3. Ember
Chapter three
Ember
M y Mama, Emma Chertanov. She had the most beautiful straight, long brown hair and ocean blue eyes. Mama was always dressed up. Looking as if she was a movie star and smelling like her favorite perfume, Black Opium, which smelt like vanilla, white flowers, and a hint of coffee. Even if we never left the house. She frequently told us, “Always look your best no matter what you are doing that day.”
Mama hounded us daily about our appearance. Being a stay at home mother wasn't an easy job, but Papa made sure she had everything she could ever want. She was the definition of a Mafia wife. Fiery good looks, curves for days and always the best dressed in every situation.
My Papa Ryker Chertanov was a six foot Russian man. With curly brown hair turning gray and green eyes like mine. When he would come home from work he would go into his study, take off his suit jacket, and loosen his tie. Then he would smoke his favorite cigar; Cohiba Siglo VI Grand Reserva and a thirty year old whiskey on the rocks from Craft Irish Whiskey Co. All of which is from The Emerald Isle Collection. Papa was the person I always looked up to.
Iris never cared to learn, but he always spoke in Russian with me. It was our secret language since even Mama spoke only in English. I think they secretly wanted to learn how to speak the language but it wasn't easy to learn and if they wanted in the conversations they would have to put in the effort. Neither Mama or Iris cared to learn so Papa and I never cared to teach them.
He would always tell me “Moya dragotsennaya malen'kaya zhemchuzhina, odnazhdy ya pokazhu tebe vse, chto nuzhno. Chtoby ty mog vzyat' na sebya semeynyy biznes” (My precious little gem, one day I will show you everything you need to know so you can take over the family business.)
I have always known what the family business was and that being the oldest child it would be my obligation to take over. So, while in my own thoughts I didn't hear my door open and out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone in the doorway.
“CChert voz'mi. Valeriya, ty menya do chertikov napugala.” (Fucking hell. Valeria, you scared the shit out of me.) Startled, I scream and hold my hand to my chest.
“Ember, you know I don't understand you when you speak in Russian.” Valerie said, agitated, opening my door and coming in.
“Sorry Vee. You scared the shit outta me. Why do you have to be so stealthy? Make some noise before entering a room.” Turning to look at my best friend.
“Sorry Em, I was just checking on you to make sure that you are okay and to let you know it’s time to head to the funeral home.”
Vee is always stunning, no matter what she is wearing. Today she is wearing a long black dress with three quarter sleeves that fits her curves perfectly. For her having pale skin, she doesn’t look washed out, the black dress isn’t too dark. Her dark blue hair is pulled back into a bun, while her curtain bangs are curly to frame her face. She topped off the look with black Louis Vuitton heels.
“Yeah okay, I just have to put on my shoes.” I mutter, looking around the room for my shoes annoyed
“Are you sure you're okay? You seem more jumpy than normal.” Vee's eyes narrow, looking me up and down.
“Yeah I'll be alright. Just have to get through today.” I tell her as I slip on my black strappy Louboutin red bottoms that my Mama got me for my birthday three weeks ago. She told me “They are just your style my dear daughter.” Papa even commented on the shoes saying “Oni ideal'no podkhodyat dlya tebya, moya zhemchuzhina. S dnem rozhdeniya.” (They are ideal for you, my dear. Happy birthday.) They weren’t wrong, I thought to myself as I looked myself over in the mirror.
My solid onyx colored dress is long enough to cover my heels and the short sleeves aren’t too long or too short. I run my hands over my silver emerald necklace and emerald earrings that my father got me for my twenty-fourth birthday. In his eyes I was always going to be his gem.
My eyes are so red and puffy from crying. I thought I would only cry once or twice since I wasn’t really close with Mama and Papa and I had grown distant in the last year. He only really talked to me about the family business and or when his coworkers or minions were around.
I had a very simple make-up look, I used concealer for the dark circles under my eyes, light foundation, black eyeliner and black waterproof mascara. My hair is in a slicked back ponytail, letting my curls somewhat free and yet out of my face.
“Okay I think I’m ready now, Vee.” I express, grabbing my keys and my phone. Then place them in my purse.
