The rest of the trip upstairs was awkward. The scaly Vipress stared at Brendan the whole time, never letting her eyes stray from his face. He was sweating profusely.
"Do not forget." She reminded him as they crossed the kitchen towards the living room. "If you dissspleassse me, I will not hesssitate to make you my lunch!"
"I won't forget... um, snake... lady. Viper." He gulped as he saw her eyes narrow in offense. "Ma'am."
"You will call me missstresss." She said in a slightly menacing scowl. "And you are mine now."
Brendan gulped. Any thought of pressing the issue was well out of his mind. He tried to ignore her iron cold stare as they ascended the stairs to the bedrooms and bathroom on the second floor. Brendan opened his door and stood. "All right... mistress. Here we are."
The room was filthy, with dirty clothes all over the floor, a bed with blankets strewn about, cups and plates and trash everywhere, and a loud obnoxious sound system on the walls. In the corner was a black leather sofa, and next to it a computer setup.
"It will do." Vipress hiss-laughed. "You may placccce me on the bed."
Brendan did as he was told, gripping the snake gently with shaking hands along her trunk, and placing her gently in the middle of the bed.
"Sssuch a gentleman." Vipress smiled, and coiled up. "Now clossse the door ssso that we may have privacccccy."
Brendan did as he was told a second time and then stood at attention at the foot of the bed, still shaking and clutching the spray bottle.
"Good. You are a fine ssservant, young human." The snake stared at the spray bottle and seemed to be considering it very carefully.
"My name's Brendan, mistress." He gulped as the words left his mouth in a shaky voice.
"I did not asssk for your name." She said cooly.
"Sorry." He cringed and shrank back.
"Now. Let usss dissscusss thisss... potion." She pointed her tailtip to a spot beside her and waved it. "Sssit."
Brendan gulped and closed his eyes in fear. Secretly he hoped this was all a bad trip, being dominated by a snake-thing-lady.
"Ssspray me." She ordered. "I need to sssee what happensss to me thisss time."
Brendan gulped. "Won't it make you even bigger?"
"I hope ssso!" She grinned deviously. "Now, go ahead, don't be ssshy."