CHAPTER 40

“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 advise 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 wants 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.”