"Are you gonna come out anytime soon? Your hissing is getting annoying." Auden called out and a delighted chuckle replied him.

Auden had asked him once if that was intentional. If he liked to announce his arrival by sucking away the energy of everything that was around him. If it had something to do with inserting fear into his prey. Of course he had denied it, but the lad knew the snake was a liar.

"I'm not hiding. Just wanted to see if you would call out to me," a silvery high voice had answered, whispering right into Auden's ear. "Sometimes you're too grumpy to even acknowledge me, even though you know I'm there."

"Even when I'm grumpy, you still come out."

He watched Gagagore as he slowly slithered out from the shadows. He was back for his late night meal and was already shifting. Most of his human skin had disappeared and turned into beautiful black scales, shimmering blue and green in the low light of half a dozen candles that Auden had floating mid air around the study.

The snake grinned. "Sure. But it's more fun when you're in a good mood." His eyes were almost completely black and red, but still had managed to somehow glow. The dark scales a stunning contrast to his blue-ish silver hair.

"And what made you think that I'm in a good mood?" Auden quired turning around now that he was sitting facing the snake.

The snake tsked. "I saw you with Sea a while back." He replied. "I'm just here to see my favourite human. What? Aren't you happy to see me?"

A heavy sigh viewed out of the young heir. It had been a hard question to answer. Or rather, there had been no definitive answer as their relationship was quite complicated. He wasn't sure how to feel about this bond he had made with a snake spirit. The snake spirit he had summoned, sold his soul to in exchange of inner peace, was something he couldn't quite understand.

Turning back now he wondered if it was any good to strike a deal with him, but as desperate as Auden had been it had never really occurred to him that there would be consequences. 

Cause Gagagore was powerful. He was dark. He was enticing, but in a dangerous way. Even when he had shifted into a full human form, it had been evident how otherworldly and dangerous he was. It had been his aura, the way he held himself that made it clear that he was a predator. A predator hungry for prey.

His eyes were mesmerising, one with emerald, a black slit going right through the middle, the other usually covered in a metal eye patch. He knew it was in blood red. Or rather it was only the fleshy socket that was left. He was looking at it even now, the empty pit. Whenever he had slipped out of his human-like shape, black shimmering scales started to form to replace Gagagore's human skin.

He had fangs, Auden knew now. And he could open his mouth wide to show them. Finally, there was his long forked tongue that had a likeness to slip out on its own will. Auden knew that too, now. Even Gagagore's smile was too slick, too dangerous to trust, but Auden had been desperate.

"Get me out of this hell, and in return you can have me," Auden had said, his eyes blurry after that day's events.

The young Heir had just executed two innocent souls under the auction of using dark magic. He knew they were innocent. But he couldn't prove it.

"Is being the heir too much for you, My Lord?" Gagagore had asked, the tip of his forked tongue slipping out as if mocking the incompetent young heir.

"I'd rather let you kill me than turn into a monster myself," Auden had said back then.

"I have so little appeal to your soul," Gagagore had begun." I feed off energy. I can take yours whenever I'm hungry. Plus you have a good body. A living vessel might do me some service."

Back then, none of it made sense. But he hadn't dared to quire either. Just like that he agreed and made a deal with a snake. Five months later, Auden was a lot wiser. Everything about Gagagore that mesmerised the young Heir back then now they annoyed him.

 ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

The temperature in the room dropped even more than before. Two arms slid forwards over his shoulders, and down his chest.

Auden turned his gaze away from the pile of books on his reading table, that he had been gawking at so far for particularly no reason, and looked right into the piercing snake eyes hovering quite close to him.

Gagagore's slender fingers gently lifted Auden's chin, tilting it to expose his face. His gaze locked onto the young heir's eyes, the subtle pressure held his mouth agape.The snake's lips drew closer, hovering just above Auden's. For a moment the his expression bore an intensity, as if he was delving into the depths of a memory. He was doing it again.

It had been like that all the time. The heir would notice the lingering gaze and wonder what it was about. But he was never dared enough to question the snake. He doubted he was peering into his weak mind. Looking for the perfect delicacy for his dine.

