Chapter 1: Nowhere To Go
Summary:
A day in the life of Luz takes an unexpected turn.
Chapter Text
How long has it been? Hours? Days? She can't even see the sun if her head was tilted that way, trembling as she shuffles slowly across the street. Her belly grumbles as she searches for anyone who can offer support, desperate for even a glass of milk; she doesn't care if it's not ideal, anything's better than starving to death. She isn't even sure if the next building will be a barbershop, police station, or even a school, but she's learned to never be picky. She knows she should be grateful to be alive, that what happened wasn't her fault, but all the same, she doesn't feel lucky in the slightest.
Murmurs from all around her only make tracking her next meal harder, the words more harming than a knife to the chest.
"Filthy freak," one man balks, his footsteps audible as he backs away. "Stay away from me!"
"Don't stare at her, just walk away," a mother warns at least one child, trying to protect them. "We don't help her. Never her."
"What did she do?" the child asks innocently, not understanding. "She looks normal."
"She knows what she did," the mother states firmly, refusing to elaborate. "And never associate her with normal, look at her eyes!"
It's the one thing she doesn't understand. What did she do? If it really was bad, hasn't she suffered enough? How much more must she pay until her supposed debt can be paid off? Is it even possible to earn approval? What could be so horrible even the shelters turn her away without a hint of hesitation? Even as tears stream down her cheeks, unable to tell when or where she's going, she can't stop trying to smell and feel her way, her cane the only thing she can say is truly hers. She knows she hasn't made much money, but she'll pay for whatever's available; even working labor, in spite of her issue, will prove she's not worthless.
Only then does she smell it. Meat, fresh meat. Not spoiled, not dirty, fresh. Someone's making something delicious, possibly a steak, maybe a burger, perhaps ribs. Whatever it is, the scent lures Luz toward the source, her slow steps speeding up, her cane quickly coming across a door. She pushes with all her might, desperate for even bitter coffee, anything to fill her stomach. She's sure days have passed since she's eaten last, stumbling inside as her basket rustles, the smells finer than she could possibly imagine.
She never thought her sense of smell would be so important, and now she's able to appreciate it more by the day. Salty potatoes, probably fries. Sweet, fizzy drinks, most likely soda. The meat smell's mixed with a pickle scent and cheese, confirming the meat to be for a burger. A small speck of drool escapes her lips, carefully stepping to the bar, or at least what she thinks is the bar, so hungry. She reaches into her pockets and pulls out what little cash she's gathered; she knows it's not a lot, but anything will do, anything to prove she's not a waste of resources. The steps of an employee, possibly the chef, catches her ears, and it's then she hears a tsking sound.
"Oh yeah, no this isn't gonna work," he groans, disgusted with what he sees. "Out! Now!"
"B-But I have money! How much is it?" she pleads, genuinely unsure how much cash she's managed to gain. "I promise, I-I'll pay however it takes. I just don't want to starve anymore."
"Should've thought about that before that!" the man barks, refusing to offer lenience as he takes her cash away. "Probably stole all this anyway. Now get out before I call the cops!"
Luz so desperately wants to be arrested. At least prisoners are fed no matter the crime, but last time she tried that, she was just fined, had what little cash she had taken away, and put back on the streets. What reason is there for all of this? Why would the employee not want money in exchange for food?
What she can't notice is how he looks at her basket, filled with flowers and weeds from crumbling to freshly picked. A sloppy, makeshift sign of "1 DOLLAR = 1 FLOWER" on the front makes it clear how she's been "scamming" for cash, the total she's collected being more than 20 bucks, a deluxe meal. Someone's been willingly giving the freak money, something that must be rectified sooner, not later. For now, he must ensure his establishment is secured, and that means making sure freaks are barred from the premises.
"Are you deaf too?! I said leave, and don't come back!" he yells with rage, the patrons shouting for Luz to get out. "I'm not warning you again!"
Everyone sees the tears stream down her cheeks and she knows it. She tries in vain to wipe them away before feeling for her cash, only to realize it was taken, again. Once again she's been robbed all because she wanted to do things the right way, trying her best not to cry as she backs away, desperate to walk out.
"What did I do?!" she pleads, her voice filled with confusion. "What did I do to deserve this?! I-I just want food, please! I-I'll do anything, honest!"
A glint in some of the more sadistic patrons disgusts the chef, immediately rejecting the offer in disgust, spitting, "I SAID GET OUT!!!"
The shouts disorient the young woman, the stomps of a quickly-approaching man giving her no time to head for the door even as she raises her hands in self-defense. She pleads that she'll leave and yet her desperation goes unheeded, chucked out with nothing to sate her hunger, no cash, and her product all over the ground. Only her cane and basket are all she knows she collected, everything in her basket either withered flowers or grime and pebbles. She ignores yet another collection of bruises as she struggles to stand, the rock in her pocket having grown all the more tempting. She needs it; she needs some sort of control. She doesn't understand why everything's gone as it has, but at least with the rock, she knows she can establish something.
More jeers, more revulsion, more refusal to purchase anything. What few flowers she has, she isn't even sure. Every now and then someone takes pity on her, purchasing a few, but there's always someone nearby who wants to see her fall. She isn't sure how much lower she can go, her cane being her only form of support. What more can the world take from her? She wants to pay back however she can, but how can she when she hasn't been told what she's done? How can she atone for something when she isn't certain what she can atone for? Only the desire for answers keeps her going, whimpering from her aching stomach, so desperate for food, for control, that she reaches into her pocket.
"Great, you again."
She freezes at the sound of a certain familiar voice, Clara. She remembers her appearance; blonde, blue eyes, pink streak through hair, cheerleader. Now she's noticed her again, and there's no doubt she wants to make her more miserable. Maybe in another time they could bond and even be the best of friends, but she's considered such a dream dead years ago.
"Hello Clara," she murmurs softly in spite of the tears, bowing her head, knowing the price for even implicit disrespect.
"Heard you got kicked out of Jacob's this time. Such a shame you just had to do that," the blonde girl sneers, crossing her arms as she watches her "friend" squirm. "It's also a shame that you got kicked out of the best burger joint in the state. Gravesfield's got that going for it, and you almost ruined it for everyone by barging in!"
"I... I'm sorry, but I was hungry. It's been days," Luz whimpers, trembling as her stomach growls once more, alerting even Clara. "I-I had money, you know I'd offer services. M-Maybe washing dishes, cleaning the floors and tables, a-anything to-"
"Even propositioning your body? Come on, even you know that's too far," the cheerleader balks with disgust, having heard what the patrons were saying. "And to think I was gonna offer that sandwich I was gonna have for lunch."
Luz doesn't know if she's lying about even having food. She smells nothing but her "friend's" perfume, the rummaging from a pocket doing nothing to indicate what she may have. What Clara notices, however, is a hand in her pocket. First she lends her victim a basket to carry her weeds, and now she's found something that could help her, without aid? What could be so special that she tries holding onto it?
"...You found something, didn't you?" she growls in curiosity. "What is it?"
"...A rock, that's all," Luz promises, unable to lie even if she wished to. "It just feels right to... you know, own something."
The cheer captain doesn't bother investigating, suspecting Luz really did find just a rock. What she does, however, is notice the dirt and weeds in her basket. She was meant to gather money; a 50/50 split. She knows Jacob took the money, she was given a portion, and yet it doesn't change the fact Luz didn't hand it over.
"Anyway, where's my cut?" she questions, tapping her foot. "You know the deal."
Her cohort's trembling hands reach into her other pocket, pulling out nothing more than four dollars. She's too scared to disobey, all the more reason to believe it's all she's been able to collect. She happily takes the two and dusts the smaller woman's clothes off, glad to have someone to keep control over.
"Alright, now we're getting somewhere," Pink Streak gloats, crossing her arms. "Keep this up and you might reach 10% of your debt!"
"But... what's the debt? What did I do?" Luz pleads in a broken voice, unable to hold her tongue. "I-I actually don't remember! You know I'll pay it back however I can, b-but I want to feel guilt for something I actually did! N-Nobody will tell me!"
"Oh, poor Luz~" her "friend" coos, pinching her cheek with her nails, loving how she winces. "If you didn't figure it out now, you'll never know~"
The tan woman can only whimper, shivering as she squeaks, "B-But I don't have any hints! Kids don't know either! That means i-it happened a while ago. I-I'm begging you! Anything, I just want to know what I did... What did I do to deserve this?"
Her hope for an answer warms Clara's heart, and she decides to keep stringing her along. The second she gives up, she's of no use anymore.
"Pay off your debt and I'll tell you everything," she lies, knowing her pawn will cling to anything that sounds promising. "Does that sound fair?"
A quick nod from Luz follows, and only then does the cheerleader leave her to her own devices. With Luz knowing better than to barge into her big brother's burger joint and continuing to try collecting cash, she now has a way to ensure she doesn't try anything stupid.
All Luz hears is Clara walking away as she wipes away her tears, her hand tight around the rock. She doesn't know how she'll get enough cash, but if Clara's telling the truth, there's at least a chance she can earn her keep. Even if it takes ten years, she'll survive long enough to be sure.
The sounds of Gravesfield die down, and beneath her Luz can tell she's now walking on a dirt road. To others it would mean she wandered out of town, but to her she can drop her guard and pick whatever flowers she comes across. She knows too few people wander here to want to stay for long, but not once does she know why. Occasionally she'll come across a statue or two, but aside from that, it's a pleasant contrast to the shoves, hits, and jeers for her to disappear. It's not loud, it's not dangerous, and sometimes she finds an apple or two on the ground to keep her going. She still isn't sure why so many stone effigies have appeared, men and women alike, but she doesn't mind; it's proof she's somewhere that won't hurt her, not without cause.
Birds singing, the scent of blooming flowers, even a rock warmed by the sun. It's not ideal, but never before did she think she would miss such simple pleasures. At least here she knows she's not a burden, that the creatures around her won't try to harm her. She's safe, each pluck at a flower confirming she's doing something right, that she's able to find someone wanting flowers. The young Noceda knows she can't keep going forever, but she knows she has to try. The truth exists, and only once the debt is paid will she have even an opportunity to prove her worth. Until then, the dirt road leads her around, but only when reaching for her rock does she come across an unfamiliar path.
'I don't remember a path this narrow, or bumpy,' she recalls, shivering as she follows it, her cane helping her "see". 'Did someone come through here recently?'
