Previously...
Hiram shifted into a full snake within seconds in front of them and jeered, "Finally!"
"No!" Kyrah shrieked, rushing forward.
"How could you do this to us?" Marsel's wobbly voice clearly showed his nonplussed state.
"This is no time for drama." Hiram scoffed and scooted closer to Kyrah. He glanced at the gem which was curled in her tail. His eyes gleamed dangerously and his lips drew apart in a crooked grin.
Kyrah followed his gaze and understood his motive. His guard was down as he was busy gawking at the shimmering gem. Seeing this as an advantage, she pushed him away easily.
She quickly uncurled her tail so that the gem floated a tad bit above the ground.
"Precious gem, don't let anyone touch you except me," she murmured. At once, a circle formed around the Naag Mani under her command.
A tintamarre followed, which made Kyrah turn abruptly. She was horrified to find her father curled in a corner, blood oozing out from a large gash on his stomach.
"You coward! You knew that he can't shift, yet you attacked him!" Lilah wailed, kneeling down beside her wounded husband.
"Mother!" Kyrah bellowed, but couldn't warn her in time.
A blow to Lilah's head rendered her dizzy, stars forming in her vision. She looked up at him with blazing green eyes and started shifting with difficulty. Jeanette's bite on her shin, the journey back to the palace and weakness had zeroed down her strength. Hiram cackled seeing Lilah's state, which made Kyrah furious.
"Let's end this fight, uncle," Kyrah's unusually calm voice reverberated in the silent atmosphere.
"Is the little Princess scared to fight?" Hiram jeered, ignoring her oenomel thought.
"I don't want bloodshed. Don't you see? Families shouldn't fight."
"Oh really? Then hand over the gem to me, beloved niece." Hiram sneered, speaking the word 'niece' with disgust.
"Never! I won't let you misuse its--"
An attack on her side prevented her from completing her sentence. Hiram twirled his sword-like tail and spoke insouciantly, "You shouldn't let your guard down."
"Remember this, beloved niece, you will never be able to defeat me!" his voice showed his overweened state of mind.
A stinging pain shot out from Kyrah's wound, her high-pitched howls pierced through the stone walls and they seemed to tremble.
***
After roaming mindlessly in his search for Kyrah, Zuber halted his walk along with Jeanette.
"What's wrong?" Jeanette asked, a puzzled look donned on her pale face.
"Kyrah... I think she is in danger... I can feel her pain. I don't know what happened to her," Zuber's voice showed his aghast state.
"We have to find her soon. Let's go this way."
***
Hiram's words echoed in Kyrah's mind and she glared at him with pure odium and spoke through gritted teeth, "You're forgetting the legend, uncle."
"I never cared for old wives' tales." Hiram scoffed.
"Yet you are in dire need of the Naag Mani," she mocked sarcastically.
Hiram's green eyes blazed further with anger and he plunged his tail in her already wounded scales.
"I will not entertain any of your malapert behavior," he raged, pressing his tail further with each word.
YOU ARE READING
The Serpent Within
Fantasy"Why did you kidnap me?" she asked straight away. "You will be safer here than anywhere else," was his curt reply. "Why?" her voice hinted fear. "Do I count this as your second question?" he asked raising an eyebrow. "I don't mind telling, but you...
