Hercules (Rated R)

Chapter 3.

As much as I keep reciting to myself that whatever I was paranoid about was all in my mind because of the nightmare, I couldn't help but continuously look back at every snap of a random twig. I need to keep it together, if I go to Pheobe with these sweaty palms and anxiety I won't here the end of it, Focus on something else. My mind wandering off to the young woman I'll be meeting today, it's not often Pheobe will introduce me to someone random especially with my situation.

'Everyone is a suspect until one bad thing out does the other' is her motto, where in any quote history does that make sense, but she is clever. "Oh" My foot caught onto a mini twig that scrapes my ankles, I wince from the deep cut, just as the pain came there was a faint sound of an ambulance, I'm not that hurt. The noise came louder until it faded further North.

Jeez watch where you're going Meghan. This nightmare thing is really messing with my coordinates. But then again, I am carrying a heavy camera around my neck.

"Careful"

My neck nearly snaps, a bead of sweat breaking through my temple, that wasn't my imagination. That voice, slithery and rasp. No one. No one is there, nothing but green leaves and sun, an ethereal aesthetic, perfect for some pictures later on. I maybe should call my mom. That dream just isn't normal, who has dreams of talking snakes ranting about how I need to breed something. I'm unease until the trail to society has been spotted, though leaving one hell to come to another isn't exactly paradise.

I nearly fly out of the woods, forgetting I had an injury and landed right on the fractured ankle, "f**k" I whisper breathily trying to swallow the pain. My silent curse earned me a few glares, none of course friendly. It felt like they were slicing me open with their eyes from how the glares were so menacing. Just keep moving, at this point I think I'd prefer this than whatever the hell was running through my mind.

Ten steps in before I noticed something eerie, though I'm not exactly everyone's favorite eye candy, the glares don't usually last this long. I can feel them burning behind my back, watching me, they pass by purposefully pushing against me.

"Hey." I like staying quiet, but my agitation was on edge.

"Go back to your territory witch." The man seethes, sharply spitting on the ground. Brown Eyes daring me to do something.

"I can tell you don't kiss your mother with those lips, or she might get a disease" a body heat envelope behind me and the scent of fresh dandelions come apparent. There she stood next to me, head-to-head. A hand on my hip, brown hair tied in a neat bun, black sunglasses only adding intimidation while her red matte lips pout.

In their native tongue they dispute, "You're going to catch bad luck hanging with this witch, have you heard of what happened with the tourists?" he eyes me in distaste.

Cocking her head slightly, she amuses to whatever nonsense he spoke "So, you don't mind your business and apparently any and all crimes lead back to her? news flash crime has been going on, more heinous than that before she got here, I don't know how you find time to do this for free."

I don't know whatever she said, but he shut up really quick, "Let's go." her palm already pulling at my hip not giving me a chance to think.

The more we walked to the diner, more and more ambulances and police pass us by "What happened? what's going on?" I whisper.

Glancing at the surroundings "I'll tell you at the brunch, but for now I need you to meet her". she laughs.

In we walked to the outdoor dining cafe, my oh my. The stone blue grey bar on the right side where the workers in all black greet us welcomely until they reach me and give a half smile. They are working, they don't really care I recite feeling slightly insecure. turning my head an inviting large pool with scattered round tables on the left, Greek music blasting through the roofs. A statue of an angel poses with clear water coming from its mouth, like a chest board the white mini round tables perfectly sat on the dark blue tiles on the ground leaving the white tiles empty two steps down. Everyone looking up towards me before minding their own business.

"Over there" Pheobe points, slender hands getting in my face, red nails and white polka dots. To the right she points, right under the falling water fall of the statue, a blurred figure. Through the water I tried to squint at the figure sitting, until I realized I can just move around it. Facepalm.

Hair black as night, silky strands brushing past her puffy cheeks while looking down at her lap, skin white as snow, I'm taken back by her Disney aesthetic. An aura surrounding her, hair on the back of my nape arising the closer I walked. A fire ball in my stomach, I'm uneasy.

"Hey, hey, hey." Pheobe's jolly voice speaks rounding next to me to the girl.

