*Sage*

"Alright, what are the rules?" I asked Jughead as I sat on the couch petting Hot Dog.

"A Serpent never shows cowardice," he said, Toni nodding. "If a Serpent's killed or imprisoned, their family will be taken care of. Serpents...."

He stopped as he tried to remember.

I agreed to help Jughead prepare for his initiation, but I was still worried for him.

"Come on, focus. You need to take this seriously," Toni whined.

"Okay, I am, Toni, I swear to God I am, just..." he said, getting up and walking across the room. "First the Beast, and now the laws."

Hot Dog's ears perked up when Jughead motioned in his direction.

"Hey, at least you don't have to dance on a pole at the Whyte Wyrm stage in your underwear," I chuckled, making him give me a look as he leaned against the kitchen counter.

"Why the change of heart, anyway?" Toni asked. "Why go from conscientious objector to full-fledged member?" 

"'Cause of something you said..." Jughead said.

Toni looked at him confused as Jughead walked back over to his seat.

"My dad was the only one who was keeping idiots like Sweet Pea in line," He said. "Someone needs to step up. To keep an all-out war from erupting."

I couldn't help but smile at him as Toni looked at him, a small smile on her face as well.

"I am taking this seriously, guys," he said truthfully.

I walked over to stand behind Toni.

"You father would be so proud of you, Jug," I said. 

He looked over and smiled innocently at me.

Toni took a deep breath with a smile. "So from the top," she said.

--

"WHAT IS THE FOURTH LAW?!" Tall Boy yelled in Jughead's face as everyone around them shouted trying to distract him.

I stood by Toni as we all watched.

"NO SERPENT IS LEFT FOR DEAD!!" Jughead shouted at the top of his lungs.

  "WHAT IS THE FIFTH LAW?!"  

"A SERPENT NEVER BETRAYS THEIR OWN!!"

"WHAT IS THE SIXTH?!"

"IN UNITY, THERE IS STRENGTH!!"

"In unity, there is strength!!" Toni and I shouted at once along with the rest of the crowd, Tall Boy motioning us as we did before he held his arms up, looking at Jughead.

"You know the laws," Tall Boy said, his voice a bit croaked from all the yelling, Jughead looking at him with seriousness in his eyes. 

"Now it's time for the next trial," Tall Boy announced.

That's when I moved aside as Sweet Pea and Fogarty moved apart to reveal the rattlesnake tank.

I took a deep breath, Toni rubbing my back as we watch.

"Retrieve the knife," Tall Boy said.

Jughead was shocked as he looked back from the tank to Tall Boy. "What?"

He then looked at me and Toni, and we gave him a serious but assuring nod.

--

"Rattlesnake, Toni," Jughead snapped, a little panicked and not at all amused as I tended to his hand. "A rattlesnake bit me and drew blood!"

"One that had it's venom glands removed," She scoffed with an eye roll. "Okay? The important thing is you showed no fear, you grabbed the knife, and you remembered the laws."

"Toni's right, Jug," I smiled as I finished securing the bandage around his hand. "You did good. Its almost over."

"You're almost a Serpent now, Juggie," Toni said.

I furrowed my brows and look at her. Juggie?

It went quiet afterwards as I sipped the rest of my Sprite.

***

*Sweet Pea*

The next morning I woke up, thankful it was Friday.

Knowing Sage she was up making breakfast, so I decided to get up and see what she was up to.

I walked in, seeing she was cooking, but also looking at her phone, shocked.

"Sage?" I asked. "Everything okay?"

She looked up. "That woman who writes the newspaper... The one who always bashes about the Southside..."

I raised an eyebrow. "What of her?"

"Did you know she was a Serpent?" I asked.

I looked at my little sister weirdly. "What? No way."

"Look," she said, handing me her phone.

I look and was shown the headline of the Blue and Gold.

My eyes widen at the headline.

ALICE COOPER'S SECRET SERPENT PAST!

"Jesus..." I said, reading from the article.

"Betty published it herself," She said.

I gave her her phone back. "Not that I'm defending her mom, but why would her own daughter do that?"

