Dark Chamber

Ignore the end.

It doesn't exist.

There was no end.

Like a rope, we only found that the end was only a beginning from the other side.

It was the first time Elle's father was inviting her to the Dark Chamber. She felt weird about it. The Dark Chamber was the room where the mafias of the DeAngelis family meet to discuss and strategize. Never has he ever invited her or any of her sisters there before. But last night he had visited her the moment he arrived from his two-week business trip in Chicago and spoken to her at length.

She has never seen him so serious. He had reminded her that she was going to become the wife of the Strongest Don in England, 'Ralph Zander Wesley'. A fact she was very much aware of and had started to make peace with. Speaking of Ralph, the man made her feel safe and protected. Though he seemed uncultured and proud, she saw a gentle side of him the last time they met at Chelsea. She smiled as the thought of him flashed through her mind.

Last night when she and her father talked, she had asked him a lot of questions about Ralph. Though he couldn't provide her with all of the answers, since he didn't know so much about Ralph, aside from what Vadaly had told him. From the little, he knew and said, she felt Ralph wasn't as bad as she had imagined. She had been super excited about everything that concerned him since their meeting at Chelsea and had been asking lots of questions about him from anyone she felt would know a thing or two about him. She felt like telling her father last night that he had saved her again but feared that her father might pluck off Mickey's fingers or start a war with the Malos if he found out the full details.

Last night, her father informed her that she will now be joining the family meetings held in the Dark Chambers to have an idea of how A Mafia Don thinks and how the mafia family works. She knew a day like that would come. From a young age, he always told her that she was going to be a Queen. But who would have known he had meant that she would be a Queen to the man referred to as the King of west London? The Underworld Lord of England.

"Miss Elle, It is time". Her maid, "Page" said.

She took a good look at herself in the mirror. She looked elegant. For today's meeting, her father got her a white dress and a black hat. He bought it from Chicago personally. The dress made her look dangerous and yet beautiful. She took a deep breath and walked out of her room.

As she stepped inside the Dark Chamber, all the men in attendance immediately stood up to greet her. The room was dimly lit and the curtains were black. The atmosphere in the room was intense. She knew most of the men in attendance. They were her father's close aids and her Uncles.

She sat on the chair which was already placed for her beside her father, crossing her legs before taking one of the big brown cigars on the table to light it. She had felt doing that would make her entrance more badass, and it seemed to have worked, seeing how her father had a big smile of acknowledgment on his face. He nodded stylishly signaling her to give the men the order to sit. She understood what he meant quickly.

"You may all sit". She instructed.

"My daughter, Elle will be joining us from today. As agreed, soon she shall be the bride of the Wesley's Don, Ralph Zander Wesley". Elle saw the eyes of everyone present lit up with excitement at what her father had just said. That was what her father wanted. His arrangement with the Wesleys was to make sure no one messed with the DeAngelis again.

"In the next few months, the DeAngelis and the Wesleys will become allies through marriage. It shall be the biggest wedding England has ever seen and the biggest Alliance that London will ever know". He continued.

"Our enemies will not sit with folded hands and let this happen without a fight. An Alliance with the Wesleys will make us kings of East London". Caleb pointed out.

"Especially the Red Ravens. a few months ago The Ravens Don's eldest son "Marco Polo" Raven had asked for Elles's hand in marriage in a bid of forming an Alliance with us". Carlos said.

"Marco polo is a bastard and a coward who is known for raping under-aged girls and spending day and night in brothels. I don't intend to send my Daughter to such an idiot ". Don Phillip said.

Elle smiled at what her father said. Marco polo had shown interest in her hand last year, but her father had declined despite all of Marco's efforts. She had felt it was because he was already in agreement with the then Wesley's Don Vadaly or because of the fight, they had the previous year with the Ravens, where they killed five of their gang members including Marco polo's Uncle only to just find out that her father had other reasons.

"The other gangs won't take this lightly". Carlos said.

"Then we will crush them down before they even as much as lift a finger. Starting with the Sparrows. The bastards who attacked us". Caleb said.

