LEGEND OF THE VIPER(COMPLETE)

CHAPTER 12

It all began days towards the ceremony where she shed so much blood. She began having these weird dreams seeing a very beautiful ancient woman wearing the jewel she was given the day of her coronation. She was half human, her legs turned into a snake tail. It was very scary but she just brushed it as a dream. It never stopped even on the ceremonial night. When she fought she felt as if someone was juicing her with strength and will. That woman was looking at her and after her. When she won the battle it even became worse.

One night she dreamt that woman personally putting a tattoo on her using the deadliest ink ever. Her ink always comprised of just one viper venom, the carpet viper but that woman's was a combination of all deadly venoms. It was very painful that she lost the will to cry. When she woke up she could still feel the pain.

The crazy moment came when she looked at herself in the mirror. She couldn't believe herself at all. When did a dream turn into reality? Her body was covered in tattoos. Apparently that woman managed to put three vipers on her body. One was covering her shoulders, the other two were on her legs excluding the other that was put on her the time she became part of the family. They felt alive somehow and not just mere drawings on her.

Because of that she had to take more venom input and she couldn't tell anyone what was happening except to look into the ancient books where she found out that the Goddess had finally empowered her. She had passed all tests and all the power had been given to her. She had met the Goddess and it was wonderful. She could feel the power within her. It was too strong that she was afraid of being near anyone; so she avoided Amber like a plague. The thought of seeing, touching her was just too much. She was safer without her close.

Her worst nightmare came when she was in the office; Amber texted her, a break up text. She couldn't believe it at first so she tried to call but her calls had been blocked. Something deep inside her was triggered and she decided to go home. She was going to calm down first before looking for Amber. When she arrived home she smoked her first cigar but it was not getting better. She smoked the whole pack and she felt like s**t. She wanted to kill someone but she promised not to.

She could feel the beast in her trying to come out and she knew what exactly that beast was going to do. So she chased everyone away and began to fight herself. It was better that way than to m******e any of her family members again.

The thought of Amber being with her in that same tub, kissing and touching made everything worse. She had nothing to live for. The family could just find another Viper to replace her but she couldn't find Amber again. So she let go. She watched as she grew a tail, her legs disappearing. She was turning into a snake form. Her transformation was almost over when she felt her. Amber was in the house and she was gone. The door suddenly opened and Amber looked at her as she finally fully transforms into a one huge snake and she fainted.

What had she done?

                                                                                                  ..

When Amber woke up, she was lying on Haven's bed and alone. Everyone was nowhere to be seen. She got out of bed hoping what she saw was just a dream. When she got outside and went to the lounge she saw everyone seated there.

'You are awake!'

'What happened?'

'She is gone!' Gina said.

'What do you mean she is gone? How could you let her leave?'

'Have you ever seen a giant snake before? We can't kill her or touch her, what do you want us to do?'

'Which way did she go?'

'I will show you but it's just a waste of time.'

Amber followed the guard outside and began to follow the trail Haven left behind.

'We can't go any further, the trail just ends here,' he said.

Amber looked around and saw that it was really pointless.

'You can go back. I will look for her.'

'But...'

'Just go!'

Where was she going to start? It was the first time she was seeing the compound. It was very huge and confusing. She began to walk around calling out her name. There was no sound, no hiss just nothing.

She made that round for two hours till she didn't know where she was. She sat down on the ground and began to cry.

'It's my entire fault. I should have talked to you, listened to you and have more faith in you. I always know that you will never let anything bad happen to me but I was just so hurt since you didn't let me know about your biggest secret. I thought it would make me feel better if I made you the bad guy but you warned me and I never listened. You continuously told me that you were not perfect but I gave you deaf ears and ignored it all. I didn't mean what I said earlier. I can live without you Haven. I love you and I will do anything if I have you back. I don't care whether you are human, dead or a snake; please just come back to me. If you don't come back to me, I will kill myself right now!' she shouted.

The wind was making the leaves to whistle and it was a bit cold. If Haven was not going to return to her after what they had been through then she might as well just die. She looked around and heard the water flowing. She followed the sound and found a waterfall. Why didn't Haven tell her there was a waterfall in her land? She went into the river and looked down. She knew how to swim but she had never jumped from such a high place before.

'I am going to kill myself and if I die it is your fault!' she shouted one more time and jumped.

She was sorry to her parents that she couldn't fulfill the promise she made when she regained her consciousness. But living knowing that she made Haven that way was so much for her and she couldn't bear the guilt it brought. She felt herself hit the water and it was so painful. Watching the moon while she drowned was just so memorable. She began to lose concentration and she saw the snake coming down to her. Haven heard her and she was coming for her, but wasn't it too late? She didn't get to hear or see anything else as she totally blacked out and drown deeper.

