ੈ✩‧₊˚  —

Anastasiya Black. A name that held a lot of power, power that a seventeen-year-old girl didn't know what to do with.

The Northside feared her, whilst the Southside admired her. It was a lot for the girl to handle. But she loved the thrill.

Being the serpent Queen made her feel worth something. It gave her everything she had been longing for. She loved being a serpent, getting to run around and cause mischief with her friends was what made her, her. But she still had the longing feeling in her chest.

And then FP got arrested, and he appointed his niece her rightful place as leader. Of course, everyone was sad that FP was gone, but they were thrilled to welcome Ana as their Queen.

She was loved within her community, if she said jump, people would ask how high.

Of course, running a gang was a lot for a teenage girl, so a lot of the work fell onto the older serpents that she trusted. Zara, who was practically the girls honorary mother, kept in charge of the Whyte Wyrm with Hogeye, so Ana didn't have to worry about that.

Tall Boy and a few of the stronger Serpents kept cool with the Ghoulies and helped Ana with anything she needed.

She'd been wearing FPs jacket as it made her feel closer to her Uncle. She'd stolen it from his trailer, leaving a note for Jughead so he didn't worry. She missed her Uncle dearly. Apart from her friends, he was the only person who truly understood Anastasiya.

Her mother, Alexandra Jones, had died at Ana's birth, leaving her brother and husband to take care of her. FP loved his niece like she was his own. And she may as well be.

Samuel Black's name also held a lot of power, but he'd lost that power after a tragic accident that he caused last year. But we won't get into that right now.

He was a bad person and an even worse father. But Ana was better off. She had her real family.

Which was why she was currently outside the Jones' trailer, banging loudly on the door. Jughead came out of the trailer cautiously, staring at his cousin and the group of serpents with wide eyes.

His eyes lingered on Ana though, he hadn't seen her since before Jason was murdered.

"Easy, Hot Dog. He's family." Ana shushed the barking dog, before turning to her cousin.

"Hey." Jughead's voice shook slightly. "Uncle P could've named names but he didn't." Jughead nodded, his eyes still wandering around warily. "Serpents take care of their own." Her voice softened.

"We wanted- I wanted you to know, no matter what happens to him, however long he's gone, we got your back." She said, before taking his jacket from Tall Boy.

"This is yours... if you want it." She held it out with a hopeful expression on her face.

Jughead took the jacket from her, staring at it with purpose. He then stared at the serpents again, a smirk finding its way onto his face, making Ana copy.

He put the jacket on, flicking it over his shoulders, it fitting him like a glove. Ana smiled widely, seeing her cousin in the jacket filled her insides with happiness.

She knew FP would grill her once he found out, but in that moment she was too happy to care. She'd missed her cousin.

She'd been keeping an eye on him over the last year, but she stayed back, not wanting to get her hands dirty with the Jason Blossom mess.

She might've only been a year older than her cousin, but she'd always act like a protective big sister.

Jughead's smile dropped as Betty's voice came from inside the trailer. "Juggy."

Ana turned to the Serpents behind her, signalling that they should leave. As she got to the bottom of the steps, she turned to her cousin. "Jughead." He turned to her, a look in his eyes she couldn't quite decipher.

"My numbers in the pocket. Call me anytime." She flashed him a smile before walking away.

ੈ✩‧₊˚  —

When Ana had told her cousin last night that he could call her anytime she didn't mean he could call her at nine am the next day.

"Hello?" She grumbled into the phone, forcing herself to sit up. A guy, whose name she couldn't remember woke up from next to her, making her internally groan.

She stumbled out of bed, trying to find her jeans that had been disregarded last night. "Hey, Ana."

"Jughead?" She questioned as she put her jeans back on, ignoring the boy on the bed. She found her jacket by the door, putting it on quickly before shoving her feet into her boots.

She quickly rushed back into the bedroom, "I'll call you, Taylor." She lied, rushing out of the trailer. "It's Tyler!" She heard him yell back, but she didn't care.

"Sorry, Jughead. Are you okay?" She quickly rushed to the other side of the trailer park, wanting a quick shower and a clean pair of clothes.

"Yeah, I'm good. Do you think you can meet me at the hospital in half an hour?" She pulled a face at his words. "You're not dying, are you? Man, I just woke up." She whined.

Jughead chuckled at her words, getting a weird look from Betty, but he ignored it. "Ani, I'm fine." The childhood nickname slipped from his lips so easily, making her lips curl into a warm smile.

"I'll see you in thirty, Jug." She informed him before hanging up.

