It's Raining Not Pouring

Chapter 00 (Prologue)

Xena stares back at a pair of light brown eyes, insecurities filling her head. Pushing a strand of black hair behind her ear, she says, "What if I'm not brave enough, daring enough, what if they I'm weak, I'm spoiled?" Anxiety fills her head and it feels like a cold hand is folding around her throat. "No! I will not let these thoughts fill my mind! I am the daughter of Sebastion Bon Vardo! How dare I be afraid of joining the Mafia!" She scolds herself. Standing up, she looks away from the mirror, and walks out of the room.
In the hallway a servant meets her, "Morning Xena, your father received a call from Abigor Maranzano, saying that you have to be at the Marzan building at ten o' clock sharp, no exceptions!"
"Thanks." Xena has always loved the bluntness and openness of the servants in their manor, but today, she longs for sympathy.
She walks into the dressing room that her father designed for her three years ago, on her eleventh birthday. Along the walls are all sorts of clothing pieces to choose from. For today, she chooses a slip dress made of black silk, a black zipper sweatshirt, and black heels.
She feels a little bit more confident as she gently combs through her black hair. Just as she finishes, her father walks in, wearing a proud smile. "Ah, my baby Xena. I am so proud of you! And I might add, you look absolutely stunning! You could kill someone with your looks!" "Oh Father, you know I am not as pretty as the other girls, and I will most likely be the weakest ons on my team." The words leave her mouth without her realizing, and before she can say sorry, a sad look spreads across her father's face. She knows that mentioning her insecurities reminds her father of his wife, Joanna, who was so beautiful, and obsessed with her beauty. Xena knows she will never be as beautiful as her mother, yet it still hurts her father to be reminded of her. She died when Xena was seven, and a dark hole has been left in the family ever since. "Sorry Father, I did not mean it, and I know Mama would have been proud too. I hope you will forgive me." Many people would think this reaction is overdramatic, but to Xena and her father, it is a very sensitive topic. A smile finally spreads over Sebastion's face, and he looks at his daughter happily again. "Come, let me drive you to the Monzer building. It is almost ten."
Xena and her father drive in a comfortable silence, a silence like the one that fills the rooms in their manor, the silence that Xena always loved, because it gave her comfort.
Staring out of the window, Xena stares at the passing shops and building, but she doesn't notice them. There are too many thoughts in her mind.
She knows that she has been training mentally and physically, since she turned eight. She has always wanted to join the Mafia, but right now, the feeling of timing and turning in her stomach begs to differ.
After half an hour of driving, her father parks the car in front of large glass building. Xena stares upwards, the building disappears into the clouds. She smiles. She loves high buildings, they make her feel tempted, inrimidated, and free.
"Bye Father, I hope to see you soon." Xena's heart warms as she watches her father's eyes tear up. "Goodbye my baby, Allexandro brought your luggage yesterday, so I suppose you are set to stay, see you next visiting day. I love you." "I love you too." Xena replies to her father with tears filling her eyes too now, and a lump forming in her throat. Even as a fourteen year old she still will miss her father. She slowly closes the door of the car, and waves her father goodbye. Then she turns around slowly, stares up at the clouds one more time, where the black looking glass of the Monzar building looks faded, gathering her guts, and then walks over to the front door of the Manzor building.