[CHAPTER 11.2: THE SNAKE]
"I will break your legs if you try to run away." He warned.
"How can I outrun a snake?" Bella scoffed.
Mihaje glared at her briefly before dragging her out of the wagon. How on land is this female not afraid of him at all? He thought. He smirked underneath his mask.
The path was definitely blocked. A huge tree had fallen and the wagon could not go through. They could not waste time so Mihaje decided to leave the wagon behind. Mihaje placed Bella on the back of one of the giant komodo dragons that were pulling the wagon after having his subordinates putting the saddles on them, and he too, climbed on the back of the giant reptile.
Mihaje tied another rope around Bella to his waist so that she won't fall off during the ride. The rope was so tight, Bella's face was pressed against Mihaje's chest. She writhed restlessly, trying to get herself into a comfortable position.
"Stop moving, female." Mihaje's cold voice sounded above her.
Bella lifted her face and gazed up. Mihaje's blood red eyes were glaring down at her. His face was so close she could hear his slow but fierce breathing inside his mask.
"Unless you kill me, I can move however I want. When I want to." Bella blew the strands of her hair that fell on her face as she spoke nonchalantly.
Mihaje stared at her, his snake eyes were like two pools of blood, cold and dangerously creepy. He didn't utter a word, instead, he raised his face up and focused on the path ahead.
"What clan are you from?"
After a while, Mihaje suddenly spoke. Bella raised her face to look at him again. Mihaje had his eyes focused to the front and both his hands were holding the leash.
"Not a slithering snake, that's for sure."
Mihaje hissed in displeasure. He then kept quiet. But after a while, he asked again,
"If you are not a tiger, then what are you?"
"Why do you want to know? It's not like it's your concern. You're going to kill me anyway."
Mihaje hissed again.
"Hyah!" He shouted as he slammed the leash in his hand, signaling the komodo dragon to go faster.
"Ah!" Bella's face was slammed harshly against Mihaje's strong muscular chest as the giant lizard they were on galloped faster. Her long black hair got messed up by the wind and she cursed.
They were almost at the border between the Ra's and the Moro's territories. Mihaje raised a fist, halted his troops.
"Set up tents. We will continue at dawn." Mihaje ordered.
"But, general, the Ra might be able to catch up..." The lizard who spoke immediately lowered his head when met with Mihaje's cold glare, "Yes, general."
"Let me down!!" Bella struggled like a worm when Mihaje carried her on his shoulder as soon as the tent was set up. She could see the lecherous looks on all the lizards' faces as Mihaje carried her into one of the tents. Bella kicked the air behind her, annoying Mihaje.
"Auch!" She yelped when her butt cheek was slapped.
"Fuckin'bastard! You perverted snake!!" She cursed.
"Bring food and drinks." Mihaje ordered his subordinates after he threw Bella on the floor of the tent.
"I will not eat food served by the likes of you!" She snarled.
Mihaje scoffed. He squatted down to face her as he said,
"Who says it is for you?"
... Fuck!
Bella's face was reddened in anger and embarrassment.
"Beg. And I will consider giving you some." Mihaje leaned close, grasping her jaw with his large hand. His pale fingers were icy cold against her face, yet surprisingly soft and smooth.
Bella tried to headbutt him again but this time, her attempt was unsuccessful. Mihaje hissed harsh and long as he grasped her face tighter and leaned even closer to whisper in Bella's ear,
"That trick will not work the second time."
*****
Gaharu's loud growl echoed throughout the palace after he had learned what happened. As soon as he reached the palace, Satria and Abnaki ran and kneeled before him. Satria was wounded yet not severely. Abnaki explained to Gaharu that they were surrounded and ambushed, and the Moro troops managed to take Bella away. They thought Moro's target was the palace, but strangely, they only took Bella and escaped.
Sora who was also there clenched his hands into tight fists as he pursed his lips. How could this happen? Why would the Moro kidnap a weak female like Bella? Did they know she was Gaharu's? Is that why?
A soldier came in to tell the news from Leopard Fortress. Apparently, the fortress was also attacked. Fortunately, they had successfully defended the fortress and the Moro retreated.
