THE MAFIA LORD SLAVE

Chapter 1

(*THE KIDNAP*)

The sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in a warm golden glow. Outside, a tall purple hibiscus tree stretched its branches towards the sky, its blossoms vibrant against the blue of the sky. Birds chirped merrily, flitting from branch to branch as they went about their morning routine. In the distance, a rooster crowed, and the sound of bleating goats drifted through the air. It was a beautiful, serene morning, and it felt like the world was filled with possibilities.

But the room remained dark and still, cocooned in the shadows cast by the louvered windows and the heavy curtains. The house was unnaturally quiet, as if everyone within was holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. If it weren't for the faint light creeping through the cracks, it could have easily been mistaken for the dead of night.

The young girl lay sleeping soundly, her golden curls splayed out across the pillow, the covers pulled up to her chin. One hand rested lightly across her face, as if to shield herself from the world outside. Her breathing was slow and even, as if she was deep in a dreamless sleep. She looked so peaceful, as if she was in a world of her own, untouched by the uneasiness that permeated the rest of the house.

Four small figures huddled beneath the window, their features shrouded in the shadows cast by the towering oak tree above them. They were still and silent, as if frozen in time. They had been watching the house for hours, debating their next move.

"Alexandra," one of the girls whispered, but her voice was no louder than a sigh. It was lost in the breeze, and did not reach the sleeping girl's ears. The other girls looked at her with frustration

Clarabella's words came out in a rush, her frustration and annoyance evident in her tone. "What are you doing, you fool?" she said. "Do you want us to get caught before we've even completed half the mission? So stop acting like a child and focus." She glared at Eliana, her eyes flashing with anger.

"I was just trying to help," Eliana said, her voice sharp with defensiveness. "But I guess it was a waste of my time. I'll just keep quiet from now on. I'm sorry for bothering you." She turned away, her face pale and her eyes downcast. She felt like she had ruined everything, and she didn't know how to fix it.

"That's enough, both of you!" Evenly snapped, her voice ringing out with authority. "Your fighting is enough to wake the entire household!" Evenly exclaimed, her voice rising in exasperation.

She shot a stern look at Clarabella, not intimidated by the glare she received in return. "Don't you ever get tired of arguing and raising your voices at each other over silly things? Even a three-year-old child would simply wave you off with the back of their hand!" She let out a frustrated sigh, setting down the basket she was carrying with a dull thud.

The room was silent, save for the sound of Evenly's heavy breathing.

Suddenly, the curtains fluttered, ruffled by a breeze that blew in from the open window. The window sash creaked loudly as it was pushed open, revealing a silhouetted figure standing in the window frame. The girls' eyes widened in surprise as they realized it was Alexandra, her head poking out from the window

: "You two are really something else," Alexandra said, a small smile on her lips as she looked down at her friends." She yawned again, her eyes half-closed as she struggled to stay awake. "I'm still so tired," she muttered, letting her head fall back against the window frame.

"Get your sleepy butt down here," Sarah said, finally breaking her silence. "We're going flower hunting!" She smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Or else we'll come up there and drag you down ourselves," Eliana added, unable to contain her laughter.

Clarabella hushed, giving Eliana a fierce look.

****

They wandered into the woods, the cold air nipping at their skin and sending shivers down their spines. The hems of their gowns fluttered in the breeze, dancing to an unheard tune. All around them, the trees stood tall and proud, their branches swaying gently in the wind. Leaves, brown and crinkled, littered the ground beneath their feet, crunching softly as they walked. The only sound to be heard was the rustle of leaves and the crunch of their footsteps.

The sun, still low in the sky, cast long shadows across the forest floor.