King of Hearts

Chapter 8 – A Mother's Pain.

Zarra's POV, Robotnik compound.

Shadow now slept. Calm and docile as always from out behind his powerful position as Don to the world's most notorious mafia family. At least we were the best. Up until the point he gave it all away to families lesser then dirt. I would question why he did it, but I knew it wouldn't get me anywhere. I had an idea however, but it seemed too out there for even him to try. I guess I'll find out sooner or later, but my point of action is clear, my son, the only air of my family, is now taking the role as a leader. Personally in my opinion he's not ready for such a change, but Shadow believes in him. With effort and help I can see there being a chance, but he's still just a kid. I can't help but worry for him.

As Shadow remained asleep, I got up from the bed to still hear the faint shots of gunfire going off from outside.

Rover is lucky the compound was moved to a more private part of the city, otherwise I'm sure all those gunshots would have brought in the police by now. Even though they won't do anything I'm sure, no one wants to be bothered.

Gently moving to my dresser, I opened up the top shelf to pull out a small picture of Black I had taken when we first started dating. The bare thought of remembering his touch almost made me start to cry, if it wasn't for the fact I didn't have a job to keep as a mother to his only legacy. Without Pitch I would be lost in the world. I wouldn't know how to carry myself like before. When it all was so clear to me. To us. Now it's like time is fading and I'm being left in the past with my husband who sleeps before me. We've given too much to this life and it pains me to see the world altering in more ways than one. The families fighting for scraps, the police upgrading due to bank heists in the city, Don Skier already planning to attack as soon as me and my husband leave. That's the heaviest part to bear. Shadow sees it and I'm forced to abide and leave my only son to the wraith of another king-pin. I know it's for the best and he may learn more than can be taught within a year, but he could die, and mother or not, I can't leave my baby like that. Before I leave I'll make sure he's ready. And until then its best I leave my husband in the dark. He would just tell me to let the boy learn on his own, but that's not how I was taught to be a Don. I learned from my mother and my mother from hers, and it's worked ever since the start. I will not let my boy die knowing I didn't raise a finger to help. It's my job as a mother to protect my baby and Don or no Don he will always be my baby.

Letting the picture rest back in the dresser, I looked to my husband to see him slowly toss and turn in bed. As his face now looked the other way, I reached into my dresser to take out a necklace Black had given me years ago. He said it was a good luck charm. Told me if I wore it I would always have him by my side. I kept it away because I don't want to be hurt of his memory. Maybe it's time Pitch is given it. He has nothing of his father except a sugar coated memory. It's not right.

As Shadow remained in deep sleep, I made my way for the door, slowly exiting into the hall to find two of my husband's guards waiting for me.

"Ma'am." One said with a smile as I looked to them to order.

"Make sure no one enters. He needs his sleep."

"Yes madam." They agreed together as I smiled and made my way towards the office.

No one stood guard as I slowly made my way inside to find the room dark.

Gently turning on the light, I looked to the desk to see it blanketed with papers.

As I made my way behind and down into the seat, I opened up the main drawer to find a familiar piece of jewelry waiting for me.

As I took it out I looked under it to widen my eyes softly to the picture of the original Dons my husband loved. Don Becket and Don Issac Pharnyx. Family to Shadow in his mind. They took him in and made him what he is today. I know what happened to both of them. Shadow told me years ago. He killed Issac for Becket, and I could only think of how that affected him. Killing a man that was like a father to you. It took its toll, especially when Becket was murdered by Don Hannibal Marxist and his men. Becket didn't deserve it. He should still be here now, but Shadow still blames himself for not being fast enough to stop it. I try my best to keep his pieces together, but as time slips away I lose more and more of him and who he used to be. I wonder soon if he will change into someone else. Someone lost in his past. And I'm mad that all I can do is wait and see. It's not right. This business isn't right. No one should go through what he has and it pains me even more knowing my son will be there soon enough. Today it is all fun and games, but how long will it take till he's converted? How long do I have left till my son is nothing more than another Hannibal?

Tears gently left my eyes as I put the picture and necklace back down in the drawer.

Slowly making my way for the exit, I shut the door to find Shadow's guards all looking to me as I clearly looked upset.

"Are you okay ma'am?" One asked in concern as I nodded.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just thinking is all."

"About?" Another wondered as I looked to them to reply.

"Just my boy is all. He's growing up too fast and I can't keep up anymore. It's hard and I feel like all I can do is watch."

The men looked to me in understanding, as I got a vivid response back from one of them.

"Don't let anything get to you ma'am. Your son is our priority as of now and always. We plan on making sure he's safe, and no matter what, you have no doubt to believe he won't ever be safe. So long as we breathe in this family and in this world, we promise your boy will be safe."

I smiled and sniffed up my worries as he added with a chuckle.

"He's a good shot by the way, so if we for whatever reason aren't with him at time of conflict, I'm sure he won't be having any worries about defending himself." He stated as I calmly replied.

"I'm not worried about physical harm. It's the mental. No one but a Don will ever know that feeling. And there's nothing a bullet can do to stop it." I stated as they all stared at me in confusion.

Slowly making my way for the door, I exited to Damien making his way inside.

We both stopped to stare at one another as not a word was said.

Damien always hated me. He blames me for his brother's death. Told me one night when I was away from my husband that if he never started to see me behind Hannibal's back he would still be alive. I can't say I blame him. Sometimes I feel the same way.

Gently walking by and into the compound, I let out a calm breath of hot air to continue my way to the back of the compound, where I found Rover going over a rifle with my boy who seemed happier than ever in his life.

"Rover?" I said as I neared to get his and my son's attention.