Such an idea makes no sense, not to her. She's been down this path a thousand times, possibly more, but not once has she come across such a new trail. The statues are more plentiful, her cane clicking at their bases, trembling as she notices the dirt is looser beneath her shoes. Someone recently created this path, and they have no intention of smoothing it out. She feels no grass, suggesting the area's not had any rain or fresh plantlife in a while. She no longer hears leaves rustling in the wind, the bushes nonexistent as she approaches the end of this new trail. The birds' chirping disappear as well, and yet she still feels the heat of the sun on her skin. A small voice in the back of her head begs to return from whence she came, to avoid the source.
However, the potential for new things catches her interest. She might actually find something that's hers, something that won't be taken away. Maybe the new path will mean she can keep her few meager belongings down this route, and yet she knows such an idea might be a dream within a dream, but it matters little; she won't know for sure unless she checks.
She finds precious apple, a little older than others she's had, but still fresh. It's not nearly enough to sate her appetite, but she knows she can't be picky. Luz shambles further, trembling as she follows the new route slowly yet steadily, trying to find out what's toward the end. The crunching of leaves, likely blown over from the wind, catches her attention, hearing a quick breathing and another growling stomach. Prior encounters suggest it to be a fox, possibly a desperate otter, and if it's hungry, she finds it only fair to provide it the rest of her apple. She knows it's stupid, she knows she needs every calorie she can get, but at the same time she can't force herself to let it starve.
"...Here," she whispers, setting the last of her meal on the ground, turning her head side to side, trying to find out where the creature may be. "T-Take it, little guy."
She doesn't want to disturb it, needing to continue following the path, her own belly nearly empty, the three bites of apples not nearly enough to keep her going for long. The remaining animals depart entirely, leaving her in an empty area far beyond where she's used to Gravesfield. The ground beneath her feels looser, more so than the dirt, most likely sand, and the splashing of waves is when she realizes where she is, a beach. A salt scent in particular catches her nose, further confirming it, and it's then she realizes just how far she's wandered this time.
'...I walked longer than I thought,' she thinks to herself, shivering from the unknown. 'I need to-'
chchchchchchchchch
The young woman freezes upon hearing the sound, recognizing its source right away.
'Rattlesnake! ...Most likely a Timber Rattlesnake,' she rationalizes, trying to find its source, only to find it closer toward the water, going by the crashing of the waves. 'Stay calm, don't make yourself look like a threat. Just... Hold on, they prefer the forest!'
What's a rattlesnake doing by the beach, especially ones that like forests? The more she thinks about it, the less sense it makes; they want steep ledges and access to freshwater, not saltwater beaches. She slowly backs away, and yet no matter how quietly she does so, one detail keeps her on edge.
CHCHCHCHCHCHCHCHCH
It's louder. The source only grows closer, the shuffling of sand beneath a serpentine body catching her ears, leading her to presume it's after her. They're usually ones to avoid confrontation, not actively seeking her out, and it's then she suspects an invasive species. Why else would a "Timber Rattlesnake" go after a human who's trying to leave it alone?
"I-It's okay," she whispers, tilting her head down toward the being. "I don't want to hurt you. Just... please don't come any closer, I'll leave you alone.
"You think I'm threatened by you?"
The voice came from above. She's heard no planes or helicopter, and yet its source is distinctly older, confident, even aggressive. It sounds like a woman, the tone alone sending shivers down her spine, the rattling blocking out the splashing of the water's waves. Every element alone would leave her cautious and yet when combined she grows terrified; something isn't adding up.
"What? No! Nonono, I-I was talking to this rattlesnake," she replies with a mixture of terror and confusion, trying to appease the voice's source. "I'll l-leave you alone, ma'am. We can f-forget this ever-"
"Look me in the eyes when I'm speaking to you."
"I-I can't..."
"Why not, human?"
'Human?'
She chooses not to question the word choice, tilting her head upward to reveal why. All she knows is that it's a mark of shame, proof that whatever she did truly happened. For once, somebody isn't aware of the truth, and yet now she must reveal it. She waits for the insults, the rage, the disgust, used to it all the same, the rattles dying down in an instant.
"...What happened?"
The rage disappears, replaced by a mixture of confusion and what almost sounds like horror.
"I... I don't know. I just woke up like this o-one day and then... then I heard Mami died," she whimpers, trying to hold back her cries, wiping her tears. "I don't know why, j-just that whatever happened, i-it was my fault. Nobody told me w-why. I just... know I deserve being an outcast."
No words and yet Luz knows she's being shared at, most likely judged. A hand, far larger than any man or woman's she's come across, carefully holds her chin and tilts her head far higher. How tall is this person? What's going on?
"You're blind. That's why you're not petrified."
She almost sounds heartbroken, mixed with surprised and almost excited.
"P-Petrified?" the smaller woman whimpers, more questions threatening to spill out. "What do you-?"
Before she can properly react, she feels something coil around her legs, yanking her upwards in an instant. She screams in terror, unsure what to do, her cane dropping to the ground and leaving her vulnerable. The loss of her basket only amplifies her terror, the only key to her debt being paid lost as she tries and fails to find it. Something pulled her up, and whatever it is, something tells Luz the serpent and the woman are connected. She struggles to get away, shouting so someone can find her, certain it's futile and yet desperation blinds her. She doesn't want to die even now.
"STOP!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!?" she screams, struggling to escape, her weak, starved body leaving her defenseless.
She gets no response, only that she's carried somewhere away from the forest and somewhere on the beach.
A cave undiscovered by anyone, surrounded by statues, welcomes its owner and her guest, the latter unaware her life has taken a drastic turn.
Notes:
https://biologyinsights.com/are-there-rattlesnakes-in-connecticut/
Chapter 2: Nothing to Fear
Summary:
Luz learns about her captor. They bond, and she's given love in return.
Notes:
If there's any errors, please let me know.
Chapter Text
Luz is given no chance to react whatsoever. One second she's trying to find out where a trail leads, the next she finds herself in what sounds like a cave. Her screams have ceased and she tries and fails to reach for her cane, the familiar tap against a nearby rock signaling the woman brought it with her. She can't tell what's happening fully, but now that she's lost, all she can do is try to get out.
"Be still, little one. I want your story," the being asks softly, much more so than before. "Please. I cannot help you fully, not without the full picture."
She's making less sense than before. One moment she has her snake hurt her, the next she wants to know her life story? What purpose is there in all of her contradictory actions? What does she want? What does she have to gain dragging her somewhere she's unfamiliar with? All she can do is try to ignore the echoes, to focus on her cane, but all the same something keeps her still. The familiar sensation of scales comes, trailing up her shirt and across her back, and it's then the human realizes her snake is larger than a Timber Rattlesnake. Those things should only be about three or five feet long, but this thing's thickness is far greater, almost double in size, the rattler above not shaking but not letting her leave. This thing, whatever it is, is trained to hold prisoners and just might be the largest snake she's ever heard of.
In the end, all Luz can do is remain still and explain the key details, her name first and foremost. An accident a while back has blinded her, most likely permanently, and it claimed her mother in the process. Whatever said accident was, one she has no context or memory of, the entirety of Gravesfield, her "home", blames her, and now she's homeless, selling flowers and weeds for even a hope at paying off her debt. What she fails to comprehend just what happened, always told "You know what you did," or "If you don't know now, you'll never understand." How can she truly feel guilt for something she has no context on? What did she do? She wants to atone, but she has no clue where to begin, and she's not even a tenth of the way done after at least 3 years. Then today she wandered from her usual route, having lost what little money she's gathered, and now she's trapped with her and her gigantic snake.
The prisoner awaits some sort of retribution, that she should be grateful to be given the chance to atone, but no such reaction comes. Instead, a hand reaches down to pet her, and yet experience and a fear of agony makes her flinch, terrified of what may come. Such a reaction serves to break the woman's heart, realizing that her experience has traumatized her so deeply that even tender affection comes off as a threat. What kind of monster hurts such an innocent, vulnerable girl like Luz? Why would someone think any of her suffering was justified without even telling her what she did wrong?
"This might sound strange, but something tells me you've been deceived for years," the woman sighs, failing to comprehend her new friend's world view. "I've petrified many an attacker, but I always knew they came to harm me first. Humans tore you to pieces for... no clear reason. I don't see the logic; even your prisons make it clear to their inmates why they're locked away. Such hypocritical beasts..."
Luz rejects such an idea without hesitation, arguing, "B-But Mami died! I caused w-what killed her!"
"Do you?" the woman insists more firmly, keeping a hand in front of Luz and another over her head. "You said it yourself, you don't know what happened and nobody's willing to provide answers. Even my brethren have been hunted to near-extinction because we're dangerous, and yet you, someone frail and cursed to live without sight for the rest of your life, are treated like scum. Your town was home to many a monster slayer, and yet they believe their own don't even deserve knowledge on why the pariah is abused?"
"I-It's not!"
"...May I cup your face?" the being asks softly, having seen her flinch. "I won't hurt you, I promise."
Luz feels she has no choice, nodding and immediately shivering in the hands of the woman. Her hands are huge, at least double her own, and yet they feel so gentle against her skin. They could easily crush her skull and there'd be nothing to stop it, and yet she refuses to squeeze. A tender thumb traces across each cheek, wiping away her tears as she sniffles, her emotional walls crumbling.
"I cannot emphasize this enough: yes, your town abused you, thoroughly. Your arms, your body, your mind, they were all ravaged because they wanted someone to hurt. Gravesfield wounded you because they saw it fit to hurt you, all without offering you a reason why," the towering figure explains in a firm tone, never berating the smaller girl, her voice breaking. "My baby girl... You were offered no mercy, and you weren't even blessed with a reason. Cursed to survive off scraps and your own will..."
It's the first time Luz has heard her town was wrong. No lenience, no alternate interpretation, just blunt berating to the ones who hurt her. Luz's tormentors had many a method to even offer an explanation, many chances to do so, and to the end they refused to even offer a hint. Such words alone don't convince her; it's the taller woman's touch. She's gentle, a sensation she's never felt in years. Her body yearns for more, a blush creeping across her cheeks, wishing she could see who or what could be so kind as to offer her even a scrap of such compassion, her sniffles and whimpers echoing off the walls of the cave. Why is this figure making more sense in a few sentences than all she's heard in a few days?
"Luz, it's okay to feel confused. Mommy will never hurt you,” the woman promises, tapping the tip of a certain tool on a nearby rock. “In case you don’t believe me…”
Luz feels her cane be placed back into her lap, proof that the woman, whoever she is, is actively trying to provide comfort. She could’ve done nothing and yet she provided more unambiguous help in a single act than all of Gravesfield in three years. She can’t stop herself from crying, shuddering from shame and terror as she’s pulled in a tender embrace. The more comfort she is provided, the more she shatters, “Mommy’s” soft, warm chest as the most comfortable place she’s ever rested her head. Why is she doing this? Why is this odd woman so willing to be kind to her? What’s her motive? What is there to gain helping someone who can’t even see?
