Chereads / Shadows of Sanguine / Chapter 30 - XXX: Cratos’s Blessing

Chapter 30 - XXX: Cratos’s Blessing

As Kaizer and Darcia sat on the back of the Leviathan, the gentle swaying of the colossal creature beneath them provided an oddly soothing rhythm. Lucius and Gertrude, nestled beside them, had succumbed to slumber, their bodies recovering from the ordeal.

Kaizer, his gaze still on the undulating necks of the Leviathan, couldn't help but comment with a chuckle, "Damn, never thought I'd be doing this."

Darcia joined in his laughter, her eyes sparkling with affection. "You handled that whole situation pretty well, I have to say. It was very hot how you told the blind one you could beat them up."

Kaizer grinned, leaning closer to Darcia and whispering in her ear, "I was only acting. Truthfully, I was pissing myself, you just couldn't tell because I was already wet."

Darcia burst into laughter, even snorting a little, and then she planted a tender kiss on Kaizer's lips. "Do not make me laugh that hard," she said between giggles.

"Or what?" Kaizer teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You're gonna drink my blood?"

Another bout of laughter erupted from Darcia, and she playfully swatted Kaizer on the shoulder. "You're ridiculous."

"Ridiculously in love," Kaizer quipped, his voice filled with adoration. Their lips met once more in a passionate kiss.

Their passionate kiss deepened, an unspoken connection of desire and love igniting between them. As they continued to explore each other's lips and mouths, they lied down, and their bodies pressed against the cool, scaly surface of the Leviathan's back. Kaizer's hand tenderly caressed Darcia's cheek, his touch warm and comforting.

Their tongues danced in an intimate, sensual tango, sharing their desire and affection through every shared breath. Darcia, lost in the sensation of Kaizer's kiss, swung her leg over his lap, straddling him. A soft moan escaped her lips as Kaizer gently bit her lower lip, then released it, intensifying their intimate exchange.

Kaizer's hand slid down to caress the soft underside of Darcia's thigh, drawing her closer to him. The coolness of her body against his sent shivers of pleasure through his being.

Darcia's soft gasp, tinged with desire, only fueled their passion further. Her cheeks blushed with a rosy hue as she embraced the intimate moment, her curves fitting perfectly against his form. She climbed atop Kaizer, her movements a sensuous sway that spoke of desire unbridled.

With delicate grace, Darcia leaned in and kissed beneath Kaizer's chin, her lips trailing down his neck with a languid, tantalizing rhythm. Each brush of her lips against his skin sent a cascade of sensual sensations coursing through his body.

As Darcia softly bit down on Kaizer's neck, in the area between his earlobe and his shoulder, the sensation sent an electric jolt through his body. Her fangs pricked his skin, drawing forth a mixture of pain and pleasure that left him trembling with desire. A whimper escaped his lips, a sweet sound of surrender to their shared passion.

Darcia's intense passion surged as she began to suck on his neck, her actions filled with unrestrained desire. Kaizer's blood flowed into her mouth, mingling with their sensations, and the taste of his own life essence hit his tongue, bringing him into a state of lightheaded euphoria. Darcia continued to sip Kaizer's blood, and their movements grew increasingly heated. The moans that escaped from their lips became fuller and less restrained, reflecting the intensity of their desire.

As Kaizer's hands roamed from Darcia's armpits to her waist, they eventually settled on her backside, gripping her possessively. He squeezed her buttocks, prompting Darcia to respond with even greater fervor. Her hips rocked and her legs quivered with an unrestrained intensity, the sensations overwhelming them both as they surrendered to the passionate embrace of the moment.

Suddenly, Lucius speaks from beside them, "Um…should I go back to sleep?"

Caught off guard by Lucius's unexpected interruption, Darcia and Kaizer sat up abruptly, their heads colliding in the process.

"Ah!" Darcia cried out.

"Ouch!" Kaizer added.

Lucius, wearing a mischievous grin, sat beside them, clearly amused by the situation. "You two just couldn't wait, huh? Making out right here on the back of a giant sea monster."

Blushing and slightly embarrassed, Darcia and Kaizer exchanged sheepish glances before Kaizer responded, "Well, it's not every day you find yourself on a Leviathan's back, you know."

Gertrude, who had also been asleep and was now sitting up, looked around in confusion. Yawning, she asked, "What happened?" Her voice was filled with grogginess from the unexpected nap.

Kaizer and Darcia exchanged looks, both not sure of where to start in telling them about their conversation with the Leviathan. "We're going to Serpentara," Kaizer finally said. "The Leviathan's giving us a ride."

Gertrude, her eyes widening as she looked around, realizing she was on the back of an enormous beast, said with concern, "I thought Leviathans were extinct. The Elder Vampires wiped them all out long ago… are you sure this is a Leviathan?"

Kaizer nodded. "Positive. It's the last of its kind. We... talked things out. So we're going to Serpentara, a place where they worship Alessia?"

Lucius, still slightly dazed, muttered, "Conversing with a Leviathan, that's quite the feat."

Darcia added, "It was quite the conversation. Kaizer threatened to beat them up, and they liked it."

Kaizer laughed, much to Darcia's pleasure. She kissed his cheek with pride, smiling broadly at her lover.

"Worship Alessia?" Gertrude said, still dwelling on Kaizer's words. "My daughter is the Goddess of a religion? Now that is the most insane thing I've ever heard, and I've lived a long time."

