Beyond The Veil

The door creaked open as the two first sons of Godfather Vickenzo stepped inside—Oscar and Jaime—each holding a briefcase. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Good day, Father,” Oscar greeted, placing his briefcase on the table. With a click, the locks snapped open, revealing rows of gleaming gold bars. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Jaime followed, setting down his own case. He lifted the lid, and more bricks of solid gold caught the dim light of the room. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “This is what I’m talking about!” Godfather Vickenzo roared with satisfaction. He seized the briefcases, running his hands over the shining bars as if caressing a lover. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ With a grin, he tossed two gold bars each to Oscar and Jaime. ‎ ‎ “Spend it wisely,” he ordered. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Just then, the trio heard groans from the villa's torture grounds ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “I think he’s back,” Jaime muttered, his face tightening into a frown. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Let’s go have a look,” Oscar suggested, and Godfather Vickenzo, leaning on his support stick, led the way. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Outside, they found Kian—the youngest son—tied to a rod, his body marked with visible wounds of torture. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “What are you doing here?” Vickenzo barked. “Haven’t I warned you never to come unless you’re called?” His voice rose into a furious shout. “Huh? Are you daring me?” He struck Kian repeatedly with his walking stick until it snapped in half. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Oscar and Jaime stood silently, not daring to intervene. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Let’s leave,” the Godfather’s voice finally commanded. Without another glance at Kian, they turned back toward the mansion. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Kian was untied and staggered away from the villa, limping toward a small cottage he had built far from the main estate—a place meant for times like this. Inside, Sophia was waiting. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ A quick smile flickered on his lips at the sight of her, but he quickly replaced it with a frown. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “What are you doing here, Soph?” he asked quietly. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “What? Don’t you miss me?” she teased, trying to lighten his mood. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “I saw what your brothers and father did to you,” she whispered, her fingers brushing gently against his bruised face. “I felt so hurt, Kian. I had to come. I even brought some chicken I stole from the kitchen.” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “How many times have I told you not to put yourself in trouble because of me?” Kian said, frustration edging his tone. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “You know I can’t help it,” Sophia sniffled. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Sophia wasn’t just his closest friend—Kian considered her a younger sister, someone who had always been there to anchor him during his darkest times. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ---******************************--- ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “OUCH!” Adeline hissed, her eyes watering after another sharp sniff of cocaine. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “I can’t seem to get enough of this,” she murmured to herself, stumbling to the wardrobe for another wrap. Just then, a knock sounded on her door. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Who the f*** is that?” she snapped. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The door swung open, and her twin sister Catherine stepped in. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “What do you want?” Adeline asked impatiently, still searching for her stash. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Mum wants you at the dining table,” Catherine said evenly. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “I don’t need any damn dinner!” Adeline shot back. “I need my drugs. Wait… Cathy, did you hide my drugs?” Her eyes narrowed as she glared at her sister suspiciously. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “I’ll give them back to you after dinner,” Catherine replied calmly. “Now, let’s go.” Without waiting for an answer, she turned and left the room ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ --- ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ [At the Dining Table] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Godmother Jadeline set down her cutlery with a sharp clink. ‎ ‎ “There is a mission tonight,” she announced. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Okay, Mother. We promise we’ll do our best,” Bianca, the first daughter, replied eagerly. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Catherine and Adeline said nothing. They simply continued eating in silence. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Aren’t you two going to say anything?” Bianca pressed. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “I’m done,” Adeline muttered, pushing her plate away. Without another word, she rose from the table and walked out. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “That girl is just getting worse,” Jadeline said bitterly, her eyes following Adeline’s retreating figure. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “I’ll speak to her later, Mother,” Catherine promised quietly before excusing herself as well. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ --- ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ [Adeline’s Room] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “My drugs,” Adeline demanded the second Catherine stepped in. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Yeah, relax,” Catherine said, handing her a brown paper bag filled with white powder. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Ha…” Adeline groaned with relief, slapping her head. “That’s the spot.” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Addict,” Catherine muttered under her breath. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Shut up. So, Catherine, did Mother send the location for the mission?” Adeline asked, narrowing her eyes. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Yeah. I’ll forward it to you,” Catherine replied with a shrug. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Thanks, twiniee,” Adeline said with a sly grin. Then her mood flipped instantly. “So, school is finally resuming on Monday. I can’t wait to meet Mandy and Chloe again!” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ She flung herself onto the bed, bouncing so hard the mattress squeaked. Catherine rolled her eyes. ‎ ‎ “You’re such a drama queen.” ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “And you love me for it,” Adeline shot back with a smirk.