"Maybe Betty didn't like what her own mom was writing about us?" Sage shrugged. "I'll ask Jughead what he thinks is going on, maybe he knows something."

"Jughead has to think of his initiation," I said as I faced her. "You know what's coming, right?"

She took a deep breath before looking at me. "Can I ask one thing out of you for this?" she asked. 

I sighed. "Shoot."

"If it weren't for Jughead's father, we would have been separated in foster care...." I said. "We owe FP so much..." She said.

I pursed my lips and looked down.

"I can't ask you to go easy on him, I know you can't," she said. "But I want to ask of you that we at least stay by his side if he makes it through this."

I looked up at her.

"If not for Jughead, than for FP," I said. "We owe him so much for everything he's done for you and me."

I sighed, knowing she was right. Our parents were taken from us when me and Sage were little, and FP Jones had to pull more than strings to keep us out of the system.

We practically grew up with him. He let me join the Serpents a little earlier than most boys do, but only because I begged him.

It was shortly after that, however, that Sage initiated herself. Even FP was upset, but Sage has proven herself worthy.

She is strong, [unfortunately] stubborn, smart, caring and brave... Just like our mom was.....

I came out more like my father. More stubborn than any other trait, but knows where my heart is.

Our parents were close with FP, hence why he was so desperate to help us after their death, despite his wife and daughter leaving at the time.

"Alright," I said to her. "But I'm mostly doing this for you."

She smiled and pulled me into a hug.

I scoffed a laughed and hugged her back.

I'd have to be dead in the ground before I let anything happen to my little sister.

***

*Archie*

"What the hell was that last night?" I asked Betty as I walked into the Blue and Gold.

While partying with at Veronica's place, since I happened to have been invited, was a bit awkward.

However, it got even more awkward when Betty had an outburst and said some words to Veronica, soon leaving.

I looked at Betty as she sat at her seat, her eyes teary.

"Betty?" I asked.

"I lied to you," she said with a sigh. "When I asked you if the Black Hood had called again.... He did...."

I frowned as she took a deep breath and continued.

"... And he told me to cut Veronica out of my life or he'd...." she said, stopping mid-sentence.

I sighed quietly and looked down. It makes sense now...

"And now he wants me to do the same with Jughead..." she whimpered.

"Betty, why didn't you tell me?" I scolded.

"Because I knew you'd try to talk me out of it," she argued, tears slowly dripping from her eyes.

I looked at her sternly. "You're right..." I said, taking out my phone and turning around. "It's my mistake."

"Archie, put the phone down! Put the phone down!" Betty pleaded as she got up and ran towards me, grabbing my arm. "Listen to me!"

I looked at her sternly.

"He hasn't attacked or killed anyone since we started talking," she said. "I think this is distracting him."

"Betty, he's torturing you!" I argued. "Making you hurt your mom, Veronica, and now Jughead?"

Her eyes filled with more tears as I spoke.

"How are you gonna put him and yourself through that?" I asked.

She turned away and sniffled, wiping her tears away as she crossed her arms, looking down.

"I was hoping maybe you would do it," she mumbled.

I looked at her in shock. "What?"

"Maybe you could tell him that we need to stay away from each other for a while," she said in a pained voice, and I sighed. "Something, anything, to just to keep him away.... To appease the Black Hood..."

"Betty," I sighed, shaking my head.

"It doesn't have to be cruel, Archie, just enough to make Jug believe it," she cried.

I rubbed my forehead in frusteration.

"We can walk it back later," She said.

"You mean you hope we can," I corrected.

"No. We can," she said, trying to keep her voice strong. "And we will."

I looked at her sadly.

"Please, Archie....Don't quit on my now," she begged.

I gulped quietly before hesitantly nodding.

I hope this ends soon....

*Sage*

Tonight was the night. Jughead gets initiated if he passes this final test, and to say I'm nervous for him is an understatement.

He'll have to go through hell with this final test. I know Sweet Pea did when it was him and I had to take care of his wounds.

I decided to bring Jughead some food to help him relax, so I stopped by Pop's to pick up some stuff for the both of us and Toni.

I arrived to the trailer park and cut the engine of my bike, grabbing the bags of food before heading to his trailer.

