Submerged City

Chapter 3: Moving Cat House

"This is easy money brother. Try not to get too attached to that cutie okay. I can see the way you steal glances. He is bounty money okay, we don't get a druid who is also a Drakin noble, everyday. He should fetch us a big price." Stefanie floats happily, daydreaming. "I can buy all those pigments to make me pretty. Oh happy day when the Countess gets her hands on him."

"Maybe we can rest for a day or two while heading to her castle, it is far away and we have all the time. She wouldn't blow up on her favorite hunters." Mike suggests while glancing at Joey from time to time.

He was lonely and hugging his knees to his chest. Felix was flying him just above the tree lines to avoid him from reaching out to the plants, even though the aquarium glass was designed to weaken any attachments to the outside. Mike couldn't help but feel a bit of guilt every time he peeks at Joey silently sniffling.

"Don't get sentimental on me now brother. You didn't feel anything when you slept with most of our previous targets." She spats annoyed.

"I know its just-" Mike leans on Nightshade's dark but soft fur. "He isn't cold hearted or unfeeling as our previous targets. He really didn't complain and was eager to help your fake food poisoning."

"Puh-lease, anyone can pretend to care about something. Look brother, I get it. He is the cutest and hottest boy we had as target." she smiles sympatheticly at her brother. "I like girls, but even I can say that he makes your knees weak. But steel that playboy heart of yours, this is big cash."

Her eyes would turn in to Aureus if they could, Michael thought. But he feels different. Why does he feel different, as well as he smells super good.

Michael keeps looking back and forth from Jonathan to the path to Countess Vernadette's keep located near the border of Siren City and Shesterni. A castle with a slave dungeon, because she literally sells slaves.

Getting out of the small forest and arriving at the barren stretch of land outside the border, the bounty hunters were closing in on their employer's base of operation.

"Home, dreadful home, brother." Stefanie murmurs both excited and nervous. "I dare say, that protector could've been some use to us. He was able to keep a giant snake at bay." she thinks about it whiel checking herself in one of her crystals. "Brother do you think my right eye is bigger than my left? It's quite annoying."

Michael sighs, his sister always imagines unusual things on herself. He ignores his sister when he sees nightshade perking up his ears. He notices it too, something was moving fast and catching up from their right. "Stef!" he yelled.

But it was too late, his sister was already in the mouth of the giant snake they ran away from. He looks in horror as half of her visible sister looks at him before turning into crystals and breaking.

Caught by the surprise of the snake's aggression, its two riders fell off as the snake thrashes. As if it finally came to its own senses.

Felix gently lands the aquarium away, then flies of to catch Michael by his talons and flying higher. Nightshade melds in to the dark land before quickly taking in the shattered crystals near the giant snake.

The two snake riders ran off heading to the aquarium. Joey was standing up and tears where forming in his eyes as he saw his saviors. Matt was smiling widely at him; despite her annoyed look, Eli fails at hiding her smile seeing her brother again.

Mike noticed he was high enough that the snake won't bother reaching him, but the three below were still exposed and in danger. He was contemplating whether to cut his loses and ran away and wait for his sister to reform or be a hero.