Queen of the Serpents

Originally posted in r/WritingPrompts, inspired by this prompt: https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/1dfrk85/wp_you_are_being_sacrificed_to_an_elder_god_by_a/

I watched from up a tree as the cultists in black robes gathered around a stone altar in the center of the clearing. I knew they had kidnapped my daughter Abigail on her way home from school a day ago. And with the help of my crow-shaped drone (we called it Crowley), I had finally tracked down where they were taking her. I had to save her, by any means necessary.

Abigail arrived in the custody of two highly-decorated cultists. Purple robes, with gold trimming around the edges. Golden embroidery in the symbol of their so-called god. The higher ups, I assumed. I could see the terror on her face as she struggled against their grip.

A pit in my stomach. They were going to sacrifice her to their god. There was no way I could fight off the cultists. There were far too many of them. But I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. I took a deep breath.

"Stop!" I shouted as loudly as I could as I leapt out of the tree.

"What is the meaning of this?" One of the purple-robed cultists asked, anger evident in his voice.

"Let my daughter go right now!" I pushed past the other cultists to the center of the circle.

"Mommy!" Abigail cried, reaching out for me.

"I thought you said this place was secure!" he said, turning towards the other.

"It was," the other purple-robed cultist replied. He was a bit shorter than the other. "All I saw was a crow."

"You mean this crow?" I pressed a button in my pocket, and Crowley flew down from the tree and onto my shoulder. "It's actually a drone. And it's been recording footage of your activities for the past 24 hours. I have all the evidence I need to call the authorities to your location."

"The Serpent Queen will protect us from harm," the taller one said, seemingly unbothered by my threat. "You have one chance to leave this place."

"I'm not leaving without my daughter," I said, folding my arms. "You will release her back into my care, or you will suffer the consequences."

"You can do nothing to prevent the Serpent Queen's will. She demands a sacrifice."

"Then sacrifice me instead," I said. "Let my daughter go, and I will be your sacrifice. I won't resist. I won't try to run. I won't fight back."

"A willing sacrifice?" the shorter one sounded surprised. "We have never had a willing sacrifice before."

"Let her live, and I will be that willing sacrifice," I said, taking deep breaths to calm myself.

Abigail looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"Fine," the taller one said. "But you must promise to obey every instruction we give you."

"I promise," I said, swallowing.

"So be it," he said as they released hold on my daughter.

I knelt down as she ran into my arms, burying her face in my shirt.

"It's okay now," I said, hugging her tightly. "You're gonna be okay."

"This is all my fault!" Abigail sobbed as she clung to me.

"No it's not," I said, rocking her back and forth. "You had no way of knowing you were walking into a trap."

"I don't want you to die," she said, her tears soaking my shirt.

"Don't worry about me. What's important is that you get home safely."

"I don't know how to get home from here."

"Follow Crowley," I said, placing the remote for my crow drone in her hands. "Just press this button and he'll lead you home."

"Okay," she said, sniffling. "I'll miss you."

"I won't be far," I said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "My spirit will always be near you."

Abigail nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I love you, Abigail," I said, giving her one last squeeze.

"I love you too, Mommy," she replied.

"Now go. Follow Crowley back home. He'll keep you safe."

Abigail nodded again. She pressed the button on the remote and followed Crowley out of sight.

"Put this on," the taller head cultist said as he handed me a tattered gray tunic.

I nodded, holding back tears as I changed into it. It was itchy. But I suspected that would be the least of my discomfort.

"Now lay down face up on the altar."

I wordlessly obeyed, fighting every urge I had to run. I swallowed as he took out a curved dagger, resembling a snake fang.

"You will not move a single muscle," he said as he coated the dagger in some sort of oily substance. "You will not beg for mercy."

I blinked in acknowledgement. I hoped they'd at least make it quick. But I was doubtful. From the diagrams that Crowley had filmed, I suspected it would not be quick.

The cultists began chanting in an unfamiliar language as the head cultist readied his blade. I squeezed my eyes shut.

Just as I did, a vision came to me. Standing before me was a woman in a sleeveless golden dress. Metallic purple scales ran down her shoulders and arms. Her eyes looked serpentine. Her expression was a mixture of compassion and anger.

"It takes a lot of courage to willingly lay down your life for another," she said as she approached. "Especially when you do not know what such a sacrifice would entail."

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am Catharsis," the woman replied. "Queen of the Serpents. The one these cultists claim to worship."

"I thought you were a mere myth."

"I am older than most of the other gods in existence. But my human followers have strayed from my path. They have corrupted my teachings, and therefore have weakened my influence."

"Can you save me from them?"

"Right now, we have two options," She said. "I could take away your pain, but doing so will sap my strength. Or I could continue to gather my strength in the hopes that I may be able to save your life. The choice is yours."

"If you take away my pain, will you have enough time to regain your strength before they sacrifice anyone else?"

"Probably not. And given the pattern they have followed, their next victim will likely be another child."

"Then I will bear it," I said. "If you can't gather your strength fast enough to save me, you might still be able to save their next victim."

"You are braver than you know," She said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I will do everything in my power to save you. But if I cannot, know that I will personally ensure the safety of your daughter. I will grant her my blessing. She will be protected."

"You have my thanks," I said.

