Chapter 9

(Dante's pov)

14:00 PM

Sahara desert

Kaiserin had us relocate to the Sahara desert where father's hideout is in case ADVENT looked for us. Hans was proud of my success at the clinic as Erica just smiled at me. I too felt pretty proud of myself...angering ADVENT has never been so satisfying. I can imagine the look on the elders faces when they figure out that it was just a mere distraction.

"A job well done, brother. Our allies made it to safety along with their king and you proved yourself to be an asset to the family." Hans smiled.

"Thanks, brother. You think father will be comfortable with the vipers?" I asked him.

"Nonsense. Him and the viper king have been friends for about as long as mother knew the viper king. Just um...be careful with the females." Hans suddenly went nervous when he mentioned females.

"Why?" I asked as Erica scoffs.

"What the nervous idiot is trying to get at is that most female vipers are looking around for suitable males to keep their race alive." Erica rolled her eyes.

"Something happened to them?" I look at Erica.

"Yeah...and a very harsh one too. They lost their home planet years ago and were close to extinction before they arrived to earth. I think mother told me that the elders convinced the viper king that they help his kind if they would to serve him...well...you can put two in two together when we saved him." Erica explained.

"Wow...that must be harsh..." I said with genuine sympathy in my voice.

"Yeah...ADVENT can be such cowards when it comes to taking advantage on people..." Erica sighs.

We finally made it to father's location as we saw Kaiserin was next to the viper king. We all(As in me, Hans, Erica and the rest of my brothers and sisters.) got on our knees to bow to the viper king (we had to in order for him to feel welcomed in his presence.). Kaiserin decided to make things clear to us...

"As some of you may know, our allies, the vipers, were about to have their king exterminated by the cowards of ADVENT. Which was why I sent Dante and Erica to create a distraction on one of the ADVENT clinics so that the black scales can get the viper king and the rest of the vipers with extreme discretion. Now...I want to make this perfectly clear...your father and I have a good relationship with the viper king and his vipers and I will not tolerate disrespectful behavior towards them. If the viper king wants you to do something for him, you best do what he says. Do I make myself clear?" Kaiserin said with authority in her voice.

"Yes, mother." We all said at the same time.

"Good. Now let's all give him a warm greeting to make feel him welcome."

"We welcome you to our home, viper king." We all said with somewhat joy in our voices.

"You didn't have to do this, Kaiserin." The viper king said looking at Kaiserin with a "you can't be serious." look on his face.

"Nonsense, my friend. It's the least I can do." Kaiserin chuckled.

She looked at me with a smile on her face as she dismissed me and my brothers and sisters. I decided to follow Hans and talk to him about the vipers with Erica...he of course got more uncomfortable. So when I asked Erica about it...

"He mated with one of the viper king's many daughters. And no he didn't make a move on her. She was in heat and boy can a viper get violent when they are in heat." Erica snickered.

The thought of that makes me shudder in fear...wait...did she say "many daughters"? Yikes...the viper king must've breed alot of females for that to happen.

"Does the viper king know about that?" I asked with concern.

"Yeah. Thankfully he didn't seem to mind too much since he well aware that the females were looking for suitable males. His son however made it perfectly to Hans that if anything happened to his sister, he would grind Hans' bones to dust."

"Why? He's a psionic or something?" I asked with my eyes wide.

"Yeah. The viper king is...well...special. see...he was the only male viper to wield psionic powers that possibly matches the elders powers. Now several of his sons and daughters now have his power. Best not get on their bad sides." Hans tells me.

"Noted. Should I avoid the females or..." I paused a bit as Hans chuckled.

"Nah...it's the ones that are in heat that you should avoid. If she somehow got you...well...you're pretty much on your own." Hans suddenly cringed.

"I think I get the picture why." I shuddered.

"Don't worry. What happened to me happened months ago before you became part of the family." Hans reassured me.

"But we have do our best to keep ours and the viper race thriving."

"I...see..." I said trying to register all that information.

3 hours later.

I was in my new home reading when Erica shows up and sat down next to me. I look at her with a smile just as she smiled back.

"Hey there. Something on your mind?" I asked her.

"Just letting you know that I will staying with you in this new home of yours." She giggled.

"Oh? You sure you're not here cause you love me?" I joked.

She playfully smacks me by the back of the head as I snickered...

"Very funny. Just because I love you like a brother doesn't mean we are gonna go up to that level relationship." She smirked.

"Oh? Who knows? We might just get into that relationship." I smirked back.

"We'll ssssee." She softly hissed.

She embraced me as I placed the book on the table and laid down on the bed with her. Now you would think we are going to get it on...but she teases me...again...wait...what is wrong with me...?

"Try anything without my consent and I'll break your balls." She said with a smile.

Now that smile may make you think she's joking but she is dead serious.

"Whoa. No need for hostilities. I was only joking. Plus I'm not the kind of guy who rushes relationships." I said earning a giggle from Erica.

What a gal she turns out to be...

(Kaiserin's pov)

1 hour later

My husband enters my room just I finished taking notes on Dante's performance and he seemed...content for once the moment I see his face.

"So...our son has finally got Neke out of the Elder's clutches at long last." My husband smiled.

"Yes. If it wasn't for Hans who was ears near the viper nest, Neke would've faced the Elder's wrath." I sighed.

"Indeed."

He sits next to me as I rested my head on his shoulder earning a satisfying hum from him.

"One day...our race will taste true freedom. Where ADVENT won't control us...and most of all...to help our race thrive from extinction." He said softly.

"And what of the vipers? Will they share that paradise with us?"

"Of course, my love. We made an alliance with their king for a reason. Though our children are going to have to get used to their company. Knowing the vipers, they might want their attention when it comes to breeding to help their race stay alive."

"Just like what happened Hans with one of Neke's daughters." I chuckled.

"Right...we promised them that we will can keep their race alive as much we want to keep our race alive."

"Let's just hope they don't do anything rash. I would hate to see a fight go out."

"One could hope too much..."

I sure it doesn't come to that...