Chapter 2 — Chapter 2

"I'm not buying this..." I couldn't believe my ears! "What if I refuse?"

"Lady didn't want it either, and she didn't like the chosen husbands..."

"I'm not dying a second time! I won't trade my virginity for strange powers, and I won't go to the temple!" I protested. "What will happen to me because of this?"

"They'll find us. They'll kill us, and they'll take you to the temple, then to the husbands anyway."

I thought it over. I needed to figure out a way to get out of this mess, but how? I relaxed back into the pillows. Suddenly, a wave of weakness washed over me, and I felt like I was getting sick. I'll figure out how to handle all this in the morning, but I didn't want anyone to die.

Someone gently covered me with a blanket. That night, warm bodies lay next to me, pressing close. Well, now I'm their owner...

***

"Child, open your eyes! That's it... Good..." a female voice whispered into my ear.

I opened my eyes wide and stared in astonishment at the couple before me. Thanks to her sculpted figure and otherworldly beauty, the woman looked like a goddess, the kind they make statues of. On her perfect face, framed by silver strands, shone scarlet lips and heavenly blue eyes surrounded by fluffy lashes. Delicate eyebrows completed the picture of feminine perfection. A ruby tail, coiled in rings, touched the tiny feet shod in golden shoes. It belonged to a huge serpent with a human torso. The man was very large, with a profile and black curls reminiscent of a Greek.

"What a smart girl! And not even scared!" the stranger said tenderly. "Listen and remember: we are Gods, the progenitors of this world. Our children have become too soft and crossed the line. Misbehaving children need to be disciplined and punished... Not harshly, but enough to remind them of us and our commandments," she suddenly became stern. "As punishment, almost no girls are born in this world anymore, but it hasn't corrected their behavior. We are displeased because gifted girls are forced to give up their abilities to some demon. We will fully support all your endeavors! Your gift is quite strong; your mother was lied to. But that's unimportant now. She disowned you when she handed you over to the temple and three old snakes, erasing you from her life while receiving a substantial payoff." The woman paused briefly, then smiled and said, "Stir things up in this world, kiddo! Or so you folks say? Luck will always be with you!"

Everything disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared. I jolted awake with a clear plan of action in my head.

The local sun was rising over the forest. Mesmerized, I watched the bright pink sunrise... When was the last time I simply watched the sunrise? Could I even see it behind all those buildings?

Carefully, to not wake anyone, I quietly left my sleeping spot and headed toward the river. I sat on a rock and continued to watch the pink sphere emerge from the horizon in its reflection.

"Beautiful, isn't it? What color is your sun?" One of the group of five sat down next to me. This guy was the only one who didn't say anything yesterday. He seemed to avoid the others.

"Yellow, sometimes red. But I've never watched a sunrise. There was never time for that..." I lowered my gaze. "Mmm..." I didn't even know how to address him! "Have you ever dealt with virgins?"

"Valentos, my lady," the guy caught on. "I was trained in everything that might be useful in a harem. It was expected that I would stay with everyone, beside you as a harem slave. Have you decided not to go to the temple?"

"Yes, I'm not going."

"Deflowering you is not the problem. The problem is that during intercourse, your gift will be unlocked, and it requires a magically strong man to accept it. Otherwise, we'll both die."

"And where do we find such a worthy man?" I said sarcastically.

"Only among the free ones... But no one will want to break the law. You'll be taken to the temple."

"I see..." Trouble everywhere I look! "How can I make you free?"

"Even if you free me, it won't work. I'm weak as a mage. And what would I do in this world as a free man? I'm clothed, fed, and employed."

"So, you're a freeloader," I concluded, though I felt a bit sorry for him. He's so young, looking about twenty, yet already enslaved. He's never known another life...

"I don't know what that word means..." Valentos hesitated, which made me smile. "Perhaps Tantris can help. He managed to develop his gift when he was free. You can remove the collar by dripping a drop of blood on it and saying the words the previous owner knew."

"Well, here goes... *eliph air ab tizak*!" I cursed in Arabic.

Suddenly, a man's laughter echoed in my head. I realized I must be going crazy.

*"Sorry for eavesdropping. The words stayed in your memory and will surface when needed."*

Right, the gods are messing with me! Well, at least I'm grateful for that!

*"You're welcome,"* came the reply.

"Can I know what that phrase means?" Valentos looked at me with such an innocent expression...

"Too young!" I snorted and laughed at his offended face.

"You have a beautiful laugh, my lady!" The trio who had woken up joined us from behind.

"Are you Tantris?"

I ran my eyes over his bare, muscular torso. The only thing he wore were leather pants. His tanned skin made me envious, and my hands wanted to touch his perfect male body, stroke his thick black hair. His chocolate eyes looked at me shyly, and his thin lips trembled, making me want to kiss them.

"I..." Tantris blushed, seeing me openly admiring him.

"Can you help with the gift?"

"I don't understand..."

"The lady is talking about wanting to lose her virginity to you and help with accepting the gift..." Angelok sighed sadly.

"It's impossible," Tantris got angry. How stubborn!

"What about this?" I approached him, standing on tiptoe, cut my finger on his fang, and brought it to the collar. But he grabbed my hand.

"You realize that while I would be grateful for freedom, I won't stay by your side, right?"

"Repay me, and you can be free," I ran my finger along the collar and whispered the fateful words.

The collar suddenly split in half.