"Yes ma'am? What is it? Something wrong?" He wondered as I looked up at the sky.

"It's going to rain soon. Wana get heading back inside? You can pick this up tomorrow." I stated as he looked to Pitch who nodded.

"No problem miss. I'll just get going then if you don't mind. Got to make sure my wife isn't going crazy with my little boy."

Smiling, I watched as Rover quickly rubbed Pitch's quills to quickly head off for the compound entrance.

As he left, Pitch said.

"I'm really good at this shooting thing mom."

Nodding I replied.

"And I'm proud of you, but I think we should talk."

"I'm not going to go out and shot people mom." He assured me as I shook my head.

"I'm not worried about that Pitch. I wana talk to you about your father."

"Shadow or...?"

"Black." I stated as he nodded and looked down to the floor.

"Shadow and Damien really sugar coated what your dad really was. I can't have you thinking that when it comes to whom he was. It's not right." I told him as he looked to me.

"He killed people." He stated as I nodded.

"He did, but that's not the half of it. Your father was a brutal man Pitch. He did things the devil himself would dare do fearing it would condemn him to his own hell in death."

Pitch looked to me in concern as I went on.

"Your father tortured people. Murdered children. Molested women in front of their husbands. Burned people alive. Hung some from houses. Killed unarmed men for fun. Cut kids in two with nothing but a kitchen knife to see them crawl away with no legs and nothing but tears to guide them on. Your father was a monster Pitch and don't ever forget that, but he changed in the end. Once he realized what he had in life, he fought for it. He fought for me. That's when everything changed. His boss attempted to kill him and his brother. Your father responded by cutting his wife's head and breasts off and feeding them to him one morning for breakfast. Your father knew better than anyone in the world what it meant to be feared. He was a demon Pitch." I stated as he looked on and into my eyes with confusion.

"Yet I loved him. When he died he had no idea I was pregnant with you. It makes me wonder how hard he would have fought to make sure you were raised right. And you remind me so much of him it's funny. You have his body, his eyes, his quills, and hell you even got his talent with guns!" I stated with a thin chuckle as he nodded and looked back to the ground.

"You're the spitting image of him and I just want you to hear this from me and not later by Shadow."

Slowly Pitch looked back to me.

"Don't make the mistakes your real dad made. Don't let this business eat you from the inside out. You need to know why you're doing it and what you have in life before committing yourself to it. Your dad had nothing. That's why he turned out the way he did in the end. Just ask Damien. He only knew what he had when he found out at the last minute. Now he's dead and gone from our lives. I don't want that happening to you when I leave with Shadow. I want you to be ready." I stated as he smiled to me.

"I'll be fine mom."

Taking his head into my arms, I replied.

"You won't be. Don Skier will be your first problem. He will attempt you kill you I promise. Your dad knows this and he won't tell you. He wants you to handle it on your own, but I can't. You make sure when I leave your ready for him. Johan is the man who is coming to help you after we leave. Tell him this. He will aid you. Don't let Skier get close son. He will hurt you. Same as every other Don in this world, they all seek the same thing. Whatever you have, they want, and they will kill you for it if need be. Do you understand me?" I asked in a forceful tone as my son nodded.

"Yes mom."

Hugging him close, I replied.

"You're growing up too fast and I can't do anything to help you. What kind of mother I am?" I asked him as I began to cry.

Pitch looked at me in shock as I began to ball.

"I was left to make sure you stayed out from this kind of life and now your right where I don't want you to be! I can't help you, I can't protect you, I can't do anything and it's all because your real father isn't alive to help me! I'm pathetic Pitch and I'm sorry I couldn't be a better mother to you!" I stated as I rested my head down into my palms.

Soon I felt his touch on my back.

"You're a great mother mom."

With a saddened chuckle, I replied.

"No I'm not. I've watched and listened to your step farther and it's only gotten you to here. I should have spoken up to him when he insisted you be Don."

"I'll be fine though." He replied in a calm tone as I looked to his eyes.

"No you won't. I know what it's like to be in charge of a family Pitch. Your whole life will changed when we leave I just know it, and you'll want out. Your father did."

Pitch stared at me in sadness as I took his hand.

"Here." I urged him as I handed him the necklace his real dad gave me.

"This was mine. Your real father gave it to me years ago when we first started to date. He said it would allow him to always be with me when I wore it. You have nothing of him Pitch. Take it please." I urged him as he grasped the necklace in between his palm.

"It will mean more to him now that you have it." I stated as he looked at it deeply.

As I wiped my eyes, I looked up to see the pitter patter of rain begin to make its way down.

"Let's get inside." I urged of him as he remained seated.

As I slowly got up, I offered him my hand.

In seconds, he managed to look up and take it with the opposite hand that held the necklace.

I smiled as he looked to me blankly, and as we soon got inside the compound, I found Damien staring at me from down the hall. We locked eyes as he saw me holding Pitch's hand.

In anger, I forced Pitch down another hall away from him and urged.

"You should get back to your room baby. Get some rest for tomorrow." I said as we both began to hear thunder.

Soon and in time, we came back to his room where I let him go.

"Goodnight." I said to him as he smiled and hugged me tight.

I hugged back in more tears as he whispered.

"You're the best mom in the world. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I have Damien and Rover to look after me and I don't plan on going out and causing trouble. I'll be okay." He stated as I let go to look back at him.

"It's never something you plan on son. Remember that."

Giving me a nod, I let him go off into his room.

As the door shut and I remained out in the hall in tears, I saw Damien watching from down the hall.

I stared at him as he lowered his head.

What is up with Damien? Guess we will find out later. Please review and let me know what you think as always. I will have another chapter up tomorrow hopefully.

mT Shadow.