"Gather all troops. We will attack their main tonight."
"My lord, chances to win are low. We cannot underestimate their power. Their poisonous blades are something we still have yet to overcome." Sora pointed out.
"Then what am I supposed to do? Wait? For what? Bella is in their hands!"
"I will come up with something, my lord. Please be patient." Abnaki said.
Gaharu slammed his fist onto the stone table of the meeting hall and broke it to pieces. His knuckles bled from the cuts but he ignored it. This was nothing compared to the painful uneasiness he was feeling right now.
Bella...
*****
Bella refused to eat or drink. Mihaje had curtains installed for him to have his meal.
"Ceh." Bella scoffed. He probably has an ugly face that he doesn't want others to see when he takes his mask off.
"What's with all the hassle? Are you that ugly that you're afraid others might see your face?" Bella snickered.
"Mind your tongue." Mihaje's voice sounded from behind the curtains.
"Why should I? It's not like I have a forked tongue."
"What does that even mean?"
Bella bit her lips. The aroma of the barbecued meat filled her nose. Fuck. She realized she was actually hungry. The sound of Mihaje munching loudly made things worse.
"Are you not hungry?" Mihaje asked from behind the curtains.
"Why does it concern you? Wouldn't it be better to just starve me to death?"
"You are no use to me if you die now."
Bella stayed quiet. Her stomach was rumbling and she was trying to ignore the hunger. The curtains were pulled and Mihaje, with his mask on, walked out. He brought a plate of meat towards Bella.
"Eat. You will need the energy to curse and annoy me." He said.
Bella sat quietly as she watched Mihaje placing the wooden plate in front of her.
"What do you take me as, a fuckin' dog? How am I supposed to eat if I'm tied like this?"
Mihaje thought for a while. He was trying to process the words she just said. Forking dock...? What does that mean? Mihaje hissed silently before taking a piece of meat from the plate and brought it to Bella's mouth.
"No! You didn't even wash your fuckin'hands!That's-"
Without waiting for Bella to finish, Mihaje shoved the piece of meat into her babbling mouth. Even with his mask on, Bella could see that he was smirking in satisfaction.
"You...!" Bella wanted to curse, but the meat in her mouth was so good she couldn't help herself. The barbecued meat was nothing like the meat she had tasted in the Tiger Palace. This meat was full of flavor, so tender and juicy.
Mihaje watched as Bella swallowed the meat in her mouth before he took another piece and fed her again. Piece by piece, finally Bella finished the whole plate of it.
"I will not thank you for that." Bella murmured after burping. She tried to act shamelessly but she was obviously flustered.
Mihaje scoffed as he shook his head slightly, wiping his hand with a piece of cloth before tossing it away over his shoulder.
"You should be grateful I even gave you food." He uttered.
"And why should I?"
"Because snakes never showed mercy."
Bella bit her lips. Mihaje's words sounded like a threat.
"And, just so you know, I washed my hands." Mihaje squinted his eyes as he stretched out his hand to touch Bella's face. She had a little stain on the corner of her mouth, some of the meat gravy. His thumb rubbed against the corner of her lips, slowly touching her soft red lips with the tip of his thumb, wiping off the gravy. Bella gasped at the touch of his cold hand. She stared back into his gleaming red irises. The look in his eyes somehow gentler than before.
Mihaje stared at her lips for quite a while. His eyes weren't blinking. He had seen those lips before. Her eyes... Those black sparkly orbs of hers. Strange, he had seen her face before. Or hadn't he?
No, he would know it if he had. But why did her face look familiar, when he was sure he had never seen such a face like hers before? 
"... What is your name?" He suddenly asked.
Bella pursed her lips as she stared at Mihaje's pale face. His perfect nose bridge was visible even under that mask of his. His thick straight red eyebrows were the same color with his long straight hair. His single eyelids made his wide eyes appear sharp and fierce. If he was human, he would be an Asian. Korean, definitely.
"Why the fuck would I tell you my name?"
Mihaje hissed long before he leaned close to her, 
"I will tell you what I am going to do with you, in return."
*****