Chapter 5: Just Escaping Civilization

Kaa the python sat in a tree still finishing the digestion off his latest meal. Once again he could tell the humans of the town were scrambling trying to figure out where the missing people were disappearing to.  This led to investigators coming into the woods to search for clues, this was bad news for Kaa.  If they found him in the tree, he knew they would quickly suspect a giant snake was the cause.  He felt that he was good enough to stay away from town for a while.  The past meals made him feel sluggish.  

The annoying humans were soon approaching his domain, he could smell them. Damn! He felt he needed to move further into the dense woods which eventually led to a forest.

This was the place Kaa was training to become the top predator in this area.  He slithered his way in the trees to the deepest part of the woods.  He took a rest, moving a heavy body was quite tiring.  He yawned deciding to take a little nap.

Later that evening...

Someone was in the forest, already have slept a night and preparing for the next one.  It was a female, the age of 16.  She took her free weekend to spend her time in the blissful nature.  She felt like escaping the stresses of school and work.  This was certainly a perfect getaway.  The dark skinned, black-haired girl was trying to get her fire started.  She always had trouble doing so.  "Hmm...I hope I get it started before night falls," she spoke quietly to herself.  She sighed and decided to get firewood that was far more important to be done before nightfall then she would tend to the fire.

Kaa was awakened by the sound of someone shuffling around the area.  He shook his head to completely erase his drowsiness and paid more attention to the sounds.  It was coming closer, he started to get nervous hoping the investigators didn't decide to come out this far already.  The sounds kept getting closer and closer making him really nervous, he was afraid to move. If he moved, they may find him on the spot.  He thought something was strange though. If it were the investigators, they would be coming from the south, the direction he came from, but the sounds were coming from the north where the forest was.  Curious, he flicked his tongue out to detect the scents.  To his surprise, it wasn't the investigators at all; it was the scent of a female.  Kaa raised his head up over the branch waiting for the female to appear.  

The dark skinned girl was gathering a decent amount of fresh new firewood.  She made sure to pick out of the most effective to burn.  She walked further away from her campsite, but made sure not to go anywhere past the point she reached.  She walked off the path and started searching around for more to add to her collection.

The python watched as she suddenly appeared, carrying what seems to be wood.  "Oh it's a girl-cub," he sighed with relief but then focused on the lonely girl.  Kaa licked his lips. She sure did look good enough to eat, then again he wasn't extremely hungry, but this was simply too hard to pass up.  He kept his watch on the girl, pondering on when he should strike.  

Being wrapped up in nature, the girl didn't know the latest news on the new kidnapping streak.  She had no idea a girl near her age was recently abducted, and that same abductor was watching over her.  She bent down seeing more dry wood, and picked them up.  She pressed them to her chest to keep them firm, but accidentally dropped them to ground as she reached for more.  "Oops." She sat on her knees and began scooping them up.

Kaa saw as she bent over to collect the fallen pieces and found himself making his way to her.  She was making herself completely open.  He smacked his lips and slithered into the tree above.

The girl picked up the lumber including the ones she was attempting to get. "I think that's enough for the night," she nodded, standing up on her feet not realizing a threat was looming over her.  She noticed the sun getting lower as darkness was blanketing from the opposite direction. Getting a good hold of the lumber, she decided to run wanting to get that damn fire started.

The snake was about to make his move until his target suddenly ran back to the path and ran back down to wherever she came from. He sat there in surprise. He wanted to know where this girl was going. There were no houses in that direction. Curious that he was, he decided to pursue her.  

The camper already made it back to her campsite, and hastily continued to get the fire started.  "Come on, come on..." she pleaded, using nature's objects to create a flint.  
Kaa, sluggish the way he's been feeling lately, lost sight of her, not to worry he flicked his tongue out to catch her scent.  Seconds he detected it, and hastened after her.  The scent she had was absolutely appealing; it made his gluttonous tummy growl.  This was always the problem with Kaa, the scent of prey made him go nuts.  It reminded him of the time he played hide-and-seek with his precious Molly.  This was before he wanted to be an avid man-eater. He remembered searching for her with his tongue, and had lost himself.  He was starting to feel that same way, this time though he had no guilt about eating what he wanted.

Finally, he reached her base and silently moved in the trees and watched as she was sitting down in front of a pit filled with wood.  He took notice of the area, and realized she was camping.  Right now she was trying to make a fire.  That was true, often enough these humans had the need of leaving town and decided to take shelter in the outside world.  Once again Kaa licked his lips; this made him want the girl even more.  Her disappearance would go unnoticed for a while; people will keep thinking she was here camping until one went up to look for her, eventually.  

Right now wasn't the time to make his move; if she managed to make a fire she would decide to use it as a weapon and harm him. The serpent relaxed in his tree waiting for when the perfect time came to snare her.  That was most likely when she settled in her tent for rest.  

The dark skinned girl groaned almost giving up and gave one last strike.  She gasped when she saw a huge spark as it settled in the center of the pit.  Hastily she got to work on it, trying to do whatever she could to keep that ball of light alive.  She carefully fed it and it got larger and larger, sighing in relief she added more wood into the now blazing fire.  "Yes! And right before nightfall," she clapped.  Suddenly her tummy rumbled.  "Oooh, I've been so busy working, I forgot to eat," she giggled sheepishly to herself.  She crawled over to the tent, opening it up and sliding in for her backpack.  She reached it and began digging in for food.  After grabbing what she needed, she headed back out the tent, zipping it closed, sat back around the fire and began to prepare things for dinner.

Kaa was still up in the tree watching as she disappeared into the tent and came back out with food, he saw her take a twig, shove a couple of fish on the point and held it over the fire to cook.  Oh his little company was hungry was she?  That was fine, let herself get filled it will be more satisfying.  A yawn escaped him once again, watching his prey was making him drowsy once more; no he had to stay up and watch.  Why was he feeling so sleepy?

