While that intimidating tone in the hunter's voice should have drawn a concern to her than it did, she was blinded with her own knowing. Like she was the only one with a secret he had yet to figure out, one she was confident he would never piece together like those before him. If only she knew... if only, he knew.. these strange preliminaries would have gone far differently. "And you have never met.... Me before, hunter." There was a hint of knowing within her mellifluous lyrics, her expression ever knowing. Both of them, blissfully unaware of whose company they kept. Peering at the man before her, she couldn't shake that there was something familiar about him. A vagueness of his features and gleaming blonde hair. Those pieces refused to click in place, perhaps far more amused by her own teasing lyrics which were nothing more than a lilt, a hint of a perfume in the air.

It always amused her greatly to play this game... those offered deliberate hints as if flirting with the idea of someone figuring out who she was. She then drew her hand up as if to examine her pet that seemed content upon her wrist, but the fae still kept a watchful eye on the hunter who seemed to easily ruffle her once perfectly unruffled feathers. He was an infuriating man.. pig headed like Caesar was. There were nuances in his very demenour that so reminded him of her greatly and yet to utter such a thing would only give another clue she was unwilling to give. He too was so very good at stoking her temper, as if desiring to make her strike like a cobra simply because he could. Even though, she had earned his ear, even at times manipulated him like an expert puppeteer, there were moments he so lashed out.. his temper far more severe than any other man she had kept in her presence.

She eyed the hunter... both... intrigued yet tempted to find out the end of his resolve and yet thought better of it. The Egyptian queen could not remember the last time she found herself so intrigued.... And infuriated at the same time. A challenge... and yet one she refused to pick up. Now was not the place. The dampness of the sewer seemed to aggravate her sensitive flesh.. she was hardly dressed for the sewer, nor the cold spring weather. She truly had not anticipated being gone this long. Her ladies were sure to worry at her absence.

She cared not for that temper that rose, and yet it was something about him.. that arrogant demenour that seemed rustle the fae's feathers. How frustrating a man he was to speak to her in this manner, to treat her like she was beneath him. Her, a queen! Even if she was no longer, she never truly lost that demenour nor ego of one. Unfortunately, the ruffled snake charmer had put her back toward the concealed beast, lowing her guard and her hold upon the retreated snake. Perhaps without the hunter present threatening his life.. she could needle her control once more. Perhaps it was his presence that affected her so.

It was however, an apparent possibility that the murderous snake could not be saved. Part of her, ready to act with a precise and quick death if needed be. After all, she had kept crocodiles as pets so long ago... keeping only the ones with a mild disposition and culling those... with more volatile tendencies. She had them so well trained and used to her presence, she could walk right up to them an decorate them with gold and jewels. She was fearless... adept at reading their body language... understanding them, perhaps admiring their stoic strength. So strong and yet choosing peace. It amused her endlessly. Even human, the woman seemed to connect with the scaled beasts.

Ignoring the blonde hunters snort, she wondered why he lingered... He was just about to mutter some other galling retort she was sure of it, before something flashed across his masculine features before he leapt into action, noticing something, she had so failed to recognize. That blindingly quick movement barely on her radar as that impossibly large monster-snake broke from that water to attack her. It was in that flash of a moment she was certain that he could not be saved. Perhaps, having been too late of a realization but it was a realization all the same. Her hold upon that snake had, for the first time been blocked out. She was near stunned by how the ancient hunter so snatched her bangled arm, unnoticing of a singular bracelet had fallen free from her slender wrist as he pulled her into imposing solid form. Even through his clothing she could tell the man was nothing but solid muscle honed with use. That blatant gasp that escaped her, that narrow miss of her own demise and that sudden movement had her clutching to him for dear life, that distinctly iconic aromatic perfume wafting in his direction. Those grasping fingers unrelenting their hold upon the strong arms that held her. That was far too close... While she knew how to protect herself, she was not so privy to battle as a hunter.

It took a moment to collect herself, that golden hunter taking every opportunity to goad her all the same. That hot breath upon her exposed flesh she was hardly immune to. For a moment perhaps longer than intended they remained in that state, meeting each other's gaze with a vague appreciation. The hunter turning from brute.. to man who had saved her life. She would never forget such an act. While she couldn't read his mind.. there was some softening flash of recognition within his own ocean gaze before he released her. It was clear they had a threat to deal with, the fae woman lifting the fabric of her dress to pull out two sheathed daggers custom and engraved in ancient greek and exotic symbols that would have made sense to few people. These blades... given to her a long time ago and she had taken meticulous care of over the years and now she hoped they didn't fail her now.

