Nyx barely had time to take a breath before the world around her seemed to spin, and suddenly she found herself in an unknown ominous cave. The air was heavy, thick, and filled with a dangerous charge that set her skin prickling. Her heart pounded as she realized she was in different territory, somewhere much darker than Drac’s.

This aurora was unlike anything she had ever seen. It pulsed a deep crimson and swirled like a living thing around her. Intense, it was almost suffocating, filling her with deep unease.

A low, sinister hiss echoed throughout the cave, causing Nyx to freeze. She was not alone.

“Who dares enter my domain?” hissed a voice: cold, spiked with anger.

Nyx’s breath caught in her throat as she tried to place the voice. The crimson aurora grew stronger, and from the shadows appeared the massive form of the Snake God of Pride. His scales gleamed with an ominous luster, and his eyes, slitted and sharp, linked with hers.

“You… you smell of the dragon,” the snake hissed, his voice a mix of confusion and menace. “How is this possible? Why do you carry his scent?”

Nyx’s mind raced in every direction in search of anything to say for herself. “I… I didn’t mean to come here,” she stammered, her voice trembling. “It was an accident. I didn’t know I would end up in your territory.”

The snake narrowed his eyes and slithered closer, towering over her with his massive form. “Accident or not—you are trespassing into my domain, and I don’t take kindly to intruders,” he warned in a voice full of menace.

Nyx shuddered uncontrollably. She didn’t know what a human was supposed to do against a god, especially one as horrifying as the Snake God of Pride. But before she could think of what to do next, the snake suddenly paused, his gaze sharpening as he studied her more closely.

“You are… not him,” the snake murmured; it felt as though speaking to himself. “But then, how can a mere child be carrying such a strong scent of the dragon?”

Nyx swallowed hard, trying to steady her nerves. “I… I live with Drac,” she admitted quietly. “He’s been taking care of me.”

The snake’s eyes widened marginally in surprise, and for a moment, the anger in his face ebbed away. “So, the dragon’s taken you in,” he observed, the tone of his voice switching gears. “How… curious.”

Nyx stayed silent, not sure what the snake was up to, but it did not make a single move towards her; the Snake God of Pride let out a low rumbling chuckle. “You’re lucky, little one. Were it not for that scent, I would have crushed you utterly without a second thought.”

Relief washed through Nyx, but it was quickly tempered by the coldness back in the snake’s voice.

“Get out,” he barked, and his eyes squinted as if they had lost interest in her already. “Get out of my territory and never come back.”

Nyx didn’t get a chance to elaborate; she just felt that familiar gut-teleportation pull and, when the world stopped blurring, she was standing by Drac’s cave entrance again, her heart still trying to escape. She was still standing there, shaken and confused, trying to digest whatever had just occurred.

The picture of the scarlet aurora and the eyes of the snake got etched on her mind forever—a reminder that this world is really a dangerous place. But more than anything, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her encounter with the Snake God of Pride was far from over

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

When Nyx reappeared at the entrance of Drac's cave, she was shivering from head to toe. Her mind swirled with thoughts of the Snake God of Pride, his cold eyes, and the menacing aura that he had surrounded her with.

Drac was outside the cave now, a worrisome look replacing his usually placid one. He had frantically searched for her, thinking she'd gone to see Len. But when Len returned without her, asking where Nyx was, he knew something was wrong. They had gone out together in search of her, looking around the adjacent forest and even inside the Silverheart Tree, but she wasn't there either.

"Nyx!" Drac cried the moment he saw her, his voice filled with relief but also tinted with anger. "Where have you been?"

Len was right behind him, his face pale with worry. "We've been searching all over for you! What happened?

Nyx made a feeble attempt to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. The amount of fear that had grabbed her and laid hold upon her mind when she was in the snake's presence had been so great, she could hardly think straight. At last, she was able to whisper, "I… I was teleported to the west… to the Snake God's cave.

Drac's expression instantly darkened. "Snake God of Pride?" he asked, his voice lowered and dangerous.

Nyx nodded, feeling tears brim in her eyes. "I didn't mean to go there, it just happened. I was thinking about it, and then. I was just there. He almost attacked me, but. but he let me go.

Drac's anger softened to concern, and he pulled her into a protective embrace. "You are safe now," he whispered, trying to soothe her. "But you should never go there again, Nyx. It's too dangerous.

Len stood by, eyes wide in shock. "Snake God of Pride.heard stories. You were really in his cave?

Nyx nodded again, the pound of her heart still vibrating in her chest. "He told me to leave and never come back. He said if I hadn't smelled like Drac, he would have killed me.

Drac's hold on her tightened, and he gazed at her angrily. "You were lucky, Nyx. But next time you might not be.

She leaned into Drac's comforting presence, but deep down, she couldn't shake the lingering curiosity that tugged at her. The ordeal had been horrifying, yet there was something about this God of Snakes—something intriguing. What sort of power did he hold, and why did she feel drawn to him?.

After a while, Nyx attempted to get back into the rhythm of her day. She made her way toward Griff's cave, focusing on the work, but her mind played over and over the vivid aurora of the snake with his red color and how he looked at her. She maneuvered through the tasks at hand in half-hearted fashion, barely paying attention.

Griff must have noticed the distraction almost at once. "Off your game today," he observed. "What's going on?"

Nyx hesitated again, not sure she should tell him, but the events had rattled her so much that she needed to speak. "I. I teleported to the west. by mistake," she said very softly. "Snake God of Pride's Cave.".

Griff's eyes widened in a flurry of surprise, his general lazy demeanor having sharpened. "You went to see that snake?" he asked, his seriousness for once apparent. "That's not a place you should be wandering into, Nyx.".

"I know," she said quietly, looking down.

"He said he never wanted to see me again. But it wasn't on purpose. I was just thinking about it and then I was there. I didn't mean to go." Griff sighed, shaking his head. "Listen, kid, you don't want to mess with that snake. He's not someone to be trifled with. Even if it's by accident, stay away from there. Understand? Nyx nodded, but as Griff turned away, burrowing deep in his nest, she couldn't help—it was like allowing her mind to race after a warning.

Even though he had told her about it, she couldn't help but feel some interest after all, and she needed to know. Just what kind of power does the Snake God of Pride hold? What kind of secrets could he really be hiding in that dark cave of his? A plan began to form in her mind.

Perhaps just maybe she could find a way to see the Snake God again—just for a fleeting moment. She wouldn't tell Drac, Len, not even Griff; it would be her secret and her chance to find out more about that enigmatic god who saved her life. And so, as she left Griff's cave that day, Nyx made a silent promise to herself: she would go back to the west, this time with preparedness.