She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Of course, there were pretty ladies back in his home town, but none of them could match her beauty. Her long, golden hair was like a stream of purity. Her thin figure was delicate and her curves were perfect. Especially how her hips moved was something he could watch for the whole day. She liked to dance on her bare feet and he liked to observe her breath-taking movements from afar. He had always been really shy, particularly around women. So he had never dared to approach her. He had always followed her from the distance, and surely she was aware of his presence. He was sure that she danced just for him. There just was this wall of uncertainty between them.

He had seen her for the first time when he once was on a hunting trip. It had been a beautiful sunny summer day. He had not encountered any prey, which had made him feel a bit irritated, but he forgot all about his poor hunting luck when he saw this stunning maiden dancing in the clearing. He had put his mind out of everything else and just watched the hypnotic movements of this mysterious lady. He could watch and watch even more that art of gracefulness, all day long until the day turned to dusk. Then she would disappear like the last rays of sunshine, leaving him alone with his dazed condition.

This same performance of the silent forest had repeated itself for over a month now. Every day he would make his journey to the woods to see the dance of the maiden. She had stolen his heart. He could not live anymore without seeing her. He also knew that he had to confess his feelings for her at some point.

And that day was now. He had to overcome his shyness and finally take a step closer to her. He was nervous as hell, but he knew that he could do it.

For her.

So, on that day, he was once again marching through the shadows of the trees, heading to the clearing he had visited all these days of the past month. The day was beautiful, just like the one when he had seen her delicate figure for the first time. With each step he took he became more and more anxious and he started to doubt himself. Maybe this wasn't the right time after all. Or maybe… He shook his head trying to get rid of such thoughts. Of course this was finally the day when he would confess his love for the mysterious maiden.

He kept walking on.

At last he arrived at his destination. As he came closer to the clearing, his heart became like a furious beast, thrashing inside its cage. He was so excited to see her again. He stepped out of the shadows, staring down. And then… He raised his head, looking directly forward.

And he saw her. The love of his life, the most perfect being in the world. She was smiling, and he felt like melting like a candle's wax. Her hypnotic sapphire eyes stared at him gently. She started humming something and to him it was the sweetest tune he had ever heard. He was absolutely mesmerized by this woman. All of his anxiety got washed away by her tender aura.

“Follow me”, she uttered. This was the first time he had heard her talking and oh, how lovely her voice was, like a sweet angel. She gestured him to tag along and of course he would loyally go after her, completely captivated.

She guided him deeper and deeper into the forest. He had lived in this region his whole life, but he wasn't sure had he ever visited this part of the woods. It didn't matter though. He would even go trough the hell if she wanted so.

The forest got darker and darker the deeper they went. It also became denser, as if the trees were guarding something. And suddenly, as if from nowhere, in front of them appeared a huge rock like majesty of the forest.

“We are finally at our destination”, she muttered. She raised her hand and touched the stony wall's rough surface, and started to lead him around the rock. After a little while, they came to a cave. Then they walked inside of its gaping, sinister mouth. He had no idea why would they come to a place like this, but it didn't matter to him. He just wanted to be together with his beloved one.

She stopped for a second, and then turned around to face him. She smiled tenderly and he responded with the most lovely expression he could have on his face. At that moment, she raised her hands and gently captured his head between them.

“I love you”, he whispered his confession.

“I know”, she responded. “And you are willing to give yourself up for me, don't you?”

“Oh, absolutely!” he said.

“Good, and now, we can be together forever.”

If he wasn't so captivated, so mesmerized by this beautiful young maiden, he would have noticed that something was wrong. But he saw only his darling's face. He was completely unaware of how this woman's legs joined together, rough emerald scales growing onto the surface, the bottom part of her body slithering. He didn't realize that he was in danger even though she dug her nails into his cheeks, causing him to bleed. He was completely oblivious of what was happening to him.

Then she took a firm grasp of his head and twisted it, causing his neck to crack loudly. After that she tore his head off as easily as if it had been paper. She held his head, her split tongue slithering from her mouth and she licked the bleeding, exposed flesh.

After a while, she dropped the head and it rolled on the cave's floor like trash. Then she completed her transformation into a giant emerald snake, and started to devour the poor man's body whole.