If I wasn't at ease before, I am on edge now, up she looks, slowly. Dough brown orbs look up from her almond shaped eyes, cat mascara with thick lashes. I'm frozen solid processing her features Until she slowly smirked, perfectly curved thin lips stretch maniacally. "Hey, you" she exclaimed eyeing phoebes approaching figure, voice smooth and melodic. I'm frozen solid awkwardly watching her stand; slender arms reach out to envelope phoebe in a hug, in all black dress with a slit on the on the right thigh. Digging her face into her hair she laughs muffling into phoebes naked shoulder, haven't they met before? why did this hug feel like it was the first time in years?

"You took so long I thought I was abandoned or something."

"Please, hot girls never have to worry about me leaving randomly."

Was I jealous or something? they seem to continue a conversation until I cleared my throat. "Oh, this is Meghan, the naughty photographer student." her hand slightly brushed my ass.

Cocking my brow, I giggle to the statement "Naughty?" allowing myself to be pulled to the mystery girl.

"Oh, naughty huh? we could be the naughty student and professor duo." I went stoic to the statement. "I'm Monica," there was an accent to her tone, maybe now that I am closer, I can hear it. Or maybe just tone-deaf.

"I'm Meghan" she extends her hand to me, and my blood ran cold, there was something just off about her. Glancing to Pheobe I reluctantly took her hand to shake. Soft palms but cold skin, ice cold. The sun is ready to disintegrate these tables to ashes and she's cold?

"You know Meghan means warrior or shield in many cultures."

And when did I ask you? "Oh really, wow I finally I hear something good" I tease.

"Meghan, this was the American girl I was talking about, Monica, this is the photographer with amazing potential if only she could just show more and more of the right people."

"Aww, stop it." I blush. Grinning.

"Oh, you haven't even begun to beg me properly yet." she winked mischievously. I roll my eyes.

Rounding to our seats "So, American huh? which state?"

"Florida."

"Mmmm" we hear next to us, turning to the source Pheobe looks at me hungrily before shrugging. "Florida has the yummiest women."

"Indeed." her dark eyes on my naked thighs that spread wider when I sit down, it's been so hot 24/7 in the Mediterranean all I have are mini floral dresses.

I'm tempted to rub my nape, "What about you?" forcedly smiling a tight smile.

"Salem ... Salem, Massachusetts."

Welp, the red flag suddenly got darker.

"Ohh, spooky" Pheobe laughs. "I bet you the people in this town will think twice now when they think of a witch." she nudged.

I couldn't move my eyes away from the girl, and she didn't look away from me as well. "So Pheebs here tells me that - " her voice trailing away when she looked at something behind me.

Whipping my head back I was taken off guard by an elderly woman and man. In white they dressed while she wipes her eyes with a tissue, "Please, just leave our country, and take your curse with you." raspy broken English and a broken voice.

I furrow my brows, " A curse?"

The sound of the metal chair screeching. In a rush Pheobe is at my side, "What is it, why do you all feel entitled to interrupt someone from their personal time, until the police uncover fingerprints, leave this woman be."

Fingerprints? Was there a murder?

"You will fall in hell with this young lady if you don't stand down."

"Well, I guess I'll happily swallow flames, have a good day."

The man and woman say nothing more, before they shook their heads and trailed away, my eyes follow until they are out of the cafe, did they look for me? everyone met my eyes suspiciously before they return to their conversation. I watch them, but someone was watching me. behind my nape I felt dread, turning around I'm met with Monica's eyes, they narrow at me with a stoic expression before she laughs it away.

"You seem popular here, did I run into a celebrity?"

"I mean, you're not wrong about the popularity but not in a good way." Pheobe answers.

"Pheobe what's going on? what are they talking about?" my curiosity peeked its head.

"Ugh, don't make me say it, especially to you."

Monica and I look at each other before back to phoebe. "Speak dammit"

she sighs defeatedly before discreetly glancing to her right, "There was a murder." she whispers.

My blood ran cold "A murder?"

"One of the neighbors down the street, their eldest daughter was mutilated, both her wrists were tied together high, and she was naked."

"What?"

"Jeepers" Monica whispered.

"Why was she naked?"

"I don't know much, but my mom went to see it and she came back pale as a ghost."

