Page 4 of The First Seal

Mama hounded us daily about our appearance. Being a stay at home mother wasn't an easy job, but Papa made sure she had everything she could ever want. She was the definition of a Mafia wife. Fiery good looks, curves for days and always the best dressed in every situation.

My Papa Ryker Chertanov was a six foot Russian man. With curly brown hair turning gray and green eyes like mine. When he would come home from work he would go into his study, take off his suit jacket, and loosen his tie. Then he would smoke his favorite cigar; Cohiba Siglo VI Grand Reserva and a thirty year old whiskey on the rocks from Craft Irish Whiskey Co. All of which is from The Emerald Isle Collection. Papa was the person I always looked up to.

Iris never cared to learn, but he always spoke in Russian with me. It was our secret language since even Mama spoke only in English. I think they secretly wanted to learn how to speak the language but it wasn't easy to learn and if they wanted in the conversations they would have to put in the effort. Neither Mama or Iris cared to learn so Papa and I never cared to teach them.

He would always tell me “Moya dragotsennaya malen'kaya zhemchuzhina, odnazhdy ya pokazhu tebe vse, chto nuzhno. Chtoby ty mog vzyat' na sebya semeynyy biznes” (My precious little gem, one day I will show you everything you need to know so you can take over the family business.)

I have always known what the family business was and that being the oldest child it would be my obligation to take over. So, while in my own thoughts I didn't hear my door open and out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone in the doorway.

“CChert voz'mi. Valeriya, ty menya do chertikov napugala.” (Fucking hell. Valeria, you scared the shit out of me.) Startled, I scream and hold my hand to my chest.

“Ember, you know I don't understand you when you speak in Russian.” Valerie said, agitated, opening my door and coming in.

“Sorry Vee. You scared the shit outta me. Why do you have to be so stealthy? Make some noise before entering a room.” Turning to look at my best friend.

“Sorry Em, I was just checking on you to make sure that you are okay and to let you know it’s time to head to the funeral home.”

Vee is always stunning, no matter what she is wearing. Today she is wearing a long black dress with three quarter sleeves that fits her curves perfectly. For her having pale skin, she doesn’t look washed out, the black dress isn’t too dark. Her dark blue hair is pulled back into a bun, while her curtain bangs are curly to frame her face. She topped off the look with black Louis Vuitton heels.

“Yeah okay, I just have to put on my shoes.” I mutter, looking around the room for my shoes annoyed

“Are you sure you're okay? You seem more jumpy than normal.” Vee's eyes narrow, looking me up and down.

“Yeah I'll be alright. Just have to get through today.” I tell her as I slip on my black strappy Louboutin red bottoms that my Mama got me for my birthday three weeks ago. She told me “They are just your style my dear daughter.” Papa even commented on the shoes saying “Oni ideal'no podkhodyat dlya tebya, moya zhemchuzhina. S dnem rozhdeniya.” (They are ideal for you, my dear. Happy birthday.) They weren’t wrong, I thought to myself as I looked myself over in the mirror.

My solid onyx colored dress is long enough to cover my heels and the short sleeves aren’t too long or too short. I run my hands over my silver emerald necklace and emerald earrings that my father got me for my twenty-fourth birthday. In his eyes I was always going to be his gem.

My eyes are so red and puffy from crying. I thought I would only cry once or twice since I wasn’t really close with Mama and Papa and I had grown distant in the last year. He only really talked to me about the family business and or when his coworkers or minions were around.

I had a very simple make-up look, I used concealer for the dark circles under my eyes, light foundation, black eyeliner and black waterproof mascara. My hair is in a slicked back ponytail, letting my curls somewhat free and yet out of my face.

“Okay I think I’m ready now, Vee.” I express, grabbing my keys and my phone. Then place them in my purse.

“Alrighty then Em lets go. Everything is going to be okay.” Vee says as we walk out of our apartment door running to the car, not to get caught in the rain.

Vee is driving my all black Bugatti La Voiture Noire down the streets of Seattle. I am watching as the rain runs down the passenger window and Rain by Sleep Token plays through the car stereo. I didn’t think we were driving that long. I must have zoned out. Because the next thing I know we pulled into the parking lot of Ewing Funeral Home.

“We’re already here?” I stammer, sadness lacing my voice.

“Yes love we are and I know you're not okay. It’s okay to just cry today and not talk.” She expressed, with a concerned tone in her voice as she gets out of the car.

“Yeah, I know it's okay and I'll be alright.” I breathed out, anxiety lacing my words. My stomach is sinking as the anticipation of today's events crowd my mind. I get out of the car not ready to say my final goodbye to my parents. As we start walking to the main entrance of the funeral home, I look over to Vee beside me, “I don’t know if I can do this.” I whisper out trying my hardest to keep my voice from wavering.

“You got this Em. I’m going to be right beside you throughout the entire time. If you ever need to step out we can.” Vee states, giving my hand a squeeze.

“Thanks Vee. Let's just get this over with shall we?”

Vee starts laughing. “Why? Don't you wanna deal with your family and Iris?” She mocked, holding the door open for me.

“Because they're all money hungry and hoping that they'll get something from my father. Especially Iris. She believes she deserves everything our parents had.” I snarl, rolling my eyes at her.

When I walk in I expect to see my sister but I only find Mr. Ewing, the funeral director and owner. I look around the room expecting to see her and my shoulders deflate slightly as I realize Iris isn't here yet.

“Oh that's weird! I wonder why Iris isn’t here yet.” I turn looking at, Vee. She just shrugs her shoulders making a hand gesture. I spot Mr. Ewing, putting the rest of the flowers around my parents' two dark oak coffins with gold detailing. Mr. Ewing turns around when he hears us, looks at his watch and says, “Oh, Miss Chertanov is it that time already?”

“Yes sir, it is.” I mumble back.

“Miss Chertanov, you can just stand up here with your parents so that everyone can pay their respects. I'm going to start letting people in if that's okay?” Mr. Ewing says to me.

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