"I will repay you!" Tantris lifted me by the waist to eye level and kissed me the next moment, radiating desire. His pupils instantly turned serpentine.

He gently set me back on the ground and stepped back. A misty veil hid his sculpted body, and when it cleared, a giant asp lay where the man had been. The word 'snake' hardly seemed fitting for this creature!

*eliph air ab tizak - an Arabic curse*

"You are such..." I stared at the asp in awe.

He hesitantly tilted his head, offering it to me. I ran my hand over the yellow and red scales in admiration.

"Wasn't the royal lineage thought to be extinct?" asked Anris, who had remained silent until then, his lips pursed disapprovingly.

"No, they put a collar on me and sold me like a slave." Tantris was beside me once more, squeezing my hand, which was pressed to his face.

"You can't bring back the past..." Anris objected.

"I'm not even trying."

"Well, let's go," I said, shaking my head in confusion.

"Don't rush. We're supposed to get to the temple tomorrow, so they're not looking for us yet." Tantris picked me up and carried me to the cart.

They fed me again. The nanny, after shooing everyone away, firmly removed my robe that served as a nightgown and wiped me down with a wet towel, despite my protests.

"Lady Yahna, I've seen all this before! I don't see you as a woman, I raised you like my own child and love you like a daughter..." he added quietly while dressing me in cute pants, a tunic, and comfortable boots.

Unable to hold back, I hugged him.

"It's a shame you're not my father..." I said, moved. The man hid his moistening eyes.

The blond stepped out from behind the cart and stood still, listening to our conversation.

"But he is your father," he suddenly revealed. "Your mother gave birth to you by him—a slave, not her husband. There was a big scandal in the family, but since you were a girl, you couldn't be sold into slavery. A boy would have been." The blond frowned, piercing us with a sharp look.

"Is it true? Did she know?" I looked at Anris—he nodded in response. "And how did she feel about it?"

"She was a kind girl, she treated you well... loved you in her own way." Anris hastily packed our things and went to the river.

"I took her place..." I whispered in frustration.

"She made her choice. No one judges her now." The man sat behind me and started untangling my knotted hair.

"You?.."

"Laess, my lady. We have no choice. We're slaves, and death is a privilege we're not worthy of."

"Why?"

"Why are we slaves? Our own families sold us. Like me, for instance. I was born to a slave. The irony, right?" Laess gave a bitter smile.

"No, not irony. I come from a world where there's no open slavery, but other horrors exist. I don't know why I'm here, but I'll get out," I declared firmly. "I could set you all free, but it seems you're not really interested."

"I want to, but I don't know what to do with freedom..." He genuinely looked confused.

"Live?"

"Live..." Laess repeated sadly. "It sounds so sweet... I guess I'd like to try."

I turned and extended my hand to him. The young man carefully pricked his finger with a dagger and pressed my hand to his collar. I whispered the words, keeping eye contact with him. When the collar fell apart, Laess covered the wounded finger with his lips, healing the wound.

I gasped with delight as the head of a white asp rested on my lap. It curled around me and closed its eyes contentedly.

"I want to as well." Otis sat down beside me.

"The finger's healed," I noted, examining the healed wound with surprise.

"His saliva can heal any wound, and his blood can neutralize any poison..." Otis looked intently at Laess.

I offered my hand to Otis—he pricked my finger with the dagger. I pressed it to the collar. A few moments later, the halves of the collar lay on the grass. A few more seconds, and a bronze serpent appeared next to us. It seemed shocked by what was happening, only its tongue moving to feel the air around.

I lounged relaxedly on the cushions spread over the fabric. The two serpents, gently resting their heads on my thighs and stomach, dozed.

Yawning unexpectedly, I fell asleep. My body felt too weak... I didn't know how I'd escape yet. I needed to find a way as soon as possible...

I woke up in the evening, hungry and nervous. Anris bustled around me and soon brought a tray with food and a drink.

"Has everyone eaten?" I asked.

"Yes, my lady."

"Good, where is everyone?"

"Swimming in the river."

"I want to as well!"

"Now, let me change your clothes."

"Why? I'll go like this!" I stood up firmly and headed to the water.

My body had returned to normal, and I reached the water energetically and quickly. I touched the water—warm. Judging by the sounds, the guys were somewhere around the bend of the river. I took off my tunic and pants, remaining in shorts and a top that served as underwear. There was nothing to hide anyway! A skinny mess: barely a bust, flat butt, ribs sticking out, and legs thin as sticks. I looked at my reflection—even my eyebrows were white. A moth!

I turned to Anris with a question:

"How old am I?"

"Eighteen."

"Am I an adult by your standards?"

"Yes, but you could have waited longer. Your mother decided otherwise. In loving families, things are different..." he said bitterly.

"She's no longer my mother, and you... You decide if you want to remain a slave or be free!" I ran and jumped into the cold water with a squeal.

Someone immediately picked me up and pressed me to a strong body.

"What's wrong?" I blinked my wet eyelashes.

"You were screaming." Tantris looked into my eyes with concern.

"I screamed out of excitement. Let me swim!" I paused, thought for a moment, then asked, "Have you changed your mind about helping?"

"No, I'm ready." His face was serious.

"Can you? I look like a kid..."

"All snake girls look the same before initiation and change afterward. I can." Tantris ran a large hand over my face and suddenly covered my lips with his.

Overwhelmed by emotions, I felt dizzy. He gently and carefully set me on my feet. I glanced at the man, pushed off the bottom, and started swimming.