His Serpent Queen || Sweet Pea

Chapter 23

"What do you think has Fangs all worked up," I asked while sitting in Sweet Pea's truck. My nerves were beginning to go into overdrive as I saw Pea's grip on the steering wheel tightened. 

Pea shifted in the driver seat as he continued to speed down the road, "I don't know to be honest, but there's not a lot that freaks that guy out."

I placed a hand on his thigh, feeling the tensed muscles slightly relax, "You don't have a good feeling do you?"

His eyes met mine for a split second, "Not at all."

In a blink of an eye, we arrived at tent city. To my own surprise, the city was completely empty and in the far distance we saw a frantic Fangs with his hands on his hips as he stared at something. That something was behind a tree that was blocking both Pea's and I's vision.Pea parked his truck and looked outside my window, his jaw clenched, "Stay in the car."

I watched him get out of the car and walk to Fangs, who was in front of the reclining chair. Both guys muttered to each other, too quiet for me to actually hear what was being said. Then Pea glanced back at me. I saw a flash of fear cross his brown eyes once Fangs pulled the blue tarp down, but only for the two to see. My interest peaked. 

Why are they being hush hush about it? I was here to. 

I forced myself out of the truck and walked slowly towards them. "What is it? Let me see."

Pea shook his head, "I don't think that's a good idea-"

"No. Let me see. I have to know what it is. I'm Queen remember."

"Maybe you should listen to Sweet Pea Andy-"

"Show me Fangs. Now."

With a sigh, he gave in knowing that I wasn't going to stop until I saw what was under that tarp. Fangs grabbed the tarp and glanced at me, "Are you sure?"

I nodded my head.

He pulled the tarp away, revealing what was laying on the couch. A couch that I will never sit on ever again. "Oh my fucking god," I said stumbling back, hitting Sweet Pea's chest.

There in front of me was Joaquin's dead body. His forehead was branded with a marking and his lips were cobalt blue.  

"T-that mark on his forehead," I held a hand covering my mouth as I leaned further into Pea's chest. He brought his arms around my body, one around my waist and another cradling my head to him.

"I know," Pea's chest vibrated, "Shh I know."

I didn't realize it at first but my breathing began to quicken, panic ran through my veins. 

"There's Jughead," Fangs called out.

Jughead pulled up, completely oblivious to what's underneath that tarp. "Someone's sending up a message Jones," Pea gave my shoulders a squeeze and a look to make sure I was okay before going towards Jug.

"What's the message?"

"Not a great one," I spoke as I held onto my arms and sat in one of the many beach chairs surrounding the non-lit bonfire. Jughead looked at the tarp with confusion lacing his eyes. It wasn't until he lifted the tarp that he let out a heavy sigh.  

"Joaquin," he looked away with a slow nod as he brought the tarp back over the cold body. 

"Who do you think did it," Pea was quick to question, wanting revenge as always. 

I shook my head as Pea glanced at me, hoping that he'd get the hint not to pry into Jughead.

Jughead seemed like he spaced out after seeing Joaquin, "Uh.... I don't know". It didn't take an Einstein to know that just seeing a lifeless Joaquin affected Jughead. His whole confidence that he had the night before with Joaquin alive, disappeared. "The Gargoyle gang or Hiram Lo- Could be anyone."

Pea and Fangs shared a look. They knew Jug was shaken up.

Fangs put his hands into his jacket, "That symbol on his forehead..."

"Sacrifice." Jughead and I said at the same time. 

"I have to get to Archie," Jug ran off without saying another word. 

The three of us stood there staring at the dead man before us for what almost seemed like forever. The two Serpents stared at him, memories that they spent with Joaquin filled their minds. A fallen brother was there in front of them. I stared at the body of a man whose icy blue eyes will forever be scorned into my brain, but for very different reasons. Joaquin told us that Archie was marked for death, that he was meant to kill Archie, but he didn't complete the mission. That same marking, the mark of sacrifice was worn by Joaquin now. 

That same mark that he found with the order to kill the Medusa, me. Joaquin told us that he wasn't meant to kill me, but the Warden had the order on his desk. Someone out here is meant to kill me and seeing Joaquin dead for just simply talking to us, means that who ever is behind the mask of the Gargoyle King knew that Joaquin talked to us. 

I felt nauseous. My heard starting hurting, my heart was pounding, my body was covered in cold sweat but temperature felt hot. I shot up and ran to the forest line. A hand went to a tree as I vomited. I heard the crushing of leaves behind me, they all followed me. A hand was brought to the lower of my back, as Pea grabbed the rest of my hair to pull it back.

I slumped down the tree, the two boys sitting on either side of me, "He was watching us out where with Joaquin."

"You don't know that Andy-"

"No Fangs. I do. What ever sick fuck it is orchestrating this whole shit with that damn game you two keep playing is stalking us. The could've just killed Joaquin and hid the body somewhere, but no. They purposely put that body where us, the Serpents will see it because it's on our turf."

Pea laced his hand in mine and placed out intertwined hands on his lap. He rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb, "You think they're stalking you now?"

I nodded, "I'm next. Medusa is the next sacrifice. The thought that another person wants me dead is killing me guys. I just- What the fuck am I supposed to do?"

"We won't let anyone get to you," Fangs grabbed my other hand.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight Andy," Pea squeezed my hand.

Fangs nodded his head as he leaned it on my shoulder, "From this moment on, just think of us as your security guards."

Pea leaned down to whisper in my ear, "I'm all yours, your Highness. Your knight in shinning armor."

My insides warmed at his words. I truly believed and needed Pea to be there for me this time, even once the shit hits the fan because I know it will. I don't want to stay in the past, but when I needed him the most when I was recovering, he wasn't there.

Lord knows I need him the most right now as someone's out there wanting to sacrifice the Serpent Queen.

But what for?