The girl waited until her fish were cooked to perfection and began eating.  "Mmm...Tastes great out in here in the open woods," she exclaimed, licking her lips and eating more.  She finished up her meal, and prepared dessert, by sticking marshmallows at the end of the stick.  She set the stick down and quickly prepared the gram crackers.  She then took the warm white fluffs and stuck them in between the biscuits, creating herself, delicious Smores.  She gobbled them up and rubbed her tummy in delight.  "That was too good."

Night had really taken over; she could start seeing the moon rising and stars sparkle.  "Beautiful, can't wait to see it at its peak." The girl now just sat where she was, letting the sounds of the night take her elsewhere.  She closed her eyes, feeling the chilling breeze brush against her skin, the moonlight shining down on her, and the crackling of the fire in front of her.  She really did need this and sighed in content.   Time was passing by, and she was still sitting there letting nature envelop her.  That was until a sudden yawn slipped out of her making her stir.  She opened her eyes slowly, took a moment to come to herself and stretched.  "Oooh that felt great, guess I should start heading into the tent," she shrugged.  She got up and began walking toward her shelter until she remembered she wanted to see the moon.  "Oh yeah, first I gotta see this full moon."

She looked around for it, and groaned. It was there, but hidden by tree branches, she needed to get a better look.  A great climber that she was, she chose the highest tree in the area and began to climb up.  

Kaa was asleep. He didn't know when he fell asleep, he just did.  It was until he heard rustling below that finally got him to arouse.  "Mmm...what a good...REST?" he shrieked.  When the hell did he fall asleep?  He looked below the tree trying to find his girl, but saw she was not there.  Did she finally go into her tent?  He was gonna go down and sneak in, but heard the rustles that awoke him.  The branches of the tree he was on was shaking, he located what was making them and gasped.  The girl, she was climbing her way up the tree.  Was she crazy? Did she know he was up here and came to ambush him? Or did she simply want to give herself up? All these thoughts were running through his mind.  

The girl climbed higher and higher, not noticing the tree had a deadly snake in it.  "Almost there," she encouraged, seeing the last branch a couple feet above.

The snake decided to hide behind another branch on the opposite side of the tree; his coils were still wrapped all around the others.  He hoped his unwelcomed guest didn't spot them.

The girl gripped the last branch and gave a final push. She let her legs dangle on either side of the branch and looked up into the night sky, and there was her moon in all its glory.  "Made it! Oh wow, absolutely gorgeous," she commented.  

Kaa on the other side realized her objective wasn't him at all; she came up to see the moon.  He sighed to himself then sucked in a breath.  He inspected the girl closely; she wasn't wearing too much clothing to his liking and licked his lips once more; she looked delicious.  He was ready to make his move, since she willingly showed up in his clutches; he wouldn't take his chances now.   "It is beautiful isn't it?" He spoke.

The dark skinned girl nodded in response, but then remembered she was alone, who was...She turned her head to the voice only to see a huge python staring right at her.  She shrieked and jumped away in fright, but this caused her to lose her balance and she fell off the branch heading back to the ground.  "Ahh!!" She screamed, closing her eyes and waiting for her end.  At this height there was little chance at surviving the fall.

Kaa quickly sprang forth and wrapped his tail around her waist twice then hoisted her back into the tree.  "Oh dear, that would have been quite a fall.  I'm terribly ssssssorry for frightening you," he spoke again, setting her back on the branch. He removed his tail not wanting to frighten her more than he already had.  

The girl opened her eyes and realized she was back on the branch, she panted heavily so happy she was still alive.  The snake saved her, wait a minute the snake spoke.  She looked at him, catching her breath and responded.  "You can talk!"

"Why yesssssss I can," he replied.

"But how?"

He made what looked like a shrug.  "Beatssss me, I've always jussssst been able to."

"That's pretty cool," she commented then gasped.  "Oh my goodness, thanks so much for saving me Mr. Snake," she bowed.  

"It was my pleasure," he answered.  "The name's Kaa, what'sssss yours, lovely?"  He introduced, holding his tail out as in waiting for a handshake.

"Kaa is it? My name's Kiera," she replied, taking his tail and shaking it.

"Nicccce to meet you, Kiera," he hissed kindly.  "Ssssssssssso what are you doing all the way out here?"

She turned away from him to look back at the moon.  "I came out here to get away from civilization for a while.  All the busy, busy of work and school, it's very tiring.  I come out her to relax from time to time," she answered.

Spirals spun in Kaa's eyes for a moment.  Tired? To relax?  "Ooooh those were the kind of words I jussssssssst love to hear," and he shivered.  He shook his head snapping out of his reverie and spoke.  "Isn't it dangeroussssss to be out her all alone though?"

Not looking at him she shrugged.  "Not really, I know this forest pretty well. There isn't that much threat to me out here; if I go any deeper into the forest, maybe."

"She knows this forest, does she? Guess she doesn't realize, I'm a major threat to her. Bet she just sees me as a puny reptile.  Foolish to think such a thing, " he thought.
  
"But I gotta say as much as I know this place; this is the first time meeting you. Where did you come from Kaa?" She asked, looking back at him.  

The snake pondered on that for a moment, how was he gonna answer that? "From the deeper part of the foressst, of courssssse."

"Oh duh!" she chuckled, giving herself a face palm. Where else would he come from?  
"Cool," she nodded then yawned.  "Oh my, I'm sorry, that was rude," she reacted putting a hand to her mouth.

A spiral spun in his eye again.  She was tired alright; those eyes and that yawn gave it all away.  "Are you tired Kiera?" the snake asked, feeling a grin form on his lips.
She rubbed her right eye. "I suppose I am, I was up pretty late last night, and today I did quite a lot.  Guess it's natural that I'm sleepy," she responded.  

