The Lycan Princess and the Temptation of Sin
12. An Attack

SKYLA.

I don't move, the first rule of survival... stay calm... I keep my breathing steady, my eyes blazingplum purple, the exact colour of whatever or whoever that is... we're pretty far but those eyes lookalmost... reptilian... I'm not completely sure as I'm not close enough... and then again, thereshouldn't be snakes out here... this is England, not Australia.

I briefly wonder if I actually ended up falling asleep and dreamt that I'm in the land down under. Ifinally get why they call it that. That place must be hell with the number of things trying to kill youover there.

Focus Sky.

The smell of the earth and the crisp air are enough to tell me that I'm definitely wide awake.

Neither of us moves for several seconds and I slowly rise to my feet, eyeing the reptilian or whateverit is. Wait, maybe it's a snake shifter! Do they exist? Hell, anything can exist, I mean, I'm a Lycan.Despite how calm I am, that sense of foreboding is only growing, and my gut is telling me that Ishould assess the situation and start by getting inside... but before I can, I hear Malevolent meowfrom behind me.

"Go inside.” I say, terrified for her life as those purple eyes turn towards her.

"Meow?" Malevolent tilts her head, looking at me. She's on edge. I can see the way her fur isstanding on end as she stares into the darkness. I don't think she can see it, but she knowssomething isn't right.

"Go inside. Shoo.” I mutter as I begin edging towards her; wrong move.

I hear a sinister hiss and then that thing is darting straight towards us. It's incredibly fast, so fast forsome reason, I'm unable to see it. There's a darkness surrounding it and at times I swear it feels likeit disappears, but I don't stop to ponder, darting towards Malevolent as I shift into my Lycan form.

I tower nearly 7 feet tall. My pure white fur stands out in the darkness, sadly - unlike Dad, I don'treally blend into the night. I slash out at the thing as I block the doorway to the cottage. No onetouches my kitty!

I growl menacingly, as the darkness surrounding it seems to flicker and then it seems to materialisefully. I see the body of what looks like a huge snake, its thick body covered in shimmery black scalesthat hold a dark plum hue to them. It's gorgeous I give it that... why couldn't my fur be that colour?But I don't have long to ponder over it, as I realise how terrifyingly huge it is. I may be 7 feet tall, butthis thing is way, way, way, bigger.

Fuck!

It spins around, its tail catching my right flank and throwing me to the ground. The impact knocksthe breath from me as pain rushes up my side. I'm glad that it no longer cares about Malevolent. Itsmenacing eyes turn on me as I jump to my feet, launching myself at it. I manage to throw it offbalance for a few seconds, taking the chance to try to rip into it but my claws don't even manage todent it. The scales are damn impenetrable.

What's the point of being a damn Lycan if I can't even damage a pretty-looking death noodle?Focus girl!

It hisses, showing off its fucking huge fangs. Those things can go right through me... but whatmakes my eyes widen is when he opens his mouth and spits. Out of instinct, I roll out of the way, myeyes widening as I see the cobbled stone path darken under what I'm assuming is poison. Jumpingto my feet, I run at it. This time I manage to wrap my arms around it, but no matter how strong I am,it doesn't even budge. I'm not even able to throw it to the ground. It flails around but I hold on,trying to sink my teeth into it.

Don't you belong somewhere where it's normal to have huge-ass snakes?

Grunting, I use all my force, but I realise I'm not going to win this. I hate backing away from a fight,but I'm running out of options. The smartest thing would be to get inside or at least grab a sword orsomething! I need to channel my inner Hercules like how he faced the hydra!

I shake my head, pushing that stupid thought away. I swear if we start getting some creepy spiders,I'm moving to the city or better yet, Antarctica and burning this place down. Yes, I'm living in themiddle of the woods and I can cope with spiders to an extent, but anything oversized like this, justnope! It's pretty much a secret, but the one thing that gets to me is spiders and crying babies. Bothterrify me equally.

Its tail thrashes into me, knocking me away, and I'm thrown against the side of the cottage. I gasp aspain shoots through me, and he darts at me. I catch its mouth, feeling its sheer power as I force itsmouth open, my arms screaming in agony as it tries to bite down on me. Fuck, these fangs are sobig... I push it in the other direction just in case it uses that poison it spat, hissing when its fang digsinto the side of my breast. My eyes flash and I use my legs to kick it off me, just as a little ball of softblack fur launches itself at me, nudging my face as I stumble back.

Malevolent...

I wrap my arms around her as I'm forced to shift back. The smell of blood overpowering everythingelse, I struggle to my feet, clutching Malevolent to my chest when I hear another hiss; I turn to seehis long, forked tongue slipping out, his sharp fangs gleaming sinisterly promising the bite of death,but before I can make a mad dash inside, he’s lunging at me.

I dart around the house, fuck I need to shift! But I'm bleeding far too much. I stagger around theside of the house, hearing it slither behind me. Is it just me or is it getting colder?

No... I'm right... the floor is literally iced up... I didn't even realise the temperature has dropped somuch...

“Malevolent, you need to protect yourself.” I mutter as she nuzzles against me. “I know you want toprotect me... but that's not a spider..." I trail off as she blinks up at me with those piercing greeneyes.

Aww, she is soo cute! And she’s always there for me... she was only trying to help.

My heart's racing as the huge snake is struggling to get through the trees and I take the chance toscan the area. I look at the cottage and slam my elbow into the small bathroom window, shatteringit. I can hear the rustling of the snake-like beast rushing closer.

I quickly place Malevolent inside before I hurriedly pull out the large shards of glass and drag myselfthrough the tiny window. I bite my lip when the glass scrapes my stomach. It's getting closer and Igrab Malevolent, trying to calm my pounding heart, backing away towards the tub in the corner. It'son the same wall as the window and I'm praying it keeps us out of sight.

Time seems to still as I edge towards the tub...