I can feel myself shiver, "oh my gosh,"

"But get this, after my mom came back to normal from the shock, she tells me that not only she was naked but when they were examining her body, they found harsh grips on her butt cheeks with fresh semen pooling down in between her legs,"

"Almost like a s*x kink gone wrong" I roll my eyes at Monica's statement, how is she finding jokes to this?

"So, her boyfriend, f****d her to death or something?" Monica laughed harder.

Pheobe shrugged her shoulders, "He has stamina of a God if he did, the way mom described it, she was hanging by her wrists for hours, no blood supply from her arms at all as if her legs were wrapped around his waist for a good while."

"Interesting, indeed." said by no one, a slithery hiss.

That voice, my head whipped around before they land on Monica, "What's wrong?"

"Uhh, did you say something?"

"Mmmm, no hon." I could have sworn ...

"This is freaking you out Meg, I didn't want to say anything because you live so far away into those bushes."

"How long before your mom gets any answers?"

Monica looks to Pheobe, a glint in her eyes while her expression remains questionable, "What does your mother do?"

"Detective."

"Bothersome" My eyes were on Monica the whole time, she didn't move her lips, yet I swore she spoke, unless ... unless this was all in my head. But my gut was always spot on - there is something off about this girl, I can't put my finger on it, but I need to steer clear.

"So, there is no real answer as to how she died? juts lack of blood ... in her arms?" my curiosity is getting the better of me.

"That's the creepy part, her boyfriend is in jail now, but he swears up and down he has no idea and have never been into this level of kink when they are intimate." Pheobe shrugs.

"How long has he been sitting there? or will be there."

"Well, he's been there for about 12 hours now and w -"

"12 hours? so, all of this happened ..."

Pheobe looks at her phone "Exactly 12 hours ago."

"Everyone was where?" Monica chimed in.

"Thats the other mystery, no break ins, no one around the neighborhood heard anything and no signs that she let anyone in through her windows, no footprints or nothing. But were still waiting.

All of this happening the same time I kept seeing shadows last night, I think in my brain. My chest turned ice cold I swallow thickly. I was home, the entire time. I never left I was too scared to even move from my spot last night. I woke up in the same spot. Couldn't have been me.

"Could this be another Jack the ripper case?" Monica whispers leaning in.

The thought itself was not an awful one, clearly there is someone or something going around molesting and killing women, but this is just one case, so that name could be a little stretch.

Glancing at me in curiosity "But then why blame you?" Monica says.

"It's easier to take advantage considering she is already accused of satanic bullshit."

There was something in her eyes the way Monica processed all of Pheobe's words, my eyes locked on her, and I swear I could see a ghost of a smirk. Slowly she turns to me "Interesting."

Only 4 syllables but they were enough to have my heart stop.

"Meghan, oh my Gosh what happened?"

"Wait wh-" my head was harshly turned to the left and I winced feeling something tight.

Pheobe's fingers trace something, "Ow,"

She paused, "does that hurt? were you bit by a ... snake?"

My heart falls, "What?"

"Come look Monica, isn't that a snake bite?"

"Yes, it is." when did she move? I could have sworn she was right in front of me. Both fingers slightly nudging. I think my heart is ready to fall out, it couldn't be, it was a dream. I can't see what they are touching but what they trace felt like tiny puncture wounds.

"Meg honey are you alright?" Phoebes eyes lace in concern and confusion.

'Pheobe, no I am not ok, alright no. You were right, I keep reading those mythology nonsense so much, so I guess I started having nightmares about perverted black snakes with human characteristics, that apparently told me in a dream that I am to breed and birth something with a black prince or whatever and my 'scared as s**t' radar is going off the charts right now.'

" Yea, I'm fine. I just think I have ... bed bugs." Goddamn I am never ready, but then again with Pheobe your never ready.

"Bed bugs?"

a few people turn their heads in dismay. "Please say it louder Pheebs, the music is too loud no one at the bar heard you." I spoke sarcastically.

"Sorry, absolutely not. see I told you the furniture there are old, the people before left in a rush, leaving behind all of their filth. I can't have this meal soiled."

"Meal?"

"You're a full course meal of breast, hips and thighs. We're getting you a new bed, one that is larger than the old one."

"The queen is fine" f**k what did I get myself into.

"End of discussion. Now let me handle that and you focus on your photography."

