A wide smile spread across the serpent’s face as he slowly reeled his head back, luring the woman further along his scaled staircase. Kaa couldn’t help it; it was just so satisfying to see his hypnosis turn this would-be jungle girl into a smiling, submissive slave to his every whim. He knew that some of these humans even found his eyes and coils especially…enticing, and he was only happy to oblige. Rina had been rather open, even eager, from the start – though her brief resistance had been unexpected.

I’ll sssoon fix that, Kaa chuckled to himself as he continued leading the spiral-eyed señorita ever higher into his tree. With a bit more conditioning, she would never think of a world outside his coils again.

Yesss, little flower, he thought, beckoning her towards his colorful eyes.

You will never have to think of leaving thisss jungle.

You’ll never have to think at all…

Rina stepped lightly, the soft scales on her bare feet teasing her tired soles. She had been thoroughly exhausted from days of lengthy walking, the blow-up with Shanai, and her swirling, anxious feelings toward the woman who was her best friend. It was so comforting, so relieving to let it all be washed away—to let herself be swept up into Kaa’s irresistible eyes.

Kaa…

She shivered, her body still recalling the pleasure she felt, bound and stroked by him. The colorful spirals beckoned her forward. Coaxing her subconscious. Seducing her senses. Rina blushed, her feet moving forward on their own as she let herself be pulled along further.

Further up the tree…

Further along the scales…

Further under Kaa’s spell…

Rina smiled at the thought. She could trus—but, oh? A voice was speaking again. A soft, commanding, sibilant voice…

“It isss getting late, and you’ve wandered sssoo far, haven’t you, little one?”

“Yu-yesssh…” Rina’s mouth unstuck itself with effort.

“It’ss no wonder you’re ssssooooo sssleeeepy…”

She yawned, the spirals in her eyes slowing ever-so-briefly as they blinked.

“Yesss….sssooo very, ssSSsssSSsleeeeeepyyyy…” Kaa continued in a long, slow hiss, as if to wrap the words entirely around her suggestible subconscious.

Rina was dimly aware of her eyelids drooping. They felt so heavy. But, I have to...have to keep looking…those eyes, ohhhhhh…

Her yawn morphed into a soft moan, eyes nearly closing. She swayed, still on unsteady footing. Before the woman could fall, however, she felt muscled coils encircle her neck. A reassuring squeeze, and her spiraling eyes shot open. She’d reached the branch, toes gripping on well-worn bark. Kaa loomed over her, holding the smiling slave-girl by her coil collar. Rina leaned forward in his grip, trying to absorb more and more of those seductive colors.

“Now, now, didn’t I sssaay it wass rude to break eye contact when I’m ssspeaking to you?” the tail-tip playfully ruffled the back of his prey’s hair as he teased.

“Su..Soorry-ULP!” Rina flushed once more as Kaa gave another tug, momentarily tightening her collar. Her body found its footing, awareness creeping into her balance as she stood suddenly at attention.

“That’sss better…” Kaa pulled away, leaving Rina standing board-stiff on the branch. “Ssssooon enough you’ll sssleeeep, ssaaafe with me, but firssst…”

He draped his tail down over her like a friendly arm, pulling the spellbound woman closer. “We have much to do, my little jungle girl.”

Rina’s hips ground against one another again. Her arms found the sliding coils, stroking them softly. She bit her lip as the soft scales glided over her breasts, teasing already-firm nipples.

“I firssst ssspied you in my jungle some days ago,” The serpent continued, hunger in his eyes, “And I knew that I sssimply mussssst have you…” he nodded at the hopelessly entranced woman, her head helplessly following as she blushed a deeper shade of red.

“You were performing…quite a lovely dancssse, if I recall…”

“Yeeahh…”

Kaa leaned in to whisper into her ear.

“Ssshow me, little flower…”

Rina nodded dreamily. In her mind, a tune began to play, a seductive melody that she’d unknowingly conditioned herself with for months. She planted her feet, hips beginning to rock in time with the imagined beat. Arms lifted slowly, suggestively. Her fingertips brushed over the coils draping her shoulders, until they completed a wide arc up over her head.