A peculiar energy flowed between them, and with an otherworldly pull, a soft luminescent glow, reminiscent of golden-white light, began to seep from Auden's parted lips making him shudder.

It was nothing new between this predator and prey but the sensation of his energy leaving his body felt as unsettling as ever for Auden.

The glow, once within the snake's grasp, was drawn into him. And then, as swiftly as it had begun, Gagagore's lips parted from Auden's, the ethereal connection severed.

Auden's chin was released, and Gagagore leaned back, his gaze unwavering as if he was still deciphering the intricacies of the energy he had just collected.

He breathed in deep. "That -- That's delicious. As always..."

A gentle dizziness wrapped around Auden as Gagagore pulled back, leaving him feeling strangely light-headed, as if a part of his essence had been gently tugged away.

A mix of regret and guilt stirred within him, a heaviness that he hadn't fully dealt with. Auden's breath steadied as he regained his composure, his eyes meeting Gagagore's enigmatic gaze.

He watched as Gagagore slowly shifted back into his human form, the scales retreating like a tide returning to the sea. The one blood-red eye that had been fixated on Auden shuttered closed, leaving only the ebony and emerald gaze open.

The snake spirit's hand slid the small, ornate eye patch over the closed eye, concealing it, before he settled next to Auden with an easy grace, his posture relaxed yet ready.

"Can you feel it? The moment is drawing near. It's almost time to spread your wings and soar," the familiar voice whispered next to his ear, accompanied by the familiar hiss.

A quiet chuckle escaped the young man's lips as he replied. "I don't know. It feels weird, and I'm terrified."

He had checked and rechecked his tools, ensuring they were in perfect working order, for even the slightest malfunction could jeopardise his carefully crafted plan.

A hushed pause enveloped them before Gagagore's voice broke through the stillness. "You've certainly grown into a brave soul, my dear."

"I wish Ada thinks the same..." the young heir mumbled.

His fingers played with the Luna Pearl hanging around his neck. The exquisite piece of jewellery itself was made out of carved tusks, shaped like a crescent moon, its surface adorned with small, shimmering gemstones that mirrored the ethereal glow of the moon.

"Ada?" the snake's lone eye searched for the young heir's and noticed the storm brimming in them. He wouldn't admit it but the snake knew how much this young heir missed his sister. "She doesn't know I'm here, now does she?"

Ever since Ada had left him alone in this hell of a home called Crepesculem, it had been this snake, Gan Gagaore that had been staying by Auden's side. Sure, it started off as any bargain with a spirit from the Dark Side. He stayed by his side, made difficult decisions in his place and saved his pride many more time. He had been the source of courage, the force that dared him to defy the constraints of his circumstances. Just as he promised he'd when Auden sold his soul to him.

But at some point it became hard to overlook on the fact that the snake had started to adore him. Auden would never admit it to anyone, but he too had started to realise Gan wasn't as bad. The snake would check on him to make sure he was alright, console him when he cried himself to sleep when life became too much, and even tease him and Sea about their closeness like a gossiping teenager.

Auden couldn’t quite figure out why Gan acted this way. Maybe he reminded Gan of Ada. Or maybe—just maybe—Auden was more likeable than he’d given himself credit for. At least in this snake's 'eye'.

He was there as the days turned into nights and Auden delved deep into preparation for his flight, sparing no effort in crafting his master plan. Sleepless nights became his loyal companions, the stars bearing witness to his unwavering determination.

Like a bird planning its escape from a gilded cage, he revelled in the sweet anticipation of impending liberation. The weight of his past would sooner be transformed into the wings that would carry him to new heights, where the boundaries of convention would be left behind.

"Will I... will I ever regret it?" he pondered aloud, his gaze fixed on the bustling ceremony ground below.

Men and women adorned in their finest attire streamed through the magnificent gates. It was his momentous occasion, a time for celebration and pride. Yet, an unsettling feeling gnawed at his heart, stirring up doubts and apprehension.

"Why would you even think that way?" The snake's voice held a hint of concern as he chimed in.

"See how far you've come. From a fledgling seeking shade to a bird ready to take flight. The cage may have shaped you, but it cannot define you. Just do your thing and you'll be granted with the freedom you deserve."