My Mafia Queen

Watching Lilith plead for her life was like witnessing a dark and twisted spectacle. It sent a wave of excitement coursing through my veins. Why hadn't I done this sooner?

"Please, spare me. I'll give you anything your heart desires. Just name it, and it's yours."

I pondered her desperate offer, savoring the power that lay in my hands. 

"Anything?" I inquired with a twisted grin.

Her eyes lit up with hope, unknowingly sealing her fate. 

"How about your own life? It's the one thing I crave above all else. It's the ultimate prize."

Her voice wavered as she tried to find the right words. Snot dripped from her nose, and her bloodshot eyes begged for reprieve. But I wasn't one to show mercy. Contrary to popular belief, I wasn't soft-hearted. 

Since Lilith refused to surrender her life willingly, I decided to take matters into my own hands...literally. 

"No, no, please! I'll do anything you ask, anything you demand!" she pleaded, desperation thick in her voice.

"You see, my dear, the irony is that I will do exactly that. I'll take what I want." 

But before she could utter another word, the sound of a gunshot echoed through the room. Her lifeless body crumpled to the ground, crimson staining the floor. Turning my attention to the rest of the onlookers, I couldn't help but revel in their horror. Their thoughts were written boldly on their faces, as if they were transparent to me.

"Monster."

"We need to get out of here, now!"

"She's completely deranged."

Ah, how amusing it was to hear their hushed whispers. I locked eyes with the one who had dared to call me crazy. Raising an eyebrow, I aimed my dagger at his throat and let it fly. Bullseye. It thrilled me to my core, realizing just how much I enjoyed this newfound power. The rush of taking lives, one after another. 

"Hehe," I chuckled, intoxicated by the chaos. "That was only the beginning. Who's next, I wonder?"

****

Where was I? The room was cold and sterile, illuminated by blinding white lights. I could hear hushed voices and murmurs in the distance. Confusion clouded my mind as I tried to make sense of my surroundings.

“You have to go Reina. I can't stay anymore,” a familiar voice echoed in my ears.

Ashlyn. What was she doing here? Why was she telling me to go? I felt even more bewildered as she retreated into the whiteness, leaving me with even more unanswered questions.

“Ashlynnn.”

***

Slowly, I forced my eyes open, immediately wincing as the bright lights assaulted my senses. Blinking away the haze, I realized I was in a hospital room. Panic and frustration surged through me. What had that bitch gotten herself into now? And why on earth was I in a hospital?

“She's dead,” a voice whispered.

“Poor thing. Being married to The Devil probably made her kill herself,” another voice chimed in.

Kill herself? What the fuck? I would never do something so stupid. Only Ashlyn would... Oh shit! What has she done? I was always the one in control, immune to poison. Ashlyn rarely let me take over for extended periods of time, but now... I felt a newfound stability and control.

With my eyes still closed, I relied on my other senses to assess the situation.

“Wheel her to the morgue. A hearse will be sent soon,” someone ordered.

“Tsk, tsk poor girl,” another person lamented.

What the hell? They were planning to keep a living person with the dead? That was just fucking creepy. I needed to put an end to this insanity.

Summoning my strength, I forced my eyes open and whispered in a barely audible voice, “Water.”

The doctors who had been observing me froze in shock, until I weakly raised my arm and and tugged on one of their sleeves.

“Wate... r,” I managed to croak out.

“She's awake!” one of the doctors exclaimed, clearly taken aback.

“You've got to be kidding! She's dead! We even detached the life support machine!”

Thirst now taking over, I tugged harder on the doctor's clothes, desperate for water. What the hell was wrong with these people? Had they never seen a person who was pronounced dead come back to life? Sheesh.

“She said something. I didn't hear properly,” another doctor said.

This was becoming tiresome.

“Water, please,” I repeated, my voice growing more insistent.

“She wants water!” the doctor shouted.

