CHATER I

Lilith POV

Rain

They say it doesn't always mean sadness sometimes it means acceptance, relief, freedom, and even happiness.

But for me It only means pain.

The pain of losing my only family Sergei Volkov, my father.

His funeral was the longest one. People from around the world came. his allies, even his used-to-be enemies came. some cried, some held in and tried to show strength, and some gave me empty promises I knew it too well.

Standing in front of his grave drenched in water not wanting to move not wanting to know what will happen next.

But the truth was carved into me for years on end. I will take the throne. I was Trained to rule it. Even though it was the root of my trauma.

My head hurts even though I didn't shed a tear and none did threaten to fall. My eyes are dry. The feeling isn't grief or sadness but my mind isn't wanting to look through it deeper. I just go with sorrow. For now…..

"If you keep standing like this in front of his grave then in less of a second you will be in a hole next to him"

"You seem to always have your sense of humor with you, don't you Kazimir" I say turning around to face my old childhood best friend.

He was holding an umbrella protecting himself and His brown fluffy hair from the pouring rain. Even in the darkness of the night, his charcoal eyes have the same glow making me a little bit jealous of how good he is protecting his mentality. That's one thing I failed in.

"ugh I hate that name," he mutters to himself.

"Please don't tell me you still go with that stupid nickname. what was it? honey?"

"Yes, what's wrong with it? it represents me" he says stepping forward and putting me under his umbrella. Shielding me from the water he feared.

"So you are sticky," I step back letting the rain hit my body

He chuckles "You didn't lose your sense of humor either Hella. Come on let's go, there is no purpose of staying here anyway," he turns around walking out of the cemetery.

I sigh having one last look at the grave and the ones around it. Then following him. Going out of the place within its ground holds the most precious people I knew.

We walk towards what I think is his car. he gets in the driver's seat but I don't.

being oblivious is very good because…..

I just stand outside of his car in front of the door not moving a muscle.

The talent of observation is the true curse.

He slides the window down "Are you coming?" he says from his seat. "Where are we going?" I say

"uhhhh to your home," he says confused

"I don't live with dad anymore"

"Oh then where do you live?" he shrugs tilting his head to look up at me through the parted window.

"I...umm...you don't have a place to stay in, no?" I queried.

"Actually yeah, I came straight from the airport I didn't even book a hotel. But it's okay I am sure that there is some hot-"

"Then we are staying at my dad's place. It's much bigger than mine," I say sliding into the car and cutting him midsentence.

"Okay then," he starts the car driving away.

I leaned against the window watching the rainfall.

Five minutes in the drive. And neither of us uttered a word even though we didn't see each other since the incident.

"So" he started. I looked at him. "Anything new?"

"Kazimir, we hadn't seen each other for ten years of course new things happened" I cut him off dryly.

"Well excuse me for trying to start a conversation"

"Then don't. Whatever happened won't make a change if you know it or not." I stroke my arms looking for comfort in the seat.

He stops at the red light with a sigh "I see you kept your coldness too"

I scoff at his comment still holding my gaze to the window.

Then the light turns green and he drives then taking a left.

"Everything is going to change anyway" I gulp the lump in my throat.

"Why is that?" he said glancing from the road.

"Oh. I don't know maybe because my dad just died and left me this huge ass mafia that I am supposed to rule and all his enemies are probably planning on burning it down to ashes," I mock shuttering my eyes

"What makes you think it's you who is taking over the business," he asks.

"Wha- I am his only daughter тупца that's why," I say annoyed by his stupid questions. (dumbass)

"Well, have you read his will?" he asks

"no" I sigh "not yet. the lawyer said I should have read it right after his death to know what everything is for that was 3 days ago," I remember the conversation I had with him.

"I am opening it tonight anyway," I add.

"What do you think it will be in it?" he says

"I don't know but probably something unexpected you know Dad loved keeping secrets and the cat is getting out of the box tonight," I say crossing my arms over my chest.

"Well, I'm gonna be with you whether these secrets are bad or good," he says

Lilith, I can't. he said.

"Yeah, like ten years ago. I will look around me and I won't find you"

My father won't let me. He backed away from me years ago.

"Don't worry about that you are stuck with me from now on," he says stopping in front of the gate of the house.

"You are saying you fled from your father's wing" I question rolling the window down to type the code number.

"yes," I can see his jaw clench.

"I really hope so" I settle myself back in the seat.

The gate opened widely revealing my house. It was my house. Until ten years ago I crawled into it.

"let's go bestie," he says from outside of the car.

"don't call me that," I say getting out of the car. It stopped raining so the concrete is wet and slippery.

I knock at the door praying that the servants didn't finish the house and left. Then Valeriya opened the door, my old nanny. It's been a while since I last saw her. She looks older but still has her beautiful golden hair, wrinkles decorated her face, and her physical appearance wasn't affected in old age.

"привет валерия," I say having a little smile on my face.

(Hello Valeriya)

She slowly lifts her head and I meet her beautiful hazel eyes that are red. She served my father for years I expect her to be emotional to his death. I wish I could relate.

Her eyes got watery and engulfed me in a tight hug I couldn't breathe.

Not knowing how to react. I just stood there awkwardly with her sobbing in my wet clothes

She then pulls away quickly noticing my wet clothes.

"Oh, my goodness Lilly look at your clothes." She says feeling my now-drenched blazer. "Come quickly change from these clothes or you will get a cold," she says pulling me inside

"Valeriya I am not alone," I say signaling to Kazimir to come to the light.

"Oh look how much you have aged you little brat," she says pulling him in a hug.

He hugged her back lifting her a little bit from the ground. Kazimir still had his soft side. My lips twitch seeing his smile return to his face.

"you two go to the rooms upstairs and I will bring you fresh pair of clothing," she says leaving us in the living room

"You know where to go," I say going into my room or it to be. closing the door, walking to the bed, and throwing myself on it.

Sinking into it thinking about how my life is changing and how the responsibilities are coming on me hard.

I close my eyes. without any warning, I drift to sleep.

"Dad?"