Sleeping Next to the Pirate King

The snake's forked tongue tickled my face as a deep female voice sounded in my head.

"Human, you seem to be quite intelligent and calm compared to those of your species when faced with two predators."

I laughed. God above I must be going crazy. A fucking snake was now talking to me. A deep male voice then interrupted my thoughts by stating.

"Stop scaring her Serafina, you snakes are always inclined to be condescending."

The cobra backed away and looked at the panther with a glare.

"Why is a panther such as yourself lecturing me about what actions I should take with a mere human, Armond?"

"As sharp tongued as usual Serafina. The dragon brought this girl to the island for a reason, we must not interfere. You do remember what occurred the last time you did, do you not?"

The cobra's tongue retracted as it seemed to somber. I laid in between two of the most dangerous predators of the rainforest yet for some reason I felt at ease. So Maldonius has done the trial to others before myself? How interesting. And what did the panther mean by, "last time"?

What happened to the person before me?

I sighed.

It was no use asking I would probably not get an answer anyways. I cleared my throat before saying.

"May I infer that Maldonius himself had sent the two of you to me?"

The panther and cobra turned to face me with thoughtful expressions.

"Well this human is smarter than the last one for sure Serafina."

"This is the first time that I agree with you on a matter Armond."

I can't believe that I'm actually flattered by what a panther and a snake are saying about me. The snake then slithered over and rested on my chest.

"Human, you have my approval but I still have a duty to carry out. This is the final step to your first trial. If you can answer correctly in what we ask you then we will free you and you will pass this trial. But if you answer incorrectly then you will be nothing but a skeleton by morning. Do you understand?"

Jesus Christ, even the words out of this snake's mouth were poisonous. i gulped as I nodded. The panther and snake watched me as the panther said.

"Between Serafina and I, which would you prefer to kill you?"

Eh?

Was that the fucking question that my life is bet on?

I looked at their serious expressions. This actually was the question. Honestly if the snake were to kill me it would be faster because one bite of that venom and I would die instantly. Whereas with the panther I would literally watch it eat me. But on the other hand, the cobra could coil itself around me and choke me to death. Either way I do not want to be killed or be the prey of any of them. There must be a way to answer this correctly.

"I do not prefer to be killed by any of you. Instead I would be honored to die at the hands of any one of you. A cobra's poison could be medicinal just as it is deadly. A panther's gaze could be beautiful just as it is deadly. Dying by any of you would be honorable and preferred by me."

I closed my eyes and braced myself for their fangs. Two chuckled filled my head. I opened my eyes to see a laughing panther and a trembling cobra.

"Oh Serafina, this human has quite the silver tongue now doesn't she?"

"Yes Armond, she has quite the choice of words. She is quite interesting now isn't she?"

"So, am I going to be eaten or no? Don't leave me in suspense."

The two predators laughed once more before the snake rested its head on my cheek. It then nuzzled my face as the panther came over and rested next to me. The two predators answered simultaneously.

"You pass human."

I smiled as I felt my eyelids droop. At least I wasn't stupid enough to fall prey to a panther and a snake. Despite this being the first and last time that I'm ever going to talk to these animals, I felt a connection with them. I wonder if it's a real connection or just one forged by Maldonius. When I wake up I swear that I'm going to punch his guts out.

As I closed my eyes, a slap opened them quickly. I opened my eyes only to see myself back on shore. Maldonius was standing above me with a smile plastered on his handsome face. My eyes burned as the sunlight kissed them. Maldonius then said.

"Congratulations kid you've managed to live through the whole night. Why don't we begin the second trial then?"

Instead of feeling accomplished I only felt dread and despair. I wonder what the second trial was going to be. It was as if Maldonius had heard my thoughts as he said.

"The second trial will be one of mental strength and will take place in the ziggurat facing us."

I leaned back on the sand to look at the ziggurat. It was as wide as it was tall. Despite the beautiful architecture with its slightly cracked pillars, something about it was eerie. I sat up and looked at the large and dark entrance. I felt my skin crawl. Just what type of mental strength would I need in there?

Maldonius sneered as he looked down at my outfit. I also looked down to see that I was in my underwear. Technically I felt no embarrassment because it was just like I was wearing a bikini on the beach. But this old ass pervert dragon was thinking otherwise. I pointed my saber at him as I said.

"Don't get any ideas fucker."

Maldonius's golden eyes widened as he lowered my saber and chuckled.

"As violent as always. What an uncharismatic girl you are."

"It's not like I would turn charismatic just to please you."

Maldonius snapped his fingers. I was dressed in a long silk robe that resembled that of a Greek goddess. His appearance also changed. Maldonius now had blue hair and gray eyes. He was dressed in a modern-day research zoologist outfit of a man who was going into the Amazon. I pouted.

Why am I dressed like this while he's comfortable in his shorts and tank top?

Maldonius smiled and motioned for me to follow him.

"Why don't we begin the second trial my dear?"

I nodded and walked ahead of him. Suddenly Maldonius stopped in his tracks and turned with a glare.

"What are the two of you doing here?"

I turned to see the cobra and panther from earlier behind me. I jumped in surprise. Jesus Christ, when the fuck did they get behind me?

The panther's voice then filled my head.

"We like this human so we will follow her as our new master."

Maldonius chuckled as he said.

"Do as you wish."

I looked at the cobra and the panther as they seemed to smile. Of all the things to take interest in me. They must be holding a grudge against me as they didn't get to eat me. I sighed as I felt the cobra slither up my body and rest on my left shoulder. The panther then walked up to next to me. I inhaled sharply. Whatever. If they don't eat me then its all good.

I then turned and smirked back at Maldonius.

"There better not be something like arrows coming out of the walls or something."

Maldonius closed his eyes as he smiled.

"I'm sorry dear, but I can't give you any clues, unless you are willing to pay the price once more."

I flipped him off as I walked into the ziggurat. I wonder what awaits me inside. But knowing that Maldonius formed this trial, made me anxious. God Damn it I better survive this shit or else I'm going to crawl back from hell and haunt this fucker Maldonius for the rest of his life.

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Thank you so much for reading my luvs! Get ready for the second trial which will involve some high action, risk, and entertainment! Stay tuned and stay safe!