Basilisk's Kin

Aria

She knew not her home. She knew not her past. She only knew her name. Aria. 

It was freezing, damp, and dark. She could barely focus her sight. The stabbing pain she felt at her nape was too great. It felt as if she had split her head open. The pain was numbing.

"Hello?" She rasped. Only silence answered her. 

She tried to recall how she got there or even where she was, but it made her head feel as if nails were being driven through it. Fear and panic flooded her veins. "Why can't I remember anything?" She tried again, the pain only intensified. She couldn't remember anything at all only her name.

Exhausted, Aria stood, her headache was beginning to subside and with it her vison cleared. She tried to get a sense of her surroundings, but she could barely see. Her own hands seemed invisible; she was somewhere very dark. She assumed it to be a cave. The air was earthy and musty.

Aria felt around in the dark and cool stone met her hands. She stuck to the wall, using it as a guide in the darkness. Cautiously, she began to walk alongside the wall, making sure never to take her hands off. Her head still pounded, but the pain was bearable. All she knew was that she needed to get out. That was her first step. 

As she walked, time seemed to pass very slowly. She began to wonder how long she had been there. She was tired. Her head hurt. Her eyes hurt. Her body hurt. Worst of all, Aria was beginning to feel the cold of the cave as it seeped into her bones. All she had on were a pair of black pants, a simple grey tunic and leather boots. It was barely enough to shield her from the bite of the cold cave air. As she continued to walk, she felt a sudden chill down her spine. Someone was watching her. She  could sense it, but she didn't know how.

She began to pick up her pace only to stop suddenly. Something was following her. Something big. If it attacked her, she'd be at a disadvantage. Most likely, it had better sight than she did in the dark. Her chances of survival were diminishing by the second. There was no time for a plan, and nowhere to hide.

Body still aching, Aria ran. She hoped she could find something to defend herself with, but she could barely see anything. If she was going to die her, she didn't want to go down without a fight. Heavy footsteps sounded behind her. So heavy the ground shook underneath her. Panic rushed through her. She didn't know how she could possibly survive now.

"This is how I die?" She thought as she kept moving. "Why? Why me? "

"Wait...."

Aria's blood froze. Whatever it was that was following her, was speaking to her. In her head. "You need not fear me, child. Turn and face me." The voice spoke again. 

Aria's heart pounded in her chest. What if it killed her when she turned around? She was alone and didn't know if anyone was looking for her and she still couldn't remember what got her in this situation. With those thoughts in mind, Arian slowly turned around. "I can still find a way out of this. As long as I can move and breathe, I can survive." 

Two large golden eyes faced Aria. They were terrifying, yet familiar. They regarded her as if they had all the knowledge of the world. As Aria tried to recall why they seemed so familiar to her, Pain threatened to split her still aching head once again. This time it was worse. She was on the brink of passing out, but she forced herself to remain conscious. 

She clutched her head and cried out. "What do you want?!"

The creature answered "I am afraid you can't give me what I want just yet."

"What?" She could only see the creature's eyes. The rest of it had been hidden by the darkness of the cave.

"It seems you do not recall who you are. An unfortunate setback. First, let us get somewhere more comfortable for you. You seem to have been through much, child." The creature replied. It's voice was almost calming. Almost. "Follow me."

Something rough and scaly slipped around Aria's arm and held on to her tightly, but not tight enough to harm her. She could feel the muscles within it and mysteriously knew what it was that was holding her. Its tail. A very large and powerful one. "How do I know I you wont kill me?"

The creature made a low rumbling noise. Almost sounding like laughter. "Child, if I wanted you dead, you would have been since the moment you entered my domain. This cave is a maze that only I know the entrances and exits to."

Aria bit her lip. Even if she could manage to escape the grip of its tail, she could not outrun or outmaneuver it . "Fine."

With that, the creature pulled her along through the darkness. It was mere minutes before Aria noticed that there was a light up ahead of them. A light from the outside. As soon as the creature released Aria, she pushed her legs as hard as she could to reach the outside.

As soon as the light hit her face, she winced. Her head throbbed lightly; the sunlight was blinding, but also warming. She could breathe again and feel the warmth begin to return to her body. Aria quickly gauged her surroundings. She appeared to be on a mountain. The sun had just stared to rise. She did not have the slightest clue of where she should or could go.  She wanted to increase her chances of survival. Having no alternative options, she tried to slip into the forest.

"I would not attempt that if I were you, child." 

Aria swore under her breath. She wondered if she could even outrun whatever it was that was speaking to her. Straightening her shoulders and centering herself, Aria turned to face her savior or possibly her killer.

Her eyes were met with scales of purple, blue and grey. All coming together over hulking muscle that belonged to a beast that stood at least fifteen feet above her. It's horns were a golden orange that extended outward sat on it's head as if it were a crown. This was no mere creature. It had a strong presence. It took everything in Aria not to collapse under its golden gaze.

"What are you?" Aria asked softly. Cautious, but feeling drawn to the creature.

"I am the last of my kind. I am all that is left of ancient magic. I am the last basilisk."