                                                                                                 ..

Amber woke up feeling numb. She rolled and found out that she was in a cave. She wasn't home at all but she was also alone. She had slept on top of grass. It was as if someone made the bed for her but where was she? She stood up and began to search the whole cave. It was huge and mysterious. There were so many drawings on the wall and most of them showed a story she was familiar with.

It showed a woman getting bitten by a snake, dying and waking up after being administered some herbs by the other people. She saw those people training the woman who had been bitten and finally giving her the crown. The drawings seemed to have been drawn ages ago. How did Haven saw this place?

'Haven!' she called out but she didn't see anything.

She couldn't find the entrance or the exit of the cave so she returned where she woke up from and sat. She looked for her phone and it was dead. The water had messed up her phone, it was useless. She heard her stomach rumbling but where was she supposed to find food? She didn't know how to cook or anything. She was going to starve if she doesn't find a way to leave the cave.

She was busy thinking of ways when she heard the snake hissing and crawling her way. She stood up and stood in the corner. Even though she knew that was her Haven she still couldn't really acknowledge it.

She saw the sane approaching and saw just how enormous it was. She had never seen a snake like that before. The snake crawled till it was right in front of her and vomited out fruits. Where did it get fruits? It looked at her with those red eyes and looked at the fruits on the ground and she knew what it meant. She walked towards the snake and picked up the fruits. They needed to be washed but what was she going to do?

Suddenly the snake began to crawl in another direction and she just followed. They took the path for about ten minutes before she started hearing the sound of water. She didn't wait to follow the snake but ran towards it. There was a spring and she drank as much water as she could. The water was tasty and natural. She washed her fruits and began to eat. The snake just coiled itself and watched as she ate. She couldn't believe that the snake was her ex girlfriend and the leader of so many people.

'Can I wash myself?' she asked and the snake shook its head sideways in a friendly manner and she took off her clothes and began to wash.

After the bath they returned where she slept.

'I'm sorry,' she said and went to where it was lying.

She placed her hand on its cold length and began to move her hand slowly on it body.

'I should have asked and trusted you. I love you and I need you to come back to me. I won't leave you, I promise,' she said and the snake began to move again.

She began to follow the snake until they were out of the cave. That was just the beginning, they began to move towards one direction and she was shocked when she saw the house appearing when she didn't even walk for twenty minutes. What was really wrong with this place?

As they appear near the house she saw this other woman she had seen yesterday running towards her.

'Are you okay?' she asked.

'I'm fine but she is not,' she replied pointing to Haven on the ground.

'It's fine. I need you to go to the house and call the man and woman you will see there. Just tell them Viper is back and they should bring what they came with.'

'Okay,' she said and left Haven with the strange woman. She could take care of herself she thought.

When she arrived everyone felt relieved seeing her. She passed on the message but they wanted to leave her.

'I almost died so that she could show up and now you want me to remain behind? Over my dead body; I'm going with you. I promised her that I won't ever leave her alone.'

'Okay, if you insist but whatever you are going to see or hear, you need to keep it to yourself.'

'I think we are past that. I have already seen and heard the worst.'

With that she won and followed the strange couple back where she left Haven.

'Viper, welcome back!' they both said and she saw the snake standing on its tail, she couldn't see its face.

What was happening again?

'It's time, let's go.'

They all followed the strange couple back to the cave and they began chanting and reciting words she couldn't even understand. They did that for like an hour before they lit red scented candles that smelt like the herbs she used to bath every day.

'This is new and according to the ritual, we are half done. The rest of the ritual should be performed by the Viper herself.'

'What do you mean?'

'It's more like evolving. She must fight the beast, subdue it and live together in harmony. If she fails she will remain like that.'

'You mean she will be a snake forever?'

'Yes, so we need to leave now.'

'How long will it last?'

'Usually months but it will depend with the strength of the Viper herself. We must seal the cave and wait for her to break out after she finishes.'

'Isn't there something we can do?'

'It is and that is to be there for her. Don't interfere or else it will backfire. So I will advice you Ms St Claire, to never enter the cave until she breaks out.'

'But..'

'If you love her and want her back that's the only thing you can do.'

She couldn't believe what her ears were hearing but for the sake of Haven she had no choice. She walked towards the snake and patted it one more time before planting a kiss on its cold body and left the cave. She watched as the cave got sealed and disappeared into thin air as if it wasn't there from the beginning.

'Where did it go?'

'It shall come back, don't worry. You need to go back home now, your parents will be worried.

They made a great point there. They all returned back to the house where she saw Gina.

'Thank God you are okay.'

'Please send me home,' she said.

'Okay. Do you have your phone?'

'It's dead.'

'Okay, I will come and pick you up whenever you need me.'

