Slither

Covet

Some time had passed and Nazeal felt restless. His bands itched and an unease lay at the base of his belly. He thought of the dark little girl and his stomach twisted.

He stuck his tongue out to locate the nearest portal. The most powerful one was too far away. The nearest one would get him to her plane fastest.

He swiftly slithered to the portal. As he did a vision of a grown man in a chair came to him. His unease grew.

The man was seated but had his belt unbuckled. Fear that was not his own crept over Nazeal. He was confused.

He found the portal and went through it. He could sense that she was still quite far and if he traveled in natural form then he could be pursued. He stuck his tongue out once more and sensed the next portal that would allow him to move closer to her.

As he did so a vision of a man's pubic area was thrust into his face. He physically recoiled and could feel a pressure between his shoulder blades. Anger rose in him and he sprinted through the portal in his human form.

She was close. He found himself at the back of a hostel. He found the nearest set of stairs and parkoured up to the level she was on.

His eyes turned red with his anger. How dare anyone touch his mate and so intimately? She was too young to be exposed to these things.

He wasn't sure how he knew this but he had to save her. He ran up to the door and banged on it with his small fists. The door dented.

He heard footsteps come towards the door and he glanced around to see if anyone was near. The second he saw no one was near he turned into natural form.

He had the colouring of a green mamba. He knew the snake was feared. The door opened.

A middle aged man opened the door.

He shouted in fear and tried to slam the door shut. The door bounced back after it hit the frame. The man scrambled back.

Nazeal slithered forth ready to kill. Simone, come to me, he tried to keep his voice as gentle as possible. Nazeal rose to strike his prey as Simone got closer to him.

"Foolish girl! the snake will kill you!" The man grabbed her arm.

Simone was scrubbing her tongue with her hand and spitting. Nazeal turned to the man. He contemplated how best to kill this low-life.

In a bid to save his own life the man threw Simone at Nazeal. Without making it too obvious Nazeal caught her and pushed her towards the door. Simone stumbled towards the door.

"Na, let's go!" Simone called.

Nazeal stayed put cornering the grown man. How dare you touch what is not yours? Do you not know that those who would dare eat fruit that is not ripe are destined to die? He lunged for the man and bit him with the intent of killing him.

When a trace of his venom had entered the man's system Nazeal turned around and left the room follwoing Simone.

Where are you parents little one?

"I don't know. I got lost and the man said he would help me find them if I helped him and played a game with him."

Nazeal felt an anger that was all-consuming fill his body. He delt an urge to return and bit the man mercilessly instead he lead Simone down the hall. What game did he want to play with you, girl?

"Said his c-candy stick was needing relief and-if I sucked on it he would feel better."

Did you help him?

"I tried but it was yucky but he wouldn't let me stop. He hit me when I tried to bite it." Simone sniffled.

They were at the end of the hallway now, at the stair well. Nazeal peered over the rail to see a crowd of people. Someone pointed him out and the crowd cried out when they saw Simone next to him.

In that moment he made a choice and slithered across the railing that led towards the next flight of stairs. To the people below it looked like he was going for Simone.

Simone watched him warily. "Are you going to bite me too?"

No, I want you to get these people to find your parents. Make sure that no one takes you anywhere alone.

A stone flew towards his head. He ducked and it nearly hit Simone. He turned and became aggressive.

What fool was trying to kill the girl? The cries of the people grew louder. Some instructed her to run.

Nazeal put his tongue out, her parents were far. he dropped into the stairwell and slithered at a pace Simone could not catch up to. when he saw the coast was clear he turned human.

He was a yellow-brown boy about 12 years old. He was shirtless and wore shorts only. He ran down the stairs and there Simone was trembling as the group came towards her asking which direction the snake went.

The adults were shouting and some were being rough with her. Simone, come to me. Nazeal held out his hand and Simone ran to him.

A man grabbed her hand. "Where are you going?"

"To Na." she squirmed form the man's grasp and threw herself at Nazeal.

He wrapped his arms around her protectively. He noted the bruises on her arms and his face began to redden. The adults were intent on killing the snake.

"You kids need to be careful. The snake killed a man just down this passage." A dark brown man told them sternly.

"Little girl, why is your shirt torn?" A woman asked.

Simone reached for the shoulder of her dress that was torn from her earlier struggles.Tears welled in her eyes as she thought of having to explain what happened. She started bawling.

Nazeal felt sick. He picked her up. His tongue darted out as if the effort was too much.

He headed in the general direction of Simone's parent's room. He patted her back while holding her as gently as possible. When he got to the door he knocked on it gently.

A stunning Caramel brown woman opened the door. she looked like a model, tall and slim. She looked at Simone and explained in shock.

"Simone, what did I tell you about playing roughy! now look, you've torn your dress!"

"She was attacked. A man was hurting her, I heard her cry out. The door wasn't locked so I knocked him unconscious and took her away." Nazeal lied.

The woman frowned. "Who was it Simone?"

Simone trembled, her mother was angry. She knew better than to talk but Nazeal was here so she was safe. "Mr. Mwame"

Her mother scowled. She turned to Nazeal and smiled at him. "Thank you my boy." She reached out her arms. "Come my baby. Bath time for you." She took Simone from Nazeal gently.

"I'll see you around Simone."

"Thank you." Simone mumbled.

Nazeal squeezed her hand and left them at the door. He went down a flight of stairs before turning into natural form. There was a portal nearby. He climbed down the building wall to get there faster.

A brick narrowly missed his head and he moved faster. And then another. Two of them hit his mid section and he fell to the ground. He rushed to the portal for safety. A stick slammed into his back as he slid under a rubbish heap. He pushed past the foul smell and felt heat coming fast behind him. He touched the portal as the heat consumed the rubbish heap.