That was all it took. Kaa felt he was well acquainted with Kiera, he was quite tired and didn't feel like playing out this act for much longer.  He shifted his coils around the tree getting his tail to unnoticeably slither its way to her waist from behind.

"You know what Kaa, this is quite a surprise. Never thought I'd find the comfort in talking with a snake," she spoke.

Kaa was curious again and tilted his head to the side, his tail still making its way toward her.  "Why is it such a surprise?"

She giggled embarrassingly.  "To be honest, I don't take too kindly to snakes.  They actually scare me." She then noticed some of his coils around the tree; he was abnormally large for a forest snake.

"Why do they sssscare you?"

"The way they move, and the way they look at you like you're a potential meal.  That makes me shiver, but for some reason as I look at you I don't feel that at all.  I feel like I can trust you."

Kaa's tail paused, nearly inches from her waist.  "Trusssssst?" A pang went through his mind.  

"Yeah," she nodded.  "You're such a nice snake.  I'm not scared of you Kaa.  Why, I don't even believe you've been planning all this time to coil me up and eat me for dinner, especially the size that you are.  That alone should have had me running off, but nope, I'm still here," she smiled, patting his head.

Kaa pulled his tail away and sulked, he suddenly felt guilty.  He usually fought to make his prey trust him then he would gobble them up. This time, however, this girl trusted him with every fibber of her body.  It would really be cruel of him to hypnotize and eat her.  But why was he feeling guilty? He hadn't had that feeling for a very long time, why now?  Is it because he isn't as hungry as he usual was? His thoughts kept running through his mind and they were driving him insane.

Kiera stretched her arms once more, and decided it was really time for her to head off.  "Well Kaa, I'm going to head back down and try to get some sleep.  I am quite tired after all," she announced.

His mind came back as she alerted him and quickly wrapped his tail around her waist.  "Wait!" he spoke.

Kiera stopped her movements once the coil caught her and looked back at him.  "What is it?"

"Would you like to ssssstay up here, and ssssssssssssleep with me?" he asked.

She didn't move looking at him confused.  "I wouldn't mind, but I can't sleep in a tree.  I move a lot in my sleep and will definitely fall off the branch, not only that, but I'd feel uncomfortable and won't be able to sleep very well," she replied.

"I'll take care of that, I have a way you won't ever fall, and you can sssssssleep peaccccfully," he assured, the single coil rubbing around her waist her.  

"How would you do that?" She wondered, actually liking how the coil moved around her.

Without even hesitating the snake moved his directly in front of hers. "Jussssssssssssssst look into my eyesssssssssss young one," he hissed.

"O-okay," she stammered. The usual voice of Kaa suddenly turned into a seductive tone and she couldn't help but listen and stared back into his glowing, yellow eyes.  The snake's eyes began to twist fluorescent colours and he kept his gaze locked on hers.

Kiera's eyes widened at the magnificent colours, trying to keep track. Blue... no...Green...no...Yellow...no blue again... She kept staring unable to look away, she didn't want to.

"Yesssssssssssssss Kiera, sssssssssssssssssssstare and relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx..." he hissed soothingly.  Once her eyes were finally bouncing with swirls, he started to move his head from side to side, and she couldn't help but follow, each move made her drowsier and drowsier.  "Relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx..." he repeated, moving his head toward the sky and back down.  

At those words, her shoulders and eyes drooped still following his movements.  She was certainly not going to lose her sight of the beautiful colours. Oh no.  She just had to stare, her mouth hung open and she leaned forward trying to get a better view, but by doing so, it tired her out even more.  

"Kiera...sssssssssssssssssssssssleep," he cooed, still swaying his head; his coils now proceeded to wrap her up as her hands dropped to her sides.  "Ssssssssssssssssssssssssssshut your eyes, resssssssssssssssssssssst and come to meeee..."

Kiera could very slightly feel his coils moving around her torso then over her arms, but she wasn't paying attention to that, those eyes were far more important.  A smile started to form on her cute lips, and the spirals in her eyes spun.  Kaa, proud of her submission, rewarded her by giving her a relaxing massage.  "That feelsssssssss good doesssssssssssssssn't it?" He realized she couldn't nod as she was too occupied with his rings, so he helped her by lifting his head up and down in a nodding fashion.  Her eyes drooped more and she followed his head giving him the nod she wanted, her smile widening.
  
His coils looped just below her breasts, pressing her arms tighter to her sides.  "Ssssssssssssssssleep my child, ssssssssssssssssssssssleep, sssssssssssssssssssslip into everlassssssssssssssssting blisssssssssssssssss," he droned, wrapping another coil over her average sized breasts giving a nice good squeeze.  She swallowed quite liking the squishing, but still kept her eyes, well whatever she had opened, on his.  She couldn't possibly lose those colours now; she lasted so long in them.  Kaa massaged her sensually making her even more tired; she could barely keep her dazzling eyes open.  "Give in to me Kiera...give in and ssssssssssssssssssssssleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep," he hissed, wrapping the last coil around her shoulders and massaged them just like the rest of her body.  

*PING*

That was all she could take, her eyes sprang open and sighed with a happy goofy grin on her face.  She was now in total bliss, at the mercy at the mighty serpent.  Her eyes swirling fast with colourful rings.

Kaa stopped his spirals and looked over the girl.  She was now his.  Now, he needed her to shut her eyes.  He came back to face and whispered into her ears.  "Kiera...are you happy?" and she nodded, she was very happy.  "Good, I'm glad. Now, sssssssssssssssssssssssssleep my preciousssssssssssssss, fall into and never ending sssssssssssssssssssssssslumber." He couldn't help ending his chants in words that were permanent to his victims.