“Alrighty then Em lets go. Everything is going to be okay.” Vee says as we walk out of our apartment door running to the car, not to get caught in the rain.
Vee is driving my all black Bugatti La Voiture Noire down the streets of Seattle. I am watching as the rain runs down the passenger window and Rain by Sleep Token plays through the car stereo. I didn’t think we were driving that long. I must have zoned out. Because the next thing I know we pulled into the parking lot of Ewing Funeral Home.
“We’re already here?” I stammer, sadness lacing my voice.
“Yes love we are and I know you're not okay. It’s okay to just cry today and not talk.” She expressed, with a concerned tone in her voice as she gets out of the car.
“Yeah, I know it's okay and I'll be alright.” I breathed out, anxiety lacing my words. My stomach is sinking as the anticipation of today's events crowd my mind. I get out of the car not ready to say my final goodbye to my parents. As we start walking to the main entrance of the funeral home, I look over to Vee beside me, “I don’t know if I can do this.” I whisper out trying my hardest to keep my voice from wavering.
“You got this Em. I’m going to be right beside you throughout the entire time. If you ever need to step out we can.” Vee states, giving my hand a squeeze.
“Thanks Vee. Let's just get this over with shall we?”
Vee starts laughing. “Why? Don't you wanna deal with your family and Iris?” She mocked, holding the door open for me.
“Because they're all money hungry and hoping that they'll get something from my father. Especially Iris. She believes she deserves everything our parents had.” I snarl, rolling my eyes at her.
When I walk in I expect to see my sister but I only find Mr. Ewing, the funeral director and owner. I look around the room expecting to see her and my shoulders deflate slightly as I realize Iris isn't here yet.
“Oh that's weird! I wonder why Iris isn’t here yet.” I turn looking at, Vee. She just shrugs her shoulders making a hand gesture. I spot Mr. Ewing, putting the rest of the flowers around my parents' two dark oak coffins with gold detailing. Mr. Ewing turns around when he hears us, looks at his watch and says, “Oh, Miss Chertanov is it that time already?”
“Yes sir, it is.” I mumble back.
“Miss Chertanov, you can just stand up here with your parents so that everyone can pay their respects. I'm going to start letting people in if that's okay?” Mr. Ewing says to me.
“Yes Mr. Ewing, that's okay and thank you.” I breathe out, keeping my voice steady. Giving me a curt nod he heads to the front entrance to let the guests in.
My palms sweat as more people arrive. I hastily wiped them down the front of my dress.
Keeping my composed mask in place was starting to wear on my nerves. I always hated being the center of attention. With each person coming up to me saying “so sorry for your loss”, “they were such amazing people,” and “you poor thing, if you need anything let me know.” I just want to stab them. I never really saw them that much throughout my life or even met them until today.
“Vee, I need to step outside for a bit. I'll be back in a few.” I tell Vee as she is talking with her mom.
I was going to walk out the front entrance, but there were so many people coming in and towards the tree line I noticed that the parking lot was full and people had started parking on the sides of the street. I knew there would be alot of people from family, to friends, to coworkers of my dad, and his employees. Seeing the extent of people paying their respects put into perspective my fathers reach.
I sit on the driest spot I can find, under the large oak tree at the back of the parking lot. Sitting here watching everyone as they head into the funeral I hold back the tears threatening to escape. But, it’s so hard, my thoughts keep circling back to my birthday dinner with my parents.
I didn’t want a huge party, I just wanted to spend time with my parents. I was surprised that they were just taking me out to dinner. Papa had reserved the entire place at my favorite restaurant for just us three. It was this little family owned Italian restaurant my Papa has known the owner since they were kids. They make their pasta from scratch and its so fucking good. I would always get their Carbonara, a pasta dish made with eggs, pecorino romano cheese, parmesan cheese, grana padano cheese, black pepper, and fatty cured pork. And for dessert I would get their house made tiramisu which is to die for. They would always bring out the tiramisu with a single green candle in the middle for my birthday.