”Shhh… It’s okay, baby girl. Mommy’s here~” the woman coos softly, her sharp nails otherwise extra tender as they scritch her good girl’s unwashed hair. “You must’ve been so scared… It’s okay, you’ll be safe on this beach with me, forever. No more hate, no more fear, no more pain. Doesn’t that sound nice, sweetie?”
“But… H-How do I repay you?” Luz whimpers, shivering as she feels the snake’s tail release her, the rattle slumping to the ground as a result.
“If I wanted you to repay me, I would’ve demanded something upfront. You, on the other hand, get to stay safe with me, free of charge~” “Mommy” purrs, never letting go, never wanting her now-favorite human to feel cold again. "Now, I think it's time we get to know one another a bit more, don't you think?"
If they're going to live together, the woman wants to know more than just "Luz is blind and need protection". She wants to know the girl, both before and after she was forced into her predicament, perhaps understand how she can help her good girl live more comfortably in her cave. She doesn't dare force the idea, she even understands if her good girl is unwilling to state everything right away; not even an hour has passed since they ran into each other at the beach. Even so, the idea of choice, something Luz has once considered a luxury, makes her melt. She wants to hear more of the woman's voice, listening intently to who she is, nodding to show she's ready to talk.
"This is going to sound strange, but I'll keep things simple. I'm Amity of the Blight Clan and I'm a Lamia, one of the few members of my kind, at least that I'm aware of. Your kind would likely associate my Stone Sight with that of Medusa the Gorgon," Amity explains carefully, ready for the fear to come should her beloved feel it necessary. "You're the first human I've come across who, even after startling you, refused to run even when dragged into my cave. It's... touching, admittedly. I've grown so lonely, having ever met one other being I can say I trust. Your arrival, however, reminds me your kind, the ones who hunted both my species and clan to near-extinction, aren't all wicked beasts. You especially... Oh Luz, you beautiful little thing~"
It's then Luz understands why the snake has been acting strange; Amity and the snake are the same being. The sudden silence of the rattling, the change in behavior upon trying to make her comfortable, the soft scales across her bottom. Alone they would seem strange, but combined they mesh into a single entity, one she can't help but admire. So powerful and yet so tender with someone like her, the young Noceda can't help but melt in her arms, shivering as she succumbs to her every word. The mention of being hunted to near-extinction, however, only makes wanting to provide company grow; she really does want to treat her kindly, she just need to be sure she isn't causing harm, even by accident.
"I... I liked Good Witch Azura books, fantasy where even when the bad guys were strong, heroes always w-won," she admits, a shiver sent down her spine as delicate fingers trace along her sensitive back. "M-Maybe it was stupid thinking I could like such things, especially like... this."
"Nonsense. The world needs a little compassion, a little hope as well," the Lamia dismisses, tapping her fingers across the surface of a certain book. "Perhaps it's indeed a bit childish, but if we all gave into our urges, we'd never cooperate. No houses, no roads, no gardens, and especially no empathy. If I were to ignore such things, I would've... well, our meeting would've been a bit different. Hecate was right to throw away the notion of despair being the only logical route of action, and now it's time you finally experience the compassion you were denied for so long."
"H-How did you know about-? ...Wait, a-are you an Azura fan?" Luz gasps, a twinge of excitement once long dead springing back to life.
"A friend of mine didn't want me rotting away in this cave. Azura books are that entertainment yes," the motherly woman confirms, smiling as she carefully holds a book to her beloved's chest. "This is proof that I'm not lying. Until I'm able to teach you braille, how about I read to you as you drink?"
It's been a long time since anyone's even mentioned the books, Luz's excitement growing by the second as she nods. She finally met someone who wants to be with her, not for being a human, but for wanting to be with her in spite of her species. The smaller woman is lifted into the Lamia's lap as one hand cusps the back of her head, the other securely by her thighs. Luz can't stop herself from blushing, trying to figure out why she's doing what she's doing.
"What few mortal beings know is that Lamia Magic allows us to produce warm, rich milk whenever we deem it necessary. It helps my kind feed our young even when most food sources are scarce. You, sweetie, have been starving for years, and I wish to ensure you don't tax your stomach needlessly," Amity coos softly, her nipple just millimeters away from her good girl's lips. "Go on, suckle for Mommy. Rest assured, under my watch, you'll never go hungry again~"
Luz has never heard of breastfeeding an adult, her protests dying as a single drop of milk drips onto her tongue. The flavor is indescribable, the texture creamy and the flavor a mixture of sweet and savory. She yearns for more, so scared of being hungry, so desperate to reclaim what little control she may have, that she gives in, pressing her lips into Amity's nipple. Tears well up as she accepts the milk, shuddering as her friend's tail holds the book up, just waiting to read.
"Mmm~ Good girl~ That's it, just drink for Mommy~" she praises, softly petting her, cradling her as if she were a snakelet. "Just let me know once you're full, I don't want to overtax you~ Now then, as for the story I promised..."
Her words are soft, measured, never more than a whisper to avoid echoing off the walls of her homes. Amity's every syllable is akin to its own lullaby to Luz, never able to stop listening even as she suckles and gulps at her breasts. She yearns for her every touch, her every word, her every tender word. She could do so many things to her, and yet she chooses to be kind because she thought it was the right thing to do. How can she argue with such a thing? Why would she deny the truth in front of her? She knows Gravesfield would see them as freaks, and the more she thinks about it, the more it seems appropriate to stay. She might never be able to live a conventionally-normal life, but with Amity, the first person to see her as more than damaged goods, perhaps she doesn't have to be alone anymore.
The more she thinks about it, the more she listens to the tales of Azura and Hecate, the more she understands this is her life now. Not forced to scavenge for scraps for even a chance at survival. Not forced to obey cruel people for the hopes of a truth she might never hear. Maybe one day she'll know the truth, but until then, at least she won't suffer until the right time. She can, for once, let her body rest. Her stomach feels more full after a few mouthfuls than she ever did in the past three years, shivering as Amity's nails trail across her scalp. Nothing but pleasure comes, tears streaming down her cheeks, having missed the sensation of just being loved.
'...No, it's... It's too early,' she tries to remind herself, shivering as every word and touch sends jolts of pleasure through her. 'It's not love, it's... something else. She just likes having you as company, and she just... happens to like reading to you. And breastfeeding you... and... wanting to make sure you're safe.'
Maybe "Mommy" does love her in some unconventional manner. She saved her from the world outside, and now she can simply listen and read. She'll even know how to read by herself if she's a good girl, the idea of being hers growing more appealing by the second. She wants to be Amity's; at least with her, she knows she belongs. At least with Amity, she won't treat her like garbage and will ensure she's safe. At least with Amity, she'll have someone to love who loves her back, something she thought she would never experience, at least not in life. The more she thinks about it, the more simply giving in and being hers is the right choice, her suckles slowing down as her belly finally feels full. The tan woman unlatches from the Lamia's nipple, shivering as she softly gasps for air, accepting she's her partner, whatever that may entail.
"Nau~ Good girl~ You drank so much of Mommy's milk~" the dominant figure purrs, softly cupping her cheek, her heart fluttering watching Luz nuzzle into her hold. "Just snuggle into my breasts. My heartbeat will guide you into a slumber if necessary; you look completely exhausted~"
"Noooooo~!" Luz whimpers weakly, her inhibitions dying down as she submits to Amity's every word. "Y-You're still reading. I don't wanna be rude."
"And yet you look like you can barely stay awake. It's okay to admit you need rest; it's not a weakness to admit when you need rest," Amity whispers tenderly, not wanting her good girl to make herself suffer for any reason. "Simply nuzzle into my bosom and let yourself submit to sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up, I promise."
Luz so desperately wants to argue otherwise, but she can't. There's just no reason to believe Amity would make her feel small, especially after all of this. Maybe this is just a dream after one too many hunger-filled nights, only this time the dream is pleasant. What if this really is a dream and "sleeping" means waking up? The fear brings her to tears, crying into Amity's chest, unable to shake the feeling that something just isn't right.
"B-But what if I wake up and... and I'm back in Gravesfield?" she asks with nothing less than heart-stopping dread. "I don't wanna lose you, o-or any of this. I don't wanna be away from you..."
"I promise, you're not in a dream. If you don't believe me, just suckle from me and you'll know I'm not lying," "Mommy" promises, knowing her good girl will need breakfast once she wakes up. "You will never be alone again."
She can't let go of the dread, so unaccustomed to comfort or pleasure. Even the lightest tingle is akin to a nearly spine-shuddering orgasm, whimpering as she submits further. She needs to sleep, and if that means risking never seeing Amity again, so be it. Hopefully some element of their talk awakens something in her waking self, something more than just fear or pain.
"Sweet dreams, Luz. I love you~"
Three little words never felt so right, but before they could fully soak in, Luz is forced to fall asleep, just as she was meant to be.
For once, she sleeps without agony, the Lamia keeping her good girl close to her chest, wanting her to know she'll always be safe.
Chapter 3: No Way to Deceive
Summary:
A certain duo has growing suspicions. Another duo cements their love and trust for each other.
Notes:
If there's any errors, please let me know.
Chapter Text
It's been almost a full 12 hours since Luz has vanished without a trace. To any other town, the disappearance of the one person everyone hates would be a cause for celebration or at least a collective sigh of relief. To Gravesfield, it means nothing but trouble everyone hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. Nobody so disappointing disappears without planning something to try and fail to win some sort of standing, especially not someone like Luz. She had so many years to prove she's more than just a mistake wrapped in disappointment, and yet she's failed every single time. Clara hasn't seen any traces of her, not even a shout from a local for her to stay away. She can't help but feel dread grow; the town's secret cannot get out, not after all Luz has gone through.
"This doesn't make any sense! Screw-Luz is meant to be stuck, not... gone!" she rambles, trying and failing to fully calm down. "I mean it would be one thing if she was killed and her body was dumped, that makes sense! But no, nobody's seen her! We're supposed to check in on her every few hours, but somehow she vanishes? How?!"
Jacob can only shake his head as his little sister drinks the shake before her, serving up a fresh burger for a customer. Even among the lessers he's turned away, none have come like Luz. She understood she was nothing compared to them, offering whatever cash she had and even insisting she would do whatever it took to not go hungry. Such ideas bring him to several conclusions, and if the truth is anything similar, then he and his sister are in deeper trouble than he once thought.
