Rafael Serpens was a man beloved and hated by many. Taking as much as he gave, perhaps even more. Starting off as an orphaned boy. He who rose through the ranks of a small gang in his youth, changing the name to his last name to prove to the world that he was not one to be trifled with. With charisma and cunning on his side, gathering the loyalty of deadly allies was a breeze for a crooked man like him. it doesn't help that he had a particularly unique ability that barely anyone had in a world where superhuman powers existed.
Nevada became his territory. His home as he gained more notoriety. The variety of his business expanded from small firearms to large trades, drug trafficking, casinos, resorts, and the likes. The man even married one assassin who was after his life. They became a couple and as strange as their relationship was, it was more or less....romantic. Though unfortunately, any children they procured died young from health complications. Most people thought nothing of it as the couple seemed unfazed with the deaths of their young children, but that was what the two wanted to show outside to prevent showing weakness.
In his 'family', were two main families that served under him. The Cato Family and the Glazastov Family. The heads of the families grew up alongside Rafael as young men, garnering their fierce loyalties for life. Still with no child from Rafael or even expressing a need for adopting a heir, his two closest allies decided that their sons would suffice. After all, who better to entrust such an important role aside from their own flesh and blood?
So began a not so secret rivalry between the Catos and the Glazastovs. Thankfully Rafael's presence and leadership was more than enough to keep the infighting to a minimum.
Until his sudden death that is.
It made absolutely no sense for a healthy and powerful man like Rafael to die so suddenly, but with no evidence of foul play or anything strange in his system, the cause of his death was stated to be from natural causes.
Still, with the lack of a leader, the Serpens Mafia was on the verge of a civil war when Rafael's wife, Cynthia Serpens stepped forward to announce the will of her husband to their closest allies.
This of course, prompted to a meeting of the former and current heads of the Catos and Glazastovs in the Serpens Estate. Rafael's old lady invited the former heads to her husband's office whilst their successors were situated in a different lounge room.
Which leads to the current situation at hand, the Catos and Glazastovs staring down at each other with barely concealed disdain as they take seat on opposing leather couches, and Cynthia smiling ever so calmly by the office desk whilst a lawyer stood beside her stoically.
"Rafael has always known that his closest allies, Frederick Cato and Nikandr Glazastov would be at each other's throats for full rights over the Serpens." The elegant woman donning black from head to toe begins, her blank yet disarmingly kind gaze garnering their attention. "Still, my husband wasn't too concerned, he believed either family is capable enough to maintain his empire. However, infighting is going to do more damage than it will profits."
Frederick Cato, an aged man with harsh features and a stocky figure, slams his cane on the ground. "It was meant to happen, Cynthia, I refuse to let Rafael turn in his grave because Nikandr over here is delusional enough to believe his bull-headed son, Xael, can manage our leader's empire! The Glazastovs are messy enough as is!"
Nikandr Glazastov, another aged man though taller and unhealthily thin, glared at his comrade who had always been a pain in his ass. "As if you're any better, my son has pushed our family to new heights, change is needed in order to maintain the greatness of Rafael's empire. Unlike you and your family's tradition abiding ways. Your son Amihan is even worse when it comes to control."
"Did you not here me friend? Your family tree line is more complex than the goddamn Costa Rica pipeline! Xael's destructive ability of summoning weapons doesn't help at all. You are going to bring forth unnecessary inheritance fights to the Serpens."
"And you suppose the Cato's obsessive following to tradition is going to uphold the Serpens' greatness in the long run? You and your family are more rigid than a frozen pole in Antarctica. With Amihan's puppetry powers, you lot are going to doom Rafael's hard work to bankruptcy!"
As the two old men exchanged barbed insults and glared, Cynthia's smile remained languid before clearing her throat, halting the two old men from snapping at each other further for now out of respect for their former leader's wife....And knowing better than to anger someone like her.
".....Hence proving my husband's point. So he proposed a fair competition." She takes the document from the lawyer's hands and reads the contents aloud. "My husband stipulated in his will that the next head of the Serpens may only be chosen willingly by a child of his."