Once more, that sword had been summoned, that polished metal impressive and sharp enough to cut the hair upon her head. She had no doubts that he was able to wield such a remarkable blade, the demonstration beforehand indicative to just that. That mention of playing bait met with as much contempt, he would have made perfectly fine bait, she was sure of it. That look upon his features near priceless as if he could hardly believe she proposed such a thing, to him! Such ego! His lips parting to speak, most likely to object but there was no time to allow.. those words to grow to fruition. The timing of it all seemed near perfect as that snake rose from its concealment from the sewer water... this time on an angle toward Cleopatra herself once more.. only this time she was prepared for him. She leapt backward, but the large creature was proving to be fast. There was no possible way she could maintain that distance. That snake released a hiss, saliva or venom spittle sprayed from its open jaws, his tongue lashing anticipatory with his mouth. Fortunately, it was then that golden hunter anticipated his next action, more than prepared to wet his blade with his own assault as the beast seemed focused upon her. In but a blur of golden light that blade meeting its mark with a sickening sound... those scales sounding like hardened armour as he struck with a loud sickening sound.. While it had made its mark, His blade getting stuck within its neck. It wasn't enough, even with that mighty blow. Even with that increased strength he struggled to remove it. That horrific sound left its scaled lips, a grating high-pitched scream much more fitting to a dragon than a snake.

That attack should have been enough to kill the beast.. but it only proved to enrage it further. The monstrous reptile flinging its head violently.. sending that adept warrior into the sewer wall, cracking at his impact and with an loud impact she could feel in her own bones, wincing accompanied with a sharp inhale in a gasping sound. "No." was the singular word uttered from her lips. He didn't move, not even a twitch of muscle. The hunter was out cold. He seemed no more than a heap on the ground... Was he dead? Concern flashed momentarily within her clove hued eyes.

That impressive beast flared its once concealed flattened spikes armoured body. That was terribly unexpected. But not a moment before he shot them at her.... Thankfully, she was agile enough to dodge the cursed things, but the massive serpent creature was already slicing straight for the serpent queen. Its powerful body easily shifting course as she did. She felt that need to run... to flee and yet...who would flee in the face of danger? Certainly not her.. If the goddesses decided tonight was her night to die than so be it. In a precise movement... she threw one of those poison laced daggers aiming for its glaring eye...

All creatures' weaknesses and she had no qualms with using it. In that adept throw, her whole body used in that very throw, just as she had been taught so very long ago. She rarely missed... those blades almost laughable in comparison to that volatile monster and yet there were far bigger beast slain with less. Cleopatra then threw that, predicting its movements based on studying its erratic movements, its pattern quite easy to determine. Creature enraged, acted predictably. That dagger satisfyingly embedded within the beast in one of its eyes... at the very least blinding him in the one. She could use that to her advantage. That vicious roar escaped the beast once more echoing the dank dark walls for what seemed like could have been miles... It threw itself at her, even despite recoiling, in upon itself.

The egyptian queen moving quickly to remain in its blind spot, enough to buy her time to check on the fallen hunter. He at the very least possessed a blade and truly it couldn't cause any harm to have yet another weapon in her arsenal should the need arise,.. she ran behind the creature... careful quick, knowing it wouldn't take much for the beast to whirl its long body... She could hear its enraged hiss, the sound of its venom spraying form its putrid mouth upon the floor below. When she moved to that wall.. she saw... he was gone.. Gone... along with that blade...

Had he fled?

She cursed barely a whisper as the man with a blade was nowhere to be seen. "Kynigós." Hunters.

She hardly knew his name but she was sure that if she did not make it out alive... she would come down upon him with a goddess like wrath in the afterlife. Of this she could be sure.

Cleopatra lithe form remained braced, prepared upon quick feet, this sewer was a less than ideal place to take battle. The Egyptian queen prepared upon small quick feet to attempt to take the snake down with one and only dagger.. her only hope was to either... blind him in his other eye... weakening him enough to use her powers upon him once more. Or perhaps to pierce him through that armoured flesh to make purchase into his heart... The first plan far more likely than the second she was sure. The imposing creature with armour like flesh and missile like spines certainly made this far more problematic.

She spoke, to gather the creature's attention once more.. and silently praying that the goddesses that have blessed her in life thus far were still upon her side. "My darling serpent, it is such a pity you choose violence over reason. Come to me now sweet child, let me end you of your suffering and whisper one last lullaby. I can feel you weakening..." There was almost something gentle to her accented words, her words strong and yet there is almost something sad to her tone. There would be no enjoyment in this and yet it must be done.