"She probably found someone who would feed her," he muses, only for Clara to laugh without a hint of irony.
”Someone? Willingly feeding Luz?” the young woman cackles, unable to hide her amusement. “Thanks, really, I needed that.”
”No, I’m serious. If she found someone who’s willing to feed her, what’s stopping her from talking about… you know, all of this?” he questions, patrons listening in with a mixture of confusion and dread. “It’ll just take one sandwich and the next thing you know, everything we did will be for nothing. You know how someone apparently keeps purchasing flowers out of pity?”
Such an idea is the only thing that makes sense. If someone can purchase a few wilting flowers or old weeds, what’s stopping them from taking Luz in and feeding her directly? There’d be nobody who can stop it, and in exchange the brat could spill all the dirt on Gravesfield as compensation; she believes kindness deserves to be paid off, after all. Even assuming such a thing hasn’t happened yet, how long will it be until everything the town has assured crumbles?
”…You’re right. It’s only a matter of time,” Pink Streak concludes, her gaze hardening as she finishes her dessert before turning to the rest of the diner. “Alright guys, time to talk! Where did you last see Screw-Luz?!”
They need every lead they can get, the patrons in the diner trying to find out what they did last. Mentions of kicking her out of a restaurant are among the easiest to pick, the mentions of food no doubt able to lure her. A few mentioning disorienting her with loud sounds, something to make her more compliant with their demands to take her “product” without paying. A few more recall even fooling her into thinking a book had braille, only to confirm it’s nothing more than a picture book, another way to break down her will.
One patron, however, remains silent, blonde, tapping her boot on the tiled floor as she listens to everyone’s stories. She looks tattered, needs so than Luz, but she refuses to make a comment in favor of her local allies. What point is there when they’ve all made their choice? Clara approaches her with a mixture of annoyance and confusion, desperate for answers.
”So, what’ll it take to fess up?” she questions, slamming her palm on the customer’s table, rattling her breakfast. “Screw-Luz Noceda? Brown hair, dirty cat hoodie-“
”Carries a flower basket?” the patron finishes in a deadpan tone, taking a bite out of her eggs. “Gave her a few bucks for a few flowers. Nobody else was buying, so I thought I could make her day.”
“…Yeah, that’s her. Where did you see her? How much did you offer?” the smaller woman asks with a hint of hope. “She’s been nothing but trouble and we need to keep her in line. Tell me everything you can!”
”Four bucks. I had my own business and I didn’t want to intrude, so I just left her alone after that,” the patron explains further, sighing as she further hates the woman in front of her. “What did she even do to deserve all this backlash?”
Such a question only confirms the blonde patron’s not just a customer, but a passerby who just wanted to be left in peace. Someone derailed the plan, and now that someone wonders what's going on. She's not entitled to an answer, the silence that follows giving Clara's new target all the answers she needs.
"...Nothing? So either she did nothing at all or that if she did something, you're too embarrassed to say it. Either that or she really did something so horrible that you can't even say it out loud," she proposes, trying to see if she's o the mark, watching the cheer captain's behavior. "You don't just target someone without a reason, even a scapegoat has a reason to be picked on. So what happened?"
Nobody dares answer; no patrons, no Clara, even Jacob goes back into the kitchen to grab something. All Clara can think of, however, is that she needs to find Luz; her disappearance is causing more problems than if she were simply miserable. Why couldn't she have vanished when this weird woman wasn't in town? What is she getting in exchange for making the truth become uncomfortable? Even listening children want to know why the sightless girl is needed to be hated without cause, the passerby's words striking something within them, no doubt spreading her influence already.
It's not over, and she and Jacob will ensure the town doesn't suffer for Luz's transgression.
A mixture of exhaustion and comfort finally wake Luz up, for once no longer shivering as the dream, more accurately the lack thereof, finally shakes her awake. For once, she didn't sleep in agony, trembling as she feels around for her cane, ready to get back to work; the flowers won't pick themselves. Only upon feeling something soft and scaly on her bottom does she realize there's more to the situation than she once thought, her mind flashing back to yesterday's talk. She remembers Amity, the Lamia. She remembers being taken. She remembers being fed from the goodness of her heart.
The fact she's not hurting from hunger brings her a once-familiar sensation of regular hunger. She's not starving to near death. Amity's still real; the young Noceda didn't experience a dream. She truly is safe. The simple truth nearly breaks her, sniffling as she nuzzled into Amity’s chest, unable to think of anything but the fact she was right; she wasn’t hallucinating, she really will be alright with the towering woman, even if she can’t see her. She’s good, and that’s all she wanted to know.
Soft shuffling, followed by the clinking of coins, alerts her that her friend is awake, a yawn followed by a tender hand to her head bringing an odd sense of relief. The human nuzzled into her new companion’s hand, able to breathe without the dread of pain.
”Mmm~ Good morning, sweetie,” the Lamia coos, petting her good girl gently yet thoroughly. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah. F-For once, I don’t feel too hungry,” Luz admits softly, shivering as she submits further to her companion’s embrace. “Thanks… Really, I-I don’t know how long I could’ve gone…”
“Then you’ll be happy to hear you’ll be sleeping with me from now on~” the snake woman purrs, her lower body coiled around both her torso and her good girl. “Now, with some rest and a belly that doesn’t hurt, tell me. Did you think about what I told you?”
Indeed she has, even if she doesn’t want to admit it. Luz knows there’s so many things that could’ve been done; even without sight, there was still ways for her to gain the money she needed. Even excluding such a thing, all they had to do was explain what she did and she’ll accept whatever punishment follows. Instead she’s Amity’s snakelet, trembling as she’s guided to her nipple once more, prepared to feed her. Just the knowledge she might not’ve been meant to understand from the start shattered much of her faith in Gravesfield; they’d probably be happy if she disappeared. At least here, she belongs. At least here, she won’t be a burden.
”Will… Will I ever know why?” she whimpers, still not understanding why she was abused from the start.
“Unfortunately that’s something I can’t promise. The only thing you can do to remain safe is to not go back,” Amity sighs, wishing there was a more hopeful answer to give. “Maybe they would give an answer with some ‘persuasion’, but that’s unlikely to help anyone, much less you.”
If there really is no hope, then so be it. Only then does Amity guide her to suckle, her beloved’s lips latching on with a bit more strength than before. Such nutrient-filled essence floods her stomach and brings relief once more, Luz’s arms slack by her sides, her sightless gaze replaced by closed eyelids and relaxing muscles. She feels welcome, she feels gratitude, she has the need to continue drinking until she’s able to fully recover. She’ll probably be small forever given how long she went without proper food, but that’s okay; it’s not too late to start a new life, as odd as said new life may be to most.
As she drinks and coos, she feels a small tension beneath her pants, a blush forming across her cheeks as she realizes her body’s waking up. Health, once given few opportunities, is being returned, and with it her libido’s returning stronger than ever before. She tries to hide it with her hands, to disguise her shame, only for Amity to gently scritch her hair and coo from witnessing the result.
“Oh~ Someone’s excited~” she purrs, feeling herself grow aroused as well, still not used to human affection. “It seems my milk is healing you perfectly, and I can’t say the results are negative~”
“No! I-It’s…!” the smaller woman tries to argue, only for her words to die on her tongue. “I… W-Well…!”
“It’s okay, sweetie. It’s not wrong to be horny for Mommy~” “Mommy” teases, her nails tracing her cheek, sending shivers down Luz’s spine before adding, “You won’t be teased that way, not until you say so. I so desperately wish to consume you, but only if you allow me.”
The idea of having a choice brings Luz further to tears, nuzzling into her dominant friend’s chest, her belly still grumbling for milk. Amity is forcing nothing; she just wants her to feel safe. She doesn't desire money or services or even a plan to hurt anyone. Such truths only make her more aroused, trembling as she gulps down every large dollop of warm, rich nectar. She wants to stay her new friend's companion, intended to remain safe even in a scenario where she'd otherwise need to pay thousands for a minute. She wants her to feel safe, she doesn't want to make her feel like a tool in spite of the difference in power. It all mixes together, and with it more tears stream down her cheeks, a gentle thumb wiping them away all the while.
She doesn't know what to say; gratitude doesn't even begin to describe what she's feeling and yet it's the most accurate thing she can come up with. Amity just had to keep her from bothering her and they would have nothing to worry about. "Mommy" sees the confusion on her partner's face, continuing to cup her cheek, letting her know that in spite of all that's happened in the past 18 hours or so, she's not lesser.
"Shhh... I know it's terrifying, but you're a brave girl. I trust you to make the right call, at least with something like this," Amity assures her human, refusing to push; her blind sub deserves a say in the matter. "You're a good girl, and saying no won't be the wrong answer. If you don't believe me, tell me what you yearn for. Either way, you'll still be loved, and I'd rather wait for a thousand more years than harm you for a single second."
At last, the tan woman pulls from her savior's nipple, panting softly as she nuzzles into her chest. The pleasure, the desire for consent, the tender affection, the kind words, the fact she's growing more aroused just knowing the Lamia is almost motherly toward her. She wants more, but part of her wonders if by asking it would be too much. Even if she were to indulge in sexual vices, would Amity herself want to partake? What would be too much for her? How far is too far? What should be done in case something new feels uncomfortable? Such questions hurt her brain, and yet if she wants to make both her stay and her friend's offer less confusing, something must be asked.
"...What do you like?" she wonders openly, grasping her cane as if it were a lifeline.
The offer makes Amity pause for a moment, softly questioning, "...What I enjoy?"
"I-I don't wanna scare you either," Luz murmurs, "looking up" with wide eyes.
"Oh baby girl~ Such a sweet thing~" the Lamia praises as she tenderly scritches her hair, touched by her friend's care. "Rest assured, I'm open to nearly anything that comes to mind. However, I've admittedly been wondering if you'd appreciate a Nursing Handjob~"
Luz grows curious, asking with unease, "A-A what?"
"Mommy will milk your sensitive cock with one hand, the other holding your head to my chest as you nurse. And if you're already full, you can always nuzzle into my bosom~" Amity explains tenderly, refusing to make the idea come off as a demand. "Now, I know you don't want to feel powerless, so perhaps we need something to ensure lines aren't crossed. Perhaps a signal of sorts?"
It takes several minutes, but it isn't long before the two agree to a simple color system. Red for stop, Yellow for slow down or take it easy, Green is okay, and Pink, in case desires grow stronger than before, for permission to go stronger. Ironclad rules, no exceptions, assurance that if the worst comes, there's something to ensure there's no lasting harm.
That just leaves one last thing to do.
"Color?"
"Y-Yellow."
