CHAPTER 41

“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.