CHAPTER 4

A year after Terrence learned about his father's terminal illness, his father requested for his presence in his room. It looked more like a hospital room now because of medical equipment and supplies and a personal nurse inside. Terrence asked the nurse to leave them for a while so they could talk.

Terrence pulled a chair and sat beside his father's bed. 

"Why did you call me, dad?" Terrence asked while glancing at his father's tired face.

"Son, I-I may have nothing left to teach you. You're Uncle Andrew didn't fail me. Now I can die peacefully because I know you'll be able to protect our legacy." As he said these words, he sounded almost like he was whispering. With each passing day, he grew weaker and weaker. Today, he is barely able to move and spends the majority of his time lying in bed or in a wheelchair.

When Terrence heard his father say that, his eyes started to well up with tears. It dawned on him how weak and frail he had become. He's lost a lot of weight. He's so unfamiliar to him. He certainly didn't look like the man he used to be. A heart monitor and multiple IV tubes are now attached to his father. His nostrils are also equipped with an oxygen supply.

His father gave it his all to get up.   "T-Terrence, could you please get the box from the t-that drawer?" He said while he was gasping for air. Because his oxygen levels are depleted, he's been forced to breathe with the assistance of an oxygen tube.

Terrence took a wooden box out of his father’s bedside drawer and placed it near him. His father gathered all his strength to open the wooden box with his son’s assistance and took out a peculiar-looking mask. It is made of silver and gold.

"T-this is the Black Scorpion mask. Anyone who bears this mask bears the entire organization. It's yours now." Travis said while barely holding the mask with his pale hands. He extended his hand to give it to Terrence.

Terrence took the mask from his father and examined it. He realized it has a resemblance to a scorpion’s face. "Dad", was all he could say. He just hugged him tightly. He felt like he'd be gone anytime soon. 

True enough, after a week, Travis Harriett Evans, the head of the First Family died.

During the final night of his father's wake, everyone gathered. The entire Evans mansion was full of well-known people. There were politicians, artists, businessmen, and an army of guards to protect all the guests. There are white lilies and daisies in the middle of the hall where Terrence's father's coffin was laid out. A large picture frame containing his image was also on display at the side of the coffin. Also on display was the Black Scorpion banner. The symbol was painted in gold ink on a violet banner.

Each member of the Five Family wore a black suit or dress with a golden pin depicting the Black Scorpion. The family's head wore a unique piece of clothing. A purple sash with a gold Black Scorpion symbol embellished with diamonds was worn over a black suit.

Everyone in the viewing area gasped when Terrence descended the winding stairs dressed exactly like the family's head together with his brother Troy and their little sister Tabitha. Everyone stared at them, especially at Terrence as he approached the podium while his siblings sat in front. He knew this would not end up well, but he had to secure their household as the eldest son.

Terrence took a deep breath and composed himself before making his important announcement. "Dear family, friends, Evans' loyal constituents, and subjects, I, Terrence Vaughn Evans, on behalf of the First Family–” He paused to scan his surroundