Chapter 2 SERENA'S DAUGHTERS

NIGHTSHADE CLAN... SERENA'S DINING ROOM~

Erica and Venetta sat at the dining table, fidgeting with anticipation as they waited for their mother, Serena, to arrive. The table was set with fine china and crystal glasses, and the aroma of dinner wafted in the air.

Venetta's eyes darted around the room before she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small package. Erica's eyes widened as Venetta quickly unwrapped the contents and brought it to her nose.

"Venetta, what are you doing?" Erica asked, her voice low but laced with concern.

Venetta didn't respond, too caught up in her actions. She sniffed the substance, her eyes watering slightly, and slapped her head, trying to shake off the sensation.

Erica scoffed and pulled out her iPhone, snapping pictures of Venetta in quick succession. "Gotcha," she said, a smug smile spreading across her face.

Venetta's eyes snapped open, and she glared at Erica. "What are you doing? Get that camera out of my sight," she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm going to show mom," Erica said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You can't even control your urge, can you?"

Venetta rolled her eyes and quickly hid the package, just as they heard the sound of heels clicking on the floor.

Serena was resplendent in a designer gown, her hair styled in an elegant updo, and a diamond necklace glinting around her neck.

Venetta smoothed out her dress and attempted to compose herself, just as Serena walked into the room.

"Good evening mother" Erica and Venetta immediately stood up to bow as Serena entered with her men behind her. The men shifted back her seat for her at the table head and she sat down, her face totally blank and cold.

"You can leave" she told her men.

"Yes godmother" They bowed and walked out of the room.

"Sit down" She told the girls and sat down.

Serena's eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed at Venetta.

"I know what you were doing a few minutes ago. I can see it in your eyes"

Venetta's face went still but nonchalant.

"The fact that you couldn't even control yourself in the dining room...that's what's troubling," Serena continued, her voice firm but controlled.

The room fell silent, the only sound the soft clinking of silverware against plates. Venetta didn't respond, her eyes fixed on her food. Erica remained still.

Without another word, Serena picked up her fork and began eating, her movements precise. Venetta and Erica followed suit until when Serena suddenly dropped her cutlery.

Erica stopped eating too but who are you kidding, Venetta continued eating.

"Where's Jazzlyn?" Serena asked.

"I thought I made it clear for her to always join us during dinner. I bet she's cutting herself again" Serena added.

"I'm sure she's aware about our dinner together" Erica answered.

"That bitch is always in her room, go get her for me" Serena said getting pissed off already

Erica stood up and was about going when Serena voice stopped her.

"Get your ass down" Serena snapped and Erica sat back.

"Venetta, go and call your sister" Serena said and Venetta scoffed, rolling her eyes.

She pushed her chair backward and stood up. She then bowed and walked out of the room.

"Venetta is becoming an head ache" Serena groaned.

Erica immediately poured juice into a glass cup.

"Here mother. Have it" She dropped it in front of her.

Serena took the cup and drank up the water.

The silence after Venetta left hung thick in the air. The clock on the wall ticked, the sound loud enough to fill the space between Serena and Erica.

Erica swallowed hard, fingers tightening around her fork. "Mother..." she started, her voice cautious.

Serena didn't look up. "What."

"There's something I need to tell you," Erica said. "About last night."

That got Serena's attention. Her fork stilled midair, eyes lifting slowly to meet her daughter's. "Last night?" she repeated, her voice even but sharp.

Erica nodded once. "The mission. The one you sent us on. You didn't tell us the Hades Fruit clan would be there."

Serena leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other. The movement was calm, deliberate but her silence spoke louder than any outburst could.

"You ran into them?" she finally asked, her voice low.

Erica nodded. "Yes. Renzo, Glacier, and Ace. It was chaos. We lost men, so did they. It wasn't supposed to happen, and I thought maybe..."

"Maybe what?" Serena cut in. Her tone wasn't raised, but it carried that deadly softness that always made Erica's stomach twist.

"Maybe you didn't know," Erica said quietly. "Or maybe it wasn't intentional."

Serena's lips curved, but it wasn't a smile. "Of course it was intentional."

Erica blinked. "What?"

"I knew they'd be there," Serena said simply, reaching for her glass. The faint clink of crystal against the table was the only sound as she took a slow sip, eyes never leaving Erica's face. "Padrino's been quiet for too long. I intend to stir him up."

