Chapter 7: Dancing little snakes

Perched gracefully atop a large snake adorned with white and bright skin scales, the pink-haired girl leaned back against its sinuous form. "I'm not leaving, you know. I'll stay here forever," she declared softly, her voice carrying a hint of determination. The snake, however, kept its eyes closed, seemingly indifferent to her words.

With a sigh, the girl closed her eyes and drifted into slumber, her trust evident in the way she leaned against the serpent. Unbeknownst to her, the snake's yellow eyes opened and gazed down at the girl nestled in its embrace. There was a hint of resignation in its gaze as it curled protectively around her.

Suddenly, on top of the terrain, the girl stirred awake, coughing up the black, murky liquid from her ordeal. A swarm of snakes scurried away from her.

As she caught her breath, she glanced down at the egg cradled in her arms, its green and white hues a stark contrast to the darkness of the Den. 

The girl rose to her feet, the egg held close to her chest.She set off on her journey back.

*

Feeling slightly disoriented, I found myself outside the imposing castle of the House of Shadows. A man was waiting for me at the teleportation circle, and without a word, he led me through the grand halls of the massive structure. The air was heavy with an ancient aura, and the shadows seemed to dance along the stone walls as we walked.

Finally, we arrived at a pair of large, imposing doors that creaked open slightly as we approached. Stepping into the room beyond, I was met with a grand hall bathed in dim light. At its center sat a magnificent throne crafted from a mysterious black material, its presence commanding the room.

The only source of light came from a singular circular window at the top of the hall, casting a beam of light that illuminated the figure seated on the throne. Something slithered in the shadows, and I caught a glimmer of red scales, a reminder of the contracted snake beasts that were said to dwell within the castle.

Surveying the size of the room, I couldn't help but wonder if even the Shadow Serpent Nyx would have fit within its confines. Could it change sizes, I pondered silently to myself.

Turning my attention back to the man seated on the throne, the doors suddenly closed behind me with a resounding thud, sealing me within the grand hall with the enigmatic figure before me.

"You look just like him," the man's voice echoed through the grand hall.

"Ethan. My son. His death was quite unfortunate," the old man on the throne spoke, his voice carrying a weight of sorrow and perhaps something darker.

As I stood before him, I couldn't help but wonder at his choice of words. "Just unfortunate?" I thought to myself, a hint of skepticism creeping in. After all, this patriarch was known for his ruthless ambition, having eliminated all his siblings to claim the position.

Great-grandfather who was a notorious womanizer, fathering a whole boatload of 27 sons, most of them illegitimate. Grandfather eliminated his older and younger siblings, including the females, in his quest for power. The very thought of this ruthless lineage sent shivers down my spine and a little bit of awe if I'm being honest.

As I stood in the presence of this terrifying old man, I couldn't help but feel a mix of fear and fascination.

"Get closer," the old man's voice commanded, and I obediently took a few hesitant steps forward. Suddenly, without warning, a large red-scaled snake coiled around me, its cold, red eyes seeming to pierce into the depths of my soul. I stood frozen, feeling its presence wrap around me like a suffocating embrace.

As the snake tightened its grip, I felt a pulse of energy emanate from the two eggs cradled in my arms. In that moment, the serpent recoiled as if struck by an unseen force, its hiss of surprise echoing through the grand hall. With a swift movement, it slithered away, leaving me standing there.

"Leave," the voice of the old man rang out with a tinge of envy and anger. Without hesitation, I turned and made my way towards the imposing doors, the weight of his gaze heavy on my back.

With the two eggs still safely nestled in my arms, I exited the grand hall and left the castle of the House of Shadows behind me. 

Safely back in the comfort of my little house, I made the decision to skip dinner and instead inform Greg of my return. Exhaustion weighed heavily on my shoulders as I climbed into bed, the two eggs nestled close beside me. 

Drifting off into a fitful sleep, I found myself enveloped in dreams. In my mind's eye, I sat upon a grand throne in a large castle, the room bathed in dim light. A magnificent purple and black snake coiled around the throne, its eyes glinting with ancient wisdom and power. 

As I gazed out over the vast hall, a sense of belonging and authority washed over me. The snake beside me seemed to whisper secrets of the shadows, its presence both comforting and awe-inspiring.

I awoke feeling lethargic, my body heavy with an unexplainable exhaustion. Glancing out the window, I noticed that the moon still hung in the sky, its silver light casting an eerie glow over the room. Despite my attempts to get up, I found myself unable to muster the strength, and I drifted back into an uneasy sleep.

When I woke again at dawn, the lethargy persisted, weighing me down like a heavy blanket. As I shifted in bed, something wet and sticky caught my attention. Looking down, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of a pool of blood beneath me.

Startled and confused, I sat up abruptly, only to find two small baby snakes wriggling and dancing in the crimson liquid. Their movements were almost like children having fun in at a pool?

What?

Utterly bewildered, I could hardly believe my eyes. What were these baby snakes doing in my blood? The surreal scene before me left me speechless, my mind struggling to make sense of the bizarre spectacle unfolding in my own bedroom.

Confused and disoriented, I slowly rose from the bed, a sharp stinging sensation in my left arm drawing my attention. As I glanced down, I noticed a fresh cut there, its presence explaining the lethargy that had enveloped me.

My gaze returned to the two baby snakes, still engaged in their strange, dance-like movements in the pool of blood. With a mixture of shock and bewilderment, I struggled to comprehend the scene before me.

Shaking off the strange daze that seemed to cloud my mind, I decided to take action. First, I needed to clean myself up. I made my way to the bathroom, the sting in my arm a constant reminder of the mysterious cut. A soothing shower washed away the physical remnants of the unsettling night, though the memory of the dancing snakes lingered in my mind.

Returning to the bedroom, I surveyed the bed, now a grim murder scene with the pool of blood and the wriggling snakes. Determined to rid myself of the disturbing evidence, I carefully scooped up the two baby snakes and carried them to the sink in the shower. With a sense of unease, I washed away the blood, watching as it spiraled down the drain.

Next, I turned my attention to the beddings, now clearly unsalvageable.The thought of sleeping on them again was out of the question.

With swift movements, I bundled up the soiled beddings and made my way outside to dispose of them. 

As I sat down to breakfast with Gregory, ready to dig into the meal he had brought over, I suddenly felt a familiar sensation. Two small, baby snakes had slithered up my back and now nestled comfortably in my hair.

To my surprise, Gregory didn't utter a word.

Sighing softly, I resigned myself to the fact that this was now a part of my life — two little pets making themselves at home in my hair. 

As I began to eat my breakfast, the two baby snakes seemed content to remain nestled in my hair, occasionally peeking out to observe their surroundings. It was a surreal sight, but somehow, I found myself growing accustomed to it.

The thought crossed my mind as I sat there with two baby snakes coiled comfortably in my hair: what would my wife think if she saw me like this? A wistful sigh escaped my lips as I thought about her, feeling a pang of longing and sadness.

I missed her terribly, her presence a constant warmth in my life that now felt so empty without her.