Chapter 106. Monsters.
In a stark white room stood three huge cages holding the monsters Severus had captured earlier, and not far from them, tied to a pillar like a gift with a bow, was a massive serpent. It could only hiss at the magical creatures, all the while wondering what was happening and where it even was.
The tiger and the others, seeing the enormous creature for the first time, were genuinely taken aback, convinced they were about to be fed to it. But after a closer look, noticing the miserable state it was in, they calmed down a little.
Even though Severus had said he would not harm them, they did not believe a single word. Over their long lives they had felt the cruelty and cunning of humans on their own hides. Even the fact that he had helped them did not change their view of him, except for the tiger, whose cub had been returned. Even so, the tiger remained very wary of the huge serpent. The tiger was not afraid of it, but with the cub close by, the last thing it wanted was for its worst fears to come true.
Of course, they argued among themselves about why Severus needed them, but they could not agree. The Dark Hound assumed they meant to set them on each other again, this time against the serpent. The bear thought they would be fed to the monster, and that they had been healed only so the meal would be more presentable. The tiger leaned toward the first option, but was certain of one thing: they were not going to be killed, because then there would be no point spending money on their treatment.
After Nelly left, they tried to speak with the serpent, but aside from indistinct hissing it made no sounds and barely moved. It only stared menacingly at them, as if trying to frighten them. The three were not ordinary beasts, though. They were the kings of the inner Magical Jungle. No matter how huge the serpent was, it did not scare them.
So they stopped paying attention to it and simply waited for Severus, who had promised to tell them what he planned to do with them.
A few minutes later, Severus finally appeared, with Nagini coiled around his neck and chest, watching them warily. The beasts were startled when they saw his face. By human standards he looked far too young, because last time, with the hood, they had not been able to see him properly, and during treatment he had simply knocked them out.
"Well, good morning, little snake," Severus said with a smirk, looking at the serpent, which stared at him with wide eyes.
"Who... are... you?!" The serpent recognized the strange dark suit and the sword at the belt almost at once, but the fact that the one who had defeated it was so young truly shocked it. It felt unbearable shame, because it had been defeated not by an old, powerful wizard, but by him.
"And I am glad to see you," Severus said, then shifted his gaze to the three kings rising to their feet. "No need to get up. I will not be long."
"Human, why did you heal us and keep us here?" the tiger asked, pulling the cub behind itself. The cub did not understand much yet and looked at the two-legged creature with curiosity.
"You said you would give back my fruit!" the bear roared menacingly.
The Dark Hound remained silent, only watching but ready to fight for her life at any moment should he decide to kill them.
"As for the fruit, I cannot give it to you yet. First I want to study it." The bear's expression darkened, but he ignored that and looked at the tiger. "As I said earlier, I am not going to kill you or cut you up for organs. I need you to guard my house from all manner of pests. I will not restrict you much. I will feed you, and I will help you grow stronger. In return, I expect unconditional obedience."
"You want us to become your slaves?!"
"Roughly speaking, yes." Severus nodded at the grim tiger without changing his expression. Sparks danced around the tiger's body. "Think carefully. I am not forcing you." That reaction did not surprise him. They were beasts, no ordinary creatures, but kings: proud, arrogant, conceited, haughty. In that, they were very much like humans.
"And if we refuse?" a pleasant, curious female voice asked from the cage where the Dark Hound sat.
"Nothing special. I will sell you, and what happens afterwards does not particularly interest me. Perhaps someone will take you apart for components. Perhaps something worse than death. Who knows."
"Human, I will obey if you defeat me," the tiger roared, puffing out its chest. The serpent, finally pulling itself together after the shock, looked at the tiger as if it were an idiot. If the serpent had lost, how could this little thing possibly win?
"That can be arranged, but a little later. I am busy right now. When we return to the outside world, we will talk about it. For now, think it over."
"Your home is beyond this place?"
"Yes."
"Is it as dangerous there as it is here?" the Dark Hound asked with interest in her voice.
"I would not say so. It is much calmer there."
"And food?"
"Three times a day."
"Do they often attack your house?"
"Not once in the last six months."
"I agree!" After that barrage of questions, the Dark Hound sounded almost delighted. "No danger, nothing to do all day, and fed every day: that is my dream! Finally I can sleep properly and not worry that some beast or human will come for me at any second!" Even Severus was slightly thrown, and he glanced sideways at Nagini.
Not your sister, by any chance?
"I will bite you," Nagini snapped, glaring at him.
"Well, glad to hear it. Then..." As soon as Severus snapped his fingers, the cage holding the Dark Hound vanished. "Come here. I will put a seal on you so you will not betray me one day. And no foolishness. I can put you back in a second."
She looked around, stretched, and calmly walked toward him, tail swaying, studying his reaction with curiosity.
"Agness..." the tiger looked at her grimly, as if in warning.
"I am not as foolish as that deer to attack him," Agness snorted contemptuously, stopping a few seconds later right in front of him. He watched her with interest. "We are in an unknown place under his complete control, and only this human knows the exit. Even if I somehow managed to kill him, it would not help us get out, and that is not even mentioning that he is far too strong. Did you see the look Nagini gave you when she heard your words? If I have to choose between life and death, I will choose life," Agness said evenly, never taking her eyes off him, then lowered her head.
"Right choice." Severus cut his finger, placed his palm on Agness's forehead, then removed it a few seconds later. There was almost no effect, except a faint glow from a rounded seal on the same spot, which faded after a moment. "But until we return to the outside world, you will still have to stay here."
"Yes, master!"
"And do not eat my servant."
"...Yes." Agness drew it out, far less cheerfully, and Nelly, hidden nearby under an Invisibility Charm, let out a relieved breath.
"Traitor," the bear muttered at the sight of Agness wagging her tail for food. The tiger, on the other hand, seemed thoughtful.
When he was finished with the three beasts, Severus walked past Agness and stopped a few meters from the serpent tied to the pillar.
"...Do you want me to obey too?"
"I will ask you a few questions. If you answer them, we can discuss the option you suggested. If you stay silent, you will die." Severus raised a hand toward the serpent and flicked it upward.
"Better kill me. I will never obe..." Only on that word did the serpent realize it could speak normally, even though it still could not control its body. "...y."
"A shame to lose such a valuable specimen, but in your case, even in parts will do." A table appeared beside him, crowded with instruments, and a massive cleaver nearly as large as Severus himself. "Resources wasted on you," he muttered with irritation, and with no effort at all he lifted the cleaver and walked up to the serpent.
"Heh heh heh. Do it. I am not afraid of death!"
"Hmm. Well, all right."
What the hell is happening?! the serpent fumed, staring straight into Nagini's eyes. Nagini did not react to the mental pressure at all. She only tilted her head, puzzled. Why can I not subjugate Nagini?!
"Honestly, I am surprised by your fortitude. Even with death hanging over you, you do not betray your principles. Do not worry, when I kill you, I will take only the brain and heart, and leave the rest untouched." Tightening his grip on the cleaver, Severus nodded at the serpent with a grave expression.
Shove your respect where it belongs!
"Farewell. I will remember you forever," Severus said, and raised the weapon.
The other beasts swallowed hard at the sight. The bear already looked considerably calmer and tried not to draw attention to itself. It might be rude, but it was in no hurry to die.
And when Severus was about to strike, the serpent's scared voice rang out:
"STOP!!!" The cleaver froze a few centimeters from the serpent's scales.
"What is it?" Severus asked grimly.
"And what did you want to know?" the serpent asked, its voice much quieter now, the earlier arrogance replaced by a hint of softness.
Severus and the others remained silent.