The serpent part 2

They stared in horror, unable to move thinking that even wandering their eyes off it would lead to their deaths. The sight was a bit far from them, and though it was not moving, there was no doubt that it was a snake since its eyes looked alive.

Brunos could hear Eleanor and the Petite breathing peacefully and he wished he could have kept his eyes shut as well. What was the use of waking up when something is waiting to turn you into its breakfast?

At that moment, Eleanor started to wiggle. They slowly turned to glance at her. Her forehead glistened as a result of panting like she was in a fight.

Brunos and Lilyon exchanged glances of what shall we do, but remained silent. They couldn't risk to provoke the monster above them.

He thought of running, but could he really? It wasn't his nature to leave others in trouble. He was even the one who brought it. If he hadn't come, Eleanor would be in the cave guarding the pot and Lilyon at the palace.

As if her panting and wiggling wasn't enough, Eleanor suddenly woke up screaming, "Don't! Don't!"

'Gosh... we are dead,' thought Brunos putting his hands on Eleanor's mouth. Lilyon helped him by grabbing her arms to keep her in place. Eleanor struggled horrified, but when she realized it was them, she calmed down.

Slowly, they set her free. "My lady, I was having a nightmare." She hurried to explain thinking that she might have made a mistake while asleep. Lilyon put her index finger on her lips as she whispered, "Shh!"

After showing her that something was wrong, they turned to look at the serpent wondering why it hadn't yet leapt on them.

"Why isn't it moving?" Brunos whispered after staring at it for almost a minute. He knew these kinds of animals were adept at sensing their prey. It could even sense their breathing. Now that Eleanor had caused some commotion, it was confusing how it was still immovable.

"Maybe it's not a creature," replied Lilyon trying to zoom. "But the way this tree is carved. Looks like the one who carved this tree put some crystals to bring some light." She then burst out laughing.

"Are you crazy?" Brunos whisper-asked her. "You want to have us killed with your stupid assumptions?"

"It's not stupid assumptions." She pointed at what they had been calling its eyes. "Look!"

'Shouldn't it be moving now that Lilyon has shouted? Maybe she is right.' He said at back of his brain as he opened his mouth to say, "Don't do that again! What if it was real?"

"I would have known."

Brunos laughed at her. If she would have known, why did it take them almost an hour to know that it was not?

Still, Brunos was not convinced. The view was high above them, but he could still tell it was a snake by glancing at it.

"Let's leave!" He said, struggling to stand up. "I have a feeling that it's a snake in a deep slumber."

"He he!" Lilyon burst out laughing. "A deep slumber with open eyes?"

He snorted gesturing for them to get off his wings. "Whatever."

Lilyon went to her feet and stepped aside with Eleanor, but the Petite was still asleep. Brunos seized her gently asking, "Should I wake her?"

"Don't!" replied Lilyon. "Place her down. We're leaving anyway. We need to get to the palace."

"What? She saved me, Lilyon. How can I leave without saying goodbye? How can I leave her with that snake?"

"Then we will have to wait though I wonder which language you are going to use." She quickly added. "And stop saying that there's a snake here. Eleanor hates them."

He lay the Petite on the dry grass. They were neat and well chosen, soft and arranged like a mattress. It was as if someone had put them there on purpose. Otherwise, where would they have come from? It was deep inside the tree so it couldn't be wind.

Oh! Eleanor.

They had been talking without realizing that she was shaken. The nightmare should have been more frightening. "Are you ay?"

She only stared at him. "Don't wanna talk about it?"

"It's actually not a dream but a memory." Said Lilyon on behalf of Eleanor. "It haunts her every night and she never wants to talk about it."

Bruno shared his sympathy and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her closer to him. He could hear the change in her heartbeat that slowly turned to normal as they marched towards the entrance.

"So," asked Lilyon as they stepped outside. "What are we going to be doing?"