Her eyes drooped as she listened to the loving hisses, giving her last yawn and fell into a deep sleep, now completely opened to whatever Kaa wanted to do with her.  The snake wrapped around her shoes and pulled them off along with her socks, and set them aside on another branch.

He turned back and watched as his companion slept cozy in his coils.  He still never wanted to eat her.  He simply wanted to help her sleep like he actually promised, but as he looked down at her, she was completely vulnerable and willing to do anything to please him; his temptations were hard to overcome.  Wanting to add his finishing touches, he began to wrap his tail around her neck, the first loop went.  

She stirred slightly, feeling the coil caressingly wrap around her throat, and made sounds as they pressed into her.  "Gah...Guh...G—ulp!"  Unable to make another sound as Kaa couldn't help, but silence her, it was a reflex of his, but that made his temptations even harder to resist.  

"Ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssh...no sssssssssssssssspeaking...jussssssssssssssssssssssssssssst...ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssleep," he hissed.  Kiera obeyed him and fell into a much deeper sleep; she was definitely not going to wake up for a long time.   

Kaa swallowed, watching as his precious companion sat there and his mouth began to water.  She was completely open.  Her aroma, the scent of a girl who had worked long and hard in the blistering heat was wafting into his nostrils. Before he knew it, he started to give into his stomach, or I guess his natural instincts.  He sighed, and subconsciously tightened his coils around his prey.  This movement made Kiera have trouble breathing, the coils around her chest and throat were nearly blocking off the oxygen she needed.  Her free legs twitched everytime she had difficulty breathing then relaxed when she managed to get air into her lungs.  Little gasps were heard as she struggled, but her face was still filled with smiles and she wasn't going to wake up.  The twitching made Kaa more eager to swallow her, he saw this as sign of her trying to escape, the predator that he was, was not gonna let her.  

He lifted her snoozing body off the branch, and pulled her closer to his frightfully gaping maw.  His coils, instinctively, twisting around her tighter, trying to squeeze out the remaining gasps of breath she collected, and prevented anymore from entering.   
Kiera's muscled tensed, her legs stiffened out of the end of the coils, by the sudden constriction and lack of oxygen, but still her face held that same smile.  She was far too gone to break out of the trance and try to save her own life.  Closer and closer she got to his widening maw and closer and closer she got to passing out.

It wasn't until later, his mouth moments of snapping shut above hers, his drool dripping over her face that he paused.   

*POOF*

A sudden being appeared the right side of him. "No Kaa! Don't do it!" It pleaded.  Kaa stopped and looked over to his right to see a little version of himself with a halo on top of his head.  His good side came to reason with him.  "Don't tell me you plan to eat thissss girl after sssshe was kind to you.  That would be sssso cruel of you, and you know it." It spoke having the same lisp as he did.

The snake nodded, beginning to pull her away from his dripping maw, and slightly loosened up the tight coils around her.  He still held a very good grip on her though.  The air reached the girl's lungs once more; she relaxed and slept more peacefully in his grasp.

*POOF*

"Don't lissssten to that wacko!" Another creature appeared on his left side.  "Why are you going to give up sssssuch a delectable meal just because sssssshe was kind to you?  That'sssss so sssstupid if you agreed.  Tommy was kind to you too and ssstill you gobbled him up."

Kaa had to agree with his bad side that had little horns poking out at the top of its head.  It really didn't matter how good she was to him.  The snake tightened his coils around the helpless girl, and led her back to his gaping maw.  

"That'ssss not fair! Kaa, you aren't even that hungry, hell, you still have a lump in your belly.  Are you really going to lisssten to that greedy fool?" His good side objected.  

Kaa backed away, and loosened the coils from Kiera once again.  It was true; he wasn't that hungry, was he really going to just satisfy his own greediness?

"You ssssee, you believe it'sss wrong too. Don't lisssssten to that bozo and let the girl live," it pleaded once again.  

"Ssssssshut up!" The evil one bellowed to his enemy, and looked back at Kaa.  "Kaa, you're a mean green, predator thatsss susssposed to eat whatever he catches.  Ssssshe's just a sssssssimple human.  Why give up your natural inssssstincssss for the creatures that treated you like crap?  Do I have to remind you like I did 8 years ago?" His evil side grumbled.

Once again Kaa tightened his coils real tight around his prey while she suddenly gasped her wide smile just a smile now, his evil side was absolutely right.  He didn't want to go back being that soft shell he used to be; his objectives were to each as much human flesh that he could, and eventually finish off his hunting streak with Molly in his tummy then he'd finally escape to a new place.  He brought his head back over Kiera's head seconds away from closing down.

"Kiera trusssts you Kaa!" His good side shouted making him halt, he still held tightly onto the girl, her breathing ceased from entering her body.  "She trusssted you without you even assssssking.  You always need to asssk if ssssomeone trussssted you and if they didn't, you would usssse your sssssubtle ways to eventually earn their trusssst and then devour them.  You feel guilty trying to eat Kiera now, because sssshe was the first persssson to ever trussst you.  Molly didn't even trussst you from the beginning, way before you knew she was worth eating.  Ssssshe's obvioussssly not jussssst a sssssssimple human," it defended.  

Kaa knew that side of him had strong points too.  She really was the first person to ever trust him.  She hates snakes, yet she learned to trust him on her own and in such a short period.  Kaa shook his head, the girl in his clutches it was so hard to resist.  "Can I jussst sssswallow her then sssssspit her back out? That way I win on both sssssides."

"That would be great Kaa, but we all know you won't be able to chuck her out.  Your gluttonous stomach won't allow you." Both sides sighed in unison.  

Kaa groaned.  "Fine, jussssst one bite, I promissssse."

"No Kaa, no!" His good side rejected.