Erica's fork dropped to her plate with a soft clatter. "You sent us into that crossfire on purpose?"

Serena tilted her head slightly. "You make it sound like I sent you to die. I didn't. You came back breathing, didn't you?"

"That's not the point," Erica said, her composure slipping. "You didn't tell us, Mother. Venetta almost got shot..."

Serena's voice sliced through hers like glass. "Are you questioning me?"

Erica froze.

Serena's eyes narrowed, cold and unreadable. "Or are you already fucking Padrino's son, and that's why you're suddenly concerned about his clan?"

The words hit like a gunshot. The room went still, heavy with a silence that made Erica's chest tighten.

"Mother..." she breathed, shaking her head quickly. "No, I-"

"Because I would hate to think," Serena continued, leaning forward, her voice calm but venomous, "that my own blood is confusing loyalty with lust."

Erica's hands trembled under the table. She couldn't look away from Serena's eyes - dark, sharp, and knowing.

"I'm not," she managed to whisper.

Serena leaned back again, her tone softening just enough to chill. "Good. Don't make me doubt my trust in you, Erica. Once I start doubting someone..." She trailed off, smiling faintly. "Well. You've seen what happens."

Erica lowered her gaze. "Yes, Mother. I understand."

Serena took another sip of her drink, satisfied. "Good. Now clean up your tone and your thoughts. You're my daughter, not a street girl"

"Yes, Mother," Erica said again, quieter this time.

Serena didn't respond, but the faintest smile ghosted across her lips-just for a second-before her expression turned blank again.

****

JAZZLYN ROOM*

Jazzlyn sat alone in her room. The darkness pressed in like a heavy blanket, swallowing every corner except for a single golden glow from the lamp on the table before her.

The lamp's light didn't feel warm, it felt sharp, like it exposed too much. Shadows clung to the walls, silent witnesses to what she was about to do.

She sat in the wooden chair, the table close enough that her knees touched its edge. In her right hand, she held a small, gleaming knife. Its blade reflected the light in thin, almost mocking flashes. Her left wrist rested on the table, pale and still, as if it already knew what was coming.

Her gaze didn't waver. She looked at her wrist as if it were both a puzzle and an answer.

The calmness in her expression contrasted so deeply with the tremor in the air around her.

She was beautiful painfully so. Every outfit looked like it had been made for her. The curve of her lips, red as ripe cherries; the way her lashes curled perfectly; the grace in her figure. But in that moment, beauty was irrelevant.

Like she had done countless times before, she raised the knife. The motion was slow, deliberate, like a ritual she knew by heart. The cold metal kissed her skin before it broke through. She didn't flinch. The cut was deep, deeper than usual and crimson began to spill quickly, a stark, living red against her pale skin.

She watched it. She always watched it. A faint smile ghosted her lips, the kind of smile that didn't reach her eyes. Her breathing slowed, and with each passing second, her vision began to blur, edges softening, light dimming. She felt her body slipping away before her mind did.

And then...darkness.

Her body crumpled to the floor, the sound of her fall swallowed by the thick quiet of the room.

Moments later, the silence broke. A knock rattled the door....quick, impatient.

"Jazzlyn?" Venetta's voice came muffled from the other side.

No answer.

Venetta knocked again, harder. Still nothing. Her brow furrowed. With a sharp movement, she twisted the knob and pushed the door open, the hinges protesting with a creak.

The smell hit her first-metallic, heavy. Then she saw Jazzlyn sprawled on the floor, her hair fanned out, the knife lying just inches from her hand, a dark pool gathering beneath her wrist.

Venetta didn't gasp. She didn't even look startled. This....this wasn't new. She'd walked into this scene more times than she could count.

She pressed two fingers lightly to Jazzlyn's neck. Pulse–still there.

She tapped her earpiece, the small device linked to the others.

"Erica, she's down again" she said, voice flat, as if she were giving a weather update.

There was a pause. "Got that" Erica said and there was a pause.

Venetta stayed where she was, watching the slow rise and fall of Jazzlyn's chest.

A crackle in the earpiece, and then Serena's voice, curt, uninterested. "Leave her."

Erica relayed it without a hint of hesitation. "You heard her. Leave her."

Venetta's eyes lingered on Jazzlyn one last time. No sigh, no shake of the head....just that same unreadable expression.

Then she stepped backward, pulling the door closed behind her until the click of the latch sealed the darkness inside once again.

And the room went still.