The Naga's Mate

           The animals of the brush chittered and barked. The growls and yips melded beautifully in their nightly song. The humming of the world was not what rose Nathaira from her sleep.

           A searing heat surged through her left forearm and ripped along the nerves of her body. Scrambling out of her tent she sought the cool air, even though she knew her efforts would be fruitless. Her breathing was ragged and her pores were trying to expel the fever. Even the campfire presented irritation.

           Gently, she ran her fingers over the discolored scar on her arm. She had fits of phantom pain before, but this was her worst yet. It almost seemed that the old wound was weeping it’s necrotic, amber fluid. Nathaira limped away from the safety of the light and into the brush.

           Soon she was crawling. Slowly she moved forward, dragging herself with what little upper strength she had. A large tree came into sight and she rested at its root. Desperately clawing at the bark, she managed to lean upright. Her fingers fumbled to remove the sweat soaked night shirt. The breeze gave a moment of soothing relief.

           Still her brain fried and her lungs tightened. Struggling to remain conscious she heard a rustling in the leaves above her. A lulling voice whispered out to her.

           “What’ssss thisss?”

           Nathaira’s heart pounded harder. Out of the corner of her eye she saw something moving in the tree. The stars and moonlight illuminated the creature. A long heavy tail draped over the branches. The ground began to shift and twist. Black scales shielded the beasts elongated spine. The tip of its tail exploratively curled around Nathaira’s ankle.

           The coolness of its body was a welcome relief. Slithering down the tree, it drew closer. The lower half of the creature was that of an Anaconda but from the torso upward was a man. His hair fell in locks of pitch black around his face. In his hair, bones of prey were braided ornately. His skin was a deep grey. Brown slashes highlighted under his eyes. The same colors repeated on his arms and chest. His eyes were bright green. The vertical slit radiated the serpent’s malice. This was the demonic descendant of the Smeagus that beguiled Eve.

           The hallucination of Nathaira’s fevered mind seemed so vivid. She could feel its coils wrapping around her. The coldness of it drew forth a sigh from her and her boiling skin began to tame.

           “Sssooo warm.” Came a hiss. He scooped her into his arms and pulled her closer. His lips began to drip with saliva as he flicked his tongue, taking in her scent. Puffing hisses rose from his throat as his anticipation grew.

           Nathaira’s eyes shot back open when she realized this was not some fever dream. Adrenaline pulsed through her and she clawed his face.

           His coils gripped her tighter and slammed her against the tree. A startled cough came from his little victim and he squeezed harder, constricting her lungs and beginning to crack her ribs. The mortal cried out, her fists beating against him. The soft impact of each blow proved to entertain him. He loosened a bit when he saw an intriguing mark on the woman’s arm. She moved to strike him again but he caught her wrist in his own large hand. Her form was dainty and fragile in his grasp. He yanked her arm forward to see closer.

           Now it was the creatures turn to shiver. A tingle ran down his long body and his eyes flecked to a bright yellow. His forked tongue laved the old wound. His curved fangs and needle-sharp teeth were borne in a wide smile. “I sssseee, you already know my kind.”

           Gently now he pinned her to the tree. His desire shifted. No longer was she simply another meal…but a promised blessing. Her tiny body trembled and her breath wheezed and she hunched over in pain. A strong heady scent filled her nose as the creature began to musk. He gripped his fingers in her hair and forced her to look at him.

           “How long I have sought you. At last you have been delivered to me.” He reached to bring her legs to wrap around his waist. Pangs of regret struck in his chest as she yelped from the pain, he inflicted upon her. The woman clung closer to him, seeking more of the cold that he could provide her. “Be mine, and we shall rule as King and Queen among the beasts. You shall want for nothing and always be protected. You will command fidelity of those beneath us. Sacrifices will be offered and your beauty shall be worshiped. You will hunt alongside me and be feared by man.” He began to place loving kisses along her neck and shoulders.

           The creatures scent intoxicated her with confusion. The fire of her flesh throbbed in the core of her body. Then she felt the invasion of this foreign deity. His dual phallus was surprisingly human. Soon Nathaira began to understand. She had not left mankind behind; she had been summoned by the venom in her blood. She had sought him just as much as he did for her. The contrast of the demon’s cold touch and the hard scraping of the tree bark against her bare skin was exquisite.

           Of her own volition she griped his hair and pulled his mouth to hers. The sharps in his mouth cut her tongue but she continued to press into him. Blood dribbled down her chin. The copper tang of her blood aroused him further and he began to rut more erratically. An unexpected chuckle came from him as she struggled and failed to clench his hips between her thighs. 

    "It's time now little one. I wonder what beauty will grace you when you change. Will you be an adorable garden snake? That might be fitting for you, but I have no control over that. Now, I suggest you relax, because this is really going to hurt." he said. Then he sank his fangs into her shoulder. The bacteria in his saliva coursed through her quickly.

    Nathaira wailed in pain and tried to squirm away from him. He gripped her tight and his face became sullen. "I know my love. I know it hurts, but be strong for me. He watched helplessly as her transformation began. "Please...let it be quick." he wished.

    Plates of red and black erupted from her skin. They sliced her body and drew blood as they began to form a pattern. Soon, bands of yellow joined the stripes. Her legs began to split, the fibers of her muscles revolted against the open air and sent her into shock. "This is it; I'm going to die." she thought.

    As gently as he could he shifted her to where he thought she would be most comfortable. He held her hand and accepted he white knuckle grip. Her legs began to fuse and sew together with her skin. Her bones broke and reformed as disks under the muscular tail that was still lengthening. Just as Nathiaira's body went slack, it was over.

     When she opened her eyes, he was smiling down at her. "A beautiful coral snake." he said. He twined his tail with hers. her form now had an order of red, black and yellow stripes. Her eyes were a deep shade of brown and showed her naive youth and fear of her new senses. She could smell the helpless pray in the fields and the dirt beneath them. The options were vast and plentiful. This newborn was overwhelmed with excitement of the sounds and smell of her new world.

" I am Vasuki. " He said. "Merely tell me your desires and they will be granted."

 "I'm hungry." Nathaira said. Her new body demanded nourishment and she grew impatient."

    " Of course, my love" he urged her to join him for a hunt. You still have so much to learn."