PROLOGUE

SIX YEARS LATER
Gina looked at her daughter who was running around the restaurant and she just smiled.
“Let the kid roam free and let’s talk business,” Haven said with a smile on her face.
It’s been four years since Gina got married to Eric and a year since she stopped being Haven’s assistant but became one of the executive directors of the company. Haven retired in her own way though she was still the chairwoman of the board.
Even if she wasn’t the chairwoman, the company still belonged to her. Haven’s position was taken by Lee, one of the Priestesses and as well as her former chief of the shadow guards.
Ever since her boss got married to Amber, she had been happy and everyone could testify to that. She was just happy that the more time Haven spent with her wife, the less the evil side of her appeared.
“There has been an increase in loan applications as well as the number of projects your children wants to do.”
“That’s good. Do whatever you must, I trust your judgment. Lee is there to help you and if it’s too much, don’t hesitate to come, I will deal with everything.”
“I know which is why I won’t be coming to you.”
“Why would you do that?”
“You need to concentrate on your business and let your children d theirs. You can’t keep on looking after us all the time. We should grow up.”
“I can’t believe the little kid is saying this,” Haven said smiling at her.
“The little kid already has a daughter now,” she said.
“And I’m very proud. You shouldn’t have named her after me though. I’m afraid you will be in trouble.”
“I don’t mind. After all you will be there to reprimand her.”
Haven laughed and looked at the child.
When Gina was due, she had trouble giving birth and it was Haven who made it easier for her. Because she was grateful, she named her child after her savior and mentor Haven and it really caused a stir until she just gave up.
“Look Amber is on TV again!” Gina said as she saw Amber being interviewed.
Haven looked at the TV and smiled.
“My wife is really making a name for herself. She is always on TV and I’m just a proud spouse.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Of course, I am. I have a beautiful, lovely and educated wife. What more would I need?”
“Absolutely nothing,” she said.
Gina received a call from her husband and she picked up. After a minute she hung up.
“I need to go now.”
“Is there any emergency back home?”
“No, Eric’s mother just arrived and I have to go with Haven. You know how she loves her,” she said looking at her child.
“I know. You may go and don’t keep the old hag waiting. I have to meet my family in an hour too,” Haven said.
“Okay, I will update you if there is anything else.”
“Just do that. Go now before she goes mad.”
“Sure, my lady, I will take my leave,” Gina said respectfully.
Haven might be her boss and all that but, in the end, she still has to show that respect to the Viper and that was something that every Oracle member should do disregarding the location.
“At ease,” Haven said cutting her in the middle.
“I’m off then.”
Gina took her baby and went to the car and drove off. Life had been very good for her and she had Haven to thank for. Her roles were more demanding but because she had a nice superior who was harsh and taught her many things, she was able to cope with her responsibilities.
She couldn’t wait to meet her husband. She was living well after all. What more could she want when the Viper had all things taken care of. She always asked herself one vital question; if she hadn’t talked to Haven that day at the café what would have happened to her now?
The most important thing was Haven noticed her, took her in, nurtured her and turned her into the great woman, wife and mother she is right now. She had the Viper to thank for that and she was proud that she was part of the family.
She looked at her tattoo and smiled, she has two starts now. It was a start, maybe one day she will have more. Was she too ambitious? Who cares? She has the Viper to blame that for.
She smiled and looked at her baby who was singing in her seat. Good things always happen to good people. She prayed that her baby would encounter such goodness and greatness like she did.
She stepped on the gear and drove home.
****
Haven couldn’t help but smile as she talked with her family. She mended her broken relationship with her family two years ago and they had been friends ever since then even though she never let them visit her house. Her house was one place that was off bounds to anyone.
“How is the restaurant?” her mother asked.
“It’s doing just fine, there are so many customers thanks to the popularity of my sisters,” she said.
“Don’t forget your wife. She is like a celebrity now,” Heart said.
“Don’t get me started,” she said thinking about Amber.
Why was she so ambitious? She was the one to blame. She gave her so many threats about studying and now that Amber was a Director in the family company, she was just everywhere.
She spent some nights alone while Amber was on business trips and so on. How she wished she could turn back time and tell her to study normally.
“She loves you and that is what is important.”
“Yes, she does.”
“When is she coming? Dinner is almost ready.”
“She will be here soon.”