'Can't you just show me the road?'

'I'm afraid I can't. Only Haven can show you the road and she is in that state now.'

'I understand. Give me your number; I will call you when I get a new phone.'

'Sure, let me give you my card.'

Gina gave her card and took her back home.

When she arrived her mother was waiting.

'You don't look okay pumpkin. Is she okay?'

'She will be. They are taking care of her now.'

'What's wrong with her?'

'She overworked and they are still checking what's wrong with her.'

'It's complicated what you are saying. Go and wash up. Food will be ready when you get down.'

'Okay.'

She didn't feel like eating at ll. She was full with the fruits she had eaten when she woke up. Spoiling that food with another was just something she didn't want.

She went up and washed herself. She went downstairs and told them she want hungry; she took her car and went to the mall to buy a new phone.

She was going to her car when she saw the woman whom they all called the lead priestess and she stopped her.

'Ms. St Claire!'

'Please call me Amber,' she said.

'What can I help you with now?'

'I'm curious about something. Can we go somewhere quiet?'

'Sure, I know just a place and I have a feeling we won't be finishing soon,' she said.

The woman took her to her house. It was big and affluent. Where they all rich like Haven?

She followed her inside and went into the library. There were so many books. She brought juice for her which she gladly accepted.

'So what is it that you want to ask?'

'I have heard almost everything about Haven now but what I want is mainly concerned with me.'

'Just ask away.'

'I heard how invincible she will be after passing this obstacle and how she would live for long after that which makes it very hard for me. I don't want to die and leave her behind. I want to be with her in life and death. How can I do that?'

The woman smiled and looked at her.

'I can tell you are in love despite all that. You already took the first step and that is your willingness to die for her.'

'You know about that?'

'I'm a priestess and I know. Since you already began that path you just have to finish it.'

'What do you mean?'

'You have to be willing to spend the rest of your life with her. Whatever will befall on her will do the same o you. You will be connected in every single way.'

'I don't care about all that. What should I do?'

'You need to pass a couple of tests first and if you pass you need to propose.'

'She won't propose to me?'

'No, it must be the opposite.'

'I will do that,' she told the woman.

'Good. I will give you a book; you must follow everything written inside there. Don't tell anyone what you are doing. If you bump into something you don't understand I will be here to help you,' the woman said.

'Thank you for doing this for me.'

'It's not for you but for Viper. My main concern as the lead priestess is the welfare of the one I serve and that's your girlfriend. So don't fail and do it whole heartedly.'

'I will,' she said.

'I have business to attend to, if you may excuse me.'

'I will take my leave now,' Amber said and left the house.

She drove fast back to her house and locked herself in the room. She began to read the book and knew what she just experienced was nothing compared to what was coming but everything was worth it for Haven.

                                                                                                ....

Two more weeks passed and Haven was still in the cave. She was getting worried now. What if she never comes out again?

She had managed to complete all tasks except one.

For the past two weeks she spent two days without eating anything except drinking water. Bathing herself with the herbs Haven use every day. They sting like bees and made her feel very itchy and funny but with time she got used to them.

She made a ritual to the Goddess, she had to wear black robes, burn red incensed candles like the ones they used in the caves and chant the hymn she was shown. She did that and when she went to bed she couldn't sleep. She had to fight with so many snakes every single night. It was scary to sleep but she had to win the fight no matter. She then thought of what Haven was going through at the moment; what her life would mean without her in it and she fought with all her will and won the battle after five days.

Ever since she won she never saw the snakes again in her dreams. She slept very peacefully like a baby. After the scary task she was supposed to make a ring with the seven gems. They were all precious and expensive but because she had rich parents she simply asked them.

'What? Who are you making the ring for?'

'Haven, I'm going to propose,' she said.

'Pumpkin, haven't you done enough already? I know you are in love and all but why should you propose?'

'She is dying mother and if she dies before she became mine, I'm going to hate you for the rest of my life.'

'Is it that serious?'

'Yes, it is. She loves all seven gems and I want to make it special. Please mother!'

'Okay, I will take you to the designer and have the ring made,' her mother caved in.

'I love you mother.'

'I love you too, pumpkin'

They went to the jewel designer who managed to draw various sketches that could accommodate the gems on the rings and she chose one model. Haven wasn't feminine so she wanted something in between masculine and feminine. For her own she chose something feminine. She wanted couple rings. She was going to wed Haven as soon as she leaves that cave no matter what.

Her rings were done in another week and she couldn't help but look at them.

'It's the first time I'm seeing all the seven gems on a ring,' her mother said looking closely at the rings.

'They are beautiful.'

'Indeed they are.'

