Chapter One: ... Friends?
I dragged my feet through the mud, thinking of how I even got here. I then remembered I had a case, looking for something to make me the richest person in Ceria.
I finally saw a cave dripping with vines covered in all kinds of colored flowers. I trudged through the mud a bit more, plucking a petal and putting it into my pocket. Who knows, I might need it to get to the treasure.
I pushed back a few vines and stepped onto the stone. My boots nearly came off my feet as I took them out of the mud, which only caused me more frustration. I put my hand on the stone wall, feeling the small bumps and cracks that made this cave different.
This cave is no ordinary cave, it's where the alleged Obsidian Snake resides, which if found, can be worth quite the pretty penny.
I lit a torch and kept walking, hearing my footsteps echo throughout the cave. I heard distant creaks and taps, making my skin crawl. I finally made it to some kind of door, locked with a silver lock encrusted with diamonds and emeralds that shined even in the dim light of my torch. I brushed my free hand over it, deciding that even if the rest of this plan failed I would still get good money for the lock itself.
I grabbed the key I had stolen from my pocket and tried it, being pleasantly surprised when it worked. I caught the lock as it fell and stuffed it in the bag I had slung over my shoulder, smiling with pure joy.
The old door creaked open with one push and revealed a room covered with dust and cobwebs. I pushed my way through the rumble and looked around, only to be greeted by a statue. What. I can't carry a statue all the way back to Ceria! I also can't hire anyone because they would tell the wrong people, I can't trust them.
I was thinking of a way to get some sort of money out of this situation, when I heard rocks moving. I looked up, and immediately wanted to run.
Finn: “Are you kidding me? SERIOUSLY? A WHOLE ASS LAMIA??? God, it's my luck today huh…”
The statue had moved, now standing in front of me with a tilted head.
It had golden scales with all kinds of jewels placed delicately into them. Its snake-like tail curled on the rough stone, flicking every now and again. Its eyes made of pure obsidian somehow stared into my soul.
Every few seconds it made a hiss that sent a new chill down my spine every time. I stepped back a little, showing it that I was not a threat.
The lamia curled its tail around my legs and I panicked, I couldn't die like this! Normally lamia’s were very calm creatures, why is this one so incredibly violent? I pushed against the rough scales and attempted to escape.
I heard a blood-chilling hiss and stopped struggling when its tail grip became tighter. I accepted the fact that this was probably the end, what could I even do to escape a lamia this violent?
Its tail slithered its way around my torso, squeezing me even tighter, if that was possible. I couldn't stop coughing, everything I saw became a blur of colors, a blur of gold, green, and red.
I again accepted my death, although it wasn't really the place or way I wanted to die. I was about to pass out, I could feel it, when there was a second hiss.
Suddenly I could breathe again as I fell to the floor. I basically hyperventilated to get air as my vision started to get a bit better. I realized I had a terrible headache now, although I wasn't very surprised.
I looked up, I needed to know what happened. That lamia was so set on killing me, why would it just let me go? I then realized it didn't just let me go.
As I looked up I saw the lamia…..talking? The scariest thing wasn't the fact that a lamia, creatures that had been turned to stone a long time ago, had figured out how to talk, but the fact that there was a spider person talking to them.
What.
I shakily stood up, holding the wall for support, when the spider-guy turned to look at me. I froze, I just dodged death, no way I'm dying now.
Huston: “Oh! You're actually okay, that's good! Uhm, sorry about this, human. I'll take care of the lamia.”
Finn: “Wha-”
Leo: “iLl TaKe CaRe Of ThE lAmIa~. Says the drider, tch.”
Huston: “you tried to kill the poor guy!”
Leo: “He woke me up! He deserves it!!”
Huston: “Again, i'm so sorry about him, my name's Huston, what's yours?”
I stared for a bit, unsure if this was actually even happening. I nodded to myself, which must have looked like I was insane, but at this point, I might be. I'm seeing a real lamia and a spider person, who can both talk. What is going on today?
Finn: “u-uhm….Its F-Finn...my name- uh- are you real? Am I going insane? What is happening? How can you speak??”
I honestly had so many questions, I doubt they would even want to answer them.
Huston: “Hmmm, well this is Leo, he's a lamia from...uh- what year was 937 years ago? Anyways, yes were real, no you're not going insane...i hope- and i can speak common since im a drider and live near humans most of the time, i've just been teaching Leo a bit of it. Hope that explains some of your confusion, friend.”
I nodded to every word, trying to understand what was going on. ‘Leo’ was picking some dirt out from underneath his scales while Huston just stared at me.
They seemed to know each other, and if i'm being honest, a real lamia would go for a whole lot of money.
I decided this would get me some good money, i could probably use the spider-thing’s innocence and the fact that he is so gullible against him while i sell the lamia.
I stood straighter, all the improv lessons Grif had given me were about to pay off.
Finn: “Okay, well, you must have been stuck here for a while right?”
Leo: “yeah, but what does it matter to you?”
The venom lacing the lamia’s every word made shivers dance down my spine. This would prove to be more difficult than I thought.
Finn: “well. I could take you out of here! I'm sure you would want to see the world again, right? And you- uh- Huston! You could come with us! I'll make sure no one hurts you.”
Huston nodded and jumped towards me, trapping me in a hug. It would have been fine, IF HE WASN'T A DRIDER. His eight ‘spider arms’ wrapped around me as well, making me fear movement. I hugged him back, barely, and pretended everything was fine. Eventually he let go and I could take a calm breath again, but Huston looked ecstatic.
Huston: “I haven't been out of this forest…….ever!!!! This is gonna be so coooool!!! Ahhhh I'm so excited!!! So when are we leaving? Now? Please say now!”
He was jumping up and down and crawling all over the rocky ceiling, Leo looked a tad bit annoyed.
Leo: “If he's going then I have to as well, huh?”
Finn: “I guess-”
Huston: “YES! Leo you HAVE to go with us!! It would be so mean if you didn't!!!!”
The spider stared up at Leo, attempting puppy-dog eyes. I shook my head slightly, I could get used to this- NO. I'm selling this lamia, and maybe even the spider-boy. I couldn't care less about them, that's just how it has to be if I want to be the richest man in Ceria.
Finn: “Alright, let's get out of here then.”
