Hi everyone, this is my personal story called The Serpent's Task. I just wanted to see how people would respond to this dark romance Enjoy and please Comment or Review.

Preface

As much as I dreaded my daughter's fate being dragged into this gruesome world of ours, I knew I wouldn't be able to prevent it. Her destiny, as was mine, is now set. All I can do now is wait until she becomes the world's fiercest monster of them all. That will be the end of me and what my family has become. This Curse will never end; and one day, it will be the end of all living things as we know it.

My name is Jazine.

Giza, Egypt

Old Kingdom

(Dynasties IV-VIII)
2575-2150 B.C.

Chapter 1

The beginning of the last day of my life

"My daughter, it is time." mother said to me.

My name is Jazine. I live in Giza, Egypt, the time of the pyramids. My father is one of the workers that are helping to build the grandest pyramid of all. My job is to work with my mother and help her take care of the men that are working on the pyramid. There are about ten thousand men working in the blazing sun, but it is well worth it if it is for our pharaoh! Or so that's what they want me to think.

"Mama, tell me again why we must do this. It's so tiring and I really want to learn how to…to write or read or even both." I pleaded again. I don't know how many times I've asked this of her. I already know the answer, but I am determined to get my way. I know my destiny and it is not here.

"Please daughter not now, we are much too busy!" she said once again not answering my question.

"Fine…" I muttered under my breath.

She will not listen to me now; we had to get over to where the other women were waiting for us. I gathered all the material I was going to need to make the new clothes and we both set out.

My birthday is tomorrow and I will be turning eighteen. My mother says that this is a major event. She won't tell me what will be so major about it. All I'm hoping is that marriage is NOT involved! I will not be able to handle that. I'm sure that that has nothing to do with it because my mother wouldn't be able to keep a secret that big away from me. She never could keep things to herself.

"Ma, can you please tell me that you did not arrange a married for tomorrow?" I asked.

"Jazine, you're not getting married you're just…going to Change…" she said the last part in a whisper and hesitated to say something more but changed her mind.

At this time, I would have questioned her even further but there was a sharp pain beyond compare that shot through my left hand at that moment. I yelp and dropped the material I was holding to grab my hand.

Ever since I was born I had a very bizarre birthmark that started from the palm of my left hand to my elbow. It wasn't so hideous that I would never let anyone see it; it was very…beautiful, in an odd sort of way. People have said that it reminded them of a serpent that wound itself around my arm and placed its head in my palm. Of course now I'm known to be the one with the serpent hand. My mother said that I shouldn't worry myself about it, it wasn't truly noticeable. She was right about that. Against my coffee colored skin it just looked a smidge darker than the rest of me, but at this moment while I looked at my arm, it glowed a deep red that looked like a glowing ruby.

While I stood there in horror, my mother picked up the fabric that I dropped in a blinding speed and had it wrapped around my arm in half a second. I couldn't breath; I just stood there looking at my mother like I never saw her before. She was a very beautiful person, so was my father, but this was something that I never witnessed before and I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

"Jazine snap out of it and walk!" she hissed at me.

I immediately shook myself out of my shock and started walking over to the building. She never spoke to me in such a sharp tone before and it frightened me. She was always such a happy, positive person. Even when she was mad, she never let it get her down. This was a new side I was seeing and it scared me. I knew a Change was coming! I just wish I knew what it was.

As we approached the building, I still couldn't bring myself to speak. I was too afraid that if I opened my mouth, I would scream and wouldn't be able to stop. As we passed by the other women, I nodded my head respectfully and continued toward my table where my best friend Gana and Sari were sitting. My arm never did stop hurting but it wasn't as intense as it was a moment ago. My mother left once I got to my table and went to go sit in her usual spot. I truly never noticed that she didn't sit with anyone, even though she is very social. She gets three times as much work done than any other women here and still has time to do more! I guess I just thought my group talked too much to get anything done.

"Jazine, JAZINE?" Gana called.

" Huh," I replied to my curious friends who were staring at me like I was crazy.

"What are you staring at? We've been trying to get your attention for a full minute! We do have to get started you know." Sari said.

"Yes, I know, sorry about that I just have…a lot to think about that's all."

"Well don't leave us out! What are you so preoccupied about?"

"Nothing, it's nothing important."

"Fine well let's get to work, if I don't finish at least two outfits today my mom's going to be on my case!" Sari yelped.

"Yeah I know we have been lacking in our share around here." I sighed.

"Okay what is wrong? You look depressed and you shouldn't be since your birthday is tomorrow!"

"Sari I'm not depressed, I'm just thinking about what's going to Change tomorrow." I said even lower than before.

"Nothing is going to change! You're just turning a year older and you'll be of the age to marry a glorious suitor!" Gana said suddenly cheerful.

"You are the youngest and now we all will be able to be courted by a man without feeling bad for each other." Gana was about ready to jump out her chair and do a back flip.

"Ugh! I really don't want to talk about this right now. Let's just get back to work." I replied, totally draining out her cheerful mood. They both looked at me with concerned eyes but said nothing more.

For the rest of the day we worked in silence and for the first time, we actually pulled off making ten new outfits. Sari was ecstatic after we finished the tenth piece.

"I can't believe we actually pulled this off!" she shrieked, "I mean I knew we could do it."

"Sure," I muttered under my breath, but she didn't hear me because she was already off talking about another subject with Gana. So I got up and put our finished pieces in the basket. It was a long day and all I want to do is go home and sleep.

I met up with my mother at the front entrance and we left. Mama was still very tense when we got to the house. The sun was setting and it lit up the sky so beautifully that I couldn't look away.

"Jazine I have….I have something to tell you." She spoke so softly that I didn't even realize she was talking to me until she spun me around to face her.

"Ma what is it?"

Her eyes, they were filled with sorrow and regret. All I wanted at that time was to hug her tightly and try to bring my happy, cheerful mother back to my side. When I moved to try she tightened her grip on my shoulders and pushed me toward my cot. She sat us both down and reached out to hold my left hand. She lightly traced my birthmark with two fingers and when she reached my palm she looked up; stared straight into my eyes and told me that we are the Comoni.