The vision faded away, and I was brought back to the present moment. No time had passed.

A bolt of searing pain shot through me as the dagger pierced my lower belly. I gritted my teeth as it slowly slid up my body until it reached my sternum. I cried out in agony as they carved gashes into my arms and legs. Every gash felt like it was on fire.

I focused on my breathing as the seconds crawled by at a snail's pace. Tears and sweat dripped down my face. My voice grew hoarse. I started feeling lightheaded from the loss of blood. My extremities grew cold as my body was making every effort to keep my vitals alive.

A loud hiss pierced through the chanting. Everyone went quiet. The dagger clattered to the ground. I opened my eyes, and there she was. Catharsis, Queen of the Serpents, standing before us in all Her glory. Her expression was that of fury.

"What have you done?" She hissed as the cultists fell to their knees.

"My Queen, we have given you this gift to honor you," the taller head cultist said, bowing low to the ground.

"Honor me?" She spat. "You defile my teachings! You corrupt my path!"

"I don't understand."

"And whose fault is that? You display my words in my temple, but you have never even read them! Did you expect to absorb my teachings through osmosis?"

"Our efforts worked, didn't they, my Queen? You have returned in all your glory."

"I returned in spite of your actions, not because of them. Every innocent child you sacrificed in my name has weakened me. I sacrificed my own strength to take away their pain. I felt their pain instead. It is this woman on this altar who has allowed me to return. She selflessly chose to bear the pain to give me a chance to fully regain my strength, not even knowing if I would be able to save her life. She did not even believe in my existence before I showed myself to her. But she has been a greater follower of my teachings than you ever have."

"Please accept our humblest apologies, my Queen. We had no idea."

"You have only yourselves to blame for your ignorance!" The flames of the torches turned a sickly green as she spoke. "My words have been right there, all this time! And none of you have even thought to open the book and read them!"

"Please have mercy!"

"Mercy?" She scoffed as several venomous serpents began to surround the cultists. "I am not even sure if you know the meaning of the word. Not once have you ever shown mercy when your victims begged for it. Why should I show you any?"

All the cultists were bowed low enough to touch the ground. A chorus of pleadings grew louder and louder.

"Silence!" Her voice boomed like a war drum.

The cultists grew silent, unmoving.

"This woman has suffered terrible pain for my sake, for the sake of her daughter, and for the sake of future victims you would have sacrificed in my name. I will grant her the power to decide your fate. I will adhere to whatever punishment she sees fit to inflict upon you."

The cultists looked up at me, their eyes pleading.

"Give them the mercy of a quick death," I said, my voice barely audible. "I don't care how painful it is. But make it quick."

"As you say," She said. She hissed in a language unfamiliar to me.

All of the snakes started striking the cultists. Screams of pain and terror rattled the air. Within minutes, the cultists fell silent. Dead.

Catharsis knelt down next to me, a serpent with golden scales slithering down Her arm.

"I am sorry I could not prevent this," She said as the serpent slithered onto the altar next to me. "You have suffered so much."

"And I would suffer it a thousand times over if it means protecting my daughter," I said, coughing up blood in between every few words.

"I have no doubt about that," She said. "A mother's love is the most powerful thing in the world."

I smiled weakly, then looked at the golden snake in curiosity. "I've never seen a snake of that color before."

"This particular species tends to stay hidden," Catharsis said. "They would have been hunted to extinction were it not for that."

"I can see why. I would never harm an animal that wasn't actively trying to kill me. But golden scales would probably fetch a hefty price on the black market."

"Precisely. And this species cannot defend themselves from humans. I have created them for an entirely different purpose."

The snake slithered onto my chest. It flicked its tongue curiously.

"This serpent has two sets of fangs," She said. "Its rear fangs inject a mild venom. Enough to subdue its prey, but not enough to cause harm to anything larger than a house cat. Its front fangs, which are retractable, serve a different function. One that no other creature in existence has been able to achieve."

"And what function is that?"

"You will find out soon enough," She said with a gentle smile. "Close your eyes."

I did so.

As I did, I felt two gentle pricks in my neck. My pain started to fade away as I felt my wounds knit themselves back together. And in that moment I knew that everything would be okay.

As soon as I felt the last of my wounds heal, the snake withdrew its fangs and slithered off of me. I opened my eyes and examined my body. Only scars were left behind. I looked up at Her in amazement. She smiled warmly at me as she extended her hand, allowing the snake to climb back up to her shoulders.

"Did that snake just...heal me?" I could scarcely believe it.

"Indeed it did," Catharsis said as she helped me to my feet.

"I don't even know what to say," I said. "Thank you."

"I'm not finished yet," She said with a smile. She placed Her hand upon my shoulder. "I now bless you and your lineage with a portion of my power. You will have the power to communicate with the serpents of the earth. You may call upon them in times of need. They will heed your commands as if they were my own."

Understanding came to me. I knew the thoughts and emotions of every snake in the vicinity. I knew their memories almost as if they were my own.

"Now go," Catharsis said, placing a book in my hands. "Be with your daughter. Spread my teachings to any who will listen."

"I will, my Queen," I said. "Thank you."

Catharsis smiled. A cloud of golden smoke enveloped her. When it dissipated, she was gone.