"Then I'll be extra gentle~"
Luz feels gentle fingers trace along her twitching member, shivering as her nails trace along her skin yet never inflicting pain. She can't tell what's coming next, surprised to feel that at the end of the day, she meant it when she said she wants to provide pleasure. Each small twitch tells Amity what works and what doesn't, never applying more pressure than three fingers at a time. Luz has never felt so small or vulnerable, even when alone, knowing there's nothing she can do to escape, but she loves the affection. She keeps a hold of her cane, an attempt to keep herself grounded as the tender stroking continues tenderly.
"O-Oh~"
"Mmm~ Such pretty little moans~ You want to melt into my little puddle, don't you~?" "Mommy" coos, her strokes slow and tender, at one point tracing across her sensitive balls. "Is that what you want~? Do you want Mommy to turn you into a puddle just with her hand and breasts~?"
The human nods without hesitation, whimpering as she suckles slowly, submitting to her affection further by the second. She can already feel her lust grow by the second, pleasure she never thought possible frying her brain from the inside-out. Luz wants more, to never have to think again, to just be hers for the rest of eternity. She wants to remain Amity's, to lose herself in her embrace, to remain lost in her embrace, to never stop snuggling. Her needy member twitches the more she thinks and drinks, shuddering as she feels an orgasm build. She can't hold out much longer, whimpering as she struggles to will herself to speak.
"C-Cumming~ I'm cumming~" Luz whimpers, burying her head into Amity's chest. "Sorry~"
"Shhh~ It's okay, you can cum as much as you like~"
"B-But-"
"The only but I'm interested in is that bottom of yours another day~ You've only recently been regaining your energy, so it's only natural you'd have trouble resisting pleasure," Amity reminds her, not wanting to hear her consider otherwise for a second. "Be it in one second or one hour, I want you to let out as much cum as you can. It feels nice knowing you understand what you seek~ But if it's too much, just give a safeword."
She's not broken after all. Cumming early doesn't mean she's broken, resulting in her cock twitching as she releases thin streams of pre-cum. It's not even enough to coat Amity's tongue, but she trails a finger across her length and licks it up all the same. She can hear her lick it up without hesitation, familiarizing herself with the essence of a human, followed by a tender headpat. She can feel her look at her human's blush, touched knowing her efforts have been more than worthwhile as she continues to embrace her all the same, her tail coiling just beneath her.
"That's it, cum as much as you need~ Such a thin spurt, but soon you'll be able to impregnate almost any beast~" "Mommy" purrs, loving see her beloved blush. "How are you feeling? Did I take things too far?"
The concern is enough to make Luz cry, but rather than tears of sorrow or fear, they're of relief and joy. Luz can't help but keep suckling, subtly shaking her head no to show she's indeed alright. She doesn't even remember the last thing she was "alright", and here she is succumbing to the pleasure of this woman who saw what others didn't. She's never felt so loved before, and it's then she can't deny it anymore.
She's fallen in love with Amity.
Unlatching, Luz softly pants before whimpering, "T-Thank you."
"It's alright, no need to-"
"I-I mean it. Thanks f-for giving me a chance. I don't know if I d-deserve this, but you... you keep treating me well," she rambles, tilting her head up where Amity's face is likely at, her voice filled with sincerity, admiration, and a hint of uncertainty. "I... I can't stop falling for you. Please, m-may I stay yours?"
A soft droplet falls on the tan woman's face, small sniffs from above alerting her to the truth. Luz realizes she's made Amity cry, followed by her tail coiling around her body to provide the most tender embrace she can manage, the clanking of coins following.
"Luz~ Luz, I'd love to keep you forever~! I love you too~!" Amity exclaims with joy, keeping her good girl close, never wanting to let go. "Whatever comes next, neither you nor I will be alone~!"
Such unambiguous affection brings Luz to weep softly, locking her limbs around Amity to the best of her ability. Mommy loves her with all her heart, and what was uncertain before has grown into something stronger. She'll remain by her side forever; at least with her, she knows she'll be loved, and she's ready to provide that same love in return.
If this is indeed their future, then both the human and the Lamia wouldn't trade it for anything.
Chapter 4: Nothing to Sugarcoat
Summary:
Luz and Amity bond further, deeper than ever before.
Notes:
If there's any errors, please let me know.
Chapter Text
Months pass with no sight of Luz or signs of her presence. A full manhunt has been put into action, police setting up missing posters, her most common routes scouted for traces. The more knowledgeable track her less likely courses, those where she's been attacked and yet chose to return for one reason or another. Flower patches and signs of plucked flowers and weeds are taken note of, and should even one be lost by human hands, it will be confirmed she's still around. To everyone's horror, however, they find nothing. They can't even find scrapes from her cane, no new ones at least, making it clear she's outright disappeared.
The last known traces hounds have discovered is the forest, where statues of people across history have been discovered. The Witch Hunter Belos, the Businessman Tibbles, Jeborah the first known Hopkins, all lined somewhere within the wilderness. Each and every one of them has experienced wear and tear from the ages, lifeless, unmoving. Each nudge of the statue is later found back where it once was, confirmation someone was keeping them in place, but nobody believes it could've been Luz; she's unable to even see her own hands, literally. Even more, with such a small body, how can someone so puny nudge them back into place?
Every day that passes without even a sign only makes Clara worry, seeing all the confusion and questions lingering in the air. The longer nobody answers where she went, the more worried she grows. If Luz truly found a way out of Gravesfield, it's only a matter of time before the brat speaks up about her supposed abuse. Every hour without her only means she's likely traveling farther, with or without aid. If someone's keeping her safe, they've not made themselves known, almost everyone in town having shown their living spaces and shown not even a petal out of place. Nobody truly vanishes from existence, and yet each lead they come across leads to dead end after dead end.
Jacob can only continue to serve meals to the searchers, encouragement to spread word of his food while providing both nourishment and morale to the search. It just doesn't make sense for someone to vanish for no reason, and yet Clara even gave her a reason to stay. Why would she willingly leave? Did she no longer care why hopes of escaping her reputation were always going to fail? What did she find that was good enough to stay quiet? Why would Screw-Luz betray her only friend in this entire town? Such questions only lead to more dead ends, and with even the high school having not seen her roaming about with more than 500 sets of eyes, it truly seems as if she's vanished.
Such truths aren't even the worst part, but that outsiders grow suspicious. The longer she remains gone, the more the press is convinced Luz was kidnapped or worse. It only motivates the wrong people to hunt down the sightless girl and no longer are the food treats enough to dissuade the non-local police forces. K-9 units have gone into the forest more often than not, smelling something, only to return without a true lead. Questions are being asked, and while no names were said, a blonde woman with a red jacket could be confirmed by a man who didn't care for anonymity. The Hopkins realized for weeks now that the weary patron sold the whole thing out, but now she's disappeared too; no trace of her anywhere.
"Where the fuck is she?!" Clara rants, her dread having reached a breaking point. "What did that bitch find?! Why did she disappear?! Was the offer not good enough?!"
"I don't know what you want me to say," Jacob sighs, at least able to keep his nerves under wraps. "Sooner or later this will blow over. Everyone doesn't see it, but this is Gravesfield, you know how we work."
Pink Streak has heard it a thousand times before: someone doesn't fit in, they're picked on to hide others' own insecurities, and then they disappear and the next target is spotted. That target happens to have been Luz after an accident, and given what happened that fateful day, it's inevitable that she would reach a breaking point, especially since she was granted none of what prior victims were granted. No home, no mercy, but especially no answers. She thought because she didn't have any notable skills to escape, she'd stay trapped forever, a permanent fixture for the rest of her life in the town that hates her existence. Even so, with no clear answers as to where she went or what she did, questions have begun to emerge, both with law enforcement and children.
Everything's falling apart, and it won't be long before the truth behind their town is revealed. A new set of order will be enforced, all everyone has worked for will amount to nothing. The town is innocent in the Hopkins' eyes, and the closer the truth gets to being revealed, the more desperate Clara grows. And only when she's prepared to smash her food on the table out of frustration does she have an epiphany.
"...The forest! Yeah, t-there were footprints in there!" she tries to rationalize, turning to Jacob. "If we find her snacking on apples or whatever berries she's snacking on, we can drag her back! We just tell her we'll give her answers and she'll come crawling back! The police gets off our case, the K-9 units go away, and we can finally go back to normal! It's the perfect plan!"
"And those footprints stopped at the beach," Jacob warns, only to grow curious as well. "You know the legend, the Gravesfield Rattlesnake. Nobody's been able to go there and even the dogs got scared. Nobody's found anything."
"Because they're not searching the right places! Come on, you dick! It's your kind of thing, trying to confirm the supernatural!" the little sister encourages, patting her brother's shoulder. "You'd be a legend just like Jeborah, a monster hunter! Even if we don't find Luz, we can always come back with something to make Gravesfield come back from all of this! And if we find the brat? We can just say she's confused!"
The convincing was all it took to get Jacob closing up shop for the time being. He's losing revenue, but with so many leads in so little time, some sacrifices must be made. He can last a little while without opening, but until the situation's solved, he and his sister must find Luz before it's too late. All that's left is to prepare for what's to come.
If there's one benefit to living with Amity, it's that Luz now knows how long it's been since she's come to her cave. Three long, surprisingly pleasant months have passed, and rather than deteriorate, their unorthodox relationship has only strengthened over time. Her love is sincere for the Lamia, and hers, while not conventional, is no less genuine. She loves her, and in return she's given the lonely entity all the affection she's been denied ever since she's moved here. In exchange, however, she's been given proper food over time, and it's been more than two and a half months since she's felt too hungry. At long last, she no longer starves, neither for affection nor food.
She never knew seafood would be so delicious, nuzzling deep into her lap as she nibbles some fire-roasted fish, practice in spite of her blindness allowing her to prepare a meal or two herself. She finally has no need to feel useless, and all the while she accepts her place as Amity's partner, not just as a roommate, but as a girlfriend. She's never felt this loved in three years in Gravesfield, and yet she's done more for her in three months; the least she feels she can do is show how meaningful her efforts have been. Why would she deny her a proper meal or two? At least that's how the tan woman rationalizes it, extra careful as she listens for the crackling of fire and the sizzling of a fillet.
"Sweetie?" Amity murmurs, having just awoken from a long night's rest. "What are you doing, snakelet?"
"Oh! Just getting you something to eat. It's... the least I can do," the human explains in a meek tone, quickly adding, "I know you said I shouldn't have to cook by myself, but I wanted to surprise you. You took care of me for months, so... I want to try something too."
