"You will die by the fangs of a serpent."
Those were the words that changed Aiden’s life. His once-normal family became overly obsessed with his safety, and anything that had to do with snakes was forbidden.
It might seem like an exaggeration, but Aiden was not even allowed to know what a snake was until he saw one being shown in class. And when he asked his parents about it, they pulled him out of that school and enrolled him in another, more controlled environment.
But it did not take long for Aiden to become fascinated with snakes.
It was human nature to seek out the things that were forbidden, and Aiden was no different.
So, he easily bypassed the security lock his parents had put on his phone and spent his time researching different kinds of snakes.
As more time passed, so did his obsession with these beautiful creatures, and by the age of sixteen, he finally begged his parents to let him adopt one.
His parents looked horrified before locking Aiden in his room and taking away his phone. They repeatedly emphasized that he needed to stay away from snakes, or he would die.
And Aiden understood their worry, but he did not think he would mind dying at the hands of such a magnificent creature.
But alas, his parents controlled his life, and he had no choice but to follow their rules.
That all changed when he applied for college and was accepted into a dorm-based university on the other side of the country.
His parents continued to worry, but they had no choice except to send him off.
And that was how Aiden found his new home in the dorms. Now, all he needed to do was earn enough money to rent his own place and finally get a snake for himself.
That was also how Aiden found his second obsession—the local snake goddess.
Her sculptures and archaeological findings occupied only a small section of the local museum, and aside from a few statues, almost nothing else was known about her.
Aiden did not even know her name, but he felt compelled to learn more. He became so fascinated that he even took a job at the museum just so he could research the goddess in greater depth.
The job eventually paid enough for him to move into his own apartment. But his obsession with the beautiful goddess only continued to grow, until one day Aiden decided to visit the ancient temple where her murals had been discovered.
The site was a protected archaeological zone, and no one was allowed inside. Aiden was breaking more laws than he cared to count by trespassing onto the property, and he had a feeling he would never see the sun again if he got caught.
But even the threat of what could possibly happen was not enough to make him turn back.
"If this is my only chance to find out more about the goddess, then I am going to take it. I can’t back down after coming this far."
With that resolve, Aiden kept moving forward. He slipped past the police barriers surrounding the temple and quietly avoided the security cameras until he reached the crumbling central chamber.
It was beautiful, even if the ceiling looked ready to collapse on him at any moment. He carefully made his way to the altar before placing a hand on the stone platform.
There were snake carvings all around the altar, making Aiden lower his head to admire them more closely.
"It is so beautiful. I wish I had enough money to restore all of this. But one day, I will earn enough and come back."
His parents would retire soon, and Aiden would inherit both their company and their wealth. Once that happened, they would no longer be able to tell him what he was or was not allowed to do.
For now, he decided to clean the altar and, according to the local customs, leave behind some food as an offering.
He did not believe in gods, but he believed the snake goddess had once been real.
Finally, after spending nearly an hour there, he decided it was time to head home and began packing his things. He turned toward the altar one last time, only to see a small snake drinking water from the cup he had left behind.
The snake was small, barely more than two feet long, but its beautiful multicolored scales immediately captivated Aiden.
"Oh! What a beautiful snake. I should take a photo!"
Most people would have run away in fear after seeing a snake this close, but Aiden only felt excitement as he snapped photo after photo.
The snake also remained still, watching him without showing any signs of aggression. It almost seemed like someone’s pet.
"I don’t think I’ve ever seen a snake like this before. And it doesn’t seem aggressive either. Should I... take it home?"
Aiden knew it was a foolish thought. A snake was not a stray puppy that he could simply bring home and tame, but a dangerous wild animal capable of ending his life with a single bite.
He was even destined to die from a snake bite, which made the situation even worse...
But this was the only opportunity he had to bring a snake home without alerting his parents. How could he pass up a chance like this? Besides, maybe it really was harmless. It hadn’t attacked him...
"Darn it! I don’t think I’m thinking straight. I should leave this beauty alone..."
One minute later, Aiden had smuggled the snake into his backpack and was making his way back to his apartment. He slipped past the cameras and let out a sigh of relief after making it out safely.
"We made it!"
Aiden finally returned to his apartment. The snake was allowed out of his bag and immediately took a deep breath. Aiden gently placed it on the bed before making a quick trip to the nearby pet store to buy it some food.
The snake looked disgusted when Aiden offered it the meal, but it was too hungry to protest. In the end, it opened its large mouth and swallowed everything whole.
Soon it was time to sleep, but there was one problem—Aiden didn’t have an enclosure for the snake. As much as he wanted to let it roam freely, he knew that if it escaped, things would end badly for both of them.
So, he locked every door and decided to stay awake all night to keep an eye on it.
"I am sorry for making you uncomfortable today. But things should get better tomorrow. I’ll buy you a proper enclosure and take good care of you."
Aiden promised as he gently patted the snake before lying down on the bed beside the dangerous creature.
He was so intoxicated by the joy of finally owning a snake that he forgot they were still wild and unpredictable animals.
So, he never saw the bite coming.
"Huh...? Did I get... bitten...?"
Aiden asked as he stared at the snake clamped around his arm. His body was already beginning to go numb from the venom and the shock of being bitten. Anyone else in his position would have started screaming, but Aiden remained still.
"I think... I’m dying..."
He spoke softly as the strength slowly left his body.
Strangely, the experience felt peaceful as his senses gradually dulled. But the unbearable pain he had always imagined death would bring never came.
The only thing gripping his heart was regret as he looked at the snake he had brought into his apartment.
"Oh no... I was... supposed to take care of you..."
With that final thought, Aiden closed his eyes.
The last thing he saw were the snake’s piercing purple eyes staring back at him.
...
Drip.
Something cold landed on Aiden’s face, forcing him awake. He slowly opened his eyes, only to find himself staring into the same piercing purple eyes he had fallen asleep to.
But this time, they were part of a human face.
And that face was attached to a human body...
Which, below the waist, became the body of a serpent.
A half-woman, half-snake sat before him. She slowly straightened her naked upper body and looked down at him with unreadable eyes.
"Did getting bitten by a snake make me lose my mind?"
...
...
I might delete later, based on response. So give me Power stones if you want me to continue. There will be single Female Lead. There might be smut after 60 Chapters. Depends on how much response I get for this.
Gifts=More Chapters.
1,000 coins = 2 Chapters.
5,000 coins = 10 Chapters..
10,000 coins = 15 Chapters.
100 GT=1 Chapter
300 PS = 1 Chapter