She had searched about the meaning behind the seven gems being put together and learnt that they made the wearer feel blessed and protected. The designer had managed to blend the gold, silver, amber, coral, conch shells, pearls and agate professional and nicely. She couldn't wait to put the ring on Haven's finger.

The last task was the scariest. She was supposed to have Haven's blood and she couldn't have it since Haven was nowhere to be found. The cave had not shown up still.

'I'm leaving,' she told her mother.

'Going to Haven's place again?'

'Yes, I need to see how she is now.'

'Should I go with you?'

'No. I will be fine on my own,' she said and left.

'She didn't want her mother to go through what she did upon learning Haven's real identity.

Gina met her on the way and escorted her to the mansion. She was walking towards the place she last saw the cave when it suddenly appeared. She screamed with so much joy even the entrance was still closed. What matters the most was the fact that the cave was back. She called the others who rushed to the site all waiting in hopes that Haven will show up.

They were all concentrating on the cave when she heard the whooshing sound. Everyone heard it and began to look round when they saw the glitter.

'Is that a dagger?' Gina asked as they all stared at it coming.

'It is, run!'

But it was too late; as if someone was personally controlling it the dagger stuck her again. Why was she always being stabbed by daggers? She held the dagger stuck in her stomach with both of her hands and knelt to the ground.

Was she just going to die before Haven got out; before she even finish the last task and marry her? Why was she so unlucky?

'Tell her that I did all that I could and I love her,' she said and closed her eyes.

                                                                             ..

Amber woke up and looked around. Gina and the rest were carrying her back to the mansion. Was she dead now? She tried entering the cave but it blocked her. She followed her body to the house where she saw Gina and the rest trying their best to save her.

'What are we going to do now?' Gina asked.

'My people are searching all over for the assassin.'

'We need medicine now or else she will die. We can't go to the hospital, it will be too late.'

'Isn't that venom on her?'

'What do you mean?'

'The dagger is laced with venom and it looks like the one Viper makes.'

'You mean that one that doesn't have an antidote?'

'Yes, if she doesn't get Viper's blood now she is going to die.'

'Do you have any in the house?'

'No, she hates keeping her blood.'

'So what are we going to do?'

'Go to the cave and tell her. She will hear you,' Lee said.

Gina ran out towards the cave and she followed. She wanted to hear how Gina can call out Haven from the cave.

'Haven I know you are in there. You never liked losing to anyone; so don't let the beast win. Amber needs you right now, she had been poisoned and only you can save her now. She is dying and I know what you did for her all these times,' Gina said crying.

Amber was curious, she wanted to hear more.

'Do you remember how you tried just to forget and let Amber reject you? How you control yourself even when you wanted to make love with her knowing you can easily poison her if you make a mistake? How you had people follow her in secret so that she could be safe from your enemies? How you put that poison in her so that you could easily track and keep her safe? You did so many things for her and right now she needs you the most. That girl is waiting for you now. She loves you and wants to marry you despite who you are; Haven!' Gina called out.

Amber sat down and began to cry. When she hated and resented Haven for being cruel o her, all this time she had been protecting her. She did so many things just to keep her safe and yet she did that to her.

'You didn't kill her when you fought Sam but took the advantage of her heart position and fooled Sam. You even were lenient on them because you knew she was watching. Do you want that little girl to die now?'

What was happening? So just like she suspected, Haven knew everything and if she was lenient that time did it meant that she was even more ruthless than that? It didn't matter anywhere. What she needed was for Haven to leave that cave.

All of a sudden the earth began to shake as if there was an earthquake. The sky began to become cloudy and dark. It was as if there was dark energy all over and something very evil coming out. She stood up and watched as the snake broke out of the cave. If the snake was coming out, did it mean that Haven lost the battle? To her surprise the snake looked at her. It could see her.

'I want you to know that I love you and please come back to me,' Amber said tears rolling down her cheeks.

The snake looked away and bean to crawl back to the house. She ran behind it before it suddenly disappeared. She went inside and her body was now cold.

'She is gone,' Lee said.

She couldn't believe this. She was dead and this was it. She couldn't accept the fate that was upon her. After everything she went through and the Goddess just let her die in vain like that.

She was seated there like everyone else when something odd happened again. The lights all went dark and by the time they were on Haven stood there wearing a thin layered dress. She could see the tattoos all over her body. She watched as Haven took out the dagger that nearly killed her in the beginning form her thighs and cut her wrist. She watched as the blood flow from her wrist and she became scared; if that continues then Haven will die too. The lead priestess suddenly appeared and took her hand to her mouth. So they were going to feed a dead person blood. Was this even possible? She watched as Haven's blood filled her mouth and she began to feel strange. It was so strange that she found her spirit returning back to her body. Was she going to live again? She watched as the process continued before she blacked out the same way she did before she died.