Finally, someone rushed over and held a cup of warm water to my lips. I sighed inwardly, wishing I had asked for it cold. But beggars can't be choosers.

“Thank you,” I managed to say, surprising the doctors with my gratitude. What was with these people?

One of the doctors held out their fingers and asked, “How many fingers am I holding up, ma'am?”

“Five of them,” I replied without missing a beat.

“It seems the poison didn't do any damage. Eye coordination and speech are intact. What's your name, ma'am?” the doctor inquired.

These people had no idea who I really was...

“Mrs. Ashlyn Alexander,” I coolly replied.

“Memory intact as well,” the doctor noted.

Another doctor stepped forward and asked, “Do you know me, ma'am?”

I stared at her face and smiled to myself . This lady was Ashlyn's only friend and she worked in this hospital.

“Hey, Isabella.”

Isabella gasped, covering her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes. Clearly, she was eternally grateful.

“I'm feeling a bit tired. What happened to me? Why am I in the hospital?” I questioned.

“Um...” Isabella hesitated, clearly unsure how to answer.

I almost chuckled at the doctor's hesitance and reluctance. Of course I knew what had happened to Ashlyn's body. She had been poisoned, but luckily, she had allowed me to take over. I was immune to poison, which worked in both our favors. Poor girl had suffered enough.

“You ingested something poisonous, Miss Ashlyn. That's why you are here. You were pronounced dead minutes ago. It's nothing short of a miracle that you're alive,” the doctor finally responded.

“Dead? Pfft, you know I'm not that easy to bring down... Izzy,” I scoffed.

Isabella paused, comprehending the situation. She now understood that it wasn't Ashlyn who was here, but me. Her alter ego had taken the reins. 

“Well, I feel fine now, so... Am I going to be discharged or what?” I asked, nonchalantly.

“Oh yes, but we would really like to keep you here for observation and more tests,” the doctor insisted.

“Excuse me?” I raised an eyebrow.

“For observation reasons and tests. We want to make sure you're truly alright,” the doctor explained.

“Well, I do feel fine, and you can monitor me from home. Just assign Izzy to check in on me once in a while,” I suggested, not wanting to stay a moment longer in this damn hospital.

“Are you sure you aren't feeling dizzy or disoriented? Please, you have to make sure,” the doctor pressed.

“No and no. The only thing I'm feeling now is exhausted and uncomfortable here. I don't like hospitals.” 

“Alright, we'll make some calls. You'll be picked up soon. Rest here for a while,” the doctor conceded.

“Thank you so much,” I replied with a genuine smile. As the doctors made their exit, Isabella spoke up. 

“I'd like to stay and monitor the patient,” she asserted.

“Alright, Doctor Isabella. Please report if you notice any strange symptoms,” the doctor instructed.

“Of course, Doctor Erin,” Isabella replied.Once alone, Isabella turned her attention to me. 

“Is it really you?” she questioned. I smiled warmly. Isabella was one of the few people who knew about my condition. I was Ashlyn's alter ego, living within her. I rarely surfaced, only emerging in dire circumstances, and I never stayed for long. But for Ashlyn to relinquish control for this long, it seemed that I would be staying put for quite some time. 

“Yes, Isabella. It's me, Reina,” I confirmed.

She sobbed and hugged me tightly, overwhelmed with emotion. Isabella was a soft-hearted soul, someone who both Ashlyn and I cherished. She stood by our side even when Ashlyn was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. Isabella was the best thing to happen to Ashlyn. 

“It's so good to see you.”

Isabella's eyes sparkled with anticipation. She knew, just as I did, that I had returned with a vengeance. Ashlyn had left a mess behind, and it was my duty to clean it up. But I wouldn't stop there. Oh no, I had something grand in mind. 

“Welcome back Reina. Can't wait to see the hell you unleash this time,” Isabella exclaimed, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

I chuckled softly, the fire of determination burning within me. "You just sit back and enjoy the show, hun. You're going to love every second of it."