I turn the corner only to be surprised with a familiar patch of red hair pacing back and forth.

"What the hell?" I asked, and he turned around.

"You..." he said in surprise.

"Look, I don't know why you're here, but you're not welcomed!" I snapped, storming over.

"Look, look look, Sage, I swear, I'm only here to see Jughead," he pleaded.

"Jughead is-"

The door of the opened and Jughead came out, seeing me and Archie arguing.

"Archie..." Jughead spoke.

"We gotta talk, Jug," Archie said as Jughead came down the steps.

"Uh, now is not a really good time, okay?" He said, lookinng around as I turned the corner and saw my brother and the Serpents coming, looking back worriedly.

"He's right, you really can't stay here right now," I said.

"You need to leave, okay? You gotta go," Jughead said to Archie.

"Why, what's going on?" Archie asked confused.

"I'm serious, you're just gonna ha-" Jughead said then stopped and turned to see my brother there.

I gulped nervously.

"What the hell do we have here?" Sweet Pea said.

"Just leave him, alright?" Jughead pleaded.

"Wait..."Archie suddenly said. "You're friends with these thugs?"

I spun to look at him. "Hey, watch it, do you see where you are right now?" I snapped.

"Its not what you think," Jughead said to Archie.

That's when Archie seemed to understand. "Are you joining the Serpents?"

"If he survives," Sweet Pea intervened. "And go ahead and call us thugs one more time."

Sweet Pea stepped up, having Jughead hold him back.

"Jughead, these are the guys who attacked me!" Archie snapped. "Who attacked Reggie and Veronica and Dilton, your friends."

"Attacked because you held up a gun at me and my brother while playing Banksy in our turf!" I snapped.

"And you're still a smart mouth even after I had to help you before you got rounded up," Archie snapped.

I froze as I glared at him.

"What?" Sweet Pea asked, about to charge. "You took my sister to your house!?"

"Sweets, stop," I said, holding him back, Fogarty helping me as Archie backed up.

"You were the one who probably messed up her leg, too, weren't you!?" Sweet Pea shouted.

"Enough!" I snapped at him as he kept glaring.

"Wait, is that why you're here?" Jughead asked Archie. "To warn me?"

"No..." Archie said as Sweet Pea glared at him while I regretted not punching that perfect little face of his.

Wait... Perfect?

"I came here to tell you to stay away from Betty," Archie suddenly said.

My eyes widen in surprise as I looked at Jughead.

 "She doesn't want to see you anymore," Archie continued.

I saw hurt flash across Jughead's face as Sweet Pea and the other Serpents looked at each other.

"Screw you, I just saw Betty yesterday, she...." Jughead suddenly snapped, then almost seeming lost in thought "She was fine..."

"No, dude," Archie said. "She's been wanting to break up with you for weeks.

Jughead looked at him in shock, meanwhile I focused on Archie.

Something isn't right.... And it looks like Sweet Pea noticed it, too... But knowing him, he won't say anything....

"She's been agonizing over it," Archie said. "Since you crossed the dark side, she couldn't bring herself to do it."

"So... So she sent you?" Jughead asked. "Betty would never do that!!"

"If you don't believe me than call her!" Archie snapped. "And feel free to tell her you're a Serpent now, too. I bet she'll love that."

Jughead stared at his friend in disbelief.

"She saw where you were headed, Jughead," Archie said. "We all did, and she knows you can;t be with them and with her."

Jughead continued to look at him, now almost glaring.

"Come on, man," Archie scoffed. "You know it, too."

"Alright, you really need to go," I snarled, shoving Archie back. "Before this turns uglier than your stupid fight."

"Sage, stop," Jug said to me, holding my shoulder. "Just go with your brother."

I turned to glare at Archie, then storming over to stand by Fogarty and my brother.

"Tell Betty I got her message," Jughead snapped at Archie.

Archie looked hesitantly at me and Jughead.

"Yeah," he mumbled and stormed off past us.

He's too easy...

Jughead then turned and saw us staring.

"What?" Jughead snapped at everyone. "Did you enjoy the show?"

"The show hasn't even started yet," Sweet Pea said.