Her only regret is that without proper sight, she isn't for certain whether her efforts have been good; only a taste test will confirm what she's trying. Striped Bass over a fire pit, a bit of sea salt for seasoning, zest from an orange for a bit of flavor alongside a roasted apple for just a hint of variety. She knows it's likely not much for someone so gigantic, but if she can make something delicious for her beloved, then she'll know her inability to leave without aid will not have been for nothing. She carefully carries the plate over to her, "Mommy's" tail guiding her over so that she doesn't lose her footing. Even when she's meant to be the one offering help, Luz can't help but blush from the aid, glad she's not a burden as she sets it on top of what she now knows is a table. The clanking of cutlery follows, her own serving in front of her as Amity devours her meal with little hesitation, the first bite followed by immediate devouring.
"D-Did I do well?" she asks softly, wishing for critiques if need be. "H-How was it?"
"It's been decades since I've come across food that an ally or I haven't caught or made, and it's been centuries since someone offered me a meal. And you?" Amity coos, tracing the tip of her tail across Luz's cheek. "You offered both, a most delectable treat in spite of our limited assortment of ingredients. You could have made a simple roasted fish, and yet you went the extra mile, so to speak, in spite of your sightlessness. Titan Almighty you're precious~! Thank you so much for such a fine meal~"
Amity can't hide her gratitude, purring as she feeds her the meal she's made herself. Weeks of subsisting off her milk have been amazing to her, but she knows Luz will want to try to act on her own; it was only a matter of time until she was taught how to fish. Now she's a trembling good girl with a full stomach and the ability to create food even "fancy" restaurants would ask to create versions of, at least in the towering woman's eyes. She loves how her good girl sighs softly after every bite, a sign she's proud she's managed to accomplish her goal with flying colors. Every soft nibble, every gulp of fresh water, every turn of her head to listen for her purrs. Combined they remind them both that they're alive and somehow thriving. It matters little that they're beyond the borders of a town where they'd never be accepted; as long as they're together, they'll gladly stay out of everyone else's way.
"...Hey, Amity? What was it like... you know, living by yourself?" the human asks softly, feeling guilty for not having asked sooner.
"There's little to say. I was alone, with company from one other being for many years. Yes it was lonely, but with a combination of solitude, legends having spread, and some books to read, I've been safe. I can't say it's ideal, but compared to what my kind have been through, to live in such a manner for eternity was preferred to a deadlier route," the older woman sighs, touched by her love's concern. "And then you came along. Suddenly this cave doesn't feel so empty anymore, I have a purpose beyond lounging about on my own coils. I never thought tending to another human would feel so... right. You give me purpose, not just through survival, and that's a gift I'll never throw away."
Luz can't help but blush, only to have another question come to mind, asking with growing curiosity, "You said you have a-another friend? Who are they? They sound nice."
"Good question. She's more of a traveler, having never found a reason to stop traveling. Werebeast, a bit territorial yet ultimately a good girl in her own regard. She's how I learned about the Good Witch Azura stories, and yet after all this time she's refused to read one herself. It's... also been a few months," she murmurs softly, a touch concerned. "It usually takes a month or so until she returns and we catch up, and yet it's been three."
"If she's still o-out there, we can go find her, right?" the young Noceda ponders, able to hear the worry in Amity's voice. "I-I don't know how things work, but if she's in danger, it's not too late t-to look for her, right?"
Even without knowing who she is, Luz knows that if this someone’s important to Amity, she’s likely someone friendly and someone who could become a friend. She knows such optimism isn’t to be taken to heart, and yet she can’t help but feel a shuffle beneath her, followed by the clattering of a plate.
”…Yes, perhaps,” Amity concedes, touched by Luz’s refusal to let worry break her. “We’ll wait several more weeks, and if I hear nothing from her, we’ll go on a bit of an adventure. It’s been a long time since I’ve wandered anyway.”
Luz can’t help but nuzzle into Amity’s tail as a result, happy her sense of wonder hasn’t died. Only once she’s sure something is wrong will she go about with her, but until then, she just wants Amity to know her efforts have never been for nothing. The second she’s done eating, she follows her tail to her lap, nuzzling into her as she wraps her arms around her smaller body, still a bit underweight but no longer dangerously so.
The thought of meeting more mythical entities excites the smaller woman, wondering just what other entities exist beyond Gravesfield. She knows it’s not the only hotspot for the strange for outsiders, and yet she wants to see more of it. If something like Amity and the Werebeast exist beyond the cave, beyond the town, just what other beings remain around, just out of public sight? What could have happened to make coexistence nearly impossible? Why has nobody dared trying understanding them, to never ask why trying to cooperate isn’t even a possibility?
Only the fact that such truths aren’t hers to determine prevents her from pushing, having been witness to the sorrow and the dread Amity has admitted. Only a hope for a more peaceful future brings her possible peace, and yet she knows such a thing shouldn’t be forced upon her. If Amity wants to understand humanity beyond her beloved, so be it. If she wishes to remain safe, Luz empathizes and is ready to accept such a future. So long as it’s with Amity, she’ll accept whatever future awaits them, nuzzling into her embrace, sighing softly as her hold seems to tighten by the second.
The Lamia appreciates her refusal to push, and yet she can’t help but wonder. If Luz can exist, a friendly being without the drive to harm those that are different, could others exist as well? It’s been centuries, so what if Gravesfield is the exception, not the norm? Could her kind truly come out without being seen as freaks, as entities deserving of oblivion for the “crime” of existing? Such hopes seemed impossible when she was young, but the little one in her arms suggests such a hope could be rekindled. Only time will tell, however, and if it means searching for her friend, then she’ll have reason whether to confirm or deny such beliefs.
“Luz, you’re sure you’d like to do this?” Amity asks softly, helping Luz line herself up. “As much as I’d love to milk you dry, you aren’t required to be my cum dispenser.”
“Green~” Luz murmurs, her mind clouded with lust and yet still rational enough to give consent. “I trust you~ Please, M-Mommy~”
The Lamia’s eyes dilate in response, her good girl’s heart racing as she tenderly cups her cheeks and leans down, pressing their lips together. Never before has she wanted to mate with someone, and here’s her favorite human accepting they’re together. She could have said or done anything else, but to be her good girl of a partner? Amity’s proud of Luz for refusing to let the past dominate her desires, her body slightly twitching in response as her tongue wraps around Luz’s. Her hands keep a firm hold over her good girl, letting her know she's safe no matter what as she moans into her mouth, the tip against her entrance feeling warmer than she anticipated.
Only once they break the kiss does the Lamia pull her good girl closer, shushing her softly as she moans as a result of the pleasure. Her precious human bucks her hips for a moment, her virginity taken in a single stroke, eyes wide as she "looks" into her dom's eyes. She isn't sure what to do, shivering before her dom provides headpats to her head, assurance she's doing so well.
"Good girl~ Now, all you need to do is buck into me~ Here, let me show you," "Mommy" coos, her tail wrapping around Luz's torso and guiding her movements. "Mmm~ There we go~ In, out~ In, out~ Now you try by yourself, you deserve a little faith~"
One thrust comes, Luz's mind blanking out as she submits further into her dom's embrace. She could easily reject the idea of making love to a Lamia, and yet such an idea only results in deeper submission. She wants her to have a bit of faith in herself, thrusting again, the jolt just as strong as before. Another follows, then another, trembling as she accepts her place. If this is what it means to be a "cum dispenser", she'll gladly pump as much seed as she can.
"My~ There we go~ I knew you were a natural, and look at you, pumping into Mommy so obediently~" the Lamia praises with a whisper, keeping a hand on her head to keep her from losing her mind. "Remember, this isn't just about me; you have to enjoy this too. I'm feeling Green, but what about you~? It's your first time, after all~"
Her favorite human can't stop shivering from the abundance of pleasure, panting softly as she tilts her head up and begs, "Green~ P-Please, I wanna be your g-good girl~ I'm yours~"
The tan woman emphasizes her point by thrusting harder and deeper, pushing through her desire to drop as she provides her dom with pleasure. Never before has such a sensation broken her before, shuddering feeling her inner walls clench around her, the Lamia's hands lightly cupping her cheeks. Luz has never felt so loved and trusted before, knowing if she could see, she would more than happily accept a loving gaze. Never before has she wanted to see before, to know who the woman who took her in looks like. She is certain such an outcome is impossible, and yet the certainty that she's somewhere safe, somewhere she can love and be loved, is more than enough to quell her sorrow.
Never before has Amity seen her good girl so determined to pleasure her before, her comparably small arms wrapping around her waist. She pumps into her with what might she can muster, shuddering as her dominant partner keeps a firm hold on her, preventing her from pulling out. Her sub wants to prove her worth, and yet just staying alive and being her partner is more than enough. The Lamia doesn't dare provide help that isn't requested, trusting her every movement, just as she's done with her; to her, trust must go both ways. She so desperately wants to pounce and milk her dry, to ensure the night terrors never return, to remind Luz that no matter what, she's not a burden and never was. Her mind, however, blanks from pleasure for a moment, her tail wrapping around Luz's waist but not once aiding her movements.
"Fuck~! I never knew you'd make me shudder like this~!" "Mommy" moans, her thumbs lightly rubbing her good girl's cheeks. "To think I've saved my first for you~"
Luz's eyes widen with surprise at such a comment, whimpering, "I-I'm your first partner?"
"Indeed~ You're that precious to me~ Each other's first, together for the coming eternity~ You'll be shown a world of pleasure only conceivable by mortals, and it's all yours to experience~" the Lamia murmurs softly, as if confirming a treasured secret. "Now go ahead, cum until you can't anymore~ Flood my womb until you can't anymore~ Experience bliss only you're allowed to partake in, and Mommy will join you~!"
"Mommy~! Mommy!" the sub murmurs on repeat, unable to ignore what her mind screams for her to confess. "Mommy~! Mommy~!"
Amity instinctually wraps her body around Luz's body, feeling herself reach the brink, her partner unable to resist the pleasure of such simple words. She's never felt such a desire for another being in her life before now, wishing for her beloved to never leave, to know regardless of the future, she's still her beloved. Her mind blurs as she reaches orgasm, moaning loudly, the sound echoing off the cave's walls as her beloved joins her. Luz's sightless eyes squeeze shut as she's consumed by pleasure and love, bucking her hips one last time as she spews rope after rope of rich, thick sperm deep into her partner. She wants nothing more than to show her dom that her efforts will never have been in vain, to provide her the same companionship she was otherwise denied for years. Nobody deserves to suffer alone, and if that means Mommy isn't alone either, she'll more than happily be hers.
