CHAPTER 1


 

  SILENT GRAY TENTACLES of fog crept stealthily through the darkened forest creating the illusion of shadows moving through the night. One by one, the trees disappeared into the swirling mass, hiding everything from the prying eyes of those who didn’t belong in the small secluded valley.

Sarpe lay loosely coiled, resting amongst a thick carpet of leaves beneath an ancient oak tree. She was enjoying the solitude of her species and the warmth of the sunbaked earth. More importantly, she could dream undisturbed by the chattering of the minor spirits of her realm. Her recent journeys into the mortal world had depleted her spiritual essence, leaving her sluggish. Exhausted, eyes closed, she listened to the subtle sounds of the night.

In the distance, the wolf spirit, Vyushir, and her pack could be heard running amongst the trees, their high-pitched howls penetrating the stillness. The young wolves were enjoying the chase, probably pursuing a deer or some small woodland creature.

Sarpe knew that night was a special time for them. Rarely did their guardian take mortal form to run with her kin. Regina, the pack leader, had aged beyond the point of keeping up with her offspring during night forays. This night, as a reward for her years of wisdom and loyalty, Vyushir had granted her chosen renewed youth so she would once again remind her pack why she was queen.

“Welcome to my world,” a soft bubbly voice whispered to her right, interrupting the serpent spirit’s thoughts.

Half opening one eye, Sarpe stared lazily at the green-and-purple-haired spirit sitting beside her. So much for peace and quiet.

Catching the thought, Arbora laughed and the tree limbs above them swayed gently, sending a flurry of leaves to the ground. Sarpe gave an exasperated sigh as she found herself buried beneath a leafy pile. To most spirits, the golden elliptical eyes appeared cold and lifeless. Sarpe gave the intruder a perturbed look, sending Arbora into a small fit of giggles.

“Thank you,” Sarpe hissed, pretending to be annoyed. The woodland spirit showed her no respect at times. “I sssee you have not lossst your sssense of humor or your penchant for changing hair color.”

“Why, Sarpe, age doesn’t diminish a sense of humor.” Arbora smirked and reached over to stroke the smooth golden forehead of the other spirit. “At least for some of us. I’m surprised you didn’t hear me. You must be growing old.”

“I am old...” Sarpe sighed indignantly. “But I heard you. You may move quietly like a sssummer breeze, but you ssstill disssturb the night. Perhapsss it is you who have grown old,” she countered before changing the subject. “I like it here. It’ss peaceful, at leassst mossst of the time. I come to thisss meadow to enjoy the sssolitude and to feel the warmth of the earth and to replenish my energies.”

“Ah, poor Sarpe, and here I am disturbing you,” Arbora said sympathetically, trying to appear serious. “I’ll leave you alone. Enjoy your peace and quiet, old friend. This is a magical place, one for resting. My forest soothes the soul, as well as the body, even those of our world. Relax and partake of all it has to offer. Me, I’m off to meet Ursa. We promised Maopa and Mari we’d attend the preparations for their union at the Great Falls. You’re more than welcome to join us if you feel up to it. We can always use another hand, figuratively speaking, of course.” Arbora chuckled, her lavender eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Of courssse. Sssomething I would obviously exsssel at.” Sarpe rolled her eyes in disgust and shook her head in exasperation.

Arbora’s laughter echoed through the forest like a gentle wind chime. For the normally stoic spirit to show any emotion was amusing.

“Not thiss night. I wish to ressst, but ssssooon. My bessst to the Earth Mother and Maopa.”

“I’ll be sure to give them your message.”

A faint breeze caressed the exhausted spirit’s body as her friend departed. Arbora was one of the few whose touch was tolerated by the serpent.

Alone once again, Sarpe sighed contentedly and closed her eyes. Her thoughts wandered to others of her world. She was happy Mari and Maopa were joining. The Earth Mother’s renewed interest in the spirit and mortal worlds was welcomed by everyone. Even Intunecat was more approachable.

Ursa and Arbora, they were an odd couple but had been together for several hundred years. Sarpe still didn’t understand the attraction between the huge bear spirit and the dainty forest spirit. Ursa was always grumpy, except in the presence of the easygoing Arbora, who never lost her zest for life. Perhaps that was the secret to their success. Ursa’s somber nature needed Arbora’s exuberance. Sarpe wasn’t sure what Arbora got from the relationship, but apparently both were quite happy.

Sarpe’s musings were interrupted by the faint rustle of leaves as something moved amongst the trees. Raising her head slightly, she stared into the darkness and flicked her tongue, lightly tasting the air. To her left, a shadow moved, unaware of the spirit’s presence. It was a woman.

Knowing humans rarely wandered the forests at night, Sarpe became curious. Uncoiling her long body, she followed the human silently through the undergrowth without disturbing the debris littering the forest floor. When the woman stopped near the edge of the town, Sarpe coiled into her favorite position and watched. Soon, another woman stepped from an alleyway and walked to the figure standing in the shadows.

Jussst a tryssst, Sarpe thought, quickly losing interest until she saw the taller woman wrap her arms around her companion and sway sinuously back and forth. Her movements reminded the spirit of her own kind. Fascinated, she decided to stay a while longer.

The woman pressed her companion close to her own supple body. Their hips moved seductively from side to side in a slight circular motion. She combed her fingers through her partner’s hair and let them travel down the woman’s cheek and along her neck before resting on her left breast. Twisting and turning, the two bodies writhed sensually in a mating dance not unlike that of snakes.

Slow, deliberate, hypnotic body rubbing against body, arms and legs intertwined as the tempo increased. She was a predator who had mastered the art of seduction.

Sarpe could feel the heat from their bodies and smell the scent of their passion. She heard the low humming as the seductress first inflamed then soothed her prey, only to repeat the cycle until her victim no longer had the strength or the will to resist. Hands lightly caressed sensitive areas, leaving the woman weak and vulnerable.

Twirling around, the human faced Sarpe, making unexpected eye contact with her. The spirit jerked back and hissed. Eyes the color of pale blue ice glowed unnaturally bright, red flames flickering mysteriously in their depths. The woman spotted the snake and frowned. Sarpe quickly closed her eyes, startled by the unnatural gaze.

Lowering her head, Sarpe nestled into the leaves and feigned a sleepy indifference. When she finally reopened them, the stranger’s back was turned toward her.

Deciding to leave, Sarpe hesitated when she noticed the woman’s lips curling upward, exposing slightly elongated canine teeth. As swift as a cobra’s strike, she sank them deep into the other woman’s neck. Seconds later, the attacker withdrew her fangs, leaned down, and effortlessly picked up her victim. She carried her to a dimly lit area and gently lowered the unconscious woman to the ground, making sure she rested comfortably against a stone wall.

After adjusting her blouse, she stepped away, walked back into the forest, and stopped. For over an hour, she waited and watched. Only after the body was discovered did she leave. Passing within a few feet of the spirit, the woman hesitated, then moved on.

Troubled by her discovery, Sarpe returned to the Eternal Fire, no longer comfortable in the mortal world. This female was human in appearance but different. As one of the eldest spirits, Sarpe knew most living things. Still, the world was changing. That a species could evolve for so long and constantly go unnoticed was disturbing but not necessarily unusual. One day soon, she would track this one down and learn more.