Lucius, finally waking up, looked at Kaizer with a heartfelt expression and offered his thanks. "Thank you for saving me back there, Kai. I thought it was the end for me."

Gertrude, nodding, also expressed her gratitude to Darcia. "If it weren't for you, Darcia, I would be sleeping with the fishes right now, most likely in the Leviathan's stomach. I owe you my life."

Darcia and Kaizer both nodded back, smiling. They replied in unison, "You're welcome." A sense of camaraderie and trust filled the air as they shared a moment of profound gratitude. In this dark and treacherous realm, they had found allies they could rely on, a priceless bond forged in the face of danger. They had found others who they could trust, a gift that could not be replicated.

The blind Leviathan curled its neck around to address them, its misty eye settling close to Kaizer. "We have arrived," it announced before returning its gaze forward.

The four companions stood up, peering over the sides of the Leviathan to catch their first glimpse of the mysterious island known as Serpentara.

As the group looked upon the island, their eyes widened in awe and wonder. The island seemed like a mystical paradise emerging from the dark, tumultuous sea. Towering cliffs of obsidian black jutted dramatically from the water, their surfaces glistening with an otherworldly iridescence, casting prismatic reflections across the waves.

Above them, there was no sky, only the imposing ceiling. The massive trees and luminous blossoms that covered the island created their own light, painting the ceiling with vibrant hues. It was as if they had entered a realm untouched by time, where magic and mysticism intertwined with the very fabric of the land.

As they drew nearer to the island's shores, the group could make out lush, tropical forests shrouding the cliffs. Massive trees with vibrant, emerald leaves reached skyward, their branches adorned with fragrant, luminescent blossoms that seemed to glow in the ambient darkness of the underground realm. The air was thick with the heady scent of exotic flowers and the distant sound of cascading waterfalls.

The shoreline itself was a breathtaking sight, with pristine beaches of ebony sand giving way to sparkling, crystalline waters. Coral reefs and vibrant aquatic life swirled beneath the surface, adding to the island's enchanting allure.

Amidst the verdant foliage, they glimpsed glimpses of serpentine figures moving gracefully, their lithe forms gliding through the trees with grace. The Serpentine, the humanoid snake race that called Serpentara home, appeared to live in harmony with the lush landscape.

As the Leviathan approached, the group could see that the island was protected by colossal, coiled serpent statues carved from stone, their eyes glowing. These guardians stood sentinel upon the shore, their presence both majestic and foreboding.

The Leviathan gracefully glided to a stop as it reached the island's imposing cliffs, its long necks casting eerie shadows upon the shore below. The blind head swiveled back around, lowering its colossal head toward Kaizer. "Climb aboard," it rumbled, its unblinking eyes fixed on the newcomers.

Following the Leviathan's instructions, the group ascended onto its massive head. With deliberate care, the Leviathan maneuvered closer to the watchful sentinels guarding the entrance to Serpentara.

One of the sentinels, its words resonating with a mystical force, inquired, "Who seeks passage?"

The Leviathan, with its deep and commanding voice, responded, "The Lost Child of Nocturnastra."

The other sentinel, a stoic figure of stone, issued a challenge, "Prove your lineage, Lost Child of Nocturnastra, if you wish to enter this realm."

Stepping forward to the ridge between the blind head's eyes, Kaizer felt the weight of destiny pressing upon him. He raised his hand toward the towering ceiling, anticipation shimmering in his gaze. "Cratos... grant me the power to prove my heritage as Alessia's offspring. Please."

In response to his plea, a torrent of blood and fire erupted from Kaizer's palm, coalescing in mid-air to form a blazing emblem. The Ouroboros—a snake eating its own tail—an intricate symbol reminiscent of the one he had seen on the locked chest, blazed brilliantly, its fiery and crimson contours radiating undeniable power.

The sentinels observed the display of Bloodfire with unwavering attention, their glowing eyes locked onto the fiery Ouroboros. The symbol, vivid and mesmerizing, hung suspended in the air, a testament to the power coursing through Kaizer's veins.

The moment stretched in silence, the only sound being the gentle lapping of the waves against the cliffs. Then, as if in recognition, the sentinels began to stir. Slowly, they extended their colossal stone arms, each bearing a unique, intricate tattoo-like pattern etched into their stony skin.

The sentinels joined their hands together, and the tattoos on their arms began to glow with a soft, ethereal light. As they touched their palms, the glowing patterns merged, forming a radiant emblem resembling the Ouroboros created by Kaizer's Bloodfire.

The blind head of the Leviathan inclined its massive snout, a silent nod of approval.

"You have proven your lineage," one of the sentinels intoned, its voice resonating with power. "The path to Serpentara is open to you."

With that proclamation, the colossal stone guardians stepped aside, their illuminated emblem now floating above the entrance like a guiding beacon. The Leviathan, having fulfilled its role as a conduit between worlds, pulled its heads back from the shore, allowing the group to disembark.

Kaizer, Darcia, Lucius, and Gertrude exchanged glances filled with awe and determination. They had passed the first trial on their journey into the heart of Serpentara, and the mysteries of this ancient land awaited them. Stepping onto the ebony sands of the island, they felt a profound sense of destiny, their steps guided by the powerful connection between Kaizer and the legacy of Alessia.