“You bet baby girl. So how…”

The door opened and a man wearing a suit came in. From his stiff demeanor, I could tell he didn't like me one bit.

“I see you're alive Miss.”

“Miss?”

“That is what you demanded. I address you as Miss.”

Ok wow, did marrying that Alexander guy make Ashlyn stupid?

“That order is void from today.”

“I'm sorry?”

“From today henceforth, address me properly Charles. I'm married.”

Charles stared at me with shock written all over his face. His mouth was practically open. I couldn't hold in my laughter.

“Hahaha why do you look so stunned Charles. Come on, I've come to my senses now. The touch of death isn't pleasant. Now please can we go home?”

“Of course… Mistress or ma'am?”

“That's better. Any should do!”

I turned to Izzy who was smiling and struggling to hide her laughter.

“Thanks a lot doc. I'll call you later.”

“Take care of yourself darling.” I hugged her and nodded. I was sure I was going to do just that.

***

I could feel Charles' eyes staring at me from the mirror.

“You know something Charles?”

“What is it, Mistress?”

“I'd rather you ask me the question instead of staring as if lightning struck your face. I'll answer you and I hope you can focus on driving us safely.”

“I– apologize for staring so obviously Mistress.”

“So you will stare secretly now?”

“Haha no Mistress. I apologize.”

“What was your question Charles?”

He hesitated but then spoke.

“Are you sure you're ok? You did not hit your head or something ma'am?”

“Pfft. I'm sure I didn't. I have no injuries.”

“But you seem… Different.”

“Perhaps a glimpse of death has given me a thought about my past attitude.”

“Hmm.”

I smiled at his reflection and noticed he was suddenly at ease. A bit of that mistrustful glance was gone.

***

“Mistress?”

My eyes flew open at Charles's voice. Had we arrived?

“We're here.”

He came out of the car and opened the door for me. I stared at the mansion in front of me and almost gaped at the opulence of it. It looked ancient and yet modern all at once. It was beautiful and grand. Thankfully I had Ashlyn's memories and description of this place. It would be far easier to find my way around. I could easily get lost here.

“Shall I escort you to your room, Mistress?”

“No need. I can find my way in myself. Get some rest Charles.”

I walked into the house and this time, I gasped. If the outside was grand, inside was heaven. The parlor was beautiful. It was wide and so spacious. Huge windows graced the walls. Chandeliers dangled from the ceiling and the room had a sky blue theme. It was cozy and beautiful. I'd have to admit, Ashlyn knew her stuff and mine too. We had somewhat similar tastes.

I got to my room and threw myself on the bed. Time to get out of this uncomfortable dress and put on something else.

I stood up and went to the first closet space. I nearly gagged when I saw it. It was filled with flashy clothes. Most of it seemed trendy and top of the line. Well, well, well! This was too much. I knew that Ashlyn had prepared a spare closet as I could surface anytime. Thankfully she did not leave me at the mercy of these clothes. They looked too much to wear.

Closing the door for the first closet, I moved to the second. I smiled to myself as I saw the rows of black, loose and comfy clothes.

I put on a tank top and shorts. Looks like Ashlyn's husband wasn't home. Well I didn't care. I had the whole house to myself.

I went downstairs and made my way to the kitchen.

“Seems neat. I feel like popcorn and a movie. Hmm… where do they keep those seeds?”

“Miss?”

I looked up and saw a rather young looking maid staring at me in shock.

“Miss what are you doing in the kitchen?! Is there something you would like to eat?”

I scrutinized her. She seemed innocent but I wasn't so sure.

“Tina, yes?”

“Yes Miss.”

“Mistress.”

“Miss?”

“Address me formally.”

“Of course Mistress. How can I help you here?”

“Oh don't worry, it's nothing. Where do you keep the popcorn seeds here?”

“One minute Mistress.”

She scrambled out of the kitchen and was back in no time. Hmm weird.

