4. Dark Sides: Rise of the Anacondrai

Chapter 17 - Can of Worms

A/N: Okay, so THIS is a NEW chapter. But I also just combined the previous two chapters since they were originally supposed to be published together. (Hopefully this whole thing isn't too confusing, double check if you think you might have missed something) Reminder that chapter 16 now has the scenes with Pixal and Zane, and with the boys getting their new mission. Just want to make sure y'all don't miss something important if you're not consistently coming back each week. 

Alright, now on with the story!! 

. . .

Clouse slithered over the hot dunes while the wind pelted him with grains of sand. It was sweltering under this new, thick hide, but that was the price of power. Behind him marched a small battalion, armed and ready for whatever they might encounter.

As they slithered over another rise, their destination came into view. They saw first the gigantic curved bone standing out like an island in the Sea of Sand. A small, pitiful structure was wedged beneath it, weather-beaten and caked with dust, almost making it blend in with the desert.

"At last," Clouse breathed. After all these years, the tomb would be reopened, and Master Chen's army would become all but invincible. After years of planning and patience, the end was finally in sight.

Clouse signaled for the troops to stop as they neared the double doors. They would have to enter cautiously – there was not telling how many Serpentine they might find, and chances were that they wouldn't take kindly to the look-alikes breaking into their prison of a home. But all they really needed was one Anacondrai. Then they could kill the rest.

Clouse sensed the soldiers tensing behind him as he opened the door with his magic. The hinges creaked and sand rained from the ill-used doors. Clouse slowly slunk through the doorway, letting his eyes adjust to the dim light.

The place looked deserted. The only thing left were the fragile remains of the old tribe, ribs and fangs and skulls, gaping in one last snarl of defiance. It closely resembled the room beneath Master Chen's island where Clouse's beloved pet had often fed. There was no sign of life here. But then, the Anacondrai weren't considered the most powerful Serpentine tribe for nothing.

Muttering under his breath, Clouse cast a spell over the cavern. Tendrils of smoky purple magic slithered amongst the ruins of the dead, seeking out something to latch onto. Finally, it coalesced at the far side of the room into a single, vaguely snake-shaped cloud.

"Reveal yourself!" Clouse demanded. "Or face the wrath of Master Chen."

As the mist dissipated, a pair of magenta eyes materialized, followed closely by a violet head and neck, and a pair of gleaming fangs. At once, the troops held their spears at the ready. Clouse supposed they had forgotten that the Anacondrai could turn invisible – they probably didn't realize they could do it themselves now, too.

"I say!" the serpent hissed as the rest of his body came into view. "Clouse, is that you?"

Clouse sneered in disgust. Of all the dirty, low-life Serpentine . . .

"And an Anacondrai, no less! How ever did Master Chen manage that?"

"Pythor," Clouse growled. "How fortunate to see you've survived your imprisonment. Such a shame for the rest of your tribe, however."

Pythor bowed his head. "Poor unfortunate souls. All those years, locked away with nothing to eat. There was nothing they could do but slowly starve away until they were just scales and bones.

Clouse knew it couldn't be coincidence that the single-most conniving and cowardly Serpentine in history had been the only one to survive. Still, he was essential to the plan, and Clouse would certainly enjoy squeezing every last bit of essence out of him. "Master Chen requests your presence at once," he stated.