“Santer on out here sweety.” I entered the hallway out the back of the kitchen to find the two snake women gathered around a door. The blonde was dragging her nails down the door. “Stop shivering sweetheart.”

“I can smell his sweat.” The redhead said peeking under the door. “So, satisfying.”

I walked up as quietly as I could so as not to be heard. I pondered who was hiding behind the door.

“So sad isn’t it, Vada?” The blonde said, “Such beautiful hair and spectacular chest.” I figured at this point they must have Verim cornered in the closet. Only the centaur had beautiful hair. I covered my mouth to keep from chuckling.

“Seriously Venus,” Vada fanned her face with her hand, “I’m simply smitten.” She winked at her friend.

The women were attractive. Lipstick, slender waists, and sleek shoulders. Their hair was braided from the top of their heads, and they wore earrings and necklaces. Their nails were painted, and their blouses were a soft silk material. Their tails though were long and made my skin crawl. The red scales shone in the dim light of the hallway and made me feel as if I were feet away from two red anacondas.

“Squeeze on out here so we can slather you in salty kisses.” Venus hissed through the door.

I placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “Salutations.” I mocked. They both whirled around with wide eyes. “Sisters?” I rose my brow at their matching blue eyes.

“You startled us.” Vada the redhead cupped a hand over her heart. From the side of my eye, I noticed her tail gathering around behind me. I gritted my teeth and wrapped two hands around her throat and two more around her sister’s.

I leaned forward until I could see my yellow eyes glowing in theirs. “Slither on before I slice the heart out of your slimy chest.” I clenched my hands until their faces were red. Her tail withdrew and I released shoving them back against the door. “I will not be mocked. Don’t try and sneak up on me or I will tear your tails from your torsos and make puppets of your pretty faces.”

“What do we call a four-armed orc with a severe sentiment sister?” Venus asked not taking her eyes off mine.

“Same as a hostile badger, my salacious sister,” Vada answered also not allowing her eyes to stray.

“Well,” I clenched my fists and allowed the shade tail to unravel, “spare me the suspense.” I felt my eyes turn to fire. “What do you call me?”

“Sir.” They said in unison and smiled but their eyes hid a hint of mockery. “So, we shall slide off sir.” Venus finished.

“See you soon ladies.” I watched them sway side to side as they made their way to the kitchen. Vada tossed her long red braids to the side and looked over her shoulder into my eyes then dropped her eyes to her butt as she disappeared around the corner.

I stood for several moments looking at the kitchen doors swinging back and forth. “You can come out now Verim.”

The door crept open, closed, then crept open again. “How did you know it was me?” Verim said through the crack.

“I caught on at the beautiful hair part.” I stepped back from the door. “They aren’t here anymore.”

His head popped out the door and looked both ways. I watched his face relax as the door opened. He stepped out and smoothed his long black hair with his hands. “I hate Echidna.” He grimaced. He shook off the willies and looked both ways in the hall again.

“Just stay out of the kitchen for now,” I recommended. “They were pretty hot though, and they seemed to like you.” I gave him a soft punch in the shoulder.

“Shut up.” He mumbled.

“Easy with the S words.” I started walking down the hall again toward the rear of the ship. “You s-s-sound like the snake women.”

Verim looked back at the kitchen again and shuffled after me. “They might hear you.” He murmured.

“Scared?” I pretended to bite my nails. “Is it the scales? Or the way they s-speak?”

“Stop it.” Verim punched me in the upper arm. “I’m going to have to check under my bed before I go to sleep the rest of my life.”

I turned and placed a finger on his lips. “Shhh, your secret is safe with me, sexy stallion.”

“You should have stayed with the Shade, or the Crocodiles. At least they could stomach your stupidity.” Verim flinched as he said the words as if I might strike him.

“You serenade me with your songs of worship.” I covered my heart with my lower two arms as I spread my upper arms and danced across the hallway. “Speak on sweet sorrow, slather me in serene slanders of glory.”

Verim laughed. I batted my eyelashes, and he doubled over in laughter. “You seduce me sire with your ambiance. You subdue me with your gallant menace.” He joined me in my exaggerated arms wide dance.

We laughed together mocking the women’s speech as we danced down the hallway as nobles in an ancient ballroom. Then we came to the boiler room. The sign was posted on the door with warnings of the volatility of the equipment inside. We took a moment to collect ourselves and shoved open the door.