Hunters and Monsters

3- We meet again

Tw: cursing, mentions of eating disorder

907 words

Edited on 4/20/22

When Virgil and Logan returned to their home deep in the forest a few days later, they were surprised to see Valery, one of their human friends, and a Naga waiting outside the castle's front door. The two seemed deep in a conversation, the snake man coiled up into a small ball on the bench the two were on. 

Logan knew quite a few Naga from his times traveling, but he didn't recognize this one. His scales were a mix of black and yellow, up to his waist. From there, only half of his body was covered in scales, his entire right side from the waist up was scale-less and human resembling. The left half of his face had yellow green scales, with a scar tracing along his cheek from his hear to his lips.

But it appeared Virgil did recognize this strange Naga, as the younger vampire froze in his tracks. His face changed from shock, to doubt, to annoyance, then to a neutral face Logan had known to recognize pretty well.

Virgil walked out of the tree cover first, marching right up to the Naga. The snake man looked up in time to be tackled backwards in a fierce hug. The Naga blinked in surprise, then hugged back, burying his face in Virgil's shoulder.

As Logan walked up to them, he heard Virgil mutter, "It's so good to see you, Janus."

The two separated when Logan cleared his throat awkwardly. "Virgil, mind introducing us to your friend?"

"Oh, right. Janus, this is Prince Logan, one of my friends. Logan, this is Janus, a mangrove Naga from Indonesia. He moved to America with a few of his people and is now living in here in Florida, only a little whiles south of us, actually. You may know him as Deceit, though." Virgil introduced.

"Wait, you're Deceit? As in the Deceit from-" Logan asked incredulously. 

"Yes," Janus replied with a grimace before Logan could finish. "That is my more popular name. But call me Janus."

"So how do you two know each other?" Valery asked.

"It was during one of those times I ran away in the late 1800s. I ran into our favorite snek boi, and we helped each other out." Virgil replied. Janus scoffed.

"If by 'helped each other out' you mean I mothered your sorry ass so you wouldn't die of starvation, you idiot," He scolded Virgil, lightly slapping his friend over the head. Both Valery and Logan stiffened, but Virgil made no reaction other than an eye roll.

"I'm still mad at you for that," Virgil replied. 

"Again, I am totally not fine!" Janus argued.

"So why're you here?" Virgil asked, changing the topic. 

Janus's playful smile melted, and a haunted look entered his eyes. "I came as a messenger. The hunters Roman and Patton are residing in Florida for the next few weeks. They heard rumors of the ghoul parties, which I'm very surprised about honestly. But they also apparently heard of your vampires."

Everyone went quiet. "What? How much do they know?" Valery questioned, looking rather distraught.

"They called it an... er, a 'vampire infestation.' Pardon the language, but that's what they said. I think word of your residing here must have finally gotten around. Most of the Naga in this area are moving north until everything settles down, like the cowards they are," Janus admitted bitterly.

"Thomas wouldn't let the hunters find us though, would they?" Valery whispered. 

"That's the thing. They were talking to your precious Mr. Sanders when they mentioned this. He and Joan both refused knowledge of you, but did not deter the other hunters. As much as I hate to say it, I think your best option would be to re-locate." Janus told them. 

Valery's hands went to her mouth, while Virgil and Logan just looked at the snake man in shock.

"How could you suggest such a thing?" Logan asked finally. "We- we have elders, children! Lady Kathryn just gave birth a year ago, and the other kids are barely old enough to fly, let alone re-locate! And the humans who would travel with us would need things; we have human children here too, you know!"

"L-Logan," Virgil muttered, walking over to his older friend. "He knows the risks as well as you do. Remember he traveled all the way from Australia. If Janus thinks this is best, it is most likely the only option left. As you said before, we have elders and children to think about. Our numbers at this home dwindle, and our fighters are fewer than ever."

Janus lifted himself up from his coiled tail, his form of standing. "If it means anything, I will watch over the weak with my life. Vampire or no," He added, turning to Valery.

"Janus-" Virgil started, but was cut off with a glare from his snake friend. 

"Virgil, I have to do this. I haven't had a purpose in this life for so long, let me help. I know what I'm doing, and you know that. Please."

Logan rubbed the bridge of his nose under his glasses, looking like a tired mother. The wind picked up, swirling his cape around him as he declared, "We'll have to talk to the king then. We can't make a decision without my father."

Okay, but as I was writing this chapter Lies by Will Jay came on. Like huh? Spotify, how did you know Janus was in this chapter?!   Amazing <3    Anyways, that is all, have a nice day.