A sharp gust of wind rushed past him, and the beast’s heads snapped closer, their fangs glinting, and their forked tongues flickered as if tasting Nytherael’s panic in the air.

Nytherael felt his heart pounding in his ears. The ringing was so loud he was nearly going deaf. The sheer finality of his memories being drained made his stomach drop.

He had thought the beast was harmless. A delicate, spoiled serpent with sharp words and a cold heart. But now, after staring at the immensity of him, the stranger’s true form, Nytherael realized just how foolish he’d been.

"Is this Sseraphis’ wish?"

The beast tilted one of his massive heads. The cold glow of his green eyes made Nytherael’s skin prickle. "What is?"

"That I forget him? Forget our time together?"

Nytherael’s hands clenched into fists. His mind racing to grasp and lock away any memories possible.

"He doesn’t just want your memories, boy."

Nytherael felt a cold dread creep up his spine. The massive weight of the beast’s presence pressed down on him from all sides.

"He wants... oh, wait... why should I tell you what he wants?"

Nytherael barely had time to process the sarcasm in the beast’s words. One moment, he was listening to the ten heads mocking him, and the next, the terrifying ten-headed serpent in front of him returned to his human form.

Just as he gazed at the familiar beast, another figure appeared in the abyss. His powerful presence filling the room, his golden eyes blazing. The sheer weight of his presence cut the lay lines under Nytherael and released him from the invisible chains around his neck.

The intruders’ steps were swift as he crossed the abyss. He stood next to Nytherael without hesitation.

"He won’t be pleased, Fior," the beast spoke.

The intruder, Fior, ignored him and gathered Nytherael in his arms, lifting him up with a gentleness that didn’t match the storm brewing in his eyes.

"I am the one who has offended him. Tell him to find me directly for revenge."

"Oh, he already knows."

"Then, I’ll take my leave. It’s nothing personal, Ssirel," he said.

The name Ssirel entered Nytherael’s ear and echoed with a force that stunned him to the core. The name, animosity from the beast, and paired with the massive beast form. He recognized him.

"Ssirel Noxveil," he called out in recognition.

Ha ha ha!

Ssirel laughed. Red streaks ran from his eyes down his cheek like crimson tears. Being a sea serpent, water, in the colour of his venom, naturally flowed out his eyes when he laughed or cried.

"We meet again, brother-in-law," Ssirel continued laughing.

"I hate to cut the reunion short, but we must leave," Fior stepped back, moving towards the path he came.

The corner of Ssirel’s mouth curved up. "Not so fast," he let out, snapping his fingers.

The next second, the illusion shifted, and reality altered once more. Nytherael found himself dangling above a pot of babbling, thick red venom. His wrists bound tightly in enchanted ropes thar burned against his skin.

The heat rising from below made sweat drip from his face, soaking his clothes. His body trembled not just from the coursing heat but sheer terror coursing through his veins.

His mind raced. Trying to piece together how hurt Sseraphis must be to send his crazy twin of a brother after him.

It wasn’t common knowledge in the beastworld that Sseraphis had a twin brother. Mainly because Ssirel grew up with their mother in the deep end of the sea beneath the abyss but being Sseraphis’ husband. He was let on on the secret.

It suddenly made sense why Ssirel’s beast form seemed higher than Sseraphis. It wasn’t thar Ssirel had surpassed Sseraphis, but rather because he’d borrowed Sseraphis’ snake heads.

The last Nytherael checked, Ssirel had reached the level of a five-headed snake, which meant that the other five heads were Sseraphis’.

Nytherael flinched as the venom below popped. A thick, eerie glow reflected in his wide eyes. He had no doubt about what would happen if Ssirel decided to let him drop.

Ssirel stood before him. His green eyes gleamed in the dim chamber. They were cold and calculating. In a way that a predator took its time before killing off its prey.

"I should let you fall," he finally spoke. "Let the venom melt your skin. Let you suffer for what you did to my brother."

Nytherael’s breath hitched. "I... I didn’t mean to..."

Ssirel’s fingers twitched, and the ropes holding Nytherael tightened painfully.

Nytherael’s breathing grew ragged. His heart slammed in his chest. "I do mean to make it up to him," his voice was barely a whisper.

Ssirel’s jaw clenched. "You broke him."

Nytherael felt like the air had been sucked from his lungs. He looked down at the Venom beneath him, the glow reflecting in his sweat drenched skin.

Ssirel stepped closer, His towering presence suffocating Nytherael. The air in the chamber will stick with power. It pressed against Nytherael’s chest like an invincible weight.

The pot of venom below him bubbled. Releasing an acrid scent that burnt his nostrils.

Nytherael’s Wrists burned where the ropes held him. His body ached, His mind reeled. He couldn’t comprehend it. He couldn’t wrap his head around why Ssirel was coming at him so strongly with Sseraphis’ silent support.

"Ssirel," Fior appeared again, looking pissed.

"You made it of that illusion quickly."

"I an not a toy for your petty little games. Hand Nytherael over and end this."

Ssirel feigned a shiver. "And if I refuse?"

"Then you mustn’t blame me for the steps that I must take," Fior said. He raised his hand and, with sheer will, summoned a light so bright it put cracks into the abyss.

Ssirel blinked his eyes lazily. He ran his hand through his hair and yawned like Fior was boring him.

"You know... I once went to Drakheiron and visited the lake of light. It was so bright that I nearly went blind."

Fior paused. "How’s that relevant in this moment?"

"Hmh, I’m just informing you that I’ve been to the lake of light," he said, wearing a childish smile thar didn’t match his terrifying face.

"Good for you."

"It was."

"I have orders to bring Nytherael back. I can’t let you hurt him."

Ssirel smiled even harder. Showing all his white teeth. "But Fior, don’t you see...I’m not the one hurting him."

At his words, the world shifted upside down. Fior’s light was extinguished, and the ropes on Nytherael’s hands came undone before he fell. But before he could hit the ground, the illusion warped, and he found himself falling to the bed on the semi-permanent house he’d slept in the night before.

"What the hell is going on?" He wondered.

Back at the abyss, Fior and Ssirel stood facing each other as they were left alone in the darkness.

"The illusion is bound to Nytherael’s soul. He can’t leave unless you break the illusion first," Ssirel enlightened him.

"Aeltharion will have your head for this," Fior declared.

Ssirel shrugged. "Why would he come after me? His wife is the one who set this up. If he should seek revenge, let him take Sseraphis’ head."

"Is there no loyalty in your heart? How quickly you threw blame onto your brother!"

"I am a snake, Fior, expect betrayal and deceit from me. But don’t ever wish for my loyalty or honesty, I am incapable of that!"

"Clearly."