That day was weird though because my parents kept smiling like they were up to no good. When we arrived there was only one table by the front windows and all the other tables were missing. We sat down and ordered our food. Mama and Papa still had those cheeky smiles on their faces. So, after we all ate our main courses, my favorite song Alkaline by Sleep Token started playing really loud, as if there was a DJ in the restaurant. The next thing I know my parents stand up and all my friends, family, some of my mom and dads friends come out of the back and yell “Surprise”. My jaw hits the floors as my best friend comes over to me and says “Happy Birthday Girl. Did you really think we weren’t going to celebrate tonight together?” I just smiled at her and walked over to my parents and said “Thank you so much and I knew you two were up to something.”
Mama and Papa just start laughing. Mama says to me, “ You know your Papa has a bad poker face.” I just nod and giggle.
Papa replies to my mama with a laugh and a smile, “So do you my dear.” Looking at me he says “A teper', moya dorogaya, milaya malen'kaya zhemchuzhina, idi i naslazhdaysya svoim Dnem Rozhdeniya.” (Now, my dear, sweet little gem, go and enjoy your birthday.)
“Spasibo bol'shoye, Papa. YA lyublyu tebya.” (Thank you so much, Papa. I love you.) I replied to Papa with a kiss on the cheek. Then I grab Vee and head to the dance floor to dance with my best friend.
I got up off the curb and decided it was time to go back inside. Hopefully, Iris has finally shown up. Once back inside, I go to stand with Vee and I look around the room at everyone there.
I noticed that the more people that are showing up are people I don’t even know. As I’m looking for my sister in the crowd of people, I notice that there are four extremely hot, strange men talking amongst themselves, and they keep looking over at me. I look away and continue looking for Iris, who I still do not see. I know that she had a flight booked and it was supposed to have landed six days ago. I pull out my phone and start text her again.
Iris people have started to show up. Where are you???
Hello??? Where are you????
“Vee, Iris isn’t responding. She keeps leaving me on read. Where the hell is she?” I grumble to my best friend.
“Em, breathe. She will be here.” Vee states.
“Okay, I am done trying to find out where she is. Our parents' funeral must not be important to her.” I say, fuming from anger.
It's now 2:40pm and Mr. Ewing is about to start the service for my parents and still no Iris. Vee and I sit in the front row, and Vee asks, “Em, when do you meet with the lawyer about the will? Do you want me to come with you?”
I look at her. “I will meet with him next week on Monday about the will, and yes, Vee please come with me. I don’t want to be there by myself with Iris.” rolling my eyes at my own sister's name. Such an annoying, entitled brat.
“Who are the four hot men in the back?” Vee asks me.
“Um, I’m not really sure who they are.” I whisper as Vee and I watch all four men walk out the front door and leave. Wow that was odd, they didn’t even stay for the service.
“Hello, everyone and thank you for joining us on such a sad day.” Mr. Ewing says as he begins the funeral service and there is still no sign of Iris. The service took about one hour and I completely zoned out the entire time. I just couldn’t keep my focus on Mr. Ewing during the service. My mind kept going back to where the fuck was Iris?
After Mr. Ewing concludes the funeral services, we all head out to go to the cemetery.
Walking towards my car, I noticed something under my windshield wipers. Reaching the car, I take a better look and there, under the wipers, are two roses; a single black rose and a single dark green rose and then wrapped around the stems is a malachite bracelet. Grabbing them and getting into the passenger seat of my car. I put the bracelet on my left wrist.
“Who is that from?” Vee asks
“A secret admirer.” I say, smiling as Vee drives away.
On our way to the cemetery to lay my parents to rest, my mind keeps replaying who the four strange men were and where I might know them from. I know I have seen them before. But I can’t seem to place when I have.
My mind then wonders about the new malachite bracelet I just acquired. I still haven’t been able to figure out who has been leaving me the two roses and some kind of malachite. It could be jewelry or even just the stone itself, since those types of stone can be in different shapes.
Arriving at the cemetery, which is about thirty minutes from the funeral home. I contemplate getting out of the car or just staying in here until everyone else leaves. But, I mindlessly move through the motions, my body on autopilot as I exit the car. The next thing I know, I am standing before the side-by-side dark oak coffins.