Both men's eyes widened. Cynthia smiles ever so serenely, yet the cunningness in her gaze remains.
"My husband and I's daughter, our only surviving child, will be the judge between the two."
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And it was at that same time, where three individuals met.
In one of the best lounge rooms of the estate, the current heads of the Catos and Glazastovs were locked in a staring battle of wills where looking away was not an option. The opulence of the room and the refreshments laid on the table did nothing to appease the tension in the room.
Amihan Cato elegantly sits still, his imposing figure of stoicism and cold smile locked on his rival's figure who was smirking back at him. The light of the chandelier shines softly on the beautiful male's tawny beige skin and raven black hair. His glacial gunmetal blue eyes having a calculating glint that never rests. His golden bar drop earrings lightly clinking as he tilted his head slightly. "It hasn't even been a week since the boss's funeral, and word through the grapevine is a certain someone being in a festive mood. Xael, what could you possibly be celebrating in a time of mourning? It's almost as if our esteemed leader's death brings you joy."
Xael Glazastov's legs were confidently wide open as he leaned back against the red velvety sofa, running a hand through silver locks as amused sanguine orbs swept over the room with a look that could easily be mistaken for arrogance. The silver haired male was taller and more muscular than Amihan, yet instead of looking like a thuggish bodyguard, Xael looked every bit of a superior. "Old man Rafael was never one for gloomy occasions, I'm just honoring him the way he'd want to be remembered. With parties. Though anyone looking at you and your family, you'd think you lot have been mourning him for years." He snickered, ever so audacious and callous with comments.
"Shameful in your deplorable ways as always, Xael."
"And you're an accusing controlling cunt like always, Amihan."
The two were locked again in a staring contest before the butler cleared his throat.
"As stated in the will of the master, you two are the leading candidates to succeeding the title of Serpens' leader. Congratulations young masters, you both have proven yourselves at the utmost degree, earning master Rafael's respect." The old man continues, "However, the selection will be done exactly as how our leader wanted. Only through his biological child can one of you be appointed as leader."
Both men's gaze widened noticeably at the revelation of Rafael and Cynthia having a living offspring.
"There is no time limit, only when the young miss is ready to make a decision, will one of you become leader. That is the will of Master Rafael."
Xael grinned, amusement and a sharp glint in his rugged features. "So the old man had a daughter all along....Interesting!" He licked his lower lip. "This is more entertaining than flat out killing each other anyways, I'm in."
Amihan stayed quiet, absorbing the information and already beginning a plan to find out everything about the hidden daughter of the Serpens' leader in order to get ahead.
"Of course, as the young miss is the one to appoint either one of you, it is paramount she stays alive at all costs. With the Serpens revealing her existence, she will be targeted." Just then, the doors opened and a feminine figure strides past inside, yet the butler continues with a low bow. "Her life is precious to us all, please do pay close attention and ensure her survival. Lady Cynthia will not take kindly to both Catos and Glazastovs should the child's life be snuffed out."
The sudden guest was a lady of fairly average height, and had long silky pastel pink hair that was....uncombed as if she had just gotten out of bed. The young woman wore baggy casual clothing, and a pair of flip-flops. Though her frail beauty couldn't be ignored, what stood out were the pitch black eyes of hers that screamed exhaustion and an emptiness that rivaled a corpse's. Dark rings prominent beneath her eyes to show an evident lack of rest on her end.
"This is Master Rafael and Lady Cynthia's sole surviving child, miss Ilse Serpens."
Ilse yawns, and plops herself on the velvety armchair in between the two candidates. Her dead gaze flickering to them both before voicing out.
"I'm Ilse. Nice to meet you both I guess." She says with a casual indifference. Though her guard doesn't let down as she senses the two males gazing at her with an intensity that made her skin crawl. She was used to having eyes on her, but their gazes were the worst of the worst. "Oh, and just so you know."
She eyes them with an unimpressed gaze.
"You both seriously creep me out with your desires, stay six feet away and we can work things out."
She truly was Rafael's biological child, for who else could inherit his unique ability to perceive and naturally enhance people's greediness?