The Empire's Descent (First Draft)

Chapter 1: Family Ties

"Ada," Amaka called the firstborn of her triplets over the howling wind that battered the little shack they called, home.

She knew Adaku wasn't asleep, her mind wouldn't slow just yet. When Adaku's cool blue eyes met her weary brown ones, Amaka felt her heart constrict.

"Come with me," she beckoned the small child. At ten years of age, the triplets only knew of poverty. It hurt Amaka to see how underweight they were, in addition to the health problems they had, she could only blame herself.

They settled in the corner of the room furthest from the mattress and for a moment, they reflected in the silence between them.

"My love, there is so much you don't know and so much I have to tell you," Amaka's hands wrung nervously in her lap; her Nigerian accent colouring her words.

She'd dreamt of her father, every seventh day for the last three weeks and still took no action. Today, her belly would not stop cramping-- it was time. If she didn't speak now, she feared she would regret it.

"Can I paint your nails, Mama?" Ada looked up to her mother's aged face. Her beauty unyielding despite the weariness.

"Yes, my love," Amaka smiled fondly. Adaku reached behind her and removed a floorboard revealing the clay pot containing a black nailpolish-like solution she created from a mix of left over solvents found in dumpsters and food colouring. She grasped her mother's bony fingers and Amaka squeezed her daughter's hands briefly-Ada shivered, but continued her work.

"Nwa m nwanyi," Amaka begun, "I want to tell you of your family..." she trailed. This was hard for her; for so long Amaka had not thought of the past, because she had three daughters whose futures she had to keep sight of. (My daughter).

"Mama, gini ka o bu?" Adaku looked into the worried eyes of her mother. (Mama, what is it?).

"My daughter, you have more family members than your sisters and I," she figured there was as good a place as any to start. Adaku paused in painting her mother's nails, but offered no other response.

"What do you mean, Mama?", she continued painting.

"I was a young woman working in the mansion of the Bruno Family," Amaka looked off to the side as if being transported to a different place...

"Welcome to the home of the Bruno Family, may I take your coats?" a young Amaka spoke to her employer's guests; her accent as prominent as ever.

"Ah, yes, thank you," said the head of the Giordano Family while sliding his coat off and gesturing the rest of his family to do so. As they passed her one-by-one handing off the coats, she held her head down until a black snake-skinned shoe appeared before her and lingered causing her to raise her head to meet the individual. The son of the Giordano Family remained.

"My name is Alessandro and you are beautiful," he spoke confidently and his words didn't have the slime most of her employer's male guests' own did. Must be that pretty privilege. She could only manage a stunned look in response. Alessandro gave a brief, but fond smile at her face. He passed her his coat and let his hand caress hers for just a second longer than normal and proceeded to where he knew his family would be.

It took Amaka a second to snap out of her stunned state and put away the guests' coats and pashminas before scurrying to her station to complete the rest of her duties.

"Oh, Ada, he was the most handsome and charming man I had ever seen!" she exclaimed with the brightest smile before the pair looked to the two sleeping figures on the bed and settled when they saw they were not awakened by her exclamation.