My eyes scan the growing crowd as the mourners start arriving. I know instinctively I am looking for the four mysterious men from earlier as they seemed so familiar to me. I couldn't place where I've seen or met them before, but something about them kept drawing my attention away. Abruptly, noticing that the four mysterious, strange men must not have come to the burial interment, when I don't spot them in the crowd. I place a single green rose on each coffin and prepare to say my final good-byes to Mama and Papa.
I don’t care who is watching or listening to what I say. Everyone here knows what and who my Papa and Mama were. “Mama, I hope I turned out the way you had hoped I would and I haven't disappointed you too much. I hope you love how I took your advice and wore the last dress and heels you had bought for me. Then arming myself the way you used to and the shoes are pointy enough to become a weapon.” Tears streaming down my face, a little giggle escapes my lips, as Mama’s voice pops into my head about how a women's heels are the best weapon.
Looking over to Papa’s coffin, I try to put on my best poker face, but it fades away fast as I begin to speak. “Papa, I will do my best to fill your shoes, in my stilettos. As I take over the family business. I shall raise a glass of your favorite Emerald whiskey tonight for the both of you, and for everything you have done for me. I will never allow any other kind of alcohol in the house unless it is the best. The Chertanov’s deserve the best and will always have the best. Mafiya budet upravlyat'sya tak zhe, kak ty upravlyal yeyu vse eti gody. YA nadeyus', chto odnazhdy ya stanu takim zhe khoroshim donom, kak ty. ( The mafia will be run the same way you have run it throughout all of these years. I hope that one day I will be as good of a Don as you have. ) Vy oba budete zhit' vechno v moyem serdtse do kontsa vechnosti. YA vas oboikh ochen' lyublyu i nikogda ne zabudu ni odnogo iz vas. Pokoytes' s mirom, Mama i Papa.” (You both will live forever in my heart until the end of eternity. I love you both very much and will never forget either of you. Rest in peace Mama and Papa.)
Per Russian tradition, I stood at the exit of the tent that held the burial site and held my hand out to receive the kisses from everyone in attendance. As the long line of people passes, I get more and more anxious to leave. I watch as four men in black suits appear at the end of the line and wait their turn to kiss my hand. The funeral director looks nervous as they approach, and the first one, who is tall with platinum blonde hair slicked back and tall enough to reach the ceiling of the ten foot tent without trouble, reaches for my hand and leans down, kissing it softly.
Memories of my childhood flood the back of my head and I push them down too raw to handle that right now. I nod to him as he smiles lightly at me and the other three do the same. They are the first to leave, quickly ducking out of the burial service. After everyone had paid their respects I was finally free to leave. As I left, I scanned the area, looking for the four men, and sighed as I realized they were long gone.
Walking back to the car with tears still stinging my eyes, I keep going back and forth on whether I should call Iris or not and find out where she is and why she didn’t show up. So instead of calling her, I decide against the call, and text her instead. As I pull out my phone, I sigh out in annoyance, rapidly clicking the buttons to text my sister.
Iris where the fuck are you? You missed the funeral service and burial. What the fuck is more important than our parent's funeral?
As we are driving back to our apartment, Vee and I just sit in silence as the music plays, and I stare out the window again. My thoughts aren’t about my parents or Iris but about the four gorgeous men again. Why can't I get them out of my head?
Once we get back home, Vee unlocks the door to our apartment. Walking in I bee-line for the couch, I plop down with a huff, sinking into the soft cushions.
“I can’t believe she didn’t even show up for the funeral service or the burial. What the fuck is more important than that?” I seethe, looking at Vee.
Vee just shrugged her shoulders and said with an evil grin “Let’s go out tonight… Yeah?’
“Hell yeah, Where to?” I grinned back at her all-too willing to forget my shit day and shittier unreliable sister.
“Let's go to that club, the one everyone is always talking about, the one with the weird name. What's it called?”
Excited and laughing, I reply, “Yes, let's have some fun tonight after such a depressing funeral. Mom and Dad would want us to have fun instead of sitting around the house being sad and depressed. They always loved to have a good time.”
Vee screams “Yessss!” and runs to her room to get ready.
As I walk past her door to go to my room and get ready, it hits me. The name of the club. After hitting play on my speaker and having Bad Omens Limits blare through the speakers.
I yell over the music to Vee, “By the way the name of the club is End Times!”