"Yessss, Kaa, yesss!" His evil side cheered.  Both mythical creatures knew if Kaa decided to even just taste the girl he wouldn't be able to stop, he never was.  
Kaa couldn't help himself and was lowering his jaws over her head, just before he could snap down—

"Kaa, you're going to get indigessssstion," his good side warned in a simple tone, not worrying itself.  "You're going to have to throw not only her but your past meal up and won't be able to move for a while.  Don't think you want that."

That was the answer that got Kaa to listen; he pulled Kiera away from his drooling maw, loosened his coils for the last time, and sat her back on the branch.

"Kaa what are you doing?" His evil side frowned.

"I don't want to get indigesssstion, the thought of it makesssss my sssssskin crawl," he responded and shivered.  
His evil side looked to the good side who gave a smug grin.
  
"I win," it chuckled.

It scowled. "Come here you!" And it charged for the boasting halo snake.
There was a puff of smoke as the two of them began physically fighting each other then *POOF!* They disappeared.

Kaa was glad those two disappeared giving him some peace and quiet.  His companion began to sleep and relax more calmly than she was moments before.  She had no idea, Kaa was debating from either eating or letting her live.  She should be thankful he spared her.  It would only be her though.  He had a liking to her.  He twisted his coils around the rest of her body, so she was all warm and cozy, her legs finally disappearing under his length.  He gave a comforting squeeze and pulled her closer to himself.  While doing this he decided not take long looks at her vulnerable state, before he lost himself and decided to devour her anyway.  He rested his head beside her, closed his eyes and went straight to sleep.  

...

Early the next morning, Kiera's ears caught the lovely sounds of morning birds chirping. It was enough to get her lifting her eyes open.  She did slowly however, and finally shook herself awake from her drowsiness.  She didn't realize her body was engulfed with snake coils just yet, and looked around her surroundings.  

"That was a wonderful rest.  What a gorgeous morning to awaken to.  The sound of the birds singing; the feel of the cool morning breeze; the sun now peaking over the horizon, and how lovely the sight is from up here is all so wonderful," she sighed happily, and then something crossed her mind.  "Wait. How lovely the sight is from up here?" She repeated and looked down, two things she noticed.  She was way up in the trees, and trapped inside tight coils.  She gasped.  "How did I get up here? And how did I end up in this bondage?"  she wondered, not recalling the scenes from last night.  She noticed the coils led somewhere else and she followed only to lay eyes on a snake.  

She almost screamed at the top of her lungs, but fought it back.  If she screamed, the serpent would wake up.  "Why am I in the body of a s-snake?" she trembled to herself.  She shifted gently, trying to worm her way up out of the body without waking up the major threat before her.   She managed to struggle up to her shoulders until she felt the snake compress its coils slightly ceasing her struggles.  She gasped lightly and turned her face to the snake.  It was still asleep; she figured it was probably involuntary movement.  She waited until the compressing ended and once again tried to wiggle out of its grip.  " Come on, come on..." she encouraged not progressing successfully just yet.  She managed to get her shoulders free, now was the hardest part, wiggling her chest free.  Once she did, she would easily be able to slip the rest of the coils off.  Taking a deep breath she continued to struggle upwards, but by taking a breath was her mistake.

That made the serpent sense that live prey was trying to wiggle free.  Kaa was in his dreams, and he just finished wrapping himself around a new found prey.  Feeling the sudden gulp of breath from his victim, which was actually Kiera in real life, he tightened his coils around it trying to decrease its energy.  

As Kaa's coils tightened around Kiera, much more forceful this time, she gasped again and stopped struggling, hoping the snake would calm and sleep stronger.  She waited and waited, but this time the snake didn't loosen up the coils, he kept them tight.  Crap! She thought. She had to do something; she couldn't stay trapped in snake coils forever.  Taking her chances, she now started to just thrash herself widely, hoping the snake would let up the fight and let her go.

Unfortunately, as she thrashed her way up, the coils pressed harder against her body.  This time it didn't just press and finish, it just kept at it, squeezing her.  "Oh no!" She gasped, feeling as it twisted around her body, trying to tire her out.  "Let me go you," she fought, still struggling, but that just resulted her more constriction, she couldn't move her arms at all now.  She could feel her skin prickling as the blood had trouble circulating.  "It's gonna crush me to death," she panted doing whatever she could do to prevent her doom.  A few seconds more and it was still constricting, this time her whole body couldn't move not an inch, all except for her head.  She didn't want to move that around afraid it would decide to wrap around her neck and squeeze her throat.  
She closed her eyes trying to fight off the pain, but it bulged back out as they squeezed harder.  She realized her breathing was growing thin, suddenly a flash ran through her mind.  All the scenes of the previous night all came flooding back to her, and she suddenly remembered, this was her new friend Kaa.  "K-Kaa!" She screamed, hoping he heard her.  "S-stop...you—" she heaved and continued.   "You're...you're squeezing me... to...to...ugh!!" She gasped, feeling the unrelenting pain of being crushed alive; she soon realized she couldn't breathe.  

As his name was called by a familiar voice, he started to think of whom it was...The vision of a dark skinned girl with black hair was calling him. "Kiera..." he named then abruptly woke up lifting his head and looking at his friend who couldn't even gasp as he constricted her.  "Kiera!" He gasped, releasing all the pressure in muscles and loosened up a great number of coils, but kept some secured around her.

Kiera felt all the force just suddenly release and she slumped forward gasping for air as she did.  Kaa's coils kept her body from falling off the tree again.  
"I'm ssssso ssssorry, I didn't realize I was consssstricting you," he admitted.

She waited till she could breathe easier, and her strength return.  "Are you crazy? You almost killed me," she coughed.  

"I'm ssssorry really.  It'sss a natural thing ssssssnakes do when anything tries to esssscape their coilssss.  You ssssshould have called me earlier."

