03 - Feral Snake (1k words)

If the color red were looking for a spokesperson, this man would be at the top of the list. His upper half retained human features, with ruby red hair and crimson irises framed by long, ebony lashes.

His aura was menacing, but it wasn't downright terrifying, either. It was more like he could kill you and still manage to look handsome doing it. Yeah, too bad I was already familiar with that kind of feeling.

He tilted his head, his piercing gaze boring into me, and I couldn't help but think of him as some kind of exotic animal. It's not every day you meet a redheaded snake man on a moonlit beach, after all.

"Female, you are hurt," he murmured, his voice carrying the weight of a command rather than a concern. Then, he moved, leaning in until his face was tantalizingly close to mine. His ruby-red hair fell around us like a veil, separating us from everything else.

Fear should've been the dominant emotion coursing through me, and to be fair, it was there, simmering beneath the surface. But I managed to channel it into something way more useful, like a sudden, burning urge to punch him for invading my personal space. "I can manage...the hurt."

I noticed the four stripe marks on his neck, and for a fleeting second, amidst the tension and the surreal, I couldn't help but wonder if someone was cosplaying Curtis from Nivi's novel and this was all a big fat reality show stunt.

Observe.

Don't make a hasty decision.

Think before you cut.

A sharp pain flared on my cheek when he touched it with the tip of his finger, probably a souvenir from the earlier scuffle with the driver and the subsequent car crash. I likely looked like a mess, my eyes and face possibly swollen as if stung by an oversized bee.

"I saw you save that female," he observed, turning his attention to Nivi, "The ocean's currents are too strong for a weak female to swim in. How did you accomplish that?" His question, laced with genuine curiosity, seemed to underestimate the lengths I'd go to for Nivi.

He looked too strong for me to fight in my current state, but I was prepared to unleash hell on anyone who dared to threaten Nivi, no matter how supernatural they might be.

"You are not mated either," he noted, almost to himself, the observation seemingly catching him off guard. The concept seemed to puzzle him as if us being mateless was as foreign to him as his world was to me, "Are you both from the Merfolk tribe?"

I maintained a strategic silence, his stare on Nivi making my grip tighten on my knife. I could sense him contemplating his next move, his gaze shifting back and forth between us.

The way his eyes locked onto her, unblinking and full of open admiration, revealed a deep, immediate fixation. It was as if he had discovered something invaluable. Then I saw it, a slight gasp escaping his lips as his eyes fell on Nivi's features and wet body that were now accentuated by the moonlight.

I reached out, seizing his cheeks and forcefully turning his gaze back to me, "You are definitely going to be her type, but at least wait until she wakes up to ask her to be your mate."

Whoever this figure before me was, I couldn't ignore the basic instincts that might drive any male, especially in an abandoned place that looked lawless.

His intense gaze softened slightly, his attention back on me, "There is no need to be afraid of me. I won't hurt her," he reassured, his voice smoother, more gentle than before. "What are you called, female?" he asked.

"I'll tell you in exchange for bringing some dry and warm clothes to us," I tried to bargain, seeing an opportunity to gain something from the situation. "The cold here is biting, and without warmth, we're in danger of freezing. So, how about it? You help us out, and I'll share my name and even tell you some of my friend's favorite food."

My proposal aimed to secure immediate comfort for Nivi and me while testing the limits of his willingness to cooperate.

Given the unknowns of this place, I harbored reservations about making a fire. Would it attract unwanted attention or perhaps even pose a danger?

· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·

Once he was out of my sight, I hastily removed Nivi's wet clothes and replaced them with the dry T-Shirt and underwear from my backpack, hoping to warm her up and bring her back to consciousness.

Just as I finished dressing her, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Tensing up, I prepared myself for another encounter. But to my surprise, it was the red head again, holding a bundle of dry wood and kindling.

'That was too fast!'

"I've brought firewood," he announced, "I'll start the fire for you."

'Does he live close by, or is there a shop with fur clothes for him to access them so fast?'

"Thank you." I accepted the fur hides.

He seemed to struggle as he tried to spark a flame, perhaps lacking in experience or technique. However, I couldn't deny his genuine effort, his brow furrowing in concentration as he worked. It was quite endearing.

After a few unsuccessful attempts, he finally managed to get a small ember going. "It's lit," he proclaimed, a hint of pride in his voice. He then turned his gaze towards me and asked, "Your name, what is it, female?"

With Nivi now warm and safe by the fire, I settled beside her, keeping a vigilant eye on our surroundings as we waited for her to regain consciousness. "My name is Yang Yali, and you?"

"Curtis."

I blinked in surprise, taken aback by the imaginary hammer of ridiculousness that had just nailed another set of my doubts to the ground.

"What, again?" I stammered, unable to conceal my astonishment at the absurdity of the situation I just found myself in.

"My name is Curtis," he repeated, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. My expression must have been a sight to behold.

It's not every day that I agree to be someone's free source of entertainment, but here I am.

I must look like a deer caught in headlights, my expression frozen in utter shock.