Yes…dance for Kaa..

I trusst in you…

OoohhHhh…jussst in you…

Her nerves were aflame once more, but somehow, she felt fully at ease. She’d been training all this time, after all. Practicing for this moment, even if she hadn’t realized it. All those nights, learning the steps, perfecting her hip drops and belly rolls, shakes and shimmying, often to a favorite tune. All of it had led her to this…

Led her to Kaa…

Her hands began to weave sultry patterns in the air as she stepped. Through her hypnotic haze, she shot the serpent a dreamy, spiral-eyed smolder.

“Yess…Massssster…”

“Oh? Mmhhmmhmm, I do like that sssound of that.” Kaa leaned back, letting his own eyes return to their normal yellow hue as he relaxed, watching his plaything’s private performance.

The woman shimmied along the branch with surprising grace. Along her shoulders the bulk of scaled muscle rested, deftly supported by the dancer. She rocked her hips, a sultry smile on her lips as though she was meant for this very moment. In her own mind, a cloud of colors ensnared her every thought. There was nothing but the spirals, nothing but Kaa…and the endless bliss of obedience. Every now and again, a few stray words would float in through the haze, each one becoming a natural part of Rina’s new purpose—her new identity.

Trust in Kaa…

Lissten to his words…

Obey the colors…

Love the coilss…

Lusst…in me…

And on she danced, as time lost all meaning. With each step, more and more of Rina’s old life was washed away, leaving a smiling, sexy slave-girl in her place, eager to please her serpentine master. The coils slid and shifted, tightening and loosening, but always binding her further. They seemed to grow heavier and heavier. She swayed, trying to balance the weight. Suddenly, Kaa’s voice was in her ear, the sensuous tone sending vibrations racing down her spine.

“Sssuch a good girl…you mussst nearly be ready…”

R-ready..? For…what…?

A tight squeeze rippled down from Rina’s neck to her ankles, all bound in thick coils of muscle. She gasped, and shuddered in the scaly embrace. Kaa’s forked tongue found her sensitive ears again.

“Sssoooon, pleasssure will be allllllll you know…”

A second shudder rolled through Rina, her legs twitching as much as they could in their coiled prison. She bit her lip, eyes rolling into the back of her head.

“All you need to do…iss sssurrender to me…”

Rina’s mind, so thoroughly overwhelmed and conditioned over the last few hours, crumbled. “Y-yy-yyeesss, Mm-mmaasssttterr!” she squeaked out, convulsing at the accompanying jolt of pleasure that coursed through her.

Kaa hissed another laugh, brushing back his pet jungle girl’s bangs affectionately. “Jussst what I wissshed to hear, my lovely jungle flower…”

---

Later…

Soft sounds of the lazy afternoon drifted through the jungle. Birds sang, monkeys chittered. A distant waterfall roared in frothy tumult. In a quiet patch of greenery, tucked away up in a tree, a human woman slept peacefully, wrapped in the coils of a massive python. Snoring softly, the woman straddled the branch with a dreamy smile on her face, as though all her cares and worries had simply vanished. Atop her head, an equally unbothered face—this one much more serpentine—snoozed.

A few yards away in another tree, watching them both, was another human. Shanai knelt down and made some mental calculations, a look of concentration on her face. She turned and tugged a length of vine she’d tied around the trunk. Satisfied, she looked over at the sleeping pair once more, her expression unreadable.

Okay, only one shot at this. Here goes—

She swung off the branch, gripping the vine.

A whoosh of air, and Kaa’s dreams shifted into a light doze. A primal scream, however, jolted him wide awake. He looked around, frantically, his neck extending up from where it had been resting atop his sleeping catch. The noise drew closer.

“huh-wha--*SMACK*

And he crumpled to the branch, stars dancing in his vision.

Shanai dropped onto the branch, throwing out her arms to steady herself. She looked over at the unconscious Kaa and whistled, impressed that she’d managed to plant a heel right into his face. Remembering what she needed to do, however, she turned towards Rina.

The woman looked fast asleep: hair tousled from all manner of activities, and a wide, satisfied smile on her face as she sat wrapped in a loose blanket of coils. Shanai knelt down and started to pull them off.