Kiera pouted.  "I would have but for some reason, I forgot what happened last night.  I just woke up to find myself in a tree surrounded by snake coils. So excuse me for freaking out."

"Oh I sssssee," he nodded understanding everything.

"Well thank God I'm still alive. Like you promised, I slept very well last night, thank you Kaa for preventing anything bad to happen," she smiled.  

Once again Kaa felt guilty. She had no idea she was inches away from becoming snake food like how many times last night? "Y-you're welcome,"

Kiera smiled once more, and thought it was best now to start wiggling out of Kaa's grip.  He was awake, and knew he shouldn't harm her now.  She began to shift around the loose coils getting shoulders and chest free.  

Kaa swallowed, she was setting herself up again, awake or not the snake just couldn't help but tighten, not as tight as before, but tightened not wanting to let the girl wiggle herself free.  It was too weird.  He's never let anything wiggle out of his coils, ever.   By contracting his muscles around her he kept her arms to her sides still.

Kiera obviously noticed this, looked back up at Kaa with her an eyebrow raised.  "Kaa, do you mind? I'm trying to get out."

"I know; do you want to relaxxxx here with me for a while?" He asked, not wanting her to leave, not yet or maybe ever.  
  
"I think I've done quite enough relaxing in the past several hours.  I need to start taking down my campsite.  I'm going back home today," she answered.

This made him want her to stay even more.  "Pleasssse sssstay, pleassse? Jussssst a little longer?" he begged, rubbing the coils around her torso sensually.  

"Mmm..." she moaned, quite liking the way his skin massaged hers so delicately yet firm.  "Mmmmah...I'm sorry, but I really must be going," she declined, shaking her head to erase the temptations.     

Everytime she continued to decline Kaa was more eager to keep her, she was making herself vulnerable.  Unnoticeably a couple spirals rotated in his eye. "Kiera, please lissssten to me, and agree it will be much easier that way.  You don't want to me to keep begging, it's jusssst gonna get harder for me to let you go." He was trying to help her before he lost it.  

She thought on it for a bit, maybe she could just stay a few moments longer.  She did enjoy it up here.  "Fine, but I can't stay all day. I've got school tomorrow."

He sighed thankful she finally agreed and continued to massage her torso.  "Good.  What sssschool do you go to?" he asked.

She raised her eyebrow.  "Does that matter to you?"

He had his personal plans for asking, but answered to her differently.  "I'm jusssst trying to make converssssation. Is that a bad thing?"

"Of course not.  Well, I attend Jasper's high school; it's the only high school in this town in fact." She replied.

"Jassper High ssschool," he repeated keeping the name in mind.  "The only one? Guess it can't be too hard to find."

"Why wonder if it's too hard to find?" She mused then pondered on it then furrowed her brows.  "Kaa? You're not planning to come to my school, are you?"

The snake registered her question and his eyes widened; he hadn't realized he was pondering out loud.  "Don't be ssssssilly. A ssssnake going to sssschool? That'ssss preposssteroussss," he chuckled indifferently.  

"Haha! That is silly, can't believe it crossed my mind," she laughed then spoke again.  "You know what I've noticed? You sure like to use words with S's as much as possible," she said with a smile.  

He grinned back flicking his tongue at her. "You noticcced have you? Sssssurely you're right.  I like ssssssssslithering my tongue. I find it'sssss very..." he paused, tapping his tail at the side of his face to think of the correct word, "Ussssseful," he grinned again.

Kiera laughed once more and continued to ask more curious questions.  "Useful?  What do you do with it?"

Kaa wasn't sure if he should answer this at all, he certainly knew the use for it; don't think she would like to know the answer to it.  "Hmmm...well it'sssss quite usssseful when it'ssss time to sssssleep." After saying that a sudden shock ran through him. That splendid word made him grin a little more sinisterly.  

Kiera had no clue what his meaning was behind that answer and continued on with the questions.  "Oh you talk or sing yourself to sleep or something?"

"Mmm...yesss and no," he answered.

"What do you mean?"

Kaa didn't know how far this was going to go, and thought maybe it was best not to continue, but he decided to proceed out of his own curiosity.  "I mean, I use it when it'sss time to ssssleep for my guesssstsssss not for mysssself," he clarified waiting to see for her response.

"Your guests?  What type of guest? Aren't I one?" She question trying to indicate to herself with her index finger then remember her arms were bound to her sides.  

Kaa felt her light struggling and instinctively tightened, but she hadn't noticed this time.  He felt sweat starting to form on his head.  She indeed was one of his 'guests' and remembered the events of last night and thought of how lucky she is to be sitting here questioning him so much, but these questions were setting her up as snake food again.  He swallowed then proceeded to answer by opening his maw and pointing his tail into it.

Kiera stared for a moment then realized what he meant. "Oh. Oh! Your meals," she responded and now felt awkward.  She cleared her throat and spoke once more.  "You use your lisp to capture prey? Hmm...that's very interesting. You're the only snake, no, animal I know who can speak.  How can the other animals fall for such a thing if they can't even understand you?"

That question was rhetorical, but Kaa did not understand rhetorical questions and answered her.  "I'm very perssssuassssive." And that sinister smile came back, unnoticed of course.
  
"My, I'm quite curious to know how it works.  Are you hungry Kaa?" She asked.

Kaa blinked a couple times.  Was this girl crazy? Asking a man-eating snake if he was hungry, oh but of course she had no idea what type of prey he likes best and his grin widened.  "I'm not really hungry right now. If I was, I would have gone hunting long ago."
  
"O-oh right," she nodded a little disappointed.  What was wrong with her? Wanting to watch a snake catch and eat prey, was she nuts? But the functions of animals always interested her.  

