Serpentine Desires

The prey-130

I sat awkwardly, my hands folded in my lap as the scents of Russian pelmeni, Italian pasta, and American-style steak swirled together. The spread was lavish, but my appetite was buried somewhere under everything I'd just witnessed.

Judas sat beside me, composed as ever and I didn't know how he could keep his expression unreadable. On his other side, Ralph leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming a restless rhythm against the table. Across from me, Rara sat between Killian and Alexei, her movements tense but deliberate as she passed a plate of bread. Alexei looked deep in thought, his fingers tracing the rim of his untouched glass.

Even the workers around were more tense than anything.

The quiet wasn't just heavy—it was choking me.

Killian, however, seemed entirely unaffected, that's where Judas got his... boldness from. Though I had come to like Killian, even the tiniest bit, only because he seemed charming and someone who never takes things seriously. But there was something... weird about him. How do I tell, he seemed like someone who would burn you down without feeling an ounce of remorse all while smiling.  

I didn't realise I was staring at him when he leaned forward and his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine. "You should eat, kleine Taube," he said warmly though it was anything but that. I nervously nodded. "I promise, none of us bite. Well," his gaze flicked briefly to Judas, "most of us don't."

(Little dove.) 

Judas chuckled.

I realised another thing. Judas seemed to like Killian more than the other two.

"I... I'm fine," I mumbled.

"Nonsense," Killian said, grabbing a plate and loading it with a little bit of everything. "Let me make sure you don't faint at the table. Wouldn't want my little prince to think I'm a terrible host," he looked beside Judas, at Ralph and grinned. "And a terrible father."

"Killian," Ralph growled lowly. 

"What?" Killian turned to him, feigning innocence as he slid the plate in front of me. "I'm being hospitable. Maybe you should try it sometime, Ralphy."

"I swear to God—" 

"Enough," Rara grumbled. "If you two can't behave like grown men, I'll feed you to the dogs myself."

I choked on my own breath.

Well, I wasn't expecting this.

Rara seemed kind... well, she was... but she knew how to keep her men in check. Now that I noticed, all of them obeyed her in their own ways.

Killian raised his hands. "As you wish, Schmetterling." His tone turned softer, more intimate, as he smirked at her. And I blushed feeling like I was the one interrupting. "But your bite is far more dangerous than any dog's."

Rara rolled her eyes, but her cheeks tinted the faintest shade of pink.

Across the table, Alexei sighed heavily, his gaze far away as if he wasn't even hearing anything at all. His fork lay untouched beside his plate, and the crease between his brows deepened. Whatever was running through his mind, it was as much a storm as the one brewing in my chest.

I pushed the food around on my plate, glancing at Judas. But there was a tightness in his jaw, and he hadn't spoken at all. 

The dinner however went with strange calm. If Killian's comments were not to be taken into consideration. Ralph was also quiet.

I helped Rara organise the kitchen though she insisted not to. But I wasn't going to let her do the work when she cooked the delicious food. I wanted to be kind for once.