Monster's Genie

Selis stood near the entrance of the village, her serpentine tail hidden under the illusion of her human legs. She looked rather uncomfortable to walk with legs, but she knew she had no choice but get used to it.

The humans moved about, talking and laughing, their gazes occasionally darting toward her and Jinnara. Though these villagers didn't seem hostile, she still felt the familiar weight of their disdain. Lamia were never welcome among humans, and the centuries of hatred were hard to ignore.

They didn't know she was a lamia but in Selis eyes, they were looking at her like she was some kind of an evil being and that bothered her more than anything.

"When did they start hating us? When did we start hating them? I don't get-" She was thinking, but looking at Jinnara walking ahead of her, Selis understood that she had to move along. 

"We shouldn't linger here," Selis muttered, her golden eyes scanning the villagers warily.

Jinnara, tall and imposing, ignored her. His sharp features were unreadable, but his eyes roamed the village with calculated intent. He had an air of someone who didn't belong yet feared nothing.

"We're looking for the collectors," he said, his voice cold and firm. "We need answers. These villagers will know because this is the only place where you can safely exit the forest."

Selis glanced at him but didn't respond. She knew better than to argue with him. Instead, her attention was drawn to a small boy darting between the villagers, laughing as he chased after another child.

Jinnara strode forward and stopped the boy in his tracks. "You. Come here."

The boy froze, his eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and fear. "Y-yes?"

"Do you know anything about the collectors? They were strong humans carrying monsters. Did you see them?" Jinnara asked, his tone direct and unwavering.

The boy blinked, confusion etched across his face. "The collectors? I don't know anything about them. Can I go now? My friend's waiting for me." He shifted nervously, ready to bolt.

Selis felt a pang of unease as she watched Jinnara's expression darken. Before she could react, Jinnara's hand shot out and rested on the boy's head. At first, it looked like a gentle gesture, but then his nails dug into the child's scalp as they got longer and longer.

"Stop!" Selis shouted, her voice trembling.

Blood spilt from the boy's head, and he collapsed to the ground, lifeless. A crimson pool formed beneath him as screams erupted from the villagers. Panic spread like wildfire, and people began shouting and grabbing whatever weapons they could find.

Selis's hands flew to her mouth as she stared at the boy's motionless body. "Why… why did you do that?" she stammered, her voice breaking.

Jinnara turned to her, his expression void of any remorse. "Why not?"

"He was just a child!" she shouted, her eyes filled with fear and confusion. "An innocent child!"

Jinnara's gaze was sharp and unyielding. "A human child. The same kind that kidnapped your young ones. Don't act so righteous, Selis. I know you've tasted human flesh before. Don't pretend you're any different from me. Did you think I wouldn't notice all the human bones in your village? Humans hate you because you eat humans. You hate humans because they hunt you for materials. None of you're at fault. It is how this world works."

Selis stumbled back, her mind reeling. "But… but he was just a kid. He didn't do anything to us."

Jinnara shrugged. "Life is life. A human is a human, no matter their age. They're all capable of the same cruelty, same thoughts."

The villagers, now armed with pitchforks, hoes, and other tools, began advancing toward them, their faces twisted in fury and fear seeing Jinnara's long nails.

"They're coming," Selis whispered, panic creeping into her voice.

Jinnara didn't even flinch. He made his nails even longer, the shine of the nails glinting ominously in the sunlight. "Let them come."

What followed was chaos.

Selis couldn't bring herself to fight. She stood frozen in the midst of it all, her heart pounding as screams and the clash of metal filled the air. Jinnara moved like a storm, cutting down anyone who dared approach him. Blood splattered across the ground, staining the earth red.

"Monster...monster! Leave us alone," One of the farmers shouted, while charging Jinnara with a pitchfork and he couldn't even react before his head fell on the ground. 

Behind Jinnara, a boy no older than twelve crept forward, clutching a makeshift spear. His face was pale, tears streaming down his cheeks, but his grip was steady. He charged, shouting with all the courage his small body could muster.

*Sobs

"You...killed my sister," He shouted from the top of his lungs.

Jinnara didn't even turn. Without looking, he swept his nails backwards, impaling the child mid-scream. The boy dropped the spear as blood soaked through his tunic.

"Inefficient, if you are going to attack from behind you should do it in silence," Jinnara said, finally turning to look at the dying child. 

In another corner, a woman was holding a child who was crying in fear, but Jinnara saw no reason to let them live. What could they accomplish? They would die someday anyway, so it made no difference. Whether they died by his hand, by natural causes, or by disease, it was all the same to Jinnara.

The villagers didn't stand a chance. One by one, they fell, their cries for mercy unanswered. Some tried to flee, but Jinnara was relentless. He hunted them down with a precision that made Selis's stomach churn. By the time the dust settled, the village was eerily silent.

Selis's hands trembled as she looked around. Bodies lay scattered across the village, their lifeless eyes staring at nothing. The stench of blood was overwhelming.

She gasped, her knees threatening to give way. This wasn't just a battle. It was a massacre.

Jinnara stood in the centre of the carnage, wiping his bails clean. He seemed completely unbothered by the massacre he had just committed. Turning to one of the corpses, he crouched down and used the same create undead spell. "The collectors have already left for the capital," he said, his voice as calm as if he were discussing the weather.

Selis stared at him in disbelief. "You… you killed them all," she whispered.

Jinnara rose to his full height and met her gaze. "They would've done the same to you and your tribe if given the chance." 

"Don't be a hypocrite. Kill each other, kill for your gains because, in this world, it is the survival of the fittest. Chaos is not bad, evil is not bad. Killing is what you should do for yourself." Selis didn't understand what Jinnara was muttering to her.

"Your weakness, your sympathy will be the end of you. If you want to accomplish something be cruel and take what you want. There is no sin in that,"

Without another word, he turned and began walking toward the road leading out of the village.

Selis remained rooted to the spot, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She looked at the devastation around her, her heart heavy with guilt and sorrow. The villagers had been ordinary people, not the hunters who targeted their kind. How could Jinnara be so heartless?

But then again she knew Jinnara was right. They had indeed fed their tribe on humans that were lost in the forest. So did she really have the authority to get sad at this scenery?

As much as she hated what he had done, she couldn't ignore the fact that he was her only lead to finding the collectors and rescuing the lamia children they had taken. If she returned to her tribe, she'd be abandoning them to their fate. But if she followed Jinnara, she'd be walking alongside the real evil.

Selis suddenly opened her eyes with determination, she went back to her lamia form.

Her tail coiled tightly as she struggled with the decision. She glanced toward the road where Jinnara had disappeared and then back at the bloodied village. Finally, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I can't let him do this alone," she murmured to herself. "Not when our children's lives are at stake."

Steeling herself, Selis slithered out of the village and onto the path. Jinnara was already far ahead, his figure barely visible against the horizon. She quickened her pace, determined to catch up. She had made her choice. For better or worse, she would follow him—not out of loyalty, but to ensure the survival of her people.