Haven got a text message and it was Amber. She stood up and excused herself and went outside.
She didn’t even wait for three minutes before Amber arrived riding Queen. She felt safer with Amber being with Queen than other cars. Someone toyed with Amber’s car and she almost died and she wasn’t going to allow something like that to happen again.
Amber got out of the car looking gorgeous as always. Haven opened her arms wide and Amber ran into them.
“Did you miss me Mrs. St Claire?” Amber asked her.
Haven smiled hearing those words. When Haven and Amber got married, she took Amber’s name. She was just grateful for being loved by such a girl like her. She didn’t want Amber to have her name. It was like a curse and that wasn’t something she wished upon the love of her life.
“Of course, I missed you till I got insane Mrs. St Claire,” she replied and kissed her on the forehead.
“Isn’t your family waiting for us inside?”
“Let them wait. I want to embrace you and look at you before we go inside.”
“You are still mad about the interview?”
“Of course, I’m letting the whole world see you. I’m sharing you with everyone,” she sulked.
“Don’t start. You have so many children and I can’t do anything about it. They all look at you and you think I’m not jealous?”
She knew she had been caught so she looked at Amber and said, “I love you.”
“Don’t try to change the topic.”
“I’m not, did I mention that I have a surprise for you?” she said fully knowing that will get Amber’s attention. Amber loved surprised and gifts too much.
“You got me.”
“I know baby. Let’s continue to be like this forever.”
“Yes lets. If anyone tries to get between us, what will you do?”
“I will let you personally stab him in the heart,” Haven said.
“You are cruel. Why can’t you do that yourself?”
“I’m afraid I will swallow or perhaps stab the whole clan and leave no one,” Haven said honestly.
“I almost forgot how ruthless you are. I wonder why I married you.”
“Because you are just as ruthless as me baby and we love each other.”
“Why do you always speak the truth?”
“You know,” she said and kissed Amber passionately.
“Are you coming in?” Helen asked standing at the door and the two of them stopped kissing and looked at her before they laughed.
“We are coming, sorry,” Amber called out and watched as Helen returned inside.
“You made me look so bad,” Amber whispered.
“Baby you are already bad, they just don’t know about it,” she whispered back and Amber nudged her.
“Let’s go inside and meet the family,” Amber said holding her hand and began to walk towards the door.
Haven followed Amber to the house and the memories of the wedding came back to her. Just like now Amber held her hands and became hers in front of so many people. No media or anything, Amber looked so beautiful the memory is still vivid in her mind.
She had always thought she was the bad spouse but after being married she realized just how crazy and ruthless Amber could be. Her baby could kill someone without weapons but strategies. She made a name for herself in the industry for being ruthless and generous too.
Just like how she was righteous and evil at the same time, Amber was like that too in her world. Just like how Haven could use her vicious venom, daggers and guns to kill her enemies, her baby could use vicious strategies too.
They became much alike and it was probably the blood bond which Amber understood after being married for a year. Amber was becoming like her and she was also turning into Amber.
Amongst all things that were happening in her life, it was the Viper that made all these things possible. If she hadn’t walked into the woods that day, she would not have met that sacred carpet viper that bite her and made her die.
If she hadn’t died because of the bite then she wasn’t going to be resurrected and given a second chance. Her second chance in life made her into the Viper. Though killing was bad it made her into the person she was right now.
If she had not been the Viper, she wouldn’t have been a play girl and met Amber that night. She wouldn’t have been able to meet such a lovely girl who turned her life upside down for the better; that girl that made her family again even though it took time to heal all the wounds.
That girl that made her overcomes all the obstacles and wins battles she thought were impossible. That girl that died for her and that girl that made her human again.
Being the Viper made her miserable, grateful and happy for being alive. Being the Viper gave her a family that looked upon her; made her have the ability to save those that could be saved and gives life to those that didn’t have.
As she held her wife’s hand going inside her family’s house to have their weekly dinner she smiled and silently thanked the Goddess for the greatest gift and blessing she bestowed upon her; her life.
What more could she want? She looked at Haven and kissed her hand. Amber looked her and mouthed, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she mouthed back.
Looking to the front being grateful for the things she had, she asked herself that question again. When she has her family and Amber with her, what more would she need?
She answered her question with a smile, “Nothing. I am the VIPER, after all.”
THE END