"But I can demonssstrate it if you like," he added, flicking his tongue at her again, inches away from tasting her cheek.  

She raised an eyebrow.  "Demonstrate it on who?" Kaa thought her naivety was quite amusing he gave her a hint by shifting the coils that were from her waist to under her breasts.  She realized and looked back up at him.  "You mean, on me?" He answered her with a wider grin.  "It'll work on humans?"

"Ssssure, it can work on anything ssssitting in my coils," he chuckled.

"O-oh," Kiera chuckled back nervously.  "But you've been using you lisp the entire time and I haven't felt its affect once."

"That'sssss because I haven't used it to it'sss fullessst potential.  I'd have to sssstrengthen it in order for it to work on humans."

She furrowed her brows at this. "And you would know this because??"

Kaa pulled his back away from her in surprise then quickly thought of an answer.  "It'sss kind of a guessss. When I capture sssssmall animals I don't ussse it a lot, but once I target bigger prey like a raccoon or ssssomething I'd have to use more of it. Ssso I'm pretty ssssure I'd have to use double or even triple the dossssse in order for it to work on humans."

Kiera stared at him for a long moment then nodded.  "That makes sense actually, but Kaa how do I know you won't swallow me?"

"Kiera, you're a friend to me. It wouldn't be right to eat friendsss wouldn't it?  Come now, you can trusssst me." PANG! That word struck him hard.  Trust. He's used that word with less than good intentions, but this time he actually meant it.  Didn't he?

"No it wouldn't, I still don't think it's a good idea though.  In fact, I'm not even sleepy.  I don't think it's even going to work on me." Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he looked at her for a moment.  She must not have remembered how she fell asleep at all last night. If she did, she would realize it does work, but she had a point.  She did sleep long and well last night, he couldn't sense any sign of fatigue.  "You can't do it can you?  I thought so." She spoke realizing his long pause then turned away.

Kaa grinned menacingly; she had just insinuated a challenge, and he couldn't turn that down.  "Well we'll jussssssssssssssst have to tessssssssst that out won't we," he chuckled beginning to strengthen his lisp already.

His lisp didn't her affect her yet of course, but she smirked and faced him again.  "I'd like to see you try it."

The snake's eyes widened at her willingness to be seduced and before he knew it he began to work his magic.  He didn't begin the hypnosis, he was quite curious to find out how well his seductive hissing worked.  "Challenge accccccepted my ssssssssssssssssssweet.  Sssssssstare into my eyessssssssssss Kiera and don't look away." She didn't know why she had to stare into his eyes, but decided to listen to him and stared into his yellow eyes.  Kaa continued to hiss and slowly commanded her to look deeper and she did.  

Kiera didn't feel tired, but she hadn't noticed her surroundings were disappearing as she focused more on those glowing eyes.  "Your eyes are very pretty Kaa," she commented.

"Sssssssssssh...don't sssssssssspeak jusssssssssssssst sssssssssssssssstare," he lulled and she obeyed.  "Remember to focusssssssssssssss on my eyessssssssss no matter what." And she nodded very slightly promising to keep her eyes focused.  Kaa began to gradually sway his head from side to side hoping she truly obeyed his words.  Kiera immediately followed his eyes and suddenly slumped forward as she began to get tired? She was getting tired? Her mind began to take control once more, but Kaa was quick to notice.  "Now, now Kiera, do not resissssssssssst my glorioussssssssss eyessssssssssssssssss. You can relaxxxxxxxxx peacccccccccccccefully in my grassssssssssssssp," he hissed seductively and began to massage her waist earning back his dominance.  

This was overwhelming her and she did notice, but she couldn't resist it.  She knew she couldn't and relaxed more into his comforting coils.  She wanted to comment, but remembered she was ordered not to speak and she couldn't disobey.  "Yesssssssssss Kiera, yessssssssssssssssssssss. Relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxe. Take a ressssssssssssssssssssssst and give yoursssssssssself to meeeeeeeee." Kaa silently licked his lips; this was getting all too good.  How can he pass up such a great opportunity?  First time he's ever had someone willingly bring himself to his powers and he wasn't even using his strongest one.
  
Kiera was leading herself into trouble, again, and she was helpless to do anything.  She wanted him to stop and admit defeat, but she couldn't form a single word and before she knew it his hissing became louder and much more seductive.  Wasn't he going to stop? Hadn't he realized he was winning?  Kiera twitched her fingertips and her feet trying to make a sign that she was giving up.  The snake hadn't noticed and proceeded to strengthen his hissing power.   

"You're getting sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssleepy Kiera, I can sssssssssssssssenssssssssssse it. Why sssssssssssssssstop thissssssssssssssss when you sssssssssssssssssssimply want it.  You know you do.  Ressssssssssssssssssssssssssssst my sssssssssssssssssssweet ssssssssssssssssssssssweet guesssssssssssssssssst."  His coils started to wrap up the girl slowly as he continued to massage the ones around her already.  A looped formed around her breasts then the second began to form above them.   

"Guest?" That word repeated in her mind.  Wasn't that the word he used on his prey?  She thought, but the thought was becoming muddled by the continuous hissing.  Within the comforting massages, Kiera could feel him winding around her and this time she was able to gain some self control by shifting in some of his loose coils.  She wanted it to end, she truly gave up.  He won.  Can he let her go now?  

This time the snake realized her movements and stopped his tail from going higher they were inches away from her neck, but his grin widened at her sudden attempt to resist.  She was going to be his, oh yes, she was, his forever.  He tightened his coils ceasing her pathetic attempt of free will and his lips smacked a little louder.  "Kiera, don't you want to sssssssssssssssleep.  I'll take very good care of you.  You can trussssssssssssssssssssst me.  I'm ssssssssssssssssssssssure to bring you to a placccccccccccccccccccccccce you'll sssssssssssssssssssssssssimply die for," he chuckled sadistically.     

