Shadowed Scales

Chapter 1: Seasonal Summer's Curse

_CHAPTER ONE_

Seasonal Summer's Curse

"Can you believe that tomorrow's school?" a female Egyptian cobra hissed in amusement. "It would be nice to be back in the classroom and meet up with friends again."

"Only for you," a young male Egyptian cobra muttered. He was feeding some grounded-up insects to his pet tarantula, Dante. Dante was a fuzzy red and black tarantula.

"Oh Sameer!" the female tsked. "You only say that because you don't have any friends! Can't you just stick with just other Elapidaes to avoid any trouble? After all, we're all born venomous."

"Not just that," sighed Sameer. "School has been expecting me of things I cannot do...I'm only eleven and everyone wants me to be something else! I don't want to be a doctor! I want-"

His mouth was covered shut by the female's tail. Her eyes narrowed down on him, her hood spreading out a bit to intimidate him.

"Don't say that out loud when Mama and Baba are still here," she hissed irritably. "You know how long it took me to come out to them about my course in university? They were both reluctant that I took journalism instead of law."

Sameer nodded, his eyes were trailed at his sister's hood. It looked like something otherworldly when she gets angry. She could extend her height close to nine feet through her whole length!

"Sister," Sameer pushed his sister's tail aside. "I don't know how you do it. But I am tired of them telling me to be something I'm not. I love history, the ancient ones with relics and pyramids that hold secrets."

His sister relaxed her hood until it was flat. She understood her little brother's struggles. The world can be a cruel place for some animals. Majority she knew were herbivores while carnivores get the short end of the stick.

But for snakes, it's different.

Especially those born with fangs that were built to inject venom into the body. Neurotoxins were the type of venoms she and her siblings were trained not to spill out when speaking. Not all animals were immune to it.

Which was why when snakes' venom was potent to kill, they had to drain completely so that the collected venoms would be sold to hospitals and clinics to create anti-venom and disinfectants.

In a way, it was benefitting but tiresome.

"Talia?" Sameer's quiet voice hissed. His older sister tenderly wrapped her brother into a coiled hug.

"Yes?"

"Do you think I can be a historian? Or work in the museum?"

Thalia let out a breath. "Sameer, when you are old like me, you will find out. But one thing for sure, never stop believing in your dreams. So yes, I think you can if you could find a way."

"I will," Sameer nodded. "Thank you, big sister."

"No problem," she smiled. "Now, go and pack your bags for tomorrow. You don't want to be late on the first day."

"But it's only 8 P.M," he pointed out. But his sister's steady gaze had made him submit to packing his bags for school. He couldn't understand why must everything be now rather than later.

What is the rush?

His father was always precise in his work, his mother was always on time and enough said about his sister, Talia. It would be a matter of time before the egg will hatch.

Yes, Sameer's family was expecting the egg with their newborn sibling to hatch. He felt sorry for the egg, since it was so tiny in its little nest and blanket, not having anything to think about.

He wondered if his parents have plans for him before he was born. What about Talia?

Pushing aside his deep thoughts, Sameer began to pack for school before heading to the dining table to join his family for dinner.

...

Gryphon Cross was a sight to behold.

Its architecture full of marble stone and towers to resemble an actual castle with statues guarding the rooftops. The statues were creatures from the past that all had heads of an eagle while their bodies varied from eagle talons, lion's body and the rare ones had horse limbs.

The history behind the school was that a gryphon found a secluded area away from a war, near a lake which was so vast that diving in would lead to another world! The gryphon loved the place so much that he dedicated his life to study and knowledge until he was ready to open a school. From there, he would pass down his teachings and lessons to his students, leading to the reputation of the school today.

The building was an all-boy's school where they had a rivalry with another school on the other side of the lake. The other school was called Selkie School for Special Girls, an all-girl's school.

Sameer honestly had no problem with his school or the girls, but he wondered if any female snakes also felt the same like him. Snakes, especially cobras were not feared but admired for their intelligence and intuition.

He hated to be referred to as 'Judge Nadir's son' when he himself was not as serious or intimidating as his father. The young Egyptian cobra slithered his way into class, avoiding getting trampled by the other students.

In Gryphon Cross, they prided themselves on loyalty, courage and intelligence.

For snakes, it was always a flip of a coin determined by both carnivores and herbivores about how they perceived them. Either cold and calculative or quiet and intelligent. It was another thing that annoyed Sameer since he knew venomous snakes just have the same emotions as other animals, minus the insulation that warm-blooded animals have.

Depending on the weather or temperature, Sameer could gauge his movement to keep up with the other students. Despite not having sharp hearing, Sameer could hear his classmates talking about him.

"Sameer's scales look shiny today. Do you think we can sell them so that we can buy more candy?"

"I bet he takes summer classes with the cats and dogs. Those guys are always the teacher's pets."

"Do you think he has venom now? Can we actually get him to bite something so that we can sell it? Imagine getting a new game for the Gamestation with that much money!"

Sameer coiled himself in his seat. He hoped the teacher would come in soon so that they would stop talking! He wasn't the most confrontational type but even he had his limits.

Then again, he hoped that after school he could make his way into the museum to look at the beautiful lost statues and old languages. Yeah, he would do that.

"Hey Sameer," one of his classmates hissed behind him. It was an albino corn snake. "I heard we are getting someone new in class."

"So?"

"I thought you'd be excited," the corn snake smiled softly.

Sameer rolled his eyes. Corn snakes were modified in history to be as tame as possible. Corn snakes do not have the wild instincts most serpents do which made them just as artificial as cats and dogs.

Then again, most animals weren't too keen on limbless species, especially reptiles.

"So long as he doesn't pull my scales," Sameer sniffed, flaring his hood involuntarily.

But Sameer's jaws dropped as he saw the new student. Stretching his body a bit, he managed to take a glimpse at the new student that caused a mixture of curiosity and disgust among his classmates:

It was a fluffy Honduran white bat with cloudy blue eyes!