Sister

"Caela?!" I asked, surprised. "But- but you're dead."
Caela nodded enthusiastically. "I know. Come on, Jamie's done confusing you, it's my turn now!"
I looked back at the man who led me here, Jamie, and then at the other man, Ramses. Caela stretched up for a better view.
"Oh, that's just the info guy. Come on." She tugged on my hand.
"Is she really Caela?" I asked Jamie.
He looked closely at her face. "Yes."
I turned back, trying to find whatever it was he identified her as, but I was interrupted by Ramses.
"What about Liz?" He asked Jamie.
I turned back around. "What about what?"
Jamie ignored me, telling Ramses, "No, she'll find out eventually."
"Who will find out what?" I asked.
"You'll find out about Liz," Jamie said.
"Who's Liz?"
"A snake-" Jamie began.
"Your snake," Ramses corrected.
Jamie glared at him before continuing. "A special snake that bites anyone untrustworthy who passes through the tunnels."
"Why is she my snake?" I asked.
"She's not." Jamie sighed. "But she didn't bite you, so you've been accepted."
"Accepted for what?"
"Accepted to be her pupil," Jamie replied. "Every hundredth person to be accepted into our society becomes her student. We've had several others who could've been, but she bit them and they died."
"Well why should I be wary of her if she accepted me?"
Jamie exchanged glances with Ramses. "She's... different."
"Besides," Ramses said. "It's her sister you should be more worried about."
"Why?"
"Because," Jamie explained. "Olivia hates newcomers."
"What was that about newcomers?" A slithering voice hissed. Caela scrambled out of the hatch and no more than a second later a serpent's head came into view. A hand on my collar pulled me back a few steps. The snake's eyes snapped towards me. "Ah, another Lyra."
I held my breath as the serpent, Olivia, slithered further out of the opening in the floor.
"Olivia," Jamie said sternly. "This is Ailie. Ailie, this is Olivia."
I gave her a slow nod, which she returned.
"Ailie, you are Caela's sister?" Olivia asked.
"Yes."
"And Quain's sister, too?"
"Yes."
"Interesting." Olivia turned. "Caela, you never mentioned Quain."
Caela backed up. "Really? I thought I did."
"No." Olivia slowly shook her head. "You didn't."
"Oh- oh, I'm sorry," Caela stuttered.
"Olivia," Jamie snapped. She turned, tipping her head. "Let's not have a repeat of Samantha."
Olivia nodded, looking at me. "Of course, Jamie."
She coiled backwards, slithering back through the hatchway and narrowly missing Caela with her tail on the way out.
"Oh, and Ailie?" She called back.
"Yes?"
"Don't listen to your sister too much, dear."