𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎.

𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫.

CHAPTER IV
observation & entertainment.

You stumbled as you follow the mighty beast into the cavern. Your eyes wide and mouth agape, your mind completely flabbergasted at what you were seeing. Piles and piles of gold and silvers, silks and fabrics tossed about, An opening in the ceiling letting light dance against the pure metals. Other miscellaneous objects scattered at the base of the piles.

Aside the piles that looked like it belonged in a kings vault, further past that was... furniture? A giant fire pit that was snuffed out, stone tables and a massive bed made of the silks he was offered. Human sized furniture for a dragon? There were also candles and a dripping stalagmite that flowed into a small pond that flowed back into the ink-filled lake.

Who could all this be for? Unless someone had offered him home furniture which didn't make any sense at all, there had to be someone else here. You snuffed around in hopes to find a trace of another human, like maybe a freshly brewed cup of tea, something like that. Sadly, you were disappointingly left with spotless furniture.

Wait, spotless? You swiftly turned back towards the furniture before running a finger over the stone. Not a speck. If there truly was no one here, it would be collecting dust! But, that leaves the question. Who is here?

"I hope you aren't stealing my offerings, human." He huffs as he sits atop one of the piles of gold. Legs tucked under his body as his tail swishes back and forth as an icy mist leaks from the sides of his maw. "Quite rude for you to steal from your host."

You take one last look of the strange — presumably —offerings before making your way back to the mighty beast. Trying to manoeuvre around the piles of treasures and find your way through the cavern before seeing the swaying of a tail. Stepping around the piles of precious metals with your hands above your head, you bow your head.

"It is an honour to be invited into your home, great protector. However, I am still here against my own volition." As scared as you were of the beast that could swallow you whole or burn you alive, if he wished to kill you he would've done it before you stepped foot into the cavern.

"That you are. I am allowing you to be a companion of mine for the time being, an observation if you will. I believe you were sent here for more than just thievery..." An hearty laugh erupts from his throat which puffs out even more clouds of ice, as he stretches out his neck down to your eye level. You quite literally stared death in the eyes.

"What happens to you is in your hands, human."The tone of his already spine-chilling voice drops. A snarl as he bares his massive canines as a warning. And yet another puff of icy breath physically sending a chill down your spine. The smell of blood and rot from his last meal lingering.

You rub your arms in a weak attempt to rid yourself of goosebumps and nervous thoughts. Your faith in your hands, mess up and your his next meal or play thing. (E/C) eyes dilated in fear and paranoia. As your mind plagues you with gruesome images of your death, the mighty beast circles you like prey.

Snake slit eyes watching every moment and movement. Every fidget of your body, twitch of the eye and shaky exhale like it was the best show in town. A high-pitched laugh as his rows of teeth expose themselves in a cheshire-like grin. Tail swaying in excitement, knocking over a pile of gold knocking you out of your shock.

You look up towards the menacing creature far too close for comfort as he continues to step closer. Once again staring down his gaping maw. As his laughter ceases and tail now wrapping around you in a semi circle.

"You, my dear. Shall be the greatest of entertainment i've had in centuries." A snarl as he observes you intensely once again. Tail tapping against the stone as he continues to snarl in, curiosity almost. Before accidentally nudges you over the end of tail, tripping you over onto the hard cold ground.

"You're quite the funny thing. Continue this and I might gift you with an honour of a lifetime" Another mocking chuckle. You felt pathetic. Covered in ash and trembling in fear, with a terrifying beast laughing at your misery.

You wouldn't die here. You couldn't die here. You needed to get back home, even if it was just once. To shove that little rich boys face into the dirt, and for Sybil and your father. For yourself. Refusing to take it lying down but, for now you'd entertain him.

Do what he wishes and you may actually make it out alive. Fail and you'd die a pathetic death on a silver platter with an apple in your mouth. Don't do anything stupid, don't do anything rash. Besides, you really wanted to shove it in that damned playboys face. In the face of certain death,

ENDURANCE IS EVERYTHING.

873 word count.
edited: 14 APRIL 2021