Snake Charmer

Janelle and Asher encounter the Snake Charmer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP36MNKNhv0

Snake Charmer

                I looked silently at the cobra on the ground before me, mesmerized by the sleek muscles rippling beneath the scaly skin. The soft sound of a flute entered my mind, drawing my attention from the serpent to its master. An old, ill-looking man held the wooden instrument to his lips. The instrument morphed while he played it, piquing my interest. I heard the sounds of older drums and string instruments, each of them coming from the single tool the man held.

                “Janelle, what the hell are you doing?” Asher asked me when I knelt down and picked up the hissing cobra. It flared out that signature hood, opening its mouth wide to hiss, but the man with the wooden instrument, the Snake Charmer, changed his tune a little and the snake looked to him. When I picked it up, it didn’t make a sound to protest, wrapping lightly around my arm with his body draped around my neck like a living scarf. The snake didn’t seem to care at all, as mesmerized by the music as I was. From the single instrument, I could hear the old drums, the flute-like tune and voices. “Janelle, get back here!” Asher had been all for this place a little while ago, but now that things were getting weird, he wanted out. How typical.

                “Come on, Asher. What’s the worst that can happen here?” I said, laughing at the fear in his eyes. He wanted nothing to do with the bony, scrawny old man or the cobra wrapped around my neck. I felt the snake tilt its head and sway with the music, finding myself doing the same. If I closed my eyes, I could see the entire group that created the hypnotic music. I felt as though I was one with the snake around me. I could feel more than the snake’s physical being; I could feel his soul, hear his thoughts and see through his eyes if I tried hard enough. I’d apparently lost track of time because now, we were right in front of the old man. I could see his bones beneath his flesh, the muscle apparently dissolved over years of disuse. I was swaying a little bit to the music, just like the snake on my shoulders, and the man was doing the same. I had a feeling that he wasn’t following us, but we were the ones following him. Mimicking his motions, entranced by the music he played.

                “I don’t want to stay here, Janelle. We should get out of here. I have a really bad feeling about this guy.” I found myself laughing again at his discomfort. This man, he couldn’t have hurt us if he wanted to. Any movement outside that instrument of his would probably break a few bones if he wasn’t careful, so he couldn’t be a physical threat. He reached his hand out, a frail-looking, dainty little thing, and touched the snake’s head, which was right next to mine, its eyes level with my own. The cobra’s tongue flicked out, tasting the air around it before moving from where it perched on my shoulders to wrap around the old man’s hand. Even with his hand away from the instrument, he managed to keep the repetitive, hypnotic melody going.

                “Go ahead and leave, then. I like it here.” I did like it with the snake and the old man. His instrument fascinated me, the serpent’s beauty left me in awe. The snake slipped gracefully into the same position he’d assumed with me, wrapping around the old man’s thin neck and raising his head to move with the music. I saw Asher dash passed me, wanting to get far from the snake charmer and his pet. I was content to spend a little more time listening to the charmer’s song, so I stayed there and watched the intricately carved instrument, almost able to see the music the drifted from it. I felt like all I had done was close my eyes for a second, but when I opened my eyes, any traces of daylight were gone and the charmer was staring intently at me. He was holding out the flute, music still emanating from it, despite the fact that he couldn’t play it. When I looked down, he placed the middle of the wooden instrument in my palm, then vanished. He was gone. And I was alone in the shadows. The nearest light was a carousel, so I walked into the growing darkness with his charmed flute in my hand, the whisper of the melody still playing faintly with the wind.

Author's Note

Kinda rushed, but whatever. Came out okay, at least.

Reviews

[Brittany]

creepy. Interesting that she changed her attitude. I was surprised Asher left her.

[MOON]

Lovely , interesting write.

[Brianna Van Zandt]

Thank you.

[Anonymous Girl]

Wow! Mysterious! Wondering what will happen now!?
Keep going!
100/100

[Brianna Van Zandt]

Thank you! Up next is Shadows Fall. Do you listen to the song when you read these?

[Anonymous Girl]

No, but will do :)

[Brianna Van Zandt]

It is not mandatory. I was just curious.

[Anonymous Girl]

Its okay I will though :)

[Brianna Van Zandt]

Ok