The tragedy

|Raven’s POV|

The black-drenched cocktail dress was almost the same colour and state of my heart. My heart reeled with only one question--Why did my father leave me now?

Just when I was going to tell him my darkest secret, I did not doubt that he would hate me for that, but most especially he would be pissed that I didn’t tell him when he was alive.

I had revealed the secret to his lifeless body instead.

My eyelids were heavy, and my throat was hoarse from crying. I had buried my father a few hours ago and just found it in me to leave the burial ground. However, not seeing my father again made me want to return to the place again.

But I needed to comfort my mother, she couldn’t even bear to watch her beloved husband being lowered to the ground. She had left earlier, to protect the rest of her sanity.

I stared back at my reflection in the two-way full-length mirror at the entrance that served as a door to the mansion. My sunken yet puffy eyes looked lifeless, my long black hair had lost its sheen and the only shiny thing in my appearance was the black dress.

The guards tipped their heads lightly, bowing to their Mafia princess. Their faces were hollow at the loss of their Don, but their loyalty was undoubtedly unwavering. As I entered my father’s mansion, my eyes stung and the tightness in my chest returned because his scent and memories were everywhere.

‘Should I kill myself and be buried with my father?’

Nope. You have to be strong for her.

The heavy weight in my chest and void in my stomach was what I felt as I headed to my father’s room, where my mother would most likely be burying herself in my father’s clothes. Something flickered in my chest, a sudden uneasy feeling, but I narrowed it down to the feeling that I would not see my father there.

My hands turned the doorknob, and walking inside, I felt my legs touching some fabric. But that wasn’t what made me stop. My eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room, but my mind would never adjust to the scene unfolding--skins slapping each other and my mother bouncing on another person’s dick in my father’s room, barely twenty-four hours after his death.

I staggered backwards, pushing the flower pots in the process. They stopped, and my mother looked at me with her jaw dropped. I shook my head and raised my hands to stop her from opening her filthy mouth to explain. I didn’t want to hear her explanation. I just wanted to be out of my father’s room, which had become tainted by my mother’s actions.

I shoved the door apart and bolted out of the room, my chest heaving and my heart beating fast as I sprinted towards the staircase, taking three at a time after gripping the railings.

I ran past the living room and kicked the entrance door open, but before I could step a foot outside, I was snatched by the waist by the bodyguard that I had seen earlier stationed at the entrance. My eyes were blurry as I kicked my feet and screamed till my throat became patchy.

My shoulders sagged and all the fight in me disappeared. “Ple--please, let me go,” I muttered weakly.

My throat felt patched, and I could not scream anymore. The only thing I could do was cry helplessly as I felt myself being carried in the direction I ran from. But this time, to my father’s office.

As we entered the office, it felt strange. There wasn’t an element in the office that looked like my father anymore. 

Nope, the grey interiors that he used to love so much have been upturned and changed to black. The pictures and his awards that used to be proud of were no longer there. It was as if they erased my father’s existence from his office.

How could my mother do that? How could she?! My father loved her so much that he would lay down his life for her.

“Put her down.” A command that made my mind crawl with disgust.

The voice was vaguely familiar. The deep gravelly voice belonged to my uncle, who I hadn’t seen in six years till my dad was pronounced dead.

As I looked into his green slimy orbs, I felt disgusted and betrayed, especially with my mother sitting beside him, on my father’s table. The most painful thing was she looked like she belonged with him because my father shouldn’t have such a vile woman by his side.

Rubbing his temple, he started “Raven,”

"I never meant for things to turn out this way," he said, his voice laced with false regret.

"I wish I never had to lay my eyes on you again," I spat, my voice filled with venom.

Shaking his head, his lips tugged into a sly smirk. “Tsk Tsk. That’s not the way to talk to your uncle. Not especially the man that would take your role till you become of age to rule the Mafia.” He reprimanded.

"I'm old enough to run this place and I know the risks. I'd rather die than let you take over." I sneered, my voice dripping with contempt.

His smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. It was a predatory expression that made shivers run down my spine. “I love your fierceness and determination. But it is too early to kill you. You are a bit useful to me.”

I shut my eyes as something prickled beneath my skin. It was like a sizzling fire that spread in my veins till it took over my entire being. The house I used to love so much now felt like I didn't have a place there. Running away was practically impossible because of the guard, so there was only one way to go about this; make use of my training with my father--Kill him and fight my way out.

In a twinkle of an eye, I was on my feet, shoving my knees straight into the bouncer's groin. As he doubled over, I snatched the knife from his holster and plunged it into his neck. Red dots splashed on my face, but satisfaction was what I felt as his scream faded out alongside his life. The only thing I saw was red, but it stopped when I heard a distant command.

 ‘Shoot!’

I froze, the bloodthirst leaving as soon as it came. I turned robotically to my mother, and a scream lodged in my throat as the screen of the tablet she was holding displayed the butler’s face. I dropped to my knees and my eyes burned with tears all over again.

‘What have I done?’

“Lesson one; for every one of your actions, your loved ones will take the penalty.” Uncle Xavier informed me as he walked around the table, coming to see the mess I had caused.

"You monster!" I choked out, my voice barely a whisper as I stared at the blood pooling around the butler’s head.

“Your father was one also,” he defended.

Shaking my head, I whispered “That is where you are wrong. My father would never kill someone like this.”

“He has kids and grandchildren for fuck’s sake” I cried out.

“Yes, I know. I expect you to act accordingly, or they will be next.” He finished before taking long strides back to my father’s seat as if he owned it.

Looking at the familiar woman who raised me, I pronounced “From today, I no longer see you as my mother.”

“That’s fine by me. I have never seen you as my daughter. That is because you are not mine.” She shrugged.

I choked on my tears, my eyes locking with hers and I saw nothing but the cold hard truth. Once again, I have been lied to all my life.

“I just happened to be so obsessed with your father. I knew being good towards you would make him like me more.” She confessed.

A choked sob escaped my lips after hearing her words. However, I should have known, there were times the mask slipped, and I saw her true self but made excuses for her because we were not perfect.

“Now that I am taking over your father, as a father and a Don to you. Here is my first instruction.” 

My teeth grinded against themselves and my nails dug into my palm as I glared at my uncle through my blurry vision. “You will never be my father. The Don position is temporary. I will take what belongs back to me.” I promised.

“A position that belongs to you? I think your position would be way better in the bed of a man,” He sneered “From what I observed, Raphael Lau is interested in you. Why don't I arrange a marriage for both of you?”