"The Sparrows?!". Elle asked to confirm she had heard.

"Yes. The Sparrows". Carlos answered and puffed out some smoke from the cigar he was smoking before he could continue. "Jimmy, one of my men was with his girl 'Kim' who works at night downtown and she said she heard Julius Sparrow, the Sparrow's Don Cousin saying, they'll burn everything belonging to The Don to the ground. He said they have burnt down the ball hall we used for our fancy ball already and they will burn down every other thing we had soon".

"How true is this information?" Elle asked.

"Very True. Jimmy's girl never gives false information. I'm sure the Sparrows did it".Carlos replied.

"Those fucking Sparrows, they had a fucking Peace-path with us". Collins said hitting his fist on the table in anger.

"Peace path?". Elle asked.

"Yeah. The fucking Sparrow Don gave us his words on his honor that the Sparrows won't attack or interfere with our business as long as we don't interfere in theirs". Collins Explained.

"His honor!" Elle repeated mockingly with a laugh before she continued. "It's funny to hear that we still believe there is honor in our line of business". The room became quiet. "We DeAngelis act like nobles and forget that we are still Mafias sometimes. If what you say is true, then it means the Sparrows came into our home and tried to hurt us. I can't imagine how much they have looked down on us to have such guts. It is only wise to respond in kind".

"I agree to us responding in kind?" Carlos said.

"I agree with that too". Collins replied as well.

"Respond In-kind". Caleb said with a smile. "Perhaps we wasted too much time inviting Elle to join our meetings, she seems to know perfectly well how things should work". He takes out his brown cigar from his suit and lit it before he continued. "The Sparrow's Don 'Don Torino' is building a factory downtown and putting lots of money into it. I hear their security isn't so tight at night. Who knows who might start a fire there?".Caleb said.

Collins and Carlos smirked at what Caleb had said. Elle felt a sense of acknowledgment, she knew she had to suggest they respond in kind before her father had spoken on the matter. If given the chance the only action she knew he will take will be starting a war. she was happy they had taken the bait.

"We will deal with the Sparrows as Elle suggested. I will have Don Torino regret ever trying to mess with me". Don Phillip said frowning.

After that, they discussed several things and her father gave them an update on his business in Chicago. Frankly, the meeting bored Elle but she stayed focused until the end. At the end of the meeting, all aids left leaving her, her father, and her Uncles behind.

"The Wesley's lost an important member of their gang, 'Johnny Ox' last week. It's all over the news". Collins said.

"Yes, he attended our last ball. He used to be Vadaly's right-hand man before he joined the cabinet. It's rather unfortunate". Carlos said.

"First Vadaly, then Thomas Wesley, and now Johnny ox. The Wesleys seem to have a lot going on recently". Collins said.

"Words on the street have it that the current Don was the one who killed His Cousin, Thomas because he had something to do with Vadaly's death. Perhaps he also killed Johnny Ox".

"That would make sense. Johnny was also at our ball. Perhaps he attended our ball to kill Johnny before the unfortunate event".Caleb said.

"No. I believe the current Don might have killed Thomas. I have always hated that sly of a man, Thomas. I knew he was involved in Vadaly's death. But The Don didn't kill Johnny, seeing as he had no reason to. If he wanted to, he won't have needed to attend our ball to do that. Perhaps he attended for some other reasons". Don Phillip said while smiling sheepishly at Elle.

"Don't look at me. That was the first day I saw the man". She lied, The first time she had seen Ralph was at Vadaly's funeral. Elle quietly listened to what they were saying about Ralph without knowing what to say.

"Regardless we should all be on our guards. My gut tells me there is more to it than we have seen. If he decides to act, I feel the whole of London might go in flames". Caleb said

Elle turned swiftly to her uncle immediately after he uttered those words. For some reason, the word sent chills down her spine.

"Fear not Elle, he may be a savage soul with a raging temper but be sure of this, a Mafia king protects his queen against all odds." Her Uncle Caleb who noticed the change in her demeanor reassured her.