Chapter 12
Yuta limped back to the slave quarters, his torn shirt doing little to hide the angry welts crisscrossing his back. Each step sent fresh waves of agony through his body, but he clutched the large black snake protectively against his chest. Despite his pain, he'd managed to scoop up the beautiful creature before anyone else could see it.
The other slaves looked up as he entered, and Ren's eyes went wide with shock—not just at Yuta's obvious injuries, but at the massive serpent coiled in his arms.
"Yuta! I was looking for you! And what in the seven hells is that thing?" Ren gasped, scrambling backward on his bedroll.
"It's very cold outside," Yuta said softly, wincing as he carefully lowered himself onto his thin mattress. "This beautiful creature can't stay out there in the night air."
The other slaves in the quarters began murmuring fearfully, pointing at the snake with trembling fingers. Someone whispered about venomous demon serpents, while another suggested they call the guards immediately to kill it.
Yuta's grip tightens around the snake protectively. He carefully placed the animal on his bed, covering it with the very thin sheet that barely qualified as a mattress and hoped it was warm enough.
"Are you insane?" Kai whispered from his own bed, his bandaged face making his fear even more palpable. "That thing could kill us all!"
"Look," Yuta said gently, extending his hand toward the serpent's head. "It's not venomous. See? It doesn't bite."
The snake's burning red eyes fixed on his approaching fingers with what looked like murderous intent, but it didn't strike. Yuta took this as a good sign and lightly stroked the smooth scales along its head.
I'm going to sink my fangs into your throat, you foolish mortal! Elrien's serpentine mind raged. How dare you treat me like some common pet!
"Such a beautiful animal," Yuta murmured in wonder, completely oblivious to the death glare he was receiving. "I've never seen anything like this before. Even snakes in the demon realm are different from normal ones—this one has such intelligent eyes."
Intelligent? INTELLIGENT? Elrien's fury reached new heights. I am the Lord of Acasya, not some fascinating specimen for your amusement!
Yuta continued his gentle petting, and the snake's body went rigid with indignation. "Oh, you like that, don't you?" Yuta said with delight, misinterpreting the tension completely. "Your scales are so smooth and warm. You must be well-fed to be this healthy."
Well-fed on the blood of my enemies and yours soon! Elrien thought venomously, but something about the human's gentle touch was doing strange things to his cold-blooded system.
"Since we're both lonely," Yuta whispered to the serpent, his voice so quiet only the snake could hear, "why don't you be my companion from now on? We can look after each other."
COMPANION? Elrien was practically vibrating with rage. I don't need to be looked after by a pathetic human slave!
The snake let out a sharp, angry hiss, and Yuta's face lit up with the first genuine smile he'd worn since arriving at the castle.
"See? It agrees!" he said happily to the others. "I think it likes me."
I am expressing my desire to end your miserable existence! Elrien's mental screaming reached a fever pitch.
"You know what?" Yuta said, carefully adjusting the snake so it was more comfortable. "I'm going to call you Shadow. You're as dark and beautiful as midnight, and you appeared to me in my darkest hour."
"SHADOW? Elrien couldn't believe the indignity. My name is Lord Elrien Vernom, terror of the seven realms, and you're calling me… Shadow?
"Do you like that name?" Yuta asked, gently scratching under what he assumed was the snake's chin. "You seem to have such personality. Most snakes are just… well, snake-like. But you're different, aren't you?"
The scratching was hitting a spot that, even in his serpent form, felt surprisingly pleasant. Against his will, Elrien found his eyes closing slightly.
This is… no! I will not be pacified by chin scratches like some common house cat!
"Oh, you're purring!" Yuta exclaimed softly, though the sound was actually more of a low, threatening rumble. "I didn't know snakes could do that. You really are special."
That is not purring! That is the sound of barely contained homicidal rage!
Yuta shifted position, trying to get more comfortable despite his injuries, and carefully arranged the snake so it was curled partially around his torso. "There, now we can both stay warm. You don't mind sharing body heat, do you?"
Mind? MIND?! Elrien's thoughts were becoming increasingly incoherent. I am a demon lord! I don't cuddle with humans!
But the human's body was surprisingly warm and comforting, and despite his outrage, Elrien found himself unconsciously adjusting his coils to better distribute his warmth.
"That's it," Yuta murmured approvingly. "Make yourself comfortable. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find you some nice mice or something. Do you like mice?"
I feast on the hearts of my enemies, not rodents! But even as he thought it, Elrien realized he hadn't actually eaten anything substantial in days, having been too distracted by thoughts of white hair and gentle voices.
"Oh, you're probably hungry," Yuta said, as if reading his thoughts. "I'm sorry, Shadow. I don't have any food to give you right now, but I promise I'll find something tomorrow."
The genuine concern in the human's voice was… unexpected.
"You know," Yuta continued in a whisper, absently stroking the snake's scales, "everyone here is so scared all the time. But you… you don't seem afraid of anything. I wish I could be brave like you."
Brave? Elrien's anger flickered with confusion. You think I'm brave?
"Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be strong enough that nothing could hurt me," Yuta said wistfully. "To not have to worry about being beaten or killed for the smallest mistake."
The sadness in the human's voice made something twist uncomfortably in Elrien's chest. This boy—this gentle, innocent creature, was trapped in a world of violence and fear, just as Elrien had been as a child.
But I became the violence, Elrien thought, his rage dampening slightly. I became the thing that others fear.