Damon Lopez

Damon hissed softly, curled up on under one of his hides. His long scaled tail was coiled perfectly under him. The Ghost of Taipan, that’s what he was called by the visitors. His species was unknown, just that he was some sort of Viper, and he refused all the female vipers he was offered. He shifted slightly and stretched, slithering out from the hide and looking up at the glass ceiling of his enclosure at the sun. He squinted, forked tongue flicking out to taste the air as he yawned, large fangs gleaming. His good eye trained on the glass wall as a few kids walked past the enclosure, adults gawking at his massive form as he slithered over the dirt and mulch. He moved around a tree, lowering his human half to rest on his tail. He groaned, rubbing his neck and the scars there. He decided to bask in the warmth of the sun, a rare pleasure for him. He slithered towards the sunlit spot in his enclosure, feeling the heat on his scales. As he settled down, he closed his eyes and let the sun's rays soak into his body, providing much-needed energy. The visitors passing by couldn't help but be captivated by Damon's majestic presence. Children pointed in awe, their eyes widening with excitement. Adults whispered amongst themselves, their curiosity piqued by the mysterious creature before them. Damon, however, remained indifferent to their attention, focusing solely on the soothing sensation of the sun on his scales. As he lay there, he couldn't help but reflect on his unusual existence. Being known as the Ghost of Taipan had its advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, it added an air of mystery and intrigue around him, making him even more alluring to the visitors. On the other hand, it made him feel isolated, as if he didn't quite belong anywhere. He knew exactly what he was and what he wasn’t, and he wasn’t interested in females. Not after all he’s gone through. He once had a mate, but she died. And so did his children. They all died in a brutal attack by humans. He had witnessed their lifeless bodies, the sight forever etched in his memory. It was a tragedy that fueled his anger and resentment towards humans. They had taken everything from him, leaving him alone in this enclosed space, forever labeled as the Ghost of Taipan. His heart ached with the loss, and he vowed to never let anyone close to him again.

As Damon lay in the sun, his mind wandered to the past. He remembered the days when he roamed freely in the wild, hunting for his meals and enjoying the thrill of the hunt. He was a predator, feared and respected by all who crossed his path. But now, confined within these glass walls, he felt like a mere spectacle, an object of curiosity for the amusement of others. The scars on his neck served as a constant reminder of the cruelty humans were capable of. They were a reminder of the pain and suffering he had endured at their hands. Damon's eyes narrowed, his anger simmering beneath his calm exterior. He longed for revenge, for justice to be served. But in this confined space, his options were limited. With a heavy sigh, Damon opened his eyes and looked out at the visitors once again. Some were still captivated by his presence, while others had moved on to the next exhibit. He wondered if they truly understood the depth of his existence, the pain and loss he carried within him. But deep down, he knew that they could never fully comprehend.

Damon looked up briefly when humans unlocked his enclosure, immediately coiling tightly and flicking his tounge out to taste the air, hoping to see who it was. His good eye widened when he smelled a male naga and he carefully slithered and climbed up a thick tree in his enclosure to look better.

They were beautiful.

As soon as the humans guided the glass box containing another naga in, Damon was immediately in love. Slithering over a tree branch as his long tail started to curl and coil around the tree trunk. He flicked his tongue again, eyeing the humans as his arms braced himself on the tree branch. His nails dug into the bark and he hissed, showing his fangs. The other naga seemed to be sedated, smaller than him, and absolutely gorgeous. Damon continued to perch on the tree, hissing when humans tried to goad him down. He slithered further up the tree, wrapping his long body around it. He wasn’t immediately territorial which the humans took as a good sign. Damon eyed the box, immediately planning for ways to protect the naga inside. They seemed delicate to him, something to cherish and protect. He loved it. Once the humans left, he slithered down the tree and to the box, pushing the lid open and carefully pulling the naga inside from the box, when he couldn’t get them entirely out and coiled around the box, resting the other naga’s human half on his tail and in his arms, firm muscles wrapped around the smaller man as he watched the humans on the other side of the glass.