Soul Guardian-Chapter 5Book 2: : World Eater

The shouts of annoyance from downstairs told Six that Potato was being a pest again. “You wouldn’t steal my dad’s sandwiches, would you?” the little girl asked her new pet.

I am the great serpent, the beast of legend, thought the tiny blue and green snake, I will devour this world, and all the sandwiches within it.

Six didn’t know what the snake was thinking, but she took it as a good sign that he seemed to be listening. “Are you a magic snake or an ordinary snake?” the young witch asked, “You don’t seem magical. But I figured I should ask, just to be sure.”

The young witch had dared to question his greatness? How absurd! How insulting! Smárgandr refused to hear another word of such blasphemy. The tiny snake curled up in a ball and hid his head.

“Ah,” said Six as the snake ignored her question, “I thought so. But you never know, so I thought I would ask.”

She looked around the room for a suitable container to keep him in. A lot of the cultists had been fond of reptiles, But she didn’t even know what kind of snake it was.

I suppose I should go see if Granny has a book on snakes, the young witch thought as she tucked Smárgandr back into her pocket. I’m sure he would be absolutely overjoyed to help me find out more about my new friend.

***

Granny was currently doing yoga. The werewolf had been roped into the activity against his will, and was hating every second of it.

He didn’t want to become one with the universe or learn how to find his center. Granny liked the universe right where it was, far away from him. But Hope had worn him down, and now he was standing on one leg in the middle of his bookshop, feeling ridiculous.

“You’re doing so well!” The papier-mâché woman called out, “Now, take a deep breath, hold it, and try to activate your core.”

Granny grumbled for a moment, then did as he was told. But before he could reach nirvana (or pull a muscle) Six showed up.

“I didn’t know you were a self-help book,” said the little girl.

Hope let out a laugh. “We contain multitudes, young reader.”

“Do you have any books on reptiles?” Six asked, “Ideally ones with pictures. I found a snake, and I need to find out what kind it is.”

Granny looked over with curiosity. A lifetime ago he had worked in the exotic reptile trade, and still liked to keep his hand in. (Not literally, of course. That was a good way to get bitten.)

“What’s that about a snake?” he asked.

“I found one,” replied Six, “Want to see?”

“Why not?” said the werewolf, “It’s a better use of my time than yoga practice. I don’t know what has gotten into Hope, but lately she seems to be on some kind of health kick.”

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Hope let out a sigh like rustling paper. “We are only trying to help.”

“You threw out my sandwich!” Granny pointed an accusatory finger at the paper woman.

“White bread, butter, and salami sprinkled with sugar is not a sandwich. It’s a heart attack waiting to happen!”

“You’re a book! What do you know about food?” snarled Granny.

“Quite a lot, actually,” replied Hope, “We contain a few books about cooking, as well as several on nutrition. And none of them would classify that abomination as a sandwich.”

Six decided to stay silent. She had observed Bael’s eating habits firsthand, and a buttery salami sandwich was the least of his sins. Lately the demon had taken to adding hot sauce to everything in an attempt to prevent Potato from stealing his food. Of course, this plan had backfired spectacularly. (Any parent who had tried similar tactics could have told him that.)

Now the feral angel went crazy for all things spicy, and Six had seized on this opportunity to start training him using Flamin' Hot Cheetos, but Potato would happily devour anything spicy enough.

“Alright,” said Granny, snapping Six out of her reverie. “Where is this snake you need me to identify?”

The young witch fished around in her pocket for Smárgandr and held him up for Granny to see. The tiny snake was still sulking, and didn’t bother looking up at either of them.

“This is quite a rare specimen,” the werewolf said as he adjusted his reading glasses.

Six looked down at the snake curled up in her palm. “Really?”

“Yep, you could probably sell it for a few hundred dollars if you found the right buyer.”

The young witch frowned. “Why would they pay so much for a snake? Is it magical or something?”

“No, no, no.” Granny shook his head. “Quite the opposite. We usually don’t see them this far west, but I’m pretty sure your new friend is a smooth green snake.”

“But he’s blue,” Six said, “How can he be a smooth green snake if he’s mostly blue.”

“It happens sometimes,” replied the werewolf, “Usually they end up all blue or all green, but this one seems to be mixed. That’s why it’s valuable.”

Granny nodded to himself. “I’d have to call around, but I know some people. In fact, I’ll buy it off you now for a hundred dollars, if you’re interested.”

How dare he try to buy me! And for so little! fumed the Smárgandr, When I get big enough, I’m eating him first!

“Thanks, but no thanks,” Six replied, “Just tell me what to feed him, and I’ll be on my way.”

Worlds, thought the tiny snake, I am the devourer of worlds.

Granny shrugged. “They like soft worms and crickets.”

I am also the devourer of crickets, acknowledged the snake, In fact, I could murder a cricket right now. I just can’t control myself around crickets.

“But don’t give them too many,” Granny warned the young witch, “Hard shelled insects aren’t good for their digestion.”

Smárgandr glared up at Granny. Do not tarnish the small human’s ears with your lies, oh hairy one. There is no such thing as too many crickets!

“Noted,” Six said as she tucked the snake back into her pocket, “Crickets are for special occasions only.”

Bah! Smárgandr thought as he curled up into a little ball of irritation, The small human is useless.

“I suppose I should go get him some food before the store closes,” Six mused, “I’m sure he’s hungry.”

The snake poked his head out her pocket. Yes, definitely. I am always hungry.

She looked down at the snake. “I’ll take that as a yes,” Six said as she headed for the exit.

I suppose the small human is not totally useless, Smárgandr thought to himself, Perhaps I will eat her last.