27 Ambush in the Arena (1/2)
The landing led to another passageway.The corridor was wide enough to permit Zelea to slither through while carrying her husband.Moving cautiously, she checked for signs of more animals.Fortunately, the pack of giant rats never bothered to climb the stairs.Furthermore, her movements kicked up dirt in the air; this affirmed Zelea's belief that no one used this secret tunnel in a while.The dust made her nose itch, and she suddenly sneezed!”Ha-choo!”
The sneeze awoke Koji, who stirred in her arms.He stretched like a cat, and his hand inadvertently knocked into Zelea's chin.”Oh, sorry!” Koji quickly apologized.
”Hmph!”
”You can let me down now,” her husband said.
”But you only napped for a few minutes,” she replied.Zelea secretly enjoyed carrying Koji in her arms; she especially appreciated the feeling of his broad, muscular shoulder leaning into her chest.This sensation made the lamia wet in her secret place!Zelea barely held her desire in check, and his squirming in arms did not help in this matter!
”I'm fine now.Really,” Koji insisted and squirmed even more.
”Fine,” she hissed and dropped him unceremoniously.
The Bonder landed on his feet like a cat.Koji pulled out the glowstone from his pocket, squinted his eyes and looked ahead.”Ah, I see a door!” he announced.Koji held his light higher to illuminate more of his immediate surrounding.He advanced along the passage until he reached the exit.
Koji refrained from opening the door right away.Instead, he placed his ear next to the wall to check if anyone was on the other side.After all, this was a secret escape tunnel connecting directly to the royal palace.Hence, Koji preferred to avoid letting commoners learn of this tunnel's existence.He listened for a minute and heard nothing; he slowly and carefully opened the door.
The two quickly exited the tunnel.Koji learned that they were in a storage room which contained several mops, buckets, thick towels, and a facet.The visitor smelled dried blood in the air.He turned around and saw a door attached to the cabinet.He quietly closed the door and sealed the secret tunnel.
Koji opened the second door on the other side of the storage room.He stuck his head out and saw a long corridor running from left to right.At the right end was a staircase.”Which way out?” he asked.
His wife looked in both directions.Zelea thought for a moment and then said, ”We need to take the stairs.”She realized that they were in the basement.To exit the arena, the two needed to head up the stairs.
Koji obeyed and quickly walked up the steps.But he took care to walk with light footsteps to avoid making noise.After all, they were intruders, and Koji didn't want to be discovered by arena workers.Secrecy was paramount to escape from the Snake Charmers remaining in the city.
Zelea took her human form to ascend the staircase because she made too much noise slithering in her lamia form.However, her legs weren't as strong as her snake body, and Zelea took her time climbing the steps.
To Koji's surprise, the stairs took the form of a spiral.But when he thought for a moment, it made sense because a spiral staircase saved a lot of space.Although it was nighttime, Koji was surprised to encounter nobody inside the arena.There must be some servants tidying up the place?
As if Zelea had read her husband's uneasiness, she made a suggestion.”Let's leave the arena.Our friends are probably waiting outside.”She retook the lead and made her way to the front atrium.As she descended the steps and crossed the lobby, Koji felt a killing intent from above!
”Watch out!” he warned and knocked her away.Koji was happy that his wife remained in her human form because her lamia form was too big for him to push aside.The Bonder stood in front of his Bond Keeper and held out his saber.Koji winced upon seeing the attacker--a beautiful woman with jet-black hair, pale white skin, an ample bosom, and the body of a black spider from the waist down!
”It's an arachnid!” Zelea blurted out in surprise!Arachnids ruled the Western Kingdom of Hapta, and they rarely left the underground caverns.They were nocturnal creatures which preferred to live in a dark environment.Lamias enjoyed cordial relations with arachnids.Thus, Zelea was surprised this one tried to ambush her!
Koji looked up with dread; he saw the bodies of centurions dangling from the ceiling!The young man quickly counted six of them!Thankfully, the centaurs were merely tied up; Koji saw movement and squirming within the webs which confirmed the captives were still alive.
The arachnid possessed a smooth, beautiful face which resembled a porcelain doll.Her black eyes danced with merriment as she imitated a curtsy.”Salutations!My name is Visharia Hacia.But you can call me 'Vi.'And you are Princess Zelea Sagoisa and her Bonder, Koji Adalwin Becker,” she said in a friendly tone of voice and a polite curtsy.
”How do you know my husband's name?” Zelea asked with growing concern.While the princess was a famous person, a foreigner should NOT know so much about Koji!Zelea feared that the arachnid was targeting her husband.
Vi laughed at her reaction.”I happened to be in attendance when Koji arrived in the Arena.He is a fine warrior,” she admired him openly and licked her full lips.
Koji couldn't help but stare.He pondered how kissing those lips would feel.
His wife didn't notice.Zelea pointed at the ceiling.”Why did you tie them up?These centurions are guests of his Majesty!Are you seeking to create hostile between Nephosia and Aarri?” Zelea demanded to know and stomped her foot for emphasis.
Vi held up her hand.”The Arena is closed to visitors for the evening.But these gentlemen insisted on breaking in and entering the premises.I thought they were burglars; I caught them and tied them up for the proper authorities,” she explained calmly.
Zelea's brows knitted.She did not like the answer.”Are you telling me that you work here in the Arena?” she winced at the thought.It was preposterous for an arachnid to work here!
Vi grinned at her discomfort.”I work as a seamstress and help repair clothing and leather armor.The gladiators here tend to get stabby and poke holes in the garments,” Vi answered with an exaggerated shrug of her delicate shoulders, causing her ample chest to jiggle.