"Good girl~ Shhh~ There we go, flood Mommy's pussy~ Just let out every drop~" Amity praises, her voice filled with glee as she wipes away her good girl's tears. "I know it's intense, so just take a moment to relax~ Pull out if you must, just know you're my good girl no matter how much you cum~"
Luz obeys without question, shivering as her now-flaccid member is pulled out, shivering as she tries desperately to cling to Mommy's body. She can't stop thinking of Amity as her favorite person, shivering as she feels a fluffy cloth rubs along her skin, soaking up every liquid on her and her beloved. It won't be long before it's time to soak into the hot spring, and by then she's not sure she can stay awake for much longer. Amity's soft coos follow all the while, keeping her hold on her beloved as she keeps her close, knowing they both need a moment to relax. Never before has she thought sex would feel so right, and never before has the thought of it with a human felt simply perfect.
The fact it's with the one human she loves feels even better as she cradles her, giving her a moment to breathe.
"That was... amazing~ How was it, snakelet~?" the dom coos, feeling her breaths on her skin.
Luz can't trust herself to speak, a thumbs up following, the only thing she can confirm will get her point across. It was just right, perfect, and nothing, not even the world beyond, could take away such precious time.
Their bond has only grown stronger than steel, and all that's left is some aftercare.
The deeper into the forest they go, the more they understand why Luz hasn't been found. Every statue feels too real to have simply been carved or chiseled, as if something lies just beneath, quite literally. The wildlife itself seems to see something in the statues, wear and tear having damaged some of the more hated models. The Witch Hunter has lost his head, the Businessman's entire body is coated in aged moss thanks to animal activity and overgrowth, even Jeborah Hopkins's statue has been rendered nothing but boots on a pedestal, the worn-out name the only proof of what was once there. Someone or something has disrespected good men and women across history, and yet no matter how severe the collateral, to blame Luz is simply impossible.
"Something did this," Jacob concludes, armed in the finest spiked armor money can buy. "It can't be Luz; she's not even strong enough to struggle."
"Not unless someone wanted to help her. You know her, she's a fantasy brat who'd love to see a monster like the one by the beach, but... I dunno, look closer at the damage," Clara reminds her brother, perplexed by the sight of Jeborah's "statue".
Indeed, even the most recent active damage is decades old, before even the elder Hopkins sibling was born. How can Luz have ordered someone to break all of this if she wasn't around to begin with? What kind of lunatic disrespects history like this for the sake of vengeance? What is there to gain by letting such destruction lay about, the remains of said statues lying about the forest floor?
"...The Gravesfield Rattlesnake's real," the chef concludes, drawing his dagger and taser. "We grab this monster, we'll avenge all of these past heroes. Maybe we can make sure they get repairs or even fixed with... well, whatever's left of them."
They both know such an idea is purely fantasy, only sure that investigators came into this forest and never found anything. Only the signs of thin trails not on any maps leads them anywhere of note, the statues of more beings littering the grounds. Small critters who display aggression at the drop of a hat, aged leaves across the ground leading toward the beach, even several statues of armored men and women seeking to destroy something. Jacob concludes they're petrified victims who wanted to kill the Gravesfield Rattlesnake, and yet Clara believes them to be warnings for what lies toward the beach.
Their investigation brings them evidence their progress has meaning, the sight of a bashed pile of fibers catching their eyes. Jacob keeps a lookout as his sister investigates, only to find Luz's scrawled writing across one of the pieces.
"That bitch... She destroyed the basket!" the cheerleader balks, enraged both from progress and the blatant disrespect. "I gave her more than anyone else, and she decided to throw it away! Oh that freak's gonna pay for this!"
"I think you're gonna want to see this then."
Before PInk Streak can question her brother, the sight of more statues catches her eyes. They're far more plentiful, all in varying states of decay and upkeep, especially toward a nearby cliffside. Some seem to be from when Gravesfield was founded, others as recent as the 2010s, likely remnants of whenever who or what came out, signs who or what's in there knows of the outside world. What little wildlife was there has departed, not even the sound of insects buzzing in the air heard by either Hopkins, only the ocean's waves confirming they're still grounded in reality.
"That's... where the Rattlesnake's located, right?" Clara questions with a mix of growing dread and fear, drawing the dagger her brother gave her.
"And Luz, if we're lucky," Jacob confirms, his gaze hardening as he steps forward. "Whatever happens next, we're coming back as heroes. Both Luz and the Gravesfield Rattlesnake are coming back, no matter what."
Whatever comes next, they're ready to set the status quo back to how it should be.
Chapter 5: No Sad Ending
Summary:
Any hope of Luz returning to her old life dies, all for the better.
Chapter Text
The gear they've gathered is simple: at least one weapon, bags in case of anything valuable, and helmets with lamps and earmuffs to drown out any hypnotic sounds. They don't know what the Gravesfield Rattlesnake can do, but they won't let it get the jump on them.
If there's one thing the Hopkins Siblings didn't expect to come across, it was a cave with a small hill's worth of treasure. Gold in many shapes layering toward the ceiling, at least 20 feet in height, towers over them, just waiting to be collected. Gems of all kinds adorn another pile across from it, each polished to gleam even in the dim cave's lighting. Fabrics of all kinds line the walls, many of serpents and all from across human history. However, there's not a single statue within the confines, all either just outside or littering the forest nearby. The being who lives here, regardless of whoever else they have, has an organizing system, a sign of intelligence far beyond a mere predator.
"The Rattlesnake's loaded. It must've gotten all of this from... somewhere," Jacob concludes, trying to piece everything together as he adjusts the helmet's light and his earmuffs. "You don't just get this much treasure and expect nobody to grab it."
"The statues, idiot. Those things are meant to scare us, why else wouldn't this thing get a door or something?" Clara whispers with a hiss, angered her brother is distracted by the treasure, grabbing her phone. "We find Luz, find the Gravesfield Rattlesnake, and we get out. We can grab some help on the way out, got it?"
Even so, the further they search, the more certain they are that the resident has been busy. The walls themselves have been smoothed out, resembling simple stone surfaces. The ground beneath their feet is level with the sand outside, likely a side effect of having been smoothed down over months, years, if not centuries. There aren't even any stalactites above them, removed long before the siblings were even born. Their shoes produce soft echoes around them, and yet before they can enact their plan, a rattling sound follows, sending shivers down both their spines.
chchchchchchchchch
"It's here," Clara warns her brother, keeping the dagger close to her chest, keeping her headphones on to avoid becoming hypnotized. "There's a snake."
"A rattlesnake. Be ready," the older sibling insists, keeping his blade close, shivering as his taser is readied.
What emerges is neither snake nor woman, the Amethyst-purple serpentine body and red rattler emerging from deeper within the cave. The creature's size must be 30 feet long at least, large enough to swallow three men whole, the rattling growing louder as a pair of golden eyes peer from the darkness. The source comes into the light, the Gravesfield Rattlesnake's black-nailed claws gleaming in the lamplight as its upper body is revealed, a woman's upper half, a head of lilac-purple hair in a ponytail confirming the being resembles a human yet isn't one at all. A bountiful bosom that could suffocate the largest of humans, skin paler than the moon from constant residence in the cavern, lips red like a rose in bloom, an almost hourglass figure with a face that must've been blessed by a deity. Both Clara and Jacob can't look away, both mesmerized and terrified of the entity, having expected perhaps a colossal snake or even another beast, but a Lamia? A black dress that reaches just below her plush bottom hides her shame, her face flush, as if she's exerted herself greatly from some task unknown to them.
"You trespass into my cave just as I was about to attend to something important. Have you no shame?"
Her annoyance is apparent, noticing the headphones on their ears, shaking her head. It's evident the Hopkins Siblings haven't heard of her before, not fully, her tail striking faster than a jaguar to remove their protection. Taser prongs fail to pierce her scales, the knives failing to even graze her. Such a simple act of defense further horrifies the duo, realizing for certain they're not in some fantasy story. This is reality, their opponent is a dangerous entity, and she wants answers.
"State your business, humans."
No longer can her anger be disguised, only restrained due to something "important", Clara shakily stating, "W-We're here to bring a girl home! Luz Noceda, a blind girl! If she's here, it's i-important that you tell us now; she's more trouble than she's worth."
Disgust only grows apparent as she leans closer, trying to determine their identities. A sniff follows, something lingering on her prey.
CHCHCHCHCHCHCHCHCH
"That's a serious accusation for someone so vulnerable. Any number of things could happen to her, and yet you wish to recover her? What makes her trouble to you?"
"Ha! You don't know s-so she's dangerous but don't know why? That means she's not important to you!" Jacob boasts, reaching for his knife, certain he can do something in spite of his situation. "Look, she's been a pain in Gravesfield's ass from the start ever since she tried leaving over three years ago! Nobody knows the details, but she murdered her mom in a car crash, and now she claims she didn't do anything or that she isn't sure! She's lying to you!"
The Lamia's eyes widen with surprise, having never known such a thing about the young woman before. It almost sounds too true, answers she never thought she would attain so soon, and yet she can see the lie as if it were paint on a canvas.
"...You're leaving something out, chef."
"C-Chef?"
"Beef, vegetables, grease, corn syrup. You're likely from one of the diners, and yet that's beside the point. You're leaving something out, you're lying. If Luz truly didn't know what happened, why would she insist she doesn't know? What does she gain by trying to find answers?"
There's nowhere to run, and to keep her brother from spilling anything important, the younger Hopkins speaks up, her blue eyes' glare faltering under the predator's golden gaze.
"She's lying, Miss... whatever you are. You clearly look like something she'd love, fantasy crap, so she would probably look for you even if she literally can't see what's in front of her. But what you gotta know is that even then she's extremely dangerous and manipulative," Pink Streak warns, unaware of the glare toward the highlight in her hair. "She wants safety so she can avoid paying for her crimes, but we can't prove anything! So we keep her around to... you know, teach her a lesson! Nothing excessive, just enough to make it clear she knows what she did!"
She can't hide her desperation completely, the golden gaze keeping watch as the sniffing follows once more. A hint of recognition comes to the Lamia, shaking her head as she gives a reply of her own.
"Were it not for fantasy, perhaps we'd have little hope in the world. That hope is what would keep someone like Luz going, given you mention fantasy as something she would love. Perhaps she would come to me for salvation, knowing what I'm a Lamia, something only imagined in fantasy. And you? You lie again, stating she's a danger. You blame her for what happened that fateful night, the night she presumably lost her sight, yes?"
The chef shivers as he's forced to nod, compelled as he backs away slowly. It's then she realizes who they are.
