Another hiss roars beyond the snowy fog, and from its tail, a gust of wind clears it. I peer where the viper lays and find Ethan unmoving beneath its head. Horror pounds against my ribs with an increased thud, but I refuse to accept this possibility.
“Stay here. If I can’t kill it, I’ll return you to your realm.” Scuttering through the barrier, panic rises along with my palm, and the beast leans forward, blocking Ethan from view with its mouth agape. Drool spills from the corners like acid rain. “Freeze!” I command, but it has no effect. In return for a failed attempt, jaded eyes glow, warning me against getting too close.
Another deafening hiss locks my body before I slide to a complete halt. Once warming blood, now turning cold, drifts through my veins at a much slower rate, materializing into stone-like crystals.
Massive, iridescent scales lift into a striking pose, and I find Ethan laying there with a widening smile.
“Your expression appears faint, Angie. Has someone died?” he snickers, staring up amused. I still can’t move while this beast’s magic is in play, but through my forming tears, I want nothing more than to feel my fist crack against his teeth.
“I thought you were dead, asshole!” I blink back the pathetic show of emotions for the likes of him.
“Language, Angie.” Ethan huffs an exhausting breath. “Okay, that’s enough, Celine. Let me up.” He pats her hulking body, but the viper disregards his command, keeping her focus on me. She lowers,almost eye level, and my fists clench, the only movement I’m able to complete.
I’ve stared in the eyes of many before her wanting me dead. But this is unlike anything I’ve known. My magic refuses to come forth, and the skin of my lower half turns to stone.
“You look delicioussss,” she says with seduction.
Kyra scoffs, voicing, “Yeah, fuck that.” My pupils dilate, and a thick lump swells in my throat. I’ve faced off against other shifters and take pride in my training, so to end up here, at the mercy of such a dominating beast, speaks volumes.
The viper’s jaws open, and I gasp from the fullness of her fangs, which are the size of one and a half of me. Preparing to meet my end, I shudder as a long, whip-like tongue invades my mouth as it swipes across my face. Ethan erupts in laughter, and I spit out the thick slime dripping from my lips.
“What the hell?” I heave. Bile races up my throat like an erupting volcano. It takes a moment, but circulation within my lower half returns, and I’m able to move again.
“Once more, mind your language, Angie.” He rubs the viper’s head with what seems to be a pleasing expression. The snake coils its body, reflecting an array of blue, green, and gold, shimmering over her massive form.
Although a beautiful and fearsome creature, she is not enough to keep me from strolling towards Ethan and thrashing him across the cheek with a closed fist. “Don’t ever pull a fucking stunt like that again.” Breathing heavily and relishing in the pain radiating over my knuckles, I add, “Asshole.” He stumbles back, retaining his annoying as fuck smirk, and wipes the blood from his lips.
Magical aura detonates around us, and a sultry tone speaks past the burst of snow wafting about. “I like this one, Ethan,” she giggles, and even that sounds enticing. “Are you not going to introduce us?” The monstrous beast transforms into a woman before us–fully nude–but ravishingly beautiful.Holy shit.Something other than her magic keeps me rooted.
“Angie has her moments when she’s not using a fowl dialect,” he scolds. “This is Celine, and her clan inhabits these mountains. However, she’s not your typical viper of this size.”
“Is she what I think she is, or…more of a pet?” I ask, raking over her body, which I’m sure appears lustful. But look at her, who wouldn’t? “No offense,” I add, discovering her ‘none-taken’ expression and her pleasing smirk. Ethan clears his throat, and I catch a grin playing around his lips.
“Don’t go getting ideas, lover boy,” Celine gibes, “if anything, you’d be my pet.” Her voice is raspy with a hint of flirting, and my ears perk at the sound.Entrancing. “Are you going to leave that poor girl standing alone?” She gestures behind me, and my thoughts come flowing back.
Shit, Kyra.I turn, finding her muddled with confusion, and drop the shield as I rush over. “Sorry, I know I keep abandoning you,” I apologize over the slush crushing against my shoes.
She presses her lips into a tight line. “Yeah, that’s kind of your thing, huh?” We head back over, and Kyra frowns, nodding towards Celine at Ethan’s side. “Soooo, is she going to put some clothes on or do you people enjoy being nude?”
People?In all fairness, mortals aren’t used to our ways. Not saying all of us parade around nude, but those who prefer it, have every right.
Some enjoy having their body on display. Kind of a, ‘you can glance, but touch me without permission, and die,’ mentality. And let’s not get started on the men. Any chance to show off their appendage is a win in their books. Which is often.
“I have no use for wearable rags.” Celine grins, ignoring the insult of being considered ‘people’ as Kyra notes her exceptional hearing. “My scales retain heat from within my body, plus, I grew up in these frigid lands. It doesn’t affect me like you’d think it would–for most snakes. After transforming a few times, you realize how pointless garments are when ripped to shreds.”
Her silken, auburn skin dances beneath the sun. Much likeher scales, colors flash across her body like water down a flowing stream. I can understand if Ethan is attracted to her. Especially with how her locs drape over her shoulders, veiling her breast in what looks to be miniature snakes, coiling at the ends.
The cold perks her nipples, making it impossible to miss as they protrude anytime her hair swings over them.Maybe Kyra is ant-nipples. I’ll be sure to keep mine away from her, because that’s what best friends do.
“You stated, ‘retaining a lot of heat?’ Do all vipers go through that or just certain people with this ability?” Kyra asks, keeping a hefty distance from our new friend. I can surmise she is still on the fence about trusting Celine. Even more so, Ethan.Also, we’re not people.
“It’s not that simple. Shifters in general deal with heat, gaining some form of signal when their body is changing. My kind becomes extremely hot, dispersing the heat throughout our body, then poof, viper.” She chuckles, and it’s a siren-esk tune.
“How can I tell if I’m a viper or not?” Kyra questions, and Ethan shares a confused glare with Celine, but our snaky friend has more manners and answers without judgment.
“Call it intuition. Vipers know from a young age once our attitude manifests along with our skin shedding and an urge to be alone. Perhaps you’re something else. Something more.” She places a hand beneath her chin in thought.
“Perhaps, she’s nothing more than a sacrifice.” Ethan scowls. “At least then she’ll be good for something.”
