Melinoe's consciousness returned sluggishly, her body stiff and chilled to the bone. The scent of damp earth and something musky filled her senses as she forced her eyes open. The dim cavern around her barely offered any warmth, and the air held an eerie stillness—except for the unmistakable sound of something slithering nearby.
Her breath hitched. A massive black snake coiled a few feet away, its obsidian scales gleaming faintly under the faint glow of bioluminescent fungi clinging to the cavern walls. The creature's golden eyes locked onto her, unblinking, its forked tongue flicking out as if tasting the air between them.
A sense of unease settled in her chest, but before she could act, distant shouts echoed through the cavern.
"Where the fuck did that useless snake go?!"
"Be sure to find and kill it! Watch your surroundings!"
Melinoe's head snapped toward the sound, her mind racing. They're searching for something... Her gaze shifted back to the snake, which had gone unnaturally still, its gaze fixated on the entrance. Instead of attacking, it slowly slithered back, searching for a hiding place.
Something clicked in her mind. It's him they're after.
Swallowing her hesitation, she spoke softly, "If you can turn into a smaller snake, I can hide you."
The creature froze. Its golden eyes bore into hers, assessing, contemplating. The approaching footsteps quickened. Then, without warning, the snake began to shrink, its massive form condensing until it was no larger than a small vine snake.
Melinoe barely had time to process before she grabbed the tiny serpent, parting her cloak and slipping it into the warm space beneath her tunic, just above her abdomen. The cool scales against her skin sent an involuntary shiver up her spine.
Just in time.
Several men entered the cavern, their robes akin to traditional Hanfu, yet more rugged, suited for movement. Their expressions twisted into leering smirks upon seeing her.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" One of them stepped forward, his gaze roaming her body in an unsettling manner. "A lost beauty in a place like this? What luck."
Another scoffed. "We could make a fortune selling someone like her. Look at those curves."
Melinoe's stomach twisted, but she held her ground. Before she could retort, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"You fools!" A woman emerged, also clad in Hanfu, her eyes blazing with irritation. "Have you forgotten why we're here? Find the snake, or you can forget about warming my bed tonight!"
The men flinched, their demeanor immediately shifting. "Of course, my dear, of course!"
Melinoe, seizing the moment, composed herself. "I don't mean to intrude," she said smoothly, keeping her voice steady. "Could you point me in the direction of the nearest town?"
The woman crossed her arms, studying Melinoe with a mix of suspicion and admiration. "Hmph. You're lucky I have a soft spot for beauty. Head north until you reach the river, then follow it west. You'll find a village there."
Melinoe dipped her head in thanks, holding back the trembling relief. The group departed, their mission to find the snake resuming.
Just as they left, the tiny serpent beneath her tunic wriggled.
No. No, no, no—
It slithered upward, past her ribs, over her sternum, and right between the swell of her breasts.
Melinoe stiffened, clamping her arms around her chest, her breath hitching sharply. "Please," she whispered, her cheeks burning. "Don't move."
The snake froze. But someone else had heard her whispered plea.
One of the men suddenly stopped in his tracks, turning his head slightly. "Huh?"
Melinoe's stomach dropped.
Thinking fast, she coughed and adjusted her stance. "Nothing," she said quickly. "I was just... praying."
The man grunted, then moved along.
As soon as they were gone, she released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
Slowly, carefully, she reached beneath her tunic to pull the tiny snake out—only for it to slip from her hands and land before her.
Right before her eyes, the creature expanded, stretching impossibly tall, shifting from sleek scales to smooth, pale skin.
A man now stood before her—taller than any she'd ever met, his frame lean yet powerful beneath flowing white Hanfu embroidered with intricate patterns. His hair was long, cascading down his back in silken black waves. His golden eyes, the same ones as the snake's, widened in mortified realization.
A deep, flushed red spread from his face, down his neck, and even to his hands.
Melinoe watched, transfixed, as his entire body betrayed his embarrassment.
For the first time, the intimidating man—this beast of a creature—seemed utterly vulnerable.
And she had no idea why that made him even more alluring.