"...That color, that smell, your appearances. You're Clara and Jacob Hopkins, aren't you?"
"Yeah, what of-HRRK!!"
"Clara! You-ACK!!"
Her tail wraps around the both of them, nearly crushing them as she edges her torso closer. Her rage is more apparent than ever, her guise of confusion impossible to uphold any longer.
"You were right, Luz is here, under my protection. She was starved, beaten, her hope nearly destroyed because of something she still doesn't understand! She doesn't even remember, and you come here claiming she's responsible for her mother's death, intentionally, and that it cost the poor thing her sight?! Her only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time! Now I know why so many humans have entered the nearby forest as of late! You want to bring her back to torture her!"
A mixture of sorrow and rage fills the Lamia's voice, her tail's grip on her victims only increasing in strength. She so eagerly would like to kill them here and now, but now might be the only time to get answers. If not for her, then for Luz, the one person who doesn't deserve this agony.
"You miserable sacks of meat think you're so high and mighty beating a defenseless young woman down, all because she's blind! You don't believe she hurt anyone, do you?!"
Neither sibling is sure how to respond, shuddering as the grip tightens further.
"For years, she has been begging for answers, that even children are being taught to hate her because she exists! Nobody dares to speak of the injustice, and you sit about, indulging in senseless sadism!"
"H-Hypocrite!"
Clara's face is grabbed by the Lamia's hand, keeping her quiet as she glares daggers. Part of her body feels like it's frigid, unmoving for a second.
"Answer me! What did Luz do to deserve your town's cruelty?! What happened that night?! How could all of Gravesfield agree to bully a sweet little snakelet into utter despair without a care in the world?! What purpose is there in doing what you've been more than happy to inflict?!"
Jacob dares to respond, hoping for lenience, elaborating in terror, "Okay, you win! She d-didn't cause the crash! A pothole and a deer mixed and they crashed! The freak had it bad but her mom didn't make it, and p-people were scared, we didn't have anything to get angry at, so we... decided to blame her and make ourselves feel better?"
All the snake woman feels is utter hatred, her rattler shaking without end, the sound drowning out all others as she searches for any signs of deception. For once she wants to be fooled, that Jacob is lying, only for disgust and fury to build as no such thing follows. Even Clara's pleas that there's a deeper meaning don't come, confirming the worst: Luz was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Even though she's the kindest human she's ever come across, Gravesfield chose to turn her into a scapegoat to account for the people's inadequacies.
"...Gravesfield's never changed after all. The Hopkins Family's still filled with scum. Luz is proof not all of you humans are evil beasts, but I won't let filth like you find another scapegoat if it's the last thing I do."
"W-We'll warn the others!" Clara gags, only to be dropped from the tail, her and her brother backing away slowly.
"No, you won't. You'll never harm Luz again."
A bright, golden flash bathes the cavern, freezing both humans in place mid-scream. Every inch of them, inside and out, is turned to stone as the Lamia's hands grasp at the heads, lifting them up and inspecting the fear in her victims' eyes. She could easily let them decay, in turn make them suffer internally, but instead, for once, she thinks she'll actively keep them in pristine order. Sure Luz will have questions as to why statues are in the cave and there will be some awkward explanations to be had eventually, but her most active tormentors have been dealt with and sealed away.
For now, a certain someone needs her aftercare; she's been away long enough.
"Finally... Now, where was I~?"
Luz doesn't know how it's possible, but if she was told she was going to be bathing in a hot spring whenever she needed a bath, she would think the speaker was lying. The warm water, the soothing aroma of cherry soap in the water, the soft bubbling of the spring itself throughout the room, drowning out any unwanted noise beyond the room. All of it combines into a pleasant sensation, especially after having given her virginity to the woman she loves most. It's then she realizes Amity's been around for some time now, suspecting she's up to something important, only to hear a soft slithering enter, followed by a soft splashing of a serpentine body entering the water.
"Ahhh~ There we go~" Amity coos, seated just beside her good girl. "I'm sorry for taking so long, there was just an error to attend to. Now, are you enjoying your bath, snakelet?"
The smaller woman nods for a moment before leaning into her side, what little tension she once had melting as she replies in a tired voice, "It's just right. You just... No wonder you always smell like cherries. It's nice, and now I'm gonna smell like them too. More proof I'm yours~"
"Merely part of the aftercare~" the serpent woman confirms, one hand softly scrubbing her good girl's long hair, uncut after years from a lack of care. "...Say, how do you feel about getting a haircut? You seem like someone who'd appreciate short hair over long hair, but consent would be preferred."
"J-Just like that?" Luz whispers, feeling her scaly tail lightly drape over her legs tenderly.
"I'm providing you agency. It's the least you deserve," the older woman clarifies, understanding if the answer is no.
Her surprise comes when her good girl nods, and with it she uses her claws to cut through them like a dagger through paper. One hand holds a section of hair, the other aligns and slices, and before too long, Luz's dark brown locks reach down to about the top of her neck, no longer reaching down her back. To the human herself, it feels right having a hair length that feels more comfortable, no longer covering her ears. She "looks up" to her beloved, smiling before nuzzling into her soft bosom, the discarded locks set aside so the dom can hold her sub more firmly. She's her own person, and now she has more proof to be assured of such a thing.
"Thanks," the human whimpers, tears of joy flowing down her cheeks as tender hands scrub her body. "C-Could I help bathe you too? It's t-the least I can do."
Tender intimacy is something the Lamia isn't against, kneading at her body tenderly, her palms soaked in soap in an attempt to provide the same affection she was given. Soft sighs of pleasure escape Amity's mouth as she uses her free hand to keep to her beloved's back, purring as her favorite human treats her well. She has news that will give her good girl closure, but that can wait for a more appropriate time; for now she needs to know she's safe. Her mind is in the greatest state it's been in a long time, and now she's growing braver, her hands trailing everywhere, wanting to scrub her smooth skin then her scales, a precious snakelet.
"Such a sweet thing~" "Mommy" praises with pleasure, in turn lightly bathing her good girl, her cheeks flushed as she finishes up cleaning her good girl's body. "No need to overexert yourself, you've done excellently earlier~ Here, just hold onto Mommy's tail and knead as much as you see fit. Does holding onto my tail make you feel safe~?"
"Y-Yeah. Like nothing could hurt me," the smaller woman admits, unable to hide her yearning. "...Is that weird?"
"Of course not~ It's not even the strangest thing I've heard this month~ Just rest your head against Mommy's chest and let yourself drift off if you'd like," the Lamia suggests, knowing her good girl shouldn't overwork herself. "Just know I love you no matter what. Whether you're human, monster, sightless or not, you're still by beloved Luz~"
"And you're still Amity," the human sighs softly, nuzzling into her chest. "I love you so much~"
"And I love you too, my snakelet~" Amity coos, keeping her good girl in a tender hold.
It's not much, but to embrace one another feels perfect, at least for the two of them. Every second that passes with them able to embrace their other half is a second well spent, Luz nuzzling deeper into her bosom. Her partner's every heartbeat is a reminder that she's no longer in danger, no longer starving, no longer forced to feel terror or submit just to survive. She can finally be herself, to love and be loved without coming off as a lesser being. Amity herself can't believe she's found someone she can truly consider her beloved, happy to share some compassion rather than fend off others for the sake of self-preservation. Luz is proof she's not forced to be alone for the rest of her life anymore; whatever comes next, she won't be alone, and neither will she. This is their new eternity, and with it they can allow themselves to enjoy one another's tenderness. To others it may seem trivial, but to them it's just right, reprieve from solitude.
Both women will gladly embrace this new eternity, for even if the world might never accept them, they'll always have their other half.
Notes:
I've admittedly wanted to write this for a long while.
CharizardXY2025 on Chapter 1 Thu 04 Sep 2025 01:16AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 1 Thu 04 Sep 2025 01:26AM UTC
Comment Actions
CharizardXY2025 on Chapter 1 Thu 04 Sep 2025 01:38AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 1 Thu 04 Sep 2025 01:48AM UTC
Comment Actions
CharizardXY2025 on Chapter 1 Thu 04 Sep 2025 02:02AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 1 Thu 04 Sep 2025 03:13AM UTC
Comment Actions
UltimateAvengers on Chapter 1 Thu 04 Sep 2025 02:23AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 1 Thu 04 Sep 2025 03:14AM UTC
Comment Actions
The_Keeper_of_Worlds on Chapter 1 Thu 04 Sep 2025 04:10AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 1 Thu 04 Sep 2025 09:53AM UTC
Comment Actions
Notchbrine on Chapter 1 Sat 06 Sep 2025 08:24AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 1 Sat 06 Sep 2025 11:06AM UTC
Comment Actions
Watchsuits (Guest) on Chapter 2 Sat 06 Sep 2025 12:17PM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 2 Sat 06 Sep 2025 12:19PM UTC
Comment Actions
Watchsuits (Guest) on Chapter 2 Sat 06 Sep 2025 12:31PM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 2 Sat 06 Sep 2025 01:34PM UTC
Comment Actions
SilverDragon334 on Chapter 2 Tue 09 Sep 2025 06:46AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 2 Tue 09 Sep 2025 10:35AM UTC
Comment Actions
Pra370r1an on Chapter 3 Mon 08 Sep 2025 03:25AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 3 Mon 08 Sep 2025 09:41AM UTC
Comment Actions
CharizardXY2025 on Chapter 3 Mon 08 Sep 2025 05:45PM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 3 Mon 08 Sep 2025 06:04PM UTC
Comment Actions
CharizardXY2025 on Chapter 3 Mon 08 Sep 2025 09:22PM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 3 Tue 09 Sep 2025 01:03AM UTC
Comment Actions
CharizardXY2025 on Chapter 4 Wed 10 Sep 2025 12:26AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 4 Wed 10 Sep 2025 12:29AM UTC
Comment Actions
CharizardXY2025 on Chapter 4 Wed 10 Sep 2025 12:33AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 4 Wed 10 Sep 2025 12:49AM UTC
Comment Actions
UltimateAvengers on Chapter 4 Wed 10 Sep 2025 05:22AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 4 Wed 10 Sep 2025 09:45AM UTC
Comment Actions
CharizardXY2025 on Chapter 5 Fri 12 Sep 2025 01:09AM UTC
Last Edited Fri 12 Sep 2025 01:09AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 5 Fri 12 Sep 2025 02:38AM UTC
Comment Actions
CharizardXY2025 on Chapter 5 Fri 12 Sep 2025 05:29AM UTC
Comment Actions
KingBlaine on Chapter 5 Fri 12 Sep 2025 10:28AM UTC
Comment Actions