I forgot Monica was there for a second, I was taken back slightly by her eyes on me. Realizing I jumped she huffs a small smirk. "Sorry ... did I scare you?"

Have I heard that before? I feel my stomach bubbling. I say nothing but shake my head, "So uh, I brought my Camera."

"Ahh, yes. So let me see some pictures if that's ok."

I hated to Admit it, but my Camera looked nice when she was holding it, I nearly sold my limbs for it, a Canon Eos R5. The Phrase take a picture with your eyes have never made more sense until I had one of these in my possession. Looking into the lens was like having second eye, clear and heightened. I have never touched this camera always keeping it somewhere dry and room temperature, as clumsy as I am it was safer to do so. Monica's slender fingers handled it with great care examining the pictures while holding it like a newborn baby.

"These pictures are absolutely stunning, you indeed do have a talent." as much as I don't like her right now, it was good to hear. Especially since she is supposed to be my mentor. "While you two get acquainted I'll be right back."

"Wait, what where are you going?"

She reads something off her phone, brows furrowing her brows. "Pheebs you alright?" my tight curls getting in the way.

"Yea, my mom needs me to pick up some things, but I'll be back, you too behave until I get back ... just so I can watch." jolly she stands, her blue knee length sun dress looked dazzling. Kissing my cheek, she waved to Monica before answering her phone call.

"Well, I guess it's just us now." I'm oddly annoyed by that.

Collecting my things, I sent her a half smile. "Maybe next time"

"Wait, your leaving?" she stands us as I'm pushing everything into my backpack.

"Yea, I mean Its better if we wait for Pheobe to get back ya know."

"Hang on though, we could take this opportunity to learn about each other."

"There is always next time."

"But what about your photography? I really want to -"

"Monica, thank you. But I want Pheobe here. Have a good day." I extend my hand for my camera that she still holds. Maybe I am being a bit too harsh but ill thank myself in the end. With sorrow she looks at me, then at my hand, quiet until she huffs.

"I get it, I don't blame you. Who would want to hang out with me."

Don't fall for it, don't fall for it, you're too nice, remember what Achillies did to you. "What do you mean?" son of a b***h.

She pinched the bridge of her nose before sniffling, "I mean it's ok. I thought I could escape this but this life of mine follows me everywhere."

My arm slowly dropping, intrigued by what she is saying. "What are you saying?"

"Salem, all black, pale skin, black hair? a lot of people already find me creepy in the states and I thought coming out here where these features are accepted ... I could probably escape the bullies. I didn't mean to scare you. Here, it was nice meeting you. Now I know why Pheobe fights hard to stay by your side, it's all she talked about. I wish to have someone do that for me." she sits down, pouting her lips. Oh, my goodness.

The human heart in me could not bear to listen, "I am so sorry, I wasn't trying to -"

"It's ok, really. I have accepted not many people will like me. I just hoped they would at least get to know me first." she cranes her head up, I could see the tears glossing their eyes, it was hard to tell if they had fallen by her pale white skin and the clear of the liquid until she wiped her face sniffling. "I'll do my best to stay away from you from now on, I am sorry."

"No, please don't be. I am sorry, your right I was getting a creepy vibe from you but maybe that was because I had a bad dream last night, and Pheobe normally never lets me see anyone knew unless they have been well acquainted before." my palm softly landing on her hand, still ice cold, but maybe because of something else. I hated how everyone was treating me before getting to know me and here I am, how hypocritical.

"It's ok, I was still going to admire you, you truly have talent and to be honest you really are wicked hot."

I geek, my cheeks are ready to burn. "Thank you" I laughed. Maybe she wasn't so bad.

In a flash, our hands shifted, her palm landing softly on mine but a powerful grip, I winced. "So, it's cool we can continue the photography, I'd still like to show you what I have learned from the states?"

Looking around, "meh, alright." left eye slowly squinting, I was still unsure. But I don't want to go home right now, what would I do anyway?

"Excellent" the slithery voice.

My eyes were on her, but her mouth didn't move. Maybe it's my human nature to always be caring but my arm still extends a gap between me and this young lady, something is sinisterly off.

Hey everyone! Quick reminder please read Tarzan first! There are some things that kind of correlate to the first book! Hope you all enjoy!