The Mirror Guardian

Chapter Fourteen: Wow, His Hot.

A man emerged from the other side of the door chained to the wall by his wrists. Or rather, half a man. He was shirtless, revealing exquisite sun-kissed skin and tall, broad-shoulders, every inch of him seemingly corded with muscle, and don't get her started with his abs... "Focus, woman, focus." Further down his pelvis blended into scarlet-red scales that extended into a long, serpentine tail.

Moving back up his eyes were a piercing crimson-red, adorned with cat-like slits in place of regular pupils. His deep scarlet-red hair extended past where his waist would be. He also had delicately pointed ears and slightly elongated canines. Overall, he was godly handsome.

Mailee couldn't help the gasp the escaped her throat and the blush that burned her cheeks. "Half-man plus half-snake equals...holy shit! He-he was a naga! A real, live, breathing naga!"

Mailee had read many mythology creature books for fun of it and had done her fair share of studying. But that was only reading. She hadn't expected them to actually exist here in this realm. Mailee slowly stood back up as she reached into her cloak for her own hidden daggers, and moved slightly towards the creature from her spot, moving as close as she could to the door frame and away from his tail. The hilt of the dagger was warm in her hand, and Mailee adjusted her stance, surprised to be feeling-- fear.

Mailee knew before his sharp eyes met hers that he was dangerous. And from the vicious temper emanating from him, not entirely happy with her being here. The room remained as still and silent as a graveyard while the male naga surveyed her. His nostrils flared delicately, as if he were--.

He was getting a whiff of her scent. She took some small satisfaction in knowing she smelled terrific, but it wasn't that smell he was reading. No, it was the scent that marked her as her--the smell of her lineage and blood and what and who she was.

She ignored everything around them, focusing solely on sizing him up. She willed her heartbeat and breathing to calm. He could probably hear them, could probably smell every emotion raging through her.

She soon noticed that he had a few shallow cuts in random spots along his tail. She took a few steps closer to his tail and stopped a few feet away from him. His harsh face didn't even shift. "God he was huge. But what had made these wounds on him? Why was he down here chained up?" Questions after questions filled her head as she looked on in curiosity.

"Go away," was all he said, his deep, somewhat bored voice seeming to echo off the stone as he turned his head away from her. She might have given him a rather obnoxious reply, but she decided that it wouldn't get her the answers she wanted from him.

"What's your name?" He whipped his head to her, and she drawled, "What are you even doing down here?" His lips thinned. He surveyed her some more.

"You've gather enough about me at this point to have learned what you need to know. And you being down here puts you in more danger." He spoke the common tongue, and his accent was subtle--lovely, if she was feeling generous enough to admit it. A soft, rolling purr.

"Fair enough. But what am I to call you?" She put her daggers away as she squats down to examine closer at the blood marks on his tail.

"Soveliss. Now leave before trouble finds you," he warned again.

"Well, Soveliss--" oh, he did not like her tone one bit. His eyes narrowed slightly in warning, but Mailee went on, "Trouble seems to find me anywhere I go. So sadly you're stuck with me. However, I will go for Now for I have been gone too long now. I will be back later tomorrow with some tea and medicines for your tail."

She stood back up and made her way towards the door again. She was just about to shut it again, but stopped when she heard him questioned her.

"Why?" She looked over her shoulder confused at what he asked.

"Why what?"

"Why help me?" He let out an irritation breath. He saw her eyes swim with a small shimmer of hidden power as she gave him a small smile.

"Seeing others like you in that state reminds me of myself and it makes me want to help those who can't help themselves." She didn't let him respond to her as she shut the door behind her.

Groaning at the thought of all the stairs she now has to climb, she picked up her candle and yarn and hurried towards the comfort of higher ground, rolling up the string as she went. Up and up she ran, taking the steps two by two.

She burst past the other arches and darted up the stairs to hear room, the small light growing with each bound. Soren would 'punish' her if he found out about her secret passageways--especially if he finds out about Soveliss swing down in the passages. He would try and kill him.

She was sweating when she reached her chambers. She kicked the chair away, swung the stone door shut, pulled the tapestry over it, and flung herself on the bed startling Nooroo in the process.