"
You woke me. You are my Host. It is your right to name me.
Azul looked down at the pale coils on her arm, at the emerald eyes in the small serpent head.
"I'll think about it," she said.
In truth, she had contemplated, but no name had come to her.