When the newspapers made their rounds, I almost broke something, General Picken's head went missing. And wouldn't you know it, the Serpents are being targeted and blamed for the theft. Sherif Keller had appeared at my doorsteps more times in the next two weeks more times than I could count. Cheryl and I were lounging about doing our homework when the doorbell went off. I huffed in annoyance, groaning as I stood. "What is it?" Cheryl asked, watching me as I headed to open the door. When I did, low and behold, Sheriff Keller stood on my front porch.

"Sheriff." I greeted dryly. "What an unexpected visit." I stepped to the side to let the lawman in.

"Lia." He greeted. "Cheryl." He added when he saw the redhead stand and approached the archway that separated the living room and the hallway. "Sorry to bother you-"

"Before you start on your usual speech, I'll just cut you off." I but in. "No, I do not have General Pickens' head, nor do I know who stole. I hope you can add this to the five other times you've come to my door to ask the same questions. From what I've heard, this is starting to sound like you're harassing the Serpents. You have no tangible proof or evidence, just a dislike for us."

"Well, your brother did right a scathing article about the General's legacy which prompted the Southside Serpents to stop by Pickens Day with an axe to grind."

"Everything that was said in that article is true." Cheryl stated.

"There seems to be a real lack of competency going around the sheriff's station." I said, crossing my arms. "As far as I'm concerned, your station hasn't done anything to solve the current problems that plague our town…if you can find the missing head of a statue, come back here and I'll take back my statements." Sheriff Keller narrowed his eyes at me, and then left, closing the door behind him.

"What was that all about?" Cheryl asked me.

"Sheriff Keller thinks us Serpents are behind General Pickens' statue decapitation." I told her.

"Oh…"

"Can we get back to our homework, please."

"S-sure." I settled down and pulled out my homework, ignoring Cheryl watching me as she pulled her own homework out.

TIMESKIP

The next day, Veronica gathered Archie, Kevin, Betty, Jughead and Myself in the Student Lounge to talk to us. "I invited Archie, but I want you guys there as well." The Ravenette said. "Usually these kinds of events, baptisms, confirmations, are family only. But, since it's all about me, and you guys are my chosen family, I pulled strings and reserved you a pew."

"What is the dress code?" Kevin wondered.

"Catholic chic. So, dresses for the girls, veils optional, and coats and ties for the boys."

"Jughead Jones and Betty Cooper." Principal Wetherbee's voice crackled over the loudspeakers. "Please report to the principal's office. Jughead Jones and Betty Cooper to the principal's office." The two shared a look before heading off.

"Well, I'll be there." I said to Veronica. "So… presents?"

"Wait, we need to bring presents?" Kevin wondered.

"It's not required." I told him. "But it's…common for presents to be given at something like this."

"I don't need anything." Veronica insisted. "Ok? I just want you there."

"Sure." I said. "Just us." I gave Kevin a sly look. A look of understanding crossed his face and he nodded slowly.

TIMESKIP

That night, I got a furious call from Jughead…and then from Toni and Sweet Pea and Fangs, all demanding me to head down to the Wyrm for an emergency meeting. When I got there, Dad was onstage, speaking to all of the Serpents. "We all got the eviction notices." He stated. I wove my way through the crowd, noting the papers that were clutched in greasy hands. "But I swear to you, no one is going anywhere. The heat's been on us since Picken's day, and they are using that damn statue as an excuse to turn it up. But if we're going to take this, I gotta ask…is anyone in this room responsible for cutting off Pickens' head." I looked around at the Serpents sceptically.

"Why don't you ask your son what he has to say?" Tall Boy spat.

"What is your problem with me, Tall Boy." Jughead demanded.

"You wrote the article that started this mess. You and your…posse fired the opening shot at Pickens Day."

"It was a peaceful protest." Toni stated.

"That accomplished nothing. Who's to say you didn't go back that night with a ladder and a hacksaw."

"How dare you accuse us of that." I stepped forward, getting in Tall Boy's face. "We wouldn't even think about doing something like that. How about you, huh? You're the tallest out of everyone here, you wouldn't even need the ladder." I felt Dad grab the collar of my jacket.

"Lia, Tall Boy." Dad said forcefully. "The last thing we need right now is to turn on each other. We'll find a way out of this." Dad shoved me back a little. I scoffed, turning away from him.

TIMESKIP

The next night, I walked into the Wyrm…and all eyes turned to me. "You're acting like I killed someone." I muttered.

"Ophelia Johnson." I stiffened at the familiar voice that echoed through the bar. Penny Peabody, sitting at a table with Dad. "Did ou really think you'd see the last of me?"

"I was hoping not." I commented, crossing my arms. "Anyone want to tell me why the Snake Charmer's here?" I looked around. "Dad?"

"No, I brought her in to help us." Tall Boy stated.

"Penny's help comes with a price." I said. "We shouldn't have to pay it."

"You don't get a say anymore! Not since you broke Serpent Law and hurt one of our own kind. Penny was about to tell your dad. Show him, Penny. Show 'em all." The blonde pulled her sleeve up to reveal the red patch of skin on her forearm.

"That used to be my Serpent tattoo." Penny revealed. "Until your daughter sliced a chunk out of my arm and left be bleeding in a ditch in Greendale." Dad lent forward, pressing his face into his hand. "But I'm still willing to help the Serpents. Tall Boy showed me those eviction notices, they're legit. But, luckily I can think of about forty-one ways to stall the process. And I'm talking years."

"What's your price, Penny?" Dad asked.

"Blood for blood." She stood as she spoke. "An eye for an eye. I want back in the Serpents, and I want her kicked out." Penny then turned to me as Dad leaned back in his seat. "Oh, yeah, one last thing. I want her tattoo carved off. And I want to do it myself. With a dirty knife." I bit my lip.

