Blood of The Serpent

Chapter 3

Yoru found himself staring at dark gray rock. He seemed to be in a cave, yet he could see everything clearly. Every shadow was well illuminated and every rock, no matter how small and how far away, was clear to his eyes. Far away he could hear a light dripping, as though somewhere - somewhere that he couldn't see - water was dripping into a small puddle.

A dry burning filled his throat and his nostrils. He was thirsty. Really, really thirsty. He had never been that thirsty before in his life, but where was that dripping coming from? He looked around, but he simply couldn't find it.

When he looked down, he almost screamed. Lying on the ground was skin. Moulted skin. It looked like it had shedded much the way a snake sheds its skin, yet this clearly belonged to a human. He had never heard of anything like this before, not even in folklore.

Reaching down with trembling hands, the young man lightly touched it. It was hard and light. He poked it a little harder and his finger broke through, causing him to jump. Just what was going on here?

"I see you are awake." Much like before, the strange woman had appeared before he could blink. "That skin you seem so fascinated with is yours, just so you know."

"Wh-what?" he asked. He had heard her, but what she'd said didn't make any sense. What does she mean this skin is his? Humans don't just shed their skin. At least, he was pretty sure he didn't.

"You underwent a metamorphosis," said the woman, walking towards him. She stopped, crouching down in front of the young man before continuing. "You died, but you've been reborn."

He blinked a few times before answering. "That doesn't make any sense. People don't just come back to life."

"Usually, no," said the woman. "However, you are an exception. My blood made sure of that."

"Your blood?" he asked, staring at her blankly. "Just what is going on here? Who are you and what was that... thing?"

"I suppose you deserve an explanation." She stood, turning on her heel and walking towards the opposite wall before facing him again. "My name is Amara. I'm a vampire and now you are, too. That monster you saw was also a vampire."

"Vampires?" he asked, still just as confused as ever. "Vampires don't exist... and what do you mean that thing was also one? Aren't vampires supposed to be related to bats?"

Amara lightly smiled. "According to modern lore, yes, vampires are related to bats. However, humans only get so much right. We are much more closely related to snakes. At least, the type of vampire you've become is."

That explained the shedded skin, but he still couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Then why do you look so human? Why do I still look human?" As if only noticing for the first time, he realized he was naked. "And why am I naked?!"

"Maybe I just wanted to have some fun," said Amara, winking at him. His mouth dropped wide open as he stared at her. She started to lightly laugh. "God you're gullible. You moulted your skin; of course you're naked."

He looked away, embarrassed. "Well, where are my clothes now?"

She flashed past him, reached down, then tossed him a shirt and a pair of jeans. He looked at the green dress shirt and jeans a moment before speaking. "These aren't my clothes. And where's all my stuff?"

"Your old clothes have been destroyed," she said. "Your wallet is gone too. I had to leave your arm and a few other things at the scene of the crime so they'd think you're dead."

"You left my wallet? And... wait, did you just say my arm?!" His eyes grew wide and he was on his feet within seconds. He had to double check to make sure he still had both arms. "An arm doesn't just grow back! And what do you mean they think I'm dead?!"