She felt the coils tighten, and sensed danger almost instantly, and her mouth fell open in a attempt to decline again.  She desperately tried to shake her head, but only managed to move her chin from side to side her eyes still locked on his.  Kaa began to only hiss and not use words at all. Maybe that would work better.  His hiss became louder, but still soft and also massaged her more effectively.  The forest noise was blocked out of Kiera's mind as now only the hiss occupied it and oh, oh the massaging.  It felt sssssssso good and she slumped some more and her eyes now drooped taking in all the effects.  "Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss, yesssssssssssssssssssssssssss..." She heard him whisper as her mind began to go dull; she could hardly keep her eyes opened at this point.  She was in real trouble now, but of course at this point she had no clue that she was anymore.  

Feeling sure she was well relaxed, Kaa continued his tail around her neck.  The first loop went then the last and with that done, Kaa squeezed all his coils comfortably, but also alerting that she was completely his.  Kaa's mouth began to drool as the sedated girl was inches away from resting.  "It appearssssssssssss I ssssssssssssssuccccccced thisssssssssssssss challenge.  You are now mine," he chuckled.  Kiera's eyes weren't completely closed, but they were on the verge.  She couldn't put her mind on the fact that her snake friend had his mouth wide open ready to take her in.  She was simply too overwhelmed by his power.

"KIERA!!"

Kaa blinked in confusion, he was literally one inch away from snapping over the girl's head, but he had to pause; he swore he heard someone call out for the girl in his clutches and listened.  A few moments passed and he didn't hear the call again.  "Musssssssst have been my imagination," he thought aloud giving out what looked to be a shrug and focused on his prey, his maw still widening over her head.  Was he really going to eat the girl he had already spared?  She had fun and so did he.  His tongue unnoticed by himself gave her a simple lick and once he noticed the lick a zap of her taste shocked him and he hesitantly gave her another lick and another.  He was enjoying her flavor; it had peculiar taste that he liked and he simply wanted to taste more and more of her.  After many taste testing his mouth began to drool immensely as her taste settled into his mind. He wanted to get a better taste and gently closed his maw over her forehead and relished the full taste of her.  He had to have more. This was much like the first time he's tasted Molly, but she tasted better.  Before he could swallow the loud call was heard once more, but this time much closer.

"KIERA! Where are you?"  

Now this time it wasn't Kaa's mind, someone was looking for her.  Well damn, that was too bad; if he was lucky the person who was looking for her could never spot her from up here.  He was going to swallow again when he realized Kiera was shifting her head. That was true; she wasn't completely under his spell.  He hadn't used his hypnosis.  The noise from below was sure to arouse her.  Kaa quickly opened his maw to release her forehead and sat her upright, but part of her head was soaked with his drool.  It was too late to do anything about it now, she was awakening now.  

Her name was called once again and she shook her head out of her reverie and came back to facing Kaa who looked worried.  "Kaa?" She spoke.  "What happened? I feel lousy and you, you look worried." He didn't answer cursing why he couldn't have just hypnotized her.  Oh true, he was only supposed to play with her, not eat her.  "Oh! Oh yeah you were demonstrating the power of your lisp.  I guess it does work on humans, considering it worked on me."

"Yeah and you were moments away from being in my stomach," he grumbled and that annoying yell was heard.  This time the person was in her campsite.  "Ugh! Who is that calling out for you? It'sssss quite botherssssome."

Kiera recognized the voice immediately and looked down at the person below.  "It's my mom," she answered.  "It's okay mommy! I'm here, just in sitting in the tree!" She replied to her loudly.

Kiera's mother heard her voice and came closer to the tree to look up but couldn't quite see her, but she saw movement.  "Well, what are you doing up there?  Come down now, I was worried sick about you!"

"Huh? How come you were worried?  It's not like it's the first time I've—"

"Someone close to your age has gone missing in these woods the other day.  With all these disappearances going around I think you should come back home," her mother answered.

Kiera gasped at this news, she was camping out for the weekend so she couldn't hear the news of the missing people.  What if the kidnapper was in these woods with her the entire time?  "Yeah, I was coming home now anyway.  I'll be down in a moment hang on."  Kaa by the obvious heard the discussion between the two.  He was the reason for all the disappearances, and this town was close to losing another victim.   Kiera faced Kaa with a smile.  "Well Kaa, it was a pleasure meeting and hanging with you, but I gotta go now."
  
Kaa really didn't want to let her go and not just because he had means of eating her, but he truly enjoyed her company, but he had no choice now.  For the first time in ages, his coils began to loosen around his guest.  "Too bad you couldn't sssstay longer."

"Yeah...and I don't know when I'll come back into these woods with a kidnapper on the loose.  You take care of yourself Kaa," she said patting his head.  Her hand then went to scratch her head and that's when he noticed the wetness on her forehead and hair.  "Hey, why am I wet here?" She asked.

"I'm terribly ssssorry about that; I was quite enjoying licking you." He didn't have to worry of what he just said, because it seemed harmless.

And it was Kiera smiled once more at the snake.  "Well isn't that cute." The girl got up and looked around for her shoes.  "Hey, Kaa, have you seen my shoes?"

"Oh yessss!" He answered remembering he placed it on another branch on the other side.  His tail wrapped around them and he placed them in her hands.  

"Thanks." She slipped on the boots and got ready to descend the tree.  "Well so long Kaa," she waved and began to climb down.  

Kaa sat there and watched his companion leave his presence to meet her parent.  If he came across her again, she may be lucky at all.  He licked his lips remembering the taste she had.   "Jassper High Sssschool huh?  I think my dear Kiera, we'll see each other sooner than we both think," he chuckled watching as her and her mother cleared up the campsite and left.  

End of chapter