The serpent moved with freakish speed, the oily coils – as thick as the girl’s waist – lashing out at her flighty form, the tail seeming prehensile as it wound around one ankle, drawing her to the ground with frightful force. Maw open, teeth dripping venom – but wait, constricting snakes had no venom! – the creature looked to be laughing at the girl’s attempts to flee. Releasing her limbs, then grabbing at them again, the coils of muscular, slick flesh wound around the girl’s fit waist, sliding up beneath her breasts in a motion that seemed *almost* deliberate. Then it released her again. Like a dog playing with some intriguing treat or playmate, the snake was waiting to see if the girl would try to flee again, perhaps as an excuse to escalate their little game of tussle.<br/>-<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad295/Dariusfallenstar/tumblr_n76ac9jSqO1qff4d1o2_500_zps3ece4b77.jpg)</div><br/>Standing at the door, Hiato looked the newcomer over, his mysterious, calm eyes never once flickering to the loud rustling in the woods not too far from where they stood. “Greetings,” he said to Arya, his accented speech vaguely formal as he bowed slightly. “I understand you are here to meet the Master. Come inside, let me provide you with warmth and tea while we wait to see if our other guest will be joining us, or enjoying the company of the serpent guardian for the rest of the night.”<br/><br/>Turning, leaving the door open, he escorted Arya into a large, formal-looking greeting room. The walls were lined with full bookshelves, a large fireplace dominated the far side of the room – the arched, brick and stone structure featuring a leering gargoyle over the lintel – and a number of chairs, couches, and even a chaise lounge or two rested here and there about the space, atop ankle-deep plush carpet.<br/><br/>Hiato, being a small, graceful man, gestured with a fluid motion of his delicate hands, “Please, have a seat wherever you like. Pass me any note you have for the Master, and I will return with drink and food. Do you have any preferences?”<br/>