The Mirror Guardian

Chapter Twenty-Five: That Didn't Go As Planned.

Mailee had looked around her chamber; the only thought that ran through her mind at that moment was that she needed a certain potion, or an utterly insane plan for why she had a naga around her. It was mid-evening now and the day had been full of excitement, she was simply worn out. There was no way they were going to get to the library without being seen or past Soren now.

"I hate to be a party pooper, but perhaps we should get something for you before we move on. And we can't have anyone finding out about you yet, especially Soren at this time. So I'm going to need a certain potion to use on you, sorry." Mailee said, desperately hoping that he would agree with her. Surely enough he did and she got the right potion out of her bag.

When she poured the small liquid from the potion bottle on top of his head, she almost screamed from the blinding light as she fell down on her butt. There was then a gentle squeezing sensation around her arm. Mailee didn't think much of it in her shocked state, but once she was more aware she took a look and saw that it was a red and white anaconda snake. Luckily the potion had worked, and shrunk him to a regular size snake instead of his full huge form.

She decided to carefully get up with the snake still wrapped around her arm. Gravity must have been on her side that day; he didn't move at all when she got up, he just kept calm and stared on.

"Was this necessary? I can't protect you this way in such a small form." Soveliss spoke as if he was speaking in my mind. He also decided to lifted his head up higher and looked around for a moment, than he looked at her once more. Mailee froze, panicking like a madwoman at his irritation of the situation.

"What the hell was I supposed to do in this situation? I couldn't have you wondering around with me with my enemies everywhere yet." Mailee decided not to stay in the position she was in, hopefully it would work out, and no one will realize he was a naga. Soveliss did comply as he slithered up her arm rather than down it as she started to more towards the hallway.

"Very well, for now I will let it pass this time." Mailee walked down the halls for what felt like an eternity, Soveliss just slithered further up until he reached her shoulder. She prayed that Soren didn't have the intention to show up, and caused problems for her. The naga rested on her shoulder casually, almost as if he thought she was his master and that he wasn't the most viscous snake in all of nagas.

She looked at him for a while from the corner of her eye, he's head rested near the crock of her neck where the mating mark was. She felt safer sure, but one wrong move and she was definitely done for with her family. Walking up to the library doors, opening them and she walked in, they still needed to set her bindings free.

Mailee moved away from the door as she heard the sound of footsteps filling her ears and she looked in the direction where they were coming from. Rinaru and another Athean were talking amongst themselves, Mailee couldn't make out what they were saying but they stopped speaking once they saw her.

The other Athean that was with Rinaru was just a bit smaller that him by a few inches give or take. Short green , curly hair is pulled back to reveal a strong, lived-in face. Shuttered amber eyes, set seductively within their sockets, watch loyally over their friend.

A moustache and goatee beautifully compliments his cheeks as she talked to Rinaru next to him. They both wore the same matching court uniforms from their realm.

"Mailee? Why is there a snake on your shoulder--" Rinaru paused once he saw Soveliss laying happily on her shoulder. "Is that a small anacon--"

"Yes." She whispered, walking over to them and quickly came up with a small lie. "He was wrapped around my arm when I woke up, then he decided to plop himself down on my shoulder." The other Aethean smiled to himself, moving closer to her and reaching for the snake.

"How interesting."

"Back off pretty boy before I mess up your face." Soveliss looked up at the Athean and hissed, making Mailee jump slightly.

"Fool! Be careful! Don't treat him like he's just any ordinary snake!" She scolded, "He might not act like it, but he--"

"He? And my name is Iksehi," The Athean interrupted, she looked at him confused.

"Fine, Iksehi. It's a male, I might be an expert on most animals but I can tell that most animals' gender are. He is a male. And he won't hurt me, I'm safe. You and others most likely not. Trust me on this."

"How can you say that? Snakes are very tricky reptiles you know. It- He, might be calm now but if you upset him than he will bite you and kill you."

"He won't. He has taken a liking to me, please trust me." She knew that Soveliss won't dare harm her let alone kill her. After all it wasn't a lie when she told them he had taken a liking to, but it was more than one way of liking. Mailee gently placed a hand on Rinaru's shoulder, smiling while doing so. He sighed and smiled back down at her.

"Okay, I trust you."

"So have you seen anything weird lately?" Iksehi tried inquired information from her.

"That all depends on weird and strange to you." She leaned up against the library door.

"We haven't seen anyone else unless it's their dead bodies. The only ones we have encounter alive so far are you, Soren, the maid, the cook, and the keeper." When he had mention Hattie a cold shiver ran down her spine. The memories of the Daalwal and the way that she almost died.

She shook her head mentally to get rid of the thoughts. "Mailee?" Rinaru frowned and gently steadied her by the arm, his amythe eyes tried to meet hers. "What is it that your not telling me? We all know something is wrong here in this place. Please." Mailee took a quick breath and patted his shoulder. He had release her arm once he knew she would be okay.

"Every well, come inside the library and I can tell you all that I know so far." She walked off into the library, knowing that once she tells them she would be greeted with a long lecture. They followed her in and shut the doors so no one could hear them.