“Rina? Rina! Rina, c’mon, wake up!”

Rina gave no reply.

Shanai shook her, urgency creeping into her voice. “Rina!!! Rina, you HAVE TO WAKE UP!!”

Nothing. Shanai carefully lifted an eyelid, revealing endless loops of colors, spiraling outward from where Rina’s pupil should have been.

Shanai’s breath caught. She shook her friend harder, gripping as tight as she dared, but to no avail – Rina slept on, as if enchanted.

At last, Shanai sank down, holding Rina’s limp form in her arms. A few tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Rina, please…please, wake up…I’m so sorry. I never meant to chase you away…”

---

A colorful fog enveloped the woman. It was warm, and soft. It surrounded her completely -- just like her master. She was safe here, she knew.

She floated on a mist of silver, carried along by a gentle current. Ahead of her the endless pattern of colors played their constant drumbeat just for her: blue, yellow, purple, then blue again…

She sighed in utter contentment. She didn’t know how long she’d been here, but she couldn’t remember ever being so relaxed, so at peace. Eventually, she’d be woken up, and she would see to master’s pleasure once more, but that was only natural for a slave-girl like her.

All she had to do was obey, and that was easy. In fact, it was downright amazing! Even thinking about it made the woman squirm with another jolt of pleasure. Who she had been before didn’t matter now—she had everything she needed here, and master would always look after—

“Rina!”

What was that?

“Rina, please!”

Someone…else was speaking to her. It didn’t sound like her master, though. She furrowed her brow. And who was—

“Rina, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to chase you away!”

Wait, that’s…

“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, I’m sorry I made you feel ashamed!”

That voice… I have to, have to remember—

“I’m here for you! I’ll always be here for you!”

That’s Shanai…!

“ I—I couldn’t say it before, but I…Rina, I love you. I’ve always loved you…”

The spirals were fading. Up ahead, the woman could almost make out a face, holding her close.

Shan, I…

“So please, Rina! Please…come back to me...”

I-I’ve got to--

The fog lifted. Rina’s eyes shot open. Above her, Shanai floated into view, a breathless smile of relief on her tear-soaked face. Rina reached up, and stroked her cheek tenderly.

“Hey, Shan…” She smiled weakly.

Her friend seemed lost for words. Rina gulped, and took a leap of faith.

“You—you love me?”

“You heard that? Oh, Rina—” Shanai looked like she was bracing for rejection. Rina recognized the feeling, and with the realization, the spark of quiet hope that had been waiting for its chance within her roared into a blaze. She smiled softly, and leaned forward.

“I love you, too.”

---

As the sun set overhead, the two lovers were bathed in its comforting glow. Hearts pounding and hands intertwined, they walked together to the edge of the jungle. Up ahead, they could smell the unmistakable aroma of cook-fires, and see the first of several thatch huts. Laughing with relief, they turned to embrace one another.

At last, Shanai broke the hug, holding Rina’s face in her hands. For a moment, they simply stared at one another, eyes twinkling. Unconsciously, a few rings of color passed through them both, momentarily overtaking their vision, before disappearing again. Then, Rina grinned mischievously and said, “Well…good vacation, but I think I’m ready to head home, babe.”

Shanai gave her a look, then burst out laughing. “You always take me to the nicest places!” she put her arm through Rina’s. “But all right, take me home!” she added with a wink.

Then laughing, they turned and walked out of the jungle.

Some miles away, a serpent with a rather-bruised snout was coming to. Blinking the remaining stars from his vision, he stretched his neck, craning to smell the air. Faintly, he thought he could detect two very familiar humans, somewhere along the very edge of the jungle. Their scents were so close, they seemed intermingled.

Kaa reacted to this news rather unexpectedly. He simply smiled knowingly, and began gathering himself up for a properly uninterrupted siesta. The last few days had been quite exhausting, in truth. He’d need to eat soon, but for now, a good night’s sleep would do. As he nodded off, he mumbled “You’re welcome, Ssshanai...

“I’ll sssseee you both again, sssooooon…”