Serephina's menacing, slitted pupils narrowed dangerously as she read the declaration of war. Few knew that a cold-blooded snake woman's blood could boil, but this turn of events certainly filled her coiled body with burning rage. The martial naga woman fought the urge to outwardly seethe, knowing her court of lackeys and conquered subjects were watching her composure carefully. She forced her rising emotions into a wide, wicked grin, which slowly spread across her blue, scaly, serpentine features, as she thought of the perfect victims to unleash her unbridled fury upon.

"Subjects, generals, warlords, Charles. We find ourselves exactly where I predicted, besieged by our ungrateful subjects!" her acknowledgements elicting polite nods, especially from Charles, until one particularly obstinate, haughty noble interjected. The purple-clad fop girlishly shrieked "Y-you said we could raise taxes to extortionate levels for decades! T-that the peons would never rise up--" but she hissed him into silence "This isn't being helpful! You're not being helpful! Just shut the fuck up, we've got to be very proactive now. One or uh... several of our neighbors are behind the unrest, and simultaneously invading. But, we've still got out an ace in the hole: the hostage wards from our earlier victories. They invade us? I'll show their pretty little princesses I mean business."

Her grizzled accountant, a former mercenary paymaster up-jumped into royal station, wisely agreed "Yes, with our neighbor's noble-blooded maidens imprisoned, we can compel incredible ransom and deference, perhaps even prevent fullscale--" but Serephina halted him too. "Oh no, we're beyond that now, the war is ON. I'm going to do exactly what I said I'd do, and give those haughty bitches, who've been lazing around, eating my food, a thorough personal tour of my digestion system!" Her war council collectively cringed, as Serephina's hissing voice rose to hysteric highs. Many of them had been campaigning with the head-strong, ophidian harridan long enough to know when she was on an emotional tear. Charles rose up last, trying his best to assuage his serpentine liege.

"Look, I agree that we need to send a strong message. Let's talk about which of the hostages would make the best first... uh, 'example'? If you start with one of the lower ladies, and we let it be known that you'll work your way up the royal lines we have imprisoned, it might be enough to--" but again the incensed serpent woman cut the swarthy mercenary off. "Look Charles, I know you feel strongly about this, but we have to think rationally. I'm eating all these bitches tonight." Charles tried to get a word in, saying "But that's not what, I mean, we'll lose our leverage and... how do you even intend to fit all of them?" But Serephina just slithered out of the room, her mind made, and will determined. Most of the councilors and courtiers scampered after Serephina, as the antagonized snake woman rapidly slid up to the royal hostage's quarters.

Serephina was as fast as a mamba when the mood struck her, and the human men were panting as they arrived just in time to hear their serpentine mistress barring the room's sturdy door, internally. The dejected crowd looked at each other worriedly, wondering if they should dare intervene more directly. Serephina may be reckless, but she was also fearsome beyond reason, a true-born warrior queen, and none of them wanted to risk her ire in this tense moment. Even beloved Charles dare not try to hack the door down, as he timidly rapped on it, trying to speak over the muffled sounds of gasping and shrieks coming from the other side. "Um, Serephina, sweetie? I think we should really give my plan another long think. I implore you." but he wasn't sure his message was getting across.

The fair royal maidens were dressed in meager, skimpy attire at the late hour, completely unprepared for the berserk snake woman to burst into their quarters. Several of the daintiest lasses fainted, others shrieked, and some just sobbed quietly. The girls immediately became distressed upon seeing the brutal, barbarous serpent woman arriving at such in hour, in such a state. Each maiden mentally recounted the lurid threats Serephina would heap upon them, the voracious snake woman describing her horrid, predatory inclinations, and the grisly details of her digestive process. Several of the women had even been forced to watch Serephina devour her weekly fare of live, wriggling peasant girls, and none wanted the debauched lamia to fulfill the unthinkable ultimatums she held over their dainty heads. They all knew that if their nations ever disobeyed her crazed, incompetent rule, she'd devour them slow and alive, just like she did the peasant girls. Each of the girls reacted differently as Serephina furiously sped around the room on her scaly, tapered, snake body, roughly forcing the disparate females to their feet, paws, and talons, as she lined them up.

Serephina's nasal slits flared as her bifurcated tongue nervously flickered into the air, the tip of her tapered snake body thumping against the stone floor in agitation. She really wanted to exalt in the moment, and rub it in for these pampered, prissy royals. The snake woman had lived a hard life, struggling for everything she had, and Serephina detested every aspect of these wimpy, girly little queen-wannabes. She especially hated how each of them were eagerly awaiting a life of luxury to fall into their prim laps, until her own mighty victories had forced them into the role of bargaining chips. Now, Serephina intended to force them into an even more demeaning and uncomfortable role, as foodstuff.

Her large, slit pupils scanned across the terrified assemblage of scantily-clad aristocrats, as she thought up a speech to really get their adrenaline pumping. Serephina preferred the taste of fearful women, as something in their sweat held a uniquely palatable quality. "Bad news babes, remember how I said the only thing you pretties had to worry about, was your patrons doing something foolish? Well, your familial relations have just made fools out of all you girls. This is not a drill, I expect total obedience from you little doves. Fight, struggle, or scream too much, and I'll be happy to improvise some more extreme examples for you ladies. Just tempt me to show you how preferable compliance is."

Several of the girls squealed, cried, or otherwise appeared ready to bolt at the news, but there was clearly no means of escape, and none dared be the first to attract their captor's attention. Serephina ogled the lined up buffet of live women, excited to begin her voracious feast. She had humans, elves, a young kitsune, a delicate harpy, and even a tall, curvy, voluptuous orc woman, forcefully pried from her doting chieftain father, and now assembled at her predatory disposal. Deliberating internally, the hungry serpent woman settled on the orc as the first victim. Serephina knew that the larger, stronger woman would be a good choice, as well as an excellent lesson for the rest of the captive harem. The snake woman approached the massive, muscular figure, who stood with arms crossed defiantly, glaring at the snake woman "You invaded our lands, enslaved our people, and now you will suffer for your--Eeaark!"