As Kokila was sitting on the grass in a clearing listening to the jungle's night sounds and looking at the plants, stars, and moon, she thought she heard something in the trees to her front and left. Then out of the trees came the biggest tiger Kokila had ever seen! She jumped up and pulled out on of her non-lethal darts. The princess froze as she reached for the blowpipe. The tiger had stopped half way across the clearing and was staring, directly at her. The young woman's hands shook as she looked into the tigers yellow feline eyes, knowing that she could never get her blowpipe in time.
"I'm sorry Shardul," she said, her voice shook a bit, adressing the tiger, " I meant no direspect, you took me by suprise is all."
Was it a trick of the moonlight or did the tiger wink at her? Then the tiger silently walked off into the night. Kokila heaved a huge sigh of relief. Now she definatly had to head back to the village, before her father became too worried.
Before she could move so much as an inch, she heard a loud hissing sound. It startled her so badly that when she reached for he blowpipe, as she spun around, it went flying out of reach. The princess gasped when she saw what it was that had made the sound. It was a Phanishwar, on of the kings of serpents, and this one was at least 20 feet long maybe more! Phaishwar was renowned for his cunning. He was sly, and legend said he had mysterious powers.
I will have to be careful not to be tricked by him Kokila thought as she maintained eye contact to keep watch on the large snake. How strange she thought as she stared into his eyes, they seem to be shifting colour. It's so pretty. She found herself unable to break eye contact. It's hypnotising me! She realized too late.
Kokila's mind seemed to glaze over as she watched the dizzying rings of mesmerizing colour in Phanishwar's eyes, and a feeling of peace seemed to come over her. Why had she been afraid? She asked herself this creature was obviously her friend. She continued to look into those eyes completely entranced.
"What a lovely child," the snake crooned. This startled Kokila and brought her slightly back to her senses, "But, what are you doing alone in the jungle ssso late at night?"
Kokila could not answer, though she tried, she could not move at all it was as though her whole body had been paralized.
"Come clossser, let me look at you." He whispered and becond to her with his tail. Kokila was compelled to obey, but she managed to stay put and shake her head slightly. Then the snake began to sway its head from side-to-side, like the pendulum the tribe's medacine man used to put people into trances or to sleep while he healed them. Kokila couldn't help it, as she began to sway rythmically with the snake.
He's so graceful and beautiful, she thought as she smiled dreamily at the snake, her own eyes reflecting the rings of colour in his. Phanishwar slithered his head a little bit closer.
"Trussst me, Kokila, I will not hurt you." He hissed his voice was melodious and charming, almost like he was half singing to her.
How does it know my name? Kokila asked silently, but as she continued to look into those beautiful eyes she decided she didn't care.
"I want to help you." The large python continued, "I have ssseen how you love the jungle. Would you like to ssstay here forever?" he asked as he nodded his head so did Kokila, following his eyes.
"Then you mussst trussst me." He hissed charmingly as the princess still smiled dreamily, spellbound by his eyes and soothing, charming voice.
"Come to me, Kokila, trusst me. I will help you. I will be your friend." He said as he beckoned to her a second time.
This time Kokila, now completely helpless, came unable to resist Phanishwar's charming sibilance. Soon there was only a couple of feet seperating her from the serpents triangular head. Then the snake's coils came from behind and began to bind her. Starting at her thighs they snaked up her body coil after coil. They trapped her arms, which were hanging limply, to her sides. Kokila noticed their cool smoothness on her bare arms and tummy. This sensation should have terrified her, sent her into a panic. The fact it didn't testified to how deeply the serpitine being had mesmerized her, in fact she found the sensation rather soothing. Kokila's mind was now completely blank, she could not think of anything but his voice and his eyes. The princess had totally forgotten her danger she was simply happy to stare onto those eyes and listen to Phanishwar's sibilant, charming words.