The Serpent Queen

6.2

Cali and Sweet Pea entered the Wyte Wyrm, the infamous Serpent hangout, with swift confidence. The dimly lit room was filled with Serpents, and their presence did not go unnoticed.

Caspian, the leader of the Serpents, welcomed them with enthusiasm. "Ah, there's our Serpent Queen!" The crowd erupted in applause.

Cali grinned, playing along with the charade. "Hey, dad, how about we buy you a shot for the occasion!" She glanced at Sweet Pea, who nodded in agreement.

The crowd cheered, and Cali nudged Sweet Pea, signaling to keep the plan going. As the night wore on, they continued to buy Caspian shots, making sure he became progressively more intoxicated.

Cali leaned in, her voice hushed. "What do you think?"

Sweet Pea nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "I think it's time."

They made their way over to Caspian and the other Serpents who were chatting and laughing. Cali cleared her throat, drawing their attention. "Hey, guys, do you mind if I talk to my dad alone for a second?"

F.P, one of the Serpents, nodded with a grin. "Yes ma'am." They all laughed and left Cali and Caspian alone at a table.

Cali took a seat, and Sweet Pea leaned on her chair, both of them ready to uncover the truth.

Cali began cautiously, "So, dad, when you said 'Mom's not coming back ' Well... what did you mean by that?"

Caspian sighed heavily, his intoxicated gaze unfocused. "Oh well, your mother and I didn't get along very well before she left."

Cali's eyes widened in shock. "She left?"

Caspian nodded, and as he spoke, images from the past flickered in his mind. "Well, it started earlier this summer. She started coming home at 3 am every night with wads of cash. So, of course, I started to become curious. I asked her about it, and she just said, 'The Wyte Wyrm isn't going to pay for the kids' college, is it?'" He took another sip of his drink.

Cali listened intently, her heart pounding.

Caspian continued, his voice filled with regret. "I didn't know that she knew the Wyte Wyrm wasn't doing very well financially until then. It wasn't until one night that I finally decided to follow where she was going. I followed her into this alleyway, and she met up with this guy who had a black mask on, with these haunting green eyes." He paused, clearly haunted by the memory.

"The night of your mother's disappearance," Caspian continued, "I confronted her about the situation, and she yelled at me. I pressed her until she finally gave up who she was getting the money from. 'Hiram Lodge,' she admitted. 'I hired someone to steal Hiram Lodge's money and give it to me.' Those words echoed through my mind, as I admitted that it was too dangerous for her to be doing that. She didn't know his power and what risk she was putting our family at. One thing led to another, and she took off her Serpent jacket and threw it at me, grabbed the cash she had been storing in a safe, and left, saying she was going to Pennsylvania. But this time, I knew she wouldn't be back. I searched high and low for your mother. Nothing. I told the police to stay out of the situation, and they obeyed. But... this is me finally giving up. Drinking my life away." Caspian's voice trailed off, and he raised his drink, taking another sip.

Cali, now tearful, looked at her father with a mixture of emotions. "Thanks, dad. I gotta go." She rushed outside, where her sobs overcame her. Sweet Pea followed her, offering comfort as they faced the painful truth together.

***

The morning sun streamed through Cali's window, gently rousing her from her restless sleep. She blinked away the remnants of a troubled dream, still struggling to believe the shocking revelations from the night before.