Jughead sighed as he tried to calm down and I was going to walk over before Sweet Pea placed a firm hand on my shoulder.

"We'll talk at home," he snapped, letting go before storming off with the others.

I sighed. "Knew I should have punched your friend in the mouth...." I said to Jughead.

I then turned and see he looked in pain... But not physically...

"Hey... Come on," I said, motioning him inside. "I'll head out with you later... Let's get some food in you first, okay?"

He looked up at me with sad eyes and just sighed and nodded before we headed into his trailer.

***

After comforting Jughead, I left when Toni arrived to help him get prepared and to get ready myself.

Also to face the wrath of my brother.

I sighed as I parked my bike next to his and took a deep breath as I saw him walking out, standing at the door with his arms crossed over his chest.

I nervously walked over and he moved aside and let me in before walking in himself and slamming the door shut.

He took a deep breath before finally speaking.

"Hand over your jacket," Sweet Pea snapped.

"No, please!" I screamed, turning around and gripping my jacket around me. "You don't understand, it wasn't even my fault!!"

"Then what the hell happened?!" he sneered. "How did you end up at his house?!"

I sighed as I looked down. "He found me when I got hurt, and you guys were already gone... I couldn't get up to run.... A Northsider cut me, but it wasn't him. We heard the cops coming and he just decided to save me for some reason and took me to his house and his girlfriend took care of the cut on my leg," I said. "Afterwards, they took me back to my bike and I left."

Sweet Pea sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, pacing the room. 

"Fine, okay, but he could have still hurt you," he said. "Hell, he's the reason you even got hurt!!"

"That still doesn't mean you have to take away my jacket!" I said. "I'm not quitting the Serpents!!"

"Sage," he said in a warning tone.

"This would be all I would have left if something ever happens to you!!" I blurted out.

He looked at me in shock.

"Every singe day... I'm scared for my life that one day I'd have to end up burying you next to Mom and Dad.... I'll be alone, but at least I know there would still be the Serpents, even if its never gonna be the same..." I said, tears beginning to fall down my cheeks.

He looked at me, shocked.

"You take this away from me... And something happens to you.... I'll have nothing left..." I whimpered.

"Sage..." he said, pain in his face.

"Don't let me be alone, please," I begged as he walked over and pulled me into a hug, letting me cry into his chest.

"He, sis.... C-Come on, stop it," he said, rubbing my back. "I had no idea you felt like that... I knew you joined for me, but.... Sage, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get mad..."

I sniffled and wiped my tears as I looked up at him.

"You can stay a Serpent... But you have to swear to me that this never happens again," he said, holding my shoulders. "I can't afford anything bad to happen to you either..."

I nodded. "I swear it won't happen again..."

He nodded and we hugged each other tightly.

Suddenly we hear a beep and pull back, and I see Sweet Pea check his phone.

"Its time," he said.

***

I stood by Toni look away as they all got prepared, Jughead in the middle.

"Begin!" Tall Boy shouted.

I watched as the first guy punched Jughead in the abdomen, then another.

Soon they were punching him in the face as well, even kicking him, circlinig around him as everyone took turns.

I winced as I watched, Toni holding my hand.

Soon enough, Jughead was facing Sweet Pea, who smirked at him. Jughead already had blood dripping from his mouth and some bruises already forming.

"Is that all you got?" Jughead asked.

That's when I noticed a faint gleam coming from Sweet Pea's hand.

Oh no....

Sweet Pea then swung and Jughead hit the ground hard, his cheek bloody from where the brass knuckles Sweet Pea wore hit him.

Jughead laid on the ground, almost motionless.

"Is he knocked out?" I whispered.

"No... Look," Toni whispered, then pointed in his direction

Sweet Pea watched him before holding his hand out to him.

Jughead stared at it before he shook it and everyone cheered for him.

I smiled with relief as I walked over, draping his Serpent jacket over his shoulders as everyone congratulated him.

~~~~~

Hope you're all enjoying the story so far! Let me know if I should continue soon! 🌻

🎧 Currently in Sapph's playlist:

A Trigger Within "Bend or Break"

♡~ sapphire.