Brunos remembered the butterfly incident and said, "There's something I want to practice." He then let go of Eleanor and rubbed his hands together. He wanted to see it for himself. The feeling of having such powers was tempting.

Like the little Brunos did, he curved his hands after rubbing them. Eleanor and Lilyon were staring at him unsure of what he was trying to do.

First attempt.

Failed.

Again.

Failed.

After trying for the sixth time without success, his shoulders slumped, releasing a snort at the same time. Did it mean he was even way more weaker than they expected? For them, they thought he was still as strong as he was two hundred years ago. That he was everyone since they had been practicing and improving. Now that he was even not like he was, he wondered if his dreams of finally becoming the most handsome after a lifetime of being called ugly would come true.

Startled by the soft hands touching his neck, he turned around to see the Petite standing there. He was addressing her by that not because of her young looks, but her size. He knew that however young she looked, she was 200 years old or more.

She ignored the puzzled expression on his face and reached for his shoulders. Brunos thought she was trying to make him stand elegantly so he did. She shook his shoulders gently as if to show him that he had to relax.

She then put his hands together and started rubbing them. When Brunos caught up with the pace, she moved her hand down his face to close his eyes.

Still rubbing them with his eyes still closed, the softness of her fingers running over his skin made him feel calm. For a moment, his mind became absent. He had never been concentrated.

He felt something flowing through his veins and that's when he heard Lilyon and Eleanor shouting, "It came. Crimson Stars."

Curious, he opened his eyes and saw a beam had formed." He continued the process like in memories but when he shot it in the sky, it wasn't a butterfly. Shapeless.

"The Queen is going to love you." Lilyon said with conformity.

Wondering how they knew, he asked, "Because of this?"

"Yes!" Eleanor who had been cold was now beaming and eager answer. "There was only one incubus who could do this. The queen brought him to her palace and she treated him like her king. He was the only one whom she once talked to."

"What did she say to him?"

"Make me a colourful butterfly," replied Lilyon. "He tried his best but he always failed. Instead, he made many and they kept them inside large crystals to decorate the palace. Nobles from around the Realms started to buy his crystals and soon he was popular. Some people think that it's Fellene who ordered his murder."

Brunos felt sad for the man but proud of himself. At least he had a unique ability.

They silently stared at it for a moment as it dissolved in branches which had been producing some shadow for it to be visible.

"I think we should leave." Lilyon broke the silence.

"Yeah! She's awake." He turned to the Petite. "Thank you."

The emerald elf kept staring at him and he wondered what was in her mind. How did she know what he was trying to do or how to help him do it? She seemed to know much about him. Wasn't she the one who showed him the hidden triangle on his forehead?

"Peti...uh.. thank you for everything. I would like to meet you again. Not actually. I would come visit you one day. You're beautiful and kind." By the look on her face, he could tell she was not understanding his words but he had to say them. "Bye."

When he turned to leave, she held onto his arms. He hugged her in case that's what she wanted.

Why isn't she letting go of me?

He kissed her.

"What are you doing?"

"What else should I do, Lilyon? She has been staring at my lips."

"Maybe she wants to read what you say. You're an opportunist."

Before Brunos could protest, the Petite pulled away and walked towards the tree. Brunos stared at her as she entered. He felt a connection between them and wanted to take her with them.

"Let's take her." He suggested still staring at the tree.

Lilyon pulled him saying, "she doesn't have wings. You may die of hunger before reaching the palace."

Hunger? A day had passed. Why wasn't he feeling hungry?

That was not his concern now. He wanted to convince them. While he was about to tell Lilyon that he could fly with the Petite, Eleanor screamed

"A snake."

They turned to look at where she was pointing and saw an enormous serpent flying out of the entrance to the tree.

"I told you it was a snake," he accused Lilyon.

To their surprise, the Petite was on its neck riding it.

~Hope your enjoying. Let me know in comments and reviews. You may even vote:)