“Here they are. Should I prepare popcorn for you?”

“Of course not Tina. I'll do it myself. You're excused. Unless you want to stay and watch.”

“I want to stay mistress.”

“Alright then.”

Iprepared the popcorn. It was quite easy and nostalgic as it reminded me of a lot of things. I was done popping it and got a tin of milk, some honey and sugar.

“Erm…”

“What is it Tina?”

“Oh nothing Miss. I thought you said you didn't like sweet things.”

“Hehe, I must have been in a foul mood. Sugar is life Tina.”

I dripped honey and milk all over the popcorn and sprinkled sugar on it.

I made three bowls. I took one and motioned to Tina.

“Take one for yourself, give one to Charles.”

“For us Mistress?”

“Duh! Do you expect me to make a snack here with you watching and you don't eat from it?”

“Thank you so much!”

Hehehe looks like food was her weak spot.

“Taste and tell me your thoughts on my popcorn special.”

She ate some and her eyes lit up. Well that seemed easy.

“It is delicious! I am so sure Mr Charles would love this!”

“Oh really? He likes sweets?”

“Yes Mistress.”

“Well you can take one each. I'll make more some other time.”

“Thank you so much!”

She grabbed the bowls and rushed out of the kitchen. Pfft silly girl. Looks like I was suspicious for nothing. I had a movie to watch.

***

“Boss, something is off.”

“What's the matter?”

“She woke up and started acting… Strange. I suggest you get here as fast as possible and see for yourself.”

“Any word on who poisoned her?”

“None.”

“I'll be there.”

I stared outside the windows of my office. What was the moron trying to pull now?...

***

I felt my ears itch. Hmm…Who was talking about me?

I pushed aside the thought and settled on the rug, facing the huge television. Charles and the maid were nowhere in sight. Finally a little bit of privacy.

I switched on the TV and settled for a romantic show. I was a sucker for romance. Too bad pure and true love only existed in books and movies. I focused on the TV screen and soon enough, I was no longer thinking about my current situation.

***

I was too engrossed in the movie to realize that someone had come in.

A pair of feet stood right in front of me, obstructing my view. What the actual fuck? It was getting to the good part! The main characters were about to kiss!

“Charles, you could have called my name. I know the popcorn was delicious. No need for a thank you. Just move!”

Charles squatted down. Ok this idiot was so going to get a scolding from me now.

“Charles!”

I was getting pissed. I looked at Charles' face but… It wasn't Charles. The face I was staring at was of Alexander Don. The man Ashlyn was sold to.

So this was the guy that made life miserable for Ashlyn? I'll admit, he had quite the looks but that was no excuse for how he treated Ashlyn. I was fuckin mad at him. Just who did he think he was? Bastard. I stared at him coldly.

“Are you going to move out of my way or squat there like a rock?”

“Hmm. I heard you came back hale and hearty with an attitude. I wanted to check in and see for myself.”

“As you can see, I am doing just fine now. Would you please move?!”

He stayed still. Just like a rock,deaf and impervious to what I said.

“Dude, are you hard of hearing or something? Look, this is a really great part of the movie and I can't watch it because you're obstructing my view!”

“I thought you'd rather sneakily look at me and vye for my attention. You always put up theatrics for that.”

Ok..I felt insulted. Damn Ashlyn for dragging down our reputation. He was so dead! Just who did the bastard think he is?

“Listen to me, Axel Don. You can either move or I will move you myself! What or who in the goddamn world gave you the audacity to interrupt my movie time? Scram!”

He looked shocked but then his expression changed to one of amusement. The moron thought I was joking huh?

I grabbed his leg and pulled it forward. He slipped and landed hard in his butt.

“Serves you right you bastard. Sigh… my precious movie time is ruined. I'll ask Charles to order a damn television and keep it in my room. I can't let your face ruin my good mood.”

And with that, I walked out on him. Leaving him sprawled all over the rug.