Page 9 of Kneel Before Me

“I already told you, I don’t want to have sex.”

“You do not want to have one definition of sex,” the basilisk corrected her. “And I heard you the first time. I am wondering why.”

Daphne decided to tell part of the truth. “I’ve already done everything there is to do.”

The basilisk raised his eyebrow.

Before he could comment, Daphne continued, “So there’s nothing to teach me, and there’s no need for these sessions.”

The basilisk stared at her as if she had three heads. Clearly this wasn’t a situation he had encountered before. But as much as it terrified Daphne to stand here and deny him, it scared her far worse to remove her dress and let another man inside her who had done nothing to earn her.

“There is always more to learn.”

Daphne shrugged again. “I really doubt it.”

She’d had enough sex to last several lifetimes, starting when she was far too young to do so and continuing until just last night. The night everything changed.

“You truly think I have nothing to teach you?” the basilisk asked.

Daphne sighed. She supposed there was probably something left to learn. A new position perhaps or something fun to do with her tongue. But none of that interested her. What she truly wanted, the basilisk could not teach her. What she truly yearned for he could not possibly provide. And yet, she asked, “Can you teach me how to love?”

Another silence fell. But this one was different. This time, Daphne felt a probing in her mind, as if a presence was pushing against her skull. It was a strange feeling, though not an unpleasant one, and it was over nearly the moment it began.

“That cannot be taught,” the basilisk said softly. “You were born with the ability to love. It is something inherent to every living creature.”

Now Daphne broke his gaze, looking determinedly at the ground.

She didn’t believe that for a second. There was something wrong with her; there always had been. The part that was “inherent” to every other living creature was missing in Daphne, likely never there to begin with. Even if she were able to love, it wouldn’t matter anyway. No one would ever love her back.

Worthless slut. Useless whore. Nothing but a hole to fuck and a mouth to come in.

Daphne closed her eyes, trying to shut out the memory. But it clawed at her anyway, sinking its talons into her brain and refusing to let go. She couldn’t possibly explain her situation to a snake. She didn’t even know if he was capable of love, much less anything else.

“In that case,” the basilisk said when she didn’t reply, “how shall we spend our sessions?”

Daphne opened her eyes, looking up at him. His behavior stood in stark contrast to that of the last man who had wanted to have sex with her. She’d expected him to argue or, at the very least, try to talk her into it. Instead he was watching her thoughtfully, his regal brow furrowed.

“How shall we spend our sessions?” the basilisk asked again.

Now Daphne took a moment to consider their situation. She already knew everything there was to know about sex, and she certainly wasn’t interested in learning how to please a man. Daphne didn’t want to waste his time. So she shrugged. “I guess… I’ll just go home.”

To her surprise, he shook his head. “No. You will not go home.”

“Why? There’s nothing for me to do here.”

“You will not go home,” the basilisk repeated.

Daphne crossed her arms. “And why not?”

“Because I am meant to train you.”

“I already told you I don’t want to be trained.”

“And I already agreed not to train you. But you cannot leave. You forget that your decision not to participate affects me too.”

Daphne frowned. “I don’t understand. How does it affect you?”

The basilisk wore an expression of frustration—and bizarrely, regret. He seemed like he wanted to say something. They stared at each other in silence, which soon grew to be too much for Daphne.