The girl unlocked the door of her trailer before stepping inside, kicking her boots off and leaving them by the door. She wasn't surprised to see her friends spread across the living room. She had the biggest trailer out of all of them, so they practically lived with her.

She'd lived alone since last year, and she had no idea where her father was living, she wouldn't be surprised if he'd drunk himself to death and his body was lying in a dark alleyway waiting to be found.

Sweetpea and Fangs had fallen asleep on the couch, both tangled into each other. Ana chuckled at them, knowing that it would turn into a play flight as soon as they woke up.

Katie and Harper were asleep on the floor, pillows tucked under their heads and a blanket pooled around their waists.

There was no doubt it was the boys doing because they looked freezing whilst the girls looked warm and peaceful. Ana smiled again, the boy's protectiveness always warmed her heart.

She made no effort to be quiet as she went in the shower, purposely being loud to wake up her sleeping friends.

She quickly washed herself and her hair, before stepping out of the shower and wrapping a robe around herself.

She opened the bathroom door and started blow-drying her hair, laughing to herself when she heard the annoyed groans of her friends.

She spent a few minutes drying her hair, before running her brush through it, leaving it in its natural waves. She quickly coated her eyelashes in mascara before rushing into her bedroom to get changed.

The blonde changed into a clean pair of jeans, pairing it with a black sheer top and an unbuttoned plaid shirt before throwing FP's serpent jacket on over it.

It was big on the girl, but she felt an extra boost of confidence while wearing it.

She put on her chunky boots before heading back into the living room, and as expected, Sweetpea and Fangs were play fighting.

As soon as she stepped into the room, everyone stopped what they were doing to face their friend, all shouting questions at her at once.

"Where the hell were you?"

"Oooh! Were you with a boyyyy?"

"I can't believe you left me with dumb and dumber."

"You're supposed to text if you're going out."

Ana stared at them as they all shouted at once, holding up her hand to stop them. "First of all, I did text you, Pea." He checked his phone, pulling a guilty face. "Sorry." Katie snorted, resulting in Sweetpea taking the pillow from behind me and throwing it at his friend. "Dick."

Ana laughed at their antics before taking her bike keys from the counter. "I have to go and meet Jughead." She informed them.

"Is it safe?" Sweetpea sat up. "It's the Northside, I'll be the scariest thing there." She winked.

"I'm coming with you." Ana rolled her eyes, but she expected he would. "Be quick." She shouted after him as he rushed to change.

He quickly rushed back out after changing, following her outside after they wished the girls and Fangs goodbye. As they got to their bikes, Ana turned to the boy, placing her hands on her hips as she looked up at him.

Sweetpea looked down at the blonde in front of him and couldn't help but smile. Anastasiya Black was everything to him. The way her blonde hair always sat perfectly whilst her brown eyes sparkled. Her normal smile of mischief on her lips as she looked up at him.

The way he could see her serpent tattoo poking out her jeans and the way she wore chunky boots to make her appear taller. It worked for most people, but he still towered over her. But he loved it because seeing her look up at him and be so perfect made his day worthwhile.

They had been best friends since they were toddlers, and Sweetpea wouldn't change it for the world. He would die for her, and she would do the same.

"You know I can meet him on my own." She tilted her head, giving him a fake intimidating look, which just made him chuckle. "I know, but I gotta make sure my Queen is safe." He teased, but his voice was soft.

"Come on, I'm gonna be late." She rushed out, ignoring how her cheeks heated up at his words.

ੈ✩‧₊˚  —

"Got nervous when you said to meet at the hospital." She told Jughead as he walked up to her. Ana stepped forward, leaving Sweetpea and their bikes a few feet away.

"Who's he? Your bodyguard?" Jughead teased, making her snort. "You could say that." She joked back, turning around to throw a wink in Sweetpea's direction.

"So.. What can I do for you, cousin?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I was wondering about when you said the serpents had my back. Does that extend to a guy who's like my brother? And a man who's like my second father to me?"

Ana hummed. "The Andrews boys?" Jughead nodded. "What happened?"

"Fred was shot during a robbery at Pop's. The guy was in a black hood." Ana raised a brow. "We don't wear masks."

"I get it." He replied. "But some serpents were working for Fred when he decided to let them go suddenly. Maybe someone took it personally and went rogue? You guys know every hidey-hole in town. Someone has to have heard something about what went down at Pops."

Ana sighed, looking down at her shoes before facing her cousin. "All right. I'll get Tall Boy to knock some heads. I'll let you know. Give Fred my best." She shot him a smile as he walked away.

LUCE SPEAKS //

they're back!!!!!! guys i'm so so excited.

enjoy!!!!