Chapter 331 - The Great Horned Serpent (1/2)
The Great Horned Serpent slid away from the bank and rushed into the depths of the marsh. The mists around her cleared as she slid across the waters to finally come to a stop sending a small wave into the marshy tree line. The mist still lingered around her in a circle as she coiled ready to strike.
From the mist emerged a hooded wizard wearing an orange clay mask. In the moonlight, the old Grecian mask glowed most evilly. The mask had a large smiling figure the eyes slit were crescent moons, a large nose, large ears at the side, and an even wider grin. ”Abomination, why have you come to seek me?” The Great Horned Serpent hissed in English.
”I have come for your child, of course,” the wizard coldly replied. Despite his many years of efforts, it was only possible to learn to understand parseltongue, but never to truly speak it. No matter how much he tried only those born with the magic gift could ever properly speak the serpent's language.
”I smashed my own egg rather than allow my own daughter to fall into your corrupted hands!” The Great Horned Serpent roared causing a small wave of water to be thrown about.
”You lie!” The masked wizard bellowed utterly enraged. ”You'd never allow the child with so much effort to be produced be so easily destroyed.”
”My child is gone and out of reach,” the Great Horned Serpent hissed as the truth could be heard ringing in her voice.
”Foolish creature,” the hooded wizard roared. ”Then you are of no further use to me!”
”Abomination, your day will come,” the Great Horned Serpent roared back. ”I was but an egg when I was carried away by ships to this foreign land. And even then, I could sense your foul stench. You will never find that which you seek Abomination. Of that, I can promise!”
”Enough!” The masked wizard thundered in fury.
Taking hold of his wand he began to chant magic of old, which most of the wizarding world had forgotten. The Great Horned Serpent began to hiss as well as the water around her began to move and rise around her. Suddenly a white-hot beam emerges from the wizard's wand as the Great Horned Serpent moves impossible fast to the side to dodge despite her great girth. The surrounding water instantly evaporates and burns where the great beam hit.
The Great Horned Serpent wasn't one to toy with either as the waters around her rise to form pointed daggers and blast towards him. To his utter shock, the water icicles turn into real ice and blast his shield apart. ”And where did you learn to do that?” The masked wizard hissed as he'd just barely managed to avoid the shower of deadly icicles.
”One learns a trick or two in a foreign land,” the Great Horned Serpent hissed as she raised her massive tail and blasted him through the trees. The wizard was nothing but a bloody paste against the trees, but still, she warily watched. A soft musical hum escaped from her mouth as she coiled up again intently sniffing the air.