We are following the tracks of flame left by the man— or demon. It's been like ten minutes and Eria hasn't said anything, she's currently supporting me. Only one of my legs are working. The other one is currently on fire, but I don't want to squeal that should be the least of our problems. My mind kept on going back to when she said that… does she really mean that?

What if the demon actually had a way of sending us back? Will my soul become his to take, is she okay with that ? Do I even mean anything to her? I don't know why I'm saying this, it's only been a day since we met. Of course I'm just one of those victims she's helping.

Eria is just doing her job but why am I so pained to acknowledge that?

I even accepted it back then, to be useful to her maybe I'm just deluding myself. Would I have sacrificed myself for her? I'm not sure if I'll do it for another person. Eria's eyes are fixed on the trail of flame, she hasn't said anything, or even talked to me.

I really want to ask her why she did that, it's so heavy on my chest I won't be able to think of anything else if I don't ask her. Am I that dependable to you?

“Eria —”

“I want to get out of here.” Her voice was quiet and shaky, it's like she knew I was going to ask the question.

“I really want to get out of here. I don't know how much longer I can hold it in. You see Elana…” She was looking at me this time. A new expression on her face I haven't seen before. Yeah I guess that's true I don't know her why am I surprised when she does something new.

“.... I have been keeping a tame face since we fell down just not to alarm you. I don't know how you do— resisting this place. But I don't know if I'll be able to fight it back like you. I think I might go crazy and hurt you really bad.”

“And you think what you did earlier didn't hurt me?” Ha I let a few emotions slip into those words.

“ I would have been basically dead! Do you think there's anything worse than that?” I was breathing heavily. I couldn't look at her. My eyes fixed on my feet.

“That would have been better than me hurting you and the look on your face while doing that… the demon taking your soul would have been quick and easy you won't face pain.” How did you know that? Have you done that before?

“You're just trying to save face. Nothing more. All you just said is that ‘yeah I would hurt but I don't want to feel bad while doing it’ you could have just said you don't care that would've been easy!”

“Elana I care—”

“No you don't! You're just like that guy. Do you know how cold his eyes were when he trying to toss me down the pit? I didn't know what was going on but he didn't care! Both of you are partners so I guess you share the same philosophy of treating humans like shit!”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Elana wait I didn't mean—”

“I'm weighing you down right? You can leave here and go your own way! Maybe you will be able to get to the top in time.” I try to free myself from her grip. But she won't let me. Why am I angry? I hate the feeling but I want to be selfish just for a while.

“Let me go!”

“No Elana stop, that wasn't the intention.”

“I don't care, let me go!”

“Oh, an interesting lovers quarrel we have going here”

It was a voice deep and melancholy. A female voice. Not mine or Eria’s. It was behind us,I could feel Eria grip around me tightened.

“Oh? Why did you stop? go on. I have been spectating for a while now. I want to see how this ends”

We both turned our heads to the direction of the voice. The place it resides was dark, I could feel chills from it.

“Don’t look at me.haha you're going to be frozen by my beauty.” A force pulled our heads back. I could feel her presence closer to us. Something touched my skin. It was cold and distant. Her hand was soft and its movements were gentle.

“You” Her mouth was close to my ear.

“Your eyes they're different. I think they will be able to withstand my ice cold freezing beauty. So look.” It was like a command, my entire body moved towards the being direction.

Hairs made out of snakes. Perfectly curved face, enchanting eyes. Chest was robust. Her torso was of a snake. Her tongue slipped out the cage that housed it. The tongue was long and parted at the end. It was beautiful, I have never seen such such beautiful thing in my life.. am I even worth gazing at this beautiful being…

I could feel my heart racing. What's happening to it ? A heart attack? What's this feeling?

“Yes, that's it, praise me. What you are feeling is just a normal reaction to seeing my beauty. So don't panic. Wait, you can do that too. It's normal.” She moved closer to me, she was heads taller than me but she crutched down to make our height differences even.

“Come. Embrace me” She spread her hands open. I moved closer to her and wrapped my hands around her. She felt warm in a comforting way. I felt relieved.

“Your eyes and left hand will you give them to me? Elana.” Why is she even asking? Just take them.

“Yes. My hands, eyes, everything are all yours . You can take them all. I swear and promise. They are all your.” My grip around her tightened, my skin brushing against those soft scales.

“Elana, do you love me?” Why would she ask that question? When she already knows the answer.

“Yes.”

Her head came closer to me, tiny bit of snakes dancing at the corners of her head. Her mouth part revealed sharp fangs and an elongated tongue. It was an invite and I moved closer to her. Something caught my eyes. It was Eria. She was bright.. no her arms were bright maybe blinding they have never shone this bright before.

She moved out of her frozen state before my lips touched the stellar being next to me. In a fit of rage.

She attacked but it was no to avail. Her hand was caught like it was paper and the glow it had instantly faded.

“Hmm, that's a little reckless. Eria, why the rush—” Her voice faded away. I could hear her speak but couldn't make out the words. It was like my ears were under water. I couldn't move to see what she was doing to Eria.

“Sorry about that Elana.” She moved back to me. I was able to move freely again. Eria… was frozen, her body was stony, she had a terrified expression on her face like she saw something that…

“Enough of her now look at me.” She pulled my attention from the statue that was once Eria back to her. The way she moved, her face, eyes and smile though they're distinctive but they reminds me of Eria.

“Oh? That's interesting. You see her in me?” A chuckle left her mouth.

“Eria hmm what should we do with you?” She moved to the statue that has the resemblance to Eria. She placed her finger on the statue's lips. The stony skin became soft, the locked limbs started moving. The statue turned back to Eria. The beautiful being still had her finger on Eria lips. A snake slid off her finger into Eria's mouth forcing it way to her throat. Eria coughed and choked, her eyes bulged out. Trying to resist the snake but she gave in and finally swallowed it. She fell to the ground while howling in pain.

“I have left my seed in you. It'll be interesting to see how it progresses.”

“And now Elana, do you know fate is quite funny? Let's see how these webs interconnect us. What you promised me I'll collect them but not now. I'll be back to collect them. Have a safe trip.” I felt a tingle on my foot. But I didn't look at them. My eyes were locked on Eria who was vibrating on the floor, her entire body moving. The being— woman left and it felt like I was back to reality.

Eria was screaming and choking, her eyes rolled up her head. She was in pain, I stood there just watching her. Why am I doing nothing? Am I enjoying this? Maybe she deserved this for what she did to me back then. Eria went on knees and a hoarse sound came out of her mouth. Her pupils are vertical and yellow. Two long fangs sticking out of her mouth. Her tongue elongated and parted at the end then she

collapsed. Silence rang across the place.

“Eria?..”