"So, you saved her just so you could mate with her?" I asked.

"Well, that's how it started." He said, giving a sheepish look. "But after that things changed. She behaved differently from what I would have expected. My curiosity got the better of me."

"What do you mean 'behaved differently'".

"Alice, my mate, was never afraid of me." He began to explain, "In fact, she was fascinated by my appearance and what I was that I didn't go through the process of hypnosis into submission. I wanted to get to know her in person. Even after telling her almost everything, she didn't seem to care."

"What was her reason for staying with you?" I asked, getting a little confused. Even I didn't get that comfortable with Adrian. Maybe a little. Guess everyone was different. Why does Alice's name sound familiar?

"I asked her that myself. Her response was that she wanted something interested in her life and here I was. Quote, 'a rare and handsome being' end quote." He continued explaining, "Eventually, we fell in love. Despite, Alice having a family, she just said that they never cared. So, I didn't think about it too much."

My confusion was satisfied with the answer. I pondered about Alice and her thoughts. Considering where she was and her situation, perhaps she saw it as a way out. Well, I would say lucky but...

"And Adrian?" Nathen's face darkened at the name; I could have sworn his pupils slimmed a bit. Sharply inhaled and exhaled.

"Adrian." He hissed, "He became troublesome when he came over to see me. He noticed Alice and was concerned and against the fact that she was wandering around not hypnotized."

Okay, the confusion was back. Adrian allowed me to be around not hypnotized but perhaps he was doing it differently.

"He left after a heated argument but days later when I left Alice alone to hunt, that was when he came after her." Regret filled his face, and my heart sank. "It was when I returned that Alice was gone and, in a rage, I went after Adrian. He killed her and...ate her."

My eyes widen in shock. I knew Adrian had eaten a person before but an innocent girl. What was the reason?

"He regurgitated her when we were fighting. I was able to save her body before the stomach acid could begin its work." He continued, "By then, Adrian fled, and I was left with my dead mate. I decided to leave her near the closest village, where she was found and given a proper burial."

"Then, you went hunting after him to find him with me." I finished and he nodded in response. I could never imagine Adrian to be this cruel. Even to someone his own brother loved. We sat there in silence. Glancing to Nathen, he was disturbed. Telling that story must have been hard.

"So, what are we going to do now?" I asked in a whisper. Once again, we were in silence. If Adrian had figured out that Nathen has me, its hard to tell what would happen now.

"We'll go to your home." He answered which stunned me.

"To my place? Are you sure?"

"If we go back, Adrian won't risk to attack us. He and I are both aware that we are out in the open." He explained, "If we expose ourselves, we could be in trouble." I nodded.

"Then, what next?" He shrugged in response.

"I don't know. I'm thinking about it. Hopefully, by morning, I will have a plan on how to deal with him." He spoke. I sighed heavily. It was a lot to take in. I should have known something like this would happen. Nathen's tail shifted a bit to recreate a makeshift bed. I stared at it not really sure about sleeping in his coils.

"It's okay. You can sleep on my tail." I watched as Nathan settled down again a curved wall. With that answer, I laid myself down with my head on the thick part of his tail. The texture still sent a shiver down my spine as I pulled the blanket over me. The atmosphere went silent as I closed my eyes. Trying to not think too hard about what will happen tomorrow.

The next morning, we arrived at my house. We stood there in front of it. There was an eerie feeling that something was wrong. No doubt there was. I looked over to Adrian's house. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. My heart was pounding in my chest before a hand rested on my shoulder.

"Shall we go in?"

Slowly, we headed up to my door. My mind felt lost as to why I should be afraid to enter my own home. But I immediately countered that answer. It was because I let a monster in. The light of the morning sun bounced off the white modern walls creating an open and bright space in almost every room. The choice of colour was meant to make a place feel like home. Though Nathen was behind me, it didn't shake off the feeling.

"Is he here?" I turned and asked him before going any further. His blue eyes became like a predator as he looked around. I could hear a long sharp inhaling as well. Noticing that he was inhaling through his mouth. Right, snakes smell with their tongue.

"No, he is not." Somehow that didn't make me feel any better about it. "Why don't you wait in the living room? I'll check the rest of the house if you don't mind?"

I nodded, feeling my breath shaking nervously as I walked to my living room and sat on the couch, waiting. The large widow viewed my front yard and the road. My eyes were glued to it, hoping that Adrian does not come by and walk up to my door.

While my eyes were occupied, my ears could hear Nathen walking around my home. Door opening and closing. He was taking his time with the search. I still wonder though. If he's not here then, what could he be up to? If Nathen had something to fear, then I should be too. So, why am I not?

Why is my vision getting hazy? I can't move. What's going on? There was an irritated that was gradually going into pain. What's happening? Something's moving up my leg. It's smooth, scaly and long. I can't speak. Why can't I respond? Nathen! Help me!

"Sophia!" The last thing I saw was a double Nathen coming into my vision and pulling something off me before I blackout. All I could remember then was the pain.

Soon, my eyes open heavily. I was in my bed. My mouth felt dry and my leg felt numb. What on earth happened?

"Sophia?" Once again Nathen came into my view and sat on my bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Like...like I've been drugged or really really sick," I responded.

"Hmmm." He nodded in response, "It will take a while for the aftereffects of the venom to wear off. Do you feel any pain?" But there was only one word that struck me.

"Venom?" I managed to spit out before coughing. Nathen grabbed a glass of water next to my bed before helping me up and allowing the water to reach my throat.

"You were bitten by a Mojave Green rattlesnake. Quite common in the southwest." He explained and the word rattlesnake ringed a bell. My breath became shaken, remember been bitten by one but for some reason, it felt different.

"Why is this one not so painful?" I asked.

"Mojave rattlesnakes are better known for their neurotoxic venom which can cause paralysis while they do cause pain. But I got to you before it could get worse." He said which made more scene. I got bitten by a Diamondback rattlesnake. Still got a scar from where the venom had destroyed my skin.

"How did you...?"

"Nagas have an anti-venom that works faster than what humans had made. But you were out for a couple of days. I was worried I was going to send you to the hospital." A few days!!! I took another sip of water to calm myself down.

"Was the snake...one of Adrian's? Tears almost were building up in my eyes. Nathen's response was yes. The walls broke and I busted out crying. He really did it. He sent a snake to attack me. How could he? Was he really that cruel to have me almost die?

"There's more bad news." He almost murmured. "He has your friend, Lizzy."