03 - Feral Snake

If the color red was looking for a spokesperson, this creature would be at the top of their list. As it slithered closer, I noticed its upper half retained human features, complete with ruby red hair that flowed down in a cascade, framing a face so striking it could make a master sculptor weep.His aura wasn't just menacing; it was suffocating, charged with a predatory energy that seemed to throb in time with my own racing heartbeat."Female, you are hurt," he murmured, his voice deep and resonant, carrying a truth that echoed with disturbing accuracy.Then, he moved with a lethal grace that contradicted the danger he represented, leaning in until his face was tantalizingly close to mine. The ruby red of his hair fell around us like a veil, separating us from everything else. It was a closeness that left me breathless, his red eyes intense and searching, as though he was delving into the very essence of who I am.Fear should've been the dominant emotion coursing through me, and to be fair, it was there, simmering beneath the surface. Yet, I harnessed it as fuel, a driving force to keep my wits about me, "I can manage...the hurt."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 memento from the earlier scuffle with the driver and the subsequent car crash. I likely looked like a mess, my eyes and cheek 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 intrigue, seemed to underestimate the lengths I'd go to for Nivi."She doesn't bear a spousal mark either," he noted, almost to himself, the observation seemingly catching him off guard. The concept seemed to puzzle him as if the idea of us being mateless was as foreign to him as his world was to me, "Are you both from the Merman tribe?"I maintained a strategic silence, aiming to draw his focus back to me by capturing him in an eye-starting contest. 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.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 actually cosplaying Curtis from Nivi's novel and this was all a big fat reality show stunt.His intense gaze softened slightly as he observed me, "There is no need to be afraid of me. I won't hurt your female friend," he remarked, glancing at Nivi again.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." I asserted, my voice laced with a determination to protect Nivi at all costs.Whether this figure before me was truly Curtis from Nivi's novels or not, I couldn't ignore the basic instincts that might drive any male, especially in an abandoned place that looked lawless.My father had once thrown me and my sister into the heart of the largest slum in a third-world country as a test; it was harsh and unforgiving. The memory served as a stark reminder of how dire our situation could become without caution and cunning on our side.After a moment's pause, his focus shifted with a slightly elated smile, possibly at the notion of being Nivi's mate."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 was strategic, aiming 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 snake man again, holding a bundle of dry wood and kindling."I've brought firewood," he announced, his voice carrying an air of reassurance. "I'll start the fire for you."I watched how he skillfully built a fire, the flames flickering to life and casting a warm glow over our makeshift campsite.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 Yali Yang, and you?" I finally disclosed my name, taking the fur coats the snake man offered with a sense of gratitude. "Thank you."'Damn it, I didn't expect him to return with two sets of clothes so fast!''Does he live close by, or is there a shop with fur clothes for him to access them so fast?'"Curtis," he said, his voice smooth and velvety.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, making one envious of how effortlessly handsome he was, his rugged charm undeniable even in the flickering light of the fire.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.