Chapter 7: Tested
When night began to fall they still hadn't found shelter. It seemed that no matter how far they walked, the forest was as sparse as before. There was nowhere to hide. Zyra was sure that was the intention.
They walked a bit farther until their exhaustion and hunger settled in. The fruit on the trees became thicker the closer to the center they ventured. Some dripped with succulent juices that smelt so enticing Zyra had accidentally bit the inside of her cheek and made herself bleed.
She could tell the others were similarly tormented. Enui and Gharla chewed a single piece of root between them and Rell bit his nails. When the time came for them to make camp they were unsure whether they should make a campfire or not. It wasn't cold and they had no food to cook.
Generally fires were also good because they kept away animals. In such a strange land for all they knew the fire might draw the animals to them. With much debate it was decided that they would just tie themselves into the trees, Rovian style. Sleep took her companions quicker than Zyra expected. She felt her eyes preparing to close, when she heard a strange sound coming from the ground. Zyra untied herself quickly, slipping her spear into her hand, and sliding down the tree trunk. She landed silently, crouched close by the ground.
All she saw was the empty darkness.
The sound came again, almost in her ear. It seemed to be on the other side of the tree. Then she heard it differently. It was a whisper, no, a hiss. Apparently Hanto had been right, the basilisk had come back. She thought about how large he had been, how easily he could snatch them out of the tree. Was he coming specifically for her? She had been the one to put his asleep. He could probably smell her scent best since she had been the one to climb over him. Calling her friends would likely pull them to danger.
Gritting her teeth she charged behind the tree only to see a strange creature yards away. It hissed, the same low rumble the basilisk had made, yet softer. It carried over to her like he had hissed it in her ear. It wasn't the basilisk, it was humanoid from the waist up, but from the waist down a tail. The creature before her was light green and glowed clearly in the dark. Truthfully she wondered if it was a ghost.
He was bald and had pointed ears that blended into the light green scales that covered his entire body. The most disturbing feature was his face, how humanly shaped it was, yet how inhuman his gaze appeared. He stood at least a head and shoulders taller than her, and had a chiseled face, angular features, and full lips. Green eyes pierced through her and his mouth tilted in amusement.
He tilted his head at her curiously and put his hands behind his back. He stalked up towards her, casually, confidently, just outside the spear's reach. When he stopped he was right outside of her attack zone, standing at least a head and shoulders taller than her.
"What do you intennndd on doing with that?"
His human speech made her start, but she recovered quickly.
"It depends on what you came here for."
His eyes held childish laughter as he regarded her.
"You know you're not ssssupposssed to be here, humannn..."
The way he looked at her with familiarity gave her pause.
"It's you. You're the basilisk aren't you?"
He blinked and took a step forward. He had a light swaying in his step reminiscent of his true nature.
Zyra flipped the point of the spear towards him in warning and he let out a big sigh.
"Give it a ressssstt human," he growled pushing the spear away. You are no match for meee..."
He held the tip of the spread and gave it a light tug. It jolted in her hands but she held onto it. Still, she had no doubt that he could take it from her. Even so, she didn't care.
"Answer me," she snapped pulling the spear back. She put her spear behind her, knowing it would be too obvious a choice. She had other weapons hidden on her person.
"A form of the basssilisssk,
" he lulled.
"That sssstill bringsss to quesssstion...how did you know the trick to putting me assssleep?"
She grimaced, looking at him suspiciously.
"Family secret."
He grinned, all lips and came closer, but she retreated effectively backing into the tree.
"Oh? And where doessss your family hail from?"
She glared at him, balling her fists.
"Why? Intending to make a visit?"
He gave her a cocky smirk and slid a hand to rest beside her head. She frowned at him. He seemed to be toying with her.
She turned her knee to get a better position for sliding off a knife strapped to her thigh.
Then he shrugged.
"Well, I sssuppossse one kindnesssss deservessss another."
He grabbed her too quickly for her to move away and cupped her face in his hands.
"Let me get a good look at you,"
he mused, his eyes carving paths along her body.
She gasped and scrambled at his hands but couldn't pull them from her. She could feel his breath on her face and tried to control the panic that was fighting to surface inside her.
"Don't worry,"
he whispered. He traced a finger lazily over her lips.
"I won't hurt you."
