Skales x Pythor: My Loyal Number Two

Chapter 11: Secret lair

"I know you didn't mean to stand in my way. But what's done is done. Now I'm giving you the opportunity to correct it."

Skales could feel Pythor tighten his grip around his shoulders.

"I expect you, to accept it," Pythor whispered closely to him, his tone dark as if he was threatening him.

The Hypnobrai gathered the rest of his strength and managed to keep standing. He took Pythor's words to heart and knew what it meant. That Pythor of course hadn't forgotten or forgiven what he did. No matter what his intentions had been at the time. It gave him a sinking feeling, but he managed to see some light in the situation. The fact that Pythor was allowing him to make up for it, meant he was willing to forgive him. And Skales wasn't about to squander it.

"O-of course, my King," Skales replied, his voice shaken but still filled with determination. Which seemed to satisfy the Anacondrai.

"Goodie!" He said light-heartedly, a such rapid shift from his previous demeanor, that it took Skales a moment to register it. Pythor padded Skales on the shoulder before going away.

He then slithered over to the other Generals, who had been watching and wondering what the two had been talking about.

"My Second-in-command will be in charge of this fortress until further notice! Understood?" Pythor proclaimed, loud enough so that the surrounding Serpentine also heard it.

"Yes, Pythor," Acidicus said, speaking for the three of them, before bowing.

Pythor didn't say another word to them and instead continued on his way. But not before turning to Skales one last time.

"I'll let you know once my plan is set into motion. In the meantime, familiarize yourself with this place. There are quite a few traps that the other Generals will be sure to tell you of, and I want them all to be ready for when the time comes." The Anacondrai explained, before making his way up the walkway to the tunnel they had entered from.

Meanwhile, Skales stared disorientated at the snake, until he finally disappeared. He felt lost for a moment until the determination from before came back. Now he knew he had a way to redeem himself in Pythor's eyes. Something he was going to try to do with everything he had. He looked around at the Serpentine and saw that they had stopped their work to listen.

"Alright, you heard our King, I'm in charge! And I want thiss fortresss finished before the end of the week! Get to work!" Skales ordered, earning a few groans from the tired Serpentine workers. Nevertheless, they went on their way and construction continued as before.

Skales made his way over to the other Generals, with some seeming less than thrilled with the change of management.

"Ah, Skales, how nice of you to come! Did Pythor finally tell his favorite snake about his little plans?" Skalidor mockingly asked.

"Keep your insultsss to yourself, Constrictai. We have work to do, and I anticipate you won't be a problem."

"Sure, oh great Skales, the dear right hand of the King."

"Watch your tongue Skalidor,-you can insult Skales all you want but-you should ask yourself if you dare accidentally mock Pythor as well," Fangtom warned him, with the Constrictai turning pale as he considered the consequences.

In the end, he hissed at Skales before slithering away, who smiled at him teasingly. Acidicus looked back at him and then over to Skales, before shaking his head.

"I'm getting too old for this." He lamented before going after Skalidor, not sure whether to console or ridicule him.

Once it was only Fangtom and Skales, they both seemed to relax their posture and breathed easier.

"Don't loathe him too much my friend, he is a-very proud and stubborn snake. Being under Pythor's control still irritates him-to no end." The Fangpyre explained though it invoked little sympathy in Skales.

"Ssso I sssee...can I ssstill expect him to follow my ordersss?"

"If they come from someone-other than you, then probably."

"How reassuring," Skales muttered with a weary voice. Pythor had barely been gone a minute and already the Hypnobrai couldn't help but be worried about his return, and if he would find Skales' work, satisfactory.

"Ssstill, alwaysss good to know I can rely on you." He said, with a more hopeful tone.

"Of course! Now-was there anything you wanted to know?"

"Pythor mentioned sssome trapsss." Skales said as he looked around, wondering just how close he was to one of them.

"Oh yes, he sure does like his traps, doesn't he? They're all around the center and-built into the foundation. There are a few arms that grab-onto you if you get too close, and a few cage-traps. And then my personal favorite, a switch-to open the floor to a pool of acid."

Skales looked over to the pedestal with an amazed look.

"How could all of these even fit?" He asked, astonished.

"They barely-did, but he was rather insistent on it," Fangtom told him, and Skales didn't have a hard time believing him.

Now that he knew all he needed to know, the Hypnobrai prepared himself. He was going to redeem himself in Pythor's eyes, no matter what.

"Well then, letsss get to work!"

Now that the setup for the next chapter has been done, we're getting close to the inevitable release of the Devourer. But first, Skales is going to make one more mistake, and whether Pythor can forgive him for this is harder to guess. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and have a pleasant day!