Agan sat on the floor of his cell, crouched into a ball. His arms hugging his knees as he kept rocking back, and forth. He just kept hugging himself, and crying. He failed them, he had failed them all. The tour guides, his students, Eric, and of course Hailey, their fates were sealed all because of him.

Why didn't he heed the warnings that he had heard, when he grew up here? He never believed in the legendary sacred kingdom, or in the infamous Naga King. But not only does such a creature exist, said creature had used him as a pawn his entire life. And for what? Because of his being a monster's puppet, twelve people were dead. And the woman he loved, was going to be that beast's personal concubine.

As he continued to cry he all of sudden heard her sweet voice.

"What is this?", she cried.

"This is my present to you my dear," he explained. "One last goodbye." Tears began to run down her cheeks, as she called out to him.

"Agan!", cried Hailey. His face shot up, and for a brief moment he felt like smiling. That was until he saw that the naga beast was carrying her. Just like that, the brief second of joy that he felt soon turned into anger.

"Get your filthy claws off of her!", cried Agan.

"You are in no position to make demands, human.", the naga scoffed. He then gently lowered Hailey until her feet hit the floor. With that she ran over to Agan crying, as she grabbed the bars of his cell. Agan wrapped his hand around her's, and they stared at one another with bittersweet tear.

"Are you all right?", she asked.

"As best as could be expected," he replied. You look beautiful, by the way." She then looked at him, and gave him a teary smile.

"What, this old thing?", she asked. Both let out a slight chuckle at the same time, but he could see the sorrow in her eyes. Her smile then began to fade.

"W-where are the others?", she asked.

He could tell by the look on her face, that she was hoping that they were still alive. Agan then felt angry, and looked past her towards the naga.

"Why don't you ask him!", Agan growled.

Hailey shut her eyes, as tears continued to flow. Slowly she turned around, and faced her captor.

"What have you done?", she cried. With an actual look of sympathy in his eyes, he placed his right hand on her cheek.

"I'm sorry my dear," he replied. "but it had to be done."

"What—had—to—be—done?", she cried through gritted teeth.

"I am an immortal demigod, Hailey," he replied. "My mother was human, but my father was the snake god. I love you, and I won't lose you again—ever! My father agreed to grant you immortality, however there was a price."

"What kind of a price?", she asked.

"Ten human hearts," he told her. "However, I have collected twelve. More than enough to insure that you will be forever mine."

"Why don't you tell her that you ripped out their heats while they were still alive!", Agan spat.

"Oh my God!", she cried. "You're a horrible monster! Why? Why did you have to do that? I never wanted to be immortal! The thought of spending eternity with you—I mean, I might as well be in hell. You killed twelve innocent people, and it wasn't anything I even wanted. How could you?"

"Innocent?", he questioned, "You mean like that Neanderthal, John? The one who almost raped you!"

"Oh, I'm sorry!" , she cried. "I almost forgot, that's your job!"

"BASTARD!", cried Agan, "I knew you forced yourself on her."

"I didn't force myself on anyone!", growled the naga. "I merely took what was mine!"

"I AM NOT YOUS!", cried Hailey.

"This is my kingdom, my forest!", the naga replied, "Anyone who enters belongs to me! Your lives belong to me. I decide who lives, and who dies. This is my paradise! Here I am God!"

"You're a narcissistic megalomaniac!", Agan cried.

"One more word out of you, human," the naga growled. "And I will rip out your tongue! And I don't make threats!"

"No please!" , begged Hailey, "Please don't." She kept crying, as she begged him no to hurt Agan. It must have worked, because his face began to soften as he looked at her.

"All right my dear," the naga's replied, with a loving smile.

"What's going to happen to him?" She asked.

"Hailey!", cried Agan. "Don't-"

"Quiet!", exclaimed the naga. "You are already on thin ice. My love for Hailey is the only reason why you will not be sharing the same fate as the others."

"You won't kill him, like the others?", she asked, "You won't rip his heart out?"

"Not only will he not die like the other.", said the naga, "But I promise that I will let him go."

"He's lying Hailey!", cried Agan, "Don't listen to him! He said earlier that his father wants my heart most of all!"

"It's true, but my father has changed his mine.", said the naga, "so I will not rip out the heart of my little puppet, but there's a price. I didn't want you upset during the ceremony Hailey. So I was going to wait until after the wedding, to inform you of your friends' fates. But, I recently discovered that you can resist me. So, in exchange for my letting him go, you must willingly complete the joining ceremony with me. You must pledge your love, and yourself, to me for all eternity. Once you do that, I will let him go."

"No Hailey!", Agan exclaimed. "I'm not worth it! Besides he can't be trusted, he won't keep his word."

"As I told you before, my lamia queen," said the naga, "I promise I will never lie to you."

Hailey slowly turned around, and faced Agan. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She then stretched out her hand, gently stroked his face through the cell bars. With that she looked at him, and smiled.

"I can't let anymore people die," she said. "Especially you." Agan, was also crying profusely, as he placed his hand on top of hers. He closed his eyes, and kissed the palm of her hand.

"Hailey," cried Agan, "Eric wanted me to promise him something before he died. He wanted me to tell you the truth, about how I feel. I love you, Hailey. I've loved you since I first laid eyes on you." A bittersweet smile appeared on her face as she continued to cry."

"I love you to, Agan.", she replied.

The Naga king began to look angry, as he clinched both his fists and his jaw.

"Enough!", exclaimed the angry naga, "I am the only one who the lamia will love tonight!" The naga then gently swept up her hair, as he closed his eyes. He then brought her hair up close to his nose.

"You do smell divine my dear," the naga cooed, "I am more than looking forward to tonight. Of course your other locks of hair smell just as divine in their own right."

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!", cried Agan. "GET YOUR FUCKING FILTHY CLAWS OFF OF HER!"

The naga then let out an evil, maniacal laugh.

"You are too easy, human.", the naga scoffed. He then turned his attention to Hailey.

"Come my dear, it is time for us to go." The naga said to her. "We don't want to keep all of the wedding attendees waiting—do we? Guards!" With that he scooped Hailey up in his arms.

"No put me down!", she cried.

"Put her down, asshole!", cried Agan.

"Silence you worthless primate!", the naga cried. "How dare you address me in such a manner! As far as I am concerned you are the lowest form of life! Your life is worth less to me than the half human offspring, of the nagas that my father had turned into snakes!"

At that moment, two giant snakes came slithering in, as they both bowed in reverence to their king. "What is your bidding, your majesty?", they asked.

"Escort the prisoner to the top of the temple, where the wedding will be taking place." The Naga King answered.

He then looked at Agan, and gave him a triumphantly wicked smile.

"Congratulations, human. You're going to me my best man."