She froze, refusing to acknowledge the intimate gesture His head moved side to side in a hypnotizing motion before he grinned again.
"Sssssssssss...such a pretty little thing aren't you?"
He examined her lips with his finger again, his green eyes swimming. Then abruptly he released her, walking back a considerable distance to perch again.
"And what a lovely pair of eyessss you have...yessssss...I like them very much."
He had left her lips buzzing and she nibbled at her bottom lip to refocus her mind.
How dare he?
He must have sensed her indignation because he laughed, but the look he was giving her was remorseless. It told her he was in full control. This was his domain, she was an intruder.
"I will tell you thisssss Green Eyessss. You and your ssslavesss are being tessssted."
She crossed her arms. "They're not my slaves, they're my friends."
He scoffed. Tilting his head he rolled onto his back.
"Realllyy? Evvveryone is your friend? Evennn...the dark male? You didn't ssseeem to be friendssss to me.""
His eyes glinted dangerously,
"But he wantsss you, doessn't he?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Why are you here?"
He rolled back onto his stomach and his eyes became predatory. In one slither he closed the distance between them, pressing his hands into her face.
"Why did you sssspare me?"
She was beginning to wish she hadn't. "I had to."
"Whhhhy?"
"I-I don't know."
His fingers dug deeper as his face lost all traces of humanity.
"Answer me!"
She shook her head vainly as his touch became uncomfortable.
"I just didn't want to kill anyone."
He tilted his head again and opened his mouth. Four sharp fangs protruded from his jaw and he gave her his own strange version of a smile.
"But you kill for a living don't you human? I can ssmeell blood on your ssskkinnn."
She had had enough. Grabbing her knife she kneed him in the stomach. He bent fluidly back with a rough hiss but she was ready. Pointing the knife in front of her she waited until he looked up to see it at his eye level.
"You're about to smell your own blood. Now leave, and don't come back."
He backed up, still grinning eerily amused.
"Doesss that mean you won't accept my thankssss?"
She didn't answer him. He coiled around himself spontaneously making a slow turn, a fang poking out in his grin.
"It'll help you ssssurvive pretty human. You musssst be hungry right?"
She hadn't blinked but suddenly he had a small pouch. He threw it to her and she caught it without taking her eyes off of him.
"Those ssseedsss will give your sslavess...friendsss energy."
She nodded putting them in her skirt. "How many can we eat at one..."
"Not you,"
he corrected.
"Jusssss your friendsss. There are only four in the bag."
She glared at him angrily. "Very well, what about me?"
A mischievous glint shone in his eyes and he reach up to picked off a red fruit from the tree.
"You can eat thisss."
She paused for a moment in speculation then reached for it but he snatched it back.
"Patienceesssss..."
he chuckled."
You can eat thisss,...only, if I feed it to you."
She let out a frustrated sigh. "Why? This is ridiculous!"
"I can nullify the fruitssss poisonousss affectsss on humanssss. Otherwisssse, if you ssssimply eat it, you will die."
With that he bit off a chunk of the fruit and began chewing. She extended a hand, her face twisted in disgust. Ignoring her intentions, he grabbed her and pulled her in. Then rather roughly he used his tongue to pry her lips apart and pushed the food into her mouth. She choked trying to orient herself but he held her fast.
"Ssswallow,"
he commanded against her lips.
She braced her hands on his naked arms, grunting in protest. She couldn't breathe. It could be poisonous. He could be killing her. She'd either die a slow death of suffocation or this death now. She swallowed and waited for him to pull back. He did so, slowly, his moist lips pulling apart from hers with deliberate sensuality. He seemed darkly satisfied.
She was not amused, but she was a lot less disgusted than she wished. It wasn't like Hanto's advances, even though he was equally pushy. Perhaps because this was utilitarian in nature. A necessity.
"Good,"
he praised. He released her to take another bite.
"How do you feel?"
The minute the fruit hit her empty stomach she felt rejuvenated, like she had just swam and drank water in the river.
"Good," she admitted.
"Then ssshall I continue?"
She paused, her pride going down a little harder than she'd hoped.
"Can you put it in my hand? I mean your venom--"
"Is what nullifies it dear. If you don't take it from my mouth it will be poison yet again. Or would you rather starve?"
