A Serpent Can't Shed Its Skin

Ch.13

''Okay it's probably all fine, and he is just taking a nap somewhere'' I say to absolutely no one in particular.

I went downstairs again, and then back upstairs immediately. I was definitely freaking out. An evil idea then formed in my head.

I went back upstairs, and sneaked into my parent's bedroom.

I went immediately to my father's bedside table, and took out an stray bobby pin in my hair, and unlocked it. I then rummaged around until I found my father's very old but still pretty sharp and dangerous dagger. The hilt still even says ''Casper Corpse'' in dried blood.

I ran my fingers very slowly over the dagger, just admiring its beauty. I knew this was one of my father's most prized possessions. Nobody has ever gotten to even touch it, until now of course.

I then went in my mother's giant clothes closet, and shimmied to the very back of the closet until I found my mother's very old but still recognizable Southside Serpent jacket.

I put it on very proudly. It was almost a perfect fit. I knew the one I will get once I was in the Southside Serpents for real will actually be a perfect fit, and I honestly can't wait.

I then went back downstairs again for the tenth time this afternoon, and ran out the door so I could get to the Whyte Wyrm on time for Jughead's Serpent initiation.

It took me about an hour but I was finally able to run across town to the scary Southside just in time.

I burst through the two wooden doors, and everyone in the entire bar, including the loud hard rock music, and Toni the underage bartenter went completely silent.

''What the hell are you doing here Samantha, and in one of our jackets?!!'' Sweet Pea says in complete outrage.

''I'm here to watch my old friend Juggie get into the Serpents'' I say getting right up in Jughead's personal space, and trying to give him a harmless little sister hug, but he immediately moved to the other side of the bar table, completely ignoring me.

''I know why you are here Sam, and I promise you it's not going to work, also I know you stole Hot Dog from my trailer, that was really low even for you'' Jughead says looking at me like he didn't even know me anymore, and I don't think I do either.

''Alright let's get this over with'' Jughead says quickly downing the rest of his soda, and very reluctantly moving to the middle of the bar where everyone was screaming excitedly, and the loud rock music had finally resumed.

Everyone was yelling all at once, and then a scary looking man named ''Tall Boy'' screamed at the top of his lungs:

''Alright what is the first law??''

''A Serpent never shows cowardice!!!'' I scream before Jughead can even open his mouth.

''What is the first law?'' Tall Boy tries again only speaking to Jughead.

''A Serpent never shows cowardice!!'' Jughead says trying to be just as loud as me but failing miserably.

''What is the second law??'' Tall Boy screams.

''If a Serpent is killed or imprisoned, their family will be taken care of!!!'' I say even louder than last time.

''Samantha stop it!! You are ruining everything!!'' Jughead says so angry his face was turning bright red.

Jughead repeats the second law still trying to be just as loud as me.

''What is the third law??'' Tall Boy says ignoring our faux sibling drama.

''No Serpent is left for dead!!!'' I scream so loud and truly proud.

''Yeah what she said'' Jughead says sighing so deeply and not even looking at me.

''What is the fourth law??''Tall Boy says seeming to only talk to me now.

''A Serpent never betrays his own!!!!'' I say with my hands sassily on my very slim hips but still so proud to able to say it at all.

I look around at my future fellow gang members. Everyone looked very confused, but then I looked at Sweet Pea, and he almost looked proud, and I knew that look alone made all this insanity worth it.

''What is the fifth law??'' Tall Boy finally says smirking in amusement.

''In unity there is strength!!!!'' I say finally much louder than anyone in the entire bar.

After I had finished reciting all of the laws, everyone in the entire bar was again completely silent, and my voice was raw from screaming, and my heart was beating a million miles a minute.

Jughead then cleared his throat. 

''Are you done Samantha?'' Jughead says with his arms crossed very angrily over his chest. He sounded more like an older brother at that moment than I have ever known him to sound, ever.

''No I'm not done!!'' I say crossing my arms over my chest too, just as angry as him.

''Just ignore her, she isn't important'' Jughead says to everybody else. My heart stops beating for just a second once he says those hurtful words, but I ignore it.

They then make the initiation circle again, and yell the Serpent laws just for Jughead, and he does fine. He doesn't say them as enthusiastically as I did though.

Afterwards we all gather around the infamous Serpent tank.

''Retrieve the knife!!'' Tall Boy says with an air of disdain in his voice reserved for Jughead only.

I look at Jughead, and for the first time since I have met him all those years ago in kindergarten, he actually looks terrified.

I wave my hand very gently but frantically over his face, but he doesn't budge. I shrug indifferently, and then wait a few painful pregnant beats before retrieving the knife myself. The snake doesn't pay me the slightest bit of attention because it knows I am completely calm, unlike Jughead who is still shaking in genuine fear.

''Put it back Sam'' Jughead says finally finding his voice.

I shrug indifferently again before putting the knife back into the tank.

Jughead gulps but very nervously retrieves the knife. The serpent immediately bites his hand, very hard, luckily I knew that it had had its venom glands removed so Jughead wouldn't actually get hurt.

I then reach my hands in the tank, and retrieve the serpent too, and put it around my shoulders like a feather boa. It curls its pale grey scaly rattlesnake body around my neck but doesn't try to kill me at all.

''All hail Serpentina!!'' Sweet Pea says with his hands crossed over his chest too, and almost an amused smirk on his face.