"Go home, Lia." Dad ordered. "I'll come by." I gave him a single nod before I turned on my heel and walked out. I headed home and sat at the kitchen island, waiting. It was a good while before there was a banging at my door. I walked over and opened it to reveal Dad, tucking his helmet under his arm.

"So, what's the verdict?" I asked him, stepping aside to let him in.

"There's going to be a vote." Dad revealed, walking in and setting his helmet down. "You versus Penny."

"Seriously?" I wondered. "I've done all I can for the Serpents, having Penny there it's…it's a death sentence!"

"Penny's a cobra…but mutilating her? That's a thing you don't come back from, Lia."

"Oh, like stuffing my girlfriend's brother's body in a freezer?" Dad gripped my shirt and pulled me close.

"You need to learn to keep your damn mouth shut!" He spat at me. "Tall Boy was right, Jughead, he brought the Northside down on us. Serpents are losing their dens because of what he wrote!"

"And I was coming in to help!" I shouted at him. I slapped Dad's hand off me. "Look at this place!" I walked backwards and opened my arms. "A lot of room for just one girl, yeah? I was going to ask you and Jug to move in! You're my family! I was going to offer the Serpents to crash here while they figured out what to do. And as for the article? It's obvious what they're doing! The Northsiders are using it and what happened to the statue as justification for everything they've done!"

"You think you're a hero, Lia?" Dad demanded. "Cutting up women? Bringing the temple down right on our damn heads? You…you and your brother will be the death of us. Not the Northside, not Penny…you."

"I did what I had to do to protect my family." I jabbed my finger into my chest. "He was going to cut up Penny, but I stepped in, to take the heat, because that's what family does. I did it to protect you, to stop you from being a puppet in her little games. If you think that I'm selfish for doing what I did, then leave." I pointed to the door. "Now. I want you out of my house." Dad then stormed over, grabbed his helmet and then stalked out the door, slamming it behind him. I pushed my hair out of my face with an angry huff.

TIMESKIP

It soon came time for Veronica's confirmation. I was glad for the distraction, honestly. I wore a navy blue dress that reached my knees and a gold snake belt, black heels, and had all my hair pinned to one side. I sat beside Kevin, at the end of the pew. We watched as Josie sang, and then Veronica joined in and walked down the aisle. She did her whole thing, being confirmed and all that…and then it was time for the after-party at the Pembroke. I stood to the back with Jughead. "They want a vote between me and Penny." I said, rolling my eyes. "To decide who's in and who's out."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Jughead asked. "I could be there right now fighting for you."

"Because you shouldn't have to be involved with something I did."

"I'm your brother." Jughead insisted to me.

"I know, which is another reason I didn't tell you." I then looked over and saw that Veronica was alone. "I'm going to give V her present." I then walked off, tucking the white-wrapped present under my arm.

"Lia, hi." Veronica greeted with a small smile. "Thank you for coming." I offered Veronica her present. "What's this?"

"You said no presents, but I'm half Italian, we can't not give presents so…there."

"Lia…" Veronica then opened her present. It was a scrapbook, from all her time at Riverdale with all our friends. "Oh, Lia, this is…"

"It's from all of us, but I was designated to be the gift bearer."

"Thank you." Veronica and I shared a hug. My phone buzzed in my purse. I pulled away and pulled my phone out, frowning as I read through the texts that were coming in.

"I am…so sorry, V, but I have to go." I said, looking at my friend. "I'll see you at school, yeah?" I didn't wait for Veronica to respond and hurried out of the Pembroke, making my way to the Wyrm…where Dad, Betty and Jughead stood…holding General Pickens head. "How…?"

"We'll explain inside." Jughead said. "Let's go." I followed my family into the Wyrm, all eyes turning to us as Jughead walked in with the statue head.

"Stop the damn vote." Dad ordered. He approached Tall Boy in the centre of the room. "What the hell were you doing at the dump last week Tall Boy?" Dad slid into a chair behind the large man.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Tall Boy stated.

"I'm talking about you cutting the head of the Pickens and stashing it at the dump where you were seen dumbass, so start spilling!"

"Why'd you do it?" Jughead demanded. "Someone put you up to this?"

"What's the Northsider doing here?" Tall Boy asked. "This is Serpent Business, on Serpent Land."

"She's here because she's one of us."

"You haven't answered my son's question. Why'd you do it?" Dad repeated, gripping Tall Boy's shoulder.

" 'Cause I am tired of seeing the Serpents going soft under your rule." Tall Boy stated. "Then Hiral Lodge came by, wanting to stir up some trouble. He said if I took the head, he'd get McCoy and the cops to swarm all over us, cause some chaos."

"So what you're saying…is that Hiram Lodge asked you to stir up a coup?" I wondered, stepping forward. "Why would you help him?"

"I figured it would be my chance to get rid of you, sunshine." Tall Boy spat at me. "And if I got rid of her, I could get rid of Jughead, and then you too, FP."

"And then what, you'd become leader?" Dad asked, springing to his feet.

"He and Penny." Jughead revealed. "You're Judas, Tall Boy, and an idiot."

"You betrayed your own kind, Tall Boy, you broke Serpent Law. What should we do with this lowlife!?"

"Strip him of his jacket." I suggested. "Exile him."

"All those in favour?" Dad called. Everyone in the White Wyrm raised their hands, even Betty. "Looks like this piece of trash and I got a long ride ahead of us." A smirk twitched at my lips, and Tall Boy could only scowl as Dad hauled him to his feet, yanked his jacket off and pulled him out of the Wyrm.