Chapter 3

Rishi's heart hammered in his chest like a drum corps on a caffeine binge. Okay, Rishi. Time to speak. Logical, confident, brave... human explanation...

Rishi's panicked brain suddenly hit upon a "brilliant" plan. Okay, okay, think... think like the movie!

In his childhood favorite animated cassette, whenever the female lead got into trouble, she would seduce the Serpent King. Every. Single. Time. And it worked. Brilliant. Genius. Logical. Perfect.

Rishi smirked, imagining himself the clever hero. *If she can do it... I can do it! I'll charm my way out! Smooth, confident, irresistible—he puffed out his chest dramatically in his head—and survive!

He opened his mouth, trying to say something flirty and mysterious, "Oh... mighty... uh... Serpent King... I... uh..."

Then, as he leaned forward, attempting what he thought was a seductive tilt of the head...

WHAM!

Parikshit's cold, strong foot smashed him squarely in the back of the thigh. Rishi let out a high-pitched squeal, flailing forward, face-first into the damp floor. His hands—still tied behind him—flopped uselessly like spaghetti.

Parikshit's cold, unwavering gaze bored into him. Not a twitch. Not a blink. Just pure, ice-cold judgment.

Rishi groaned, curled on the damp floor, cheeks burning—not from embarrassment, not from the fall—but from sheer mortifying humiliation. Parikshit's cold kick had knocked the wind out of him, and now he could barely move without flinching.

Why did I think seduction would work? he internally screamed. Why did I think movies apply in real life? But wait! This IS a world inside movie!

And then... the air shifted.

A deep, commanding voice cut through the chamber:

"Wait, Parikshit."

"You should've let me see what he was about to do," Vasuki said, voice low, smooth, and dripping with danger.

Rishi's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Parikshit straightened but didn't move; he had clearly learned by now that even he could not contradict the Serpent King.

Vasuki's smirk widened, sharp and evil, as he walked closer to Rishi, each step deliberate, echoing in the dark chamber. The gold in his eyes glinted in the dim light, locking onto Rishi like a predator assessing an unusually flailing, terrified prey.

Rishi's internal monologue went haywire:

Oh gods... he's walking toward me... I'm going to die... wait... why does he look so hot... oh gods why am I thinking that... don't look like a total idiot... too late... I am screaming inside... my knees are jelly... my toes are curling... I'm literally melting into the floor... someone save me... someone help... oh gods he's smirking at me... wait why... WHY IS HE SMIRKING AT ME?!

Rishi's flailing arms—tied behind him—twitched uselessly. He couldn't even make a sound. Ahhh! I'm trapped! Trapped and tied! AND HOT!

And so he sat there, tied up, flailing just slightly, heart pounding in both terror and ridiculous infatuation, utterly at the mercy of the most terrifyingly composed—and evil-smirking—Serpent King in history.

Rishi barely had time to register Vasuki's evil smirk before it happened.

In one fluid, terrifyingly graceful motion, Vasuki bent slightly, reached down... and picked Rishi up over his shoulder like a child.

"Wha—WHAT?!" Rishi screamed, flailing his arms like a drowning squirrel. "HEY! PUT ME DOWN! WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME?!"

Vasuki didn't answer. His smirk widened, golden eyes glinting with amusement and... something else Rishi couldn't quite name.

Rishi's legs kicked uncontrollably, hitting nothing but thin air, his bound hands flailing uselessly behind him. "I—I CAN WALK! I'M AN ADULT! I'M TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OLD! THIS IS HUMILIATING!"

Vasuki's smirk deepened, unbothered. Each step he took made Rishi's stomach lurch. "Such spirit... yet so fragile," he murmured, voice low and smooth, teasing. "You are... interesting."

"INTERESTING?! INTERESTING?!" Rishi shouted, trying to squirm, only succeeding in wiggling slightly like a live sack of potatoes. "I'M NOT INTERESTING! I'M PANICKING! AND EMBARRASSED! AND—AND—AND..."

His rant broke off into incoherent squeaks.

Behind them, Parikshit moved silently,like a shadow, still cold and deadly, yet clearly watching with equal parts amusement and duty.

Rishi tried to reason with his captor. "I—I'm really heavy! And tied! And... I... I... can't breathe properly! AND I'M HOT! I mean... I'M COLD! WAIT, NO! I'M PANICKING! OH GODS! THIS IS HUMILIATING!"

Vasuki's smirk never faltered. In fact, he seemed to walk with more grace and deliberate precision, as if each of Rishi's flailing limbs made him more... entertained.

Every step sent Rishi bouncing slightly over Vasuki's shoulder, his face pressed against the Serpent King's broad back. He could feel the warmth of Vasuki's body, the subtle strength of his muscles, the terrifying... perfection.

By the time Vasuki reached the exit of the dark chambers, Rishi had managed a strangled, panicked squeak.

Vasuki's evil, slow smile widened. "Quiet, child," he murmured, and Rishi felt like a live toy being carried to some unknown, terrifying—but undeniably exciting—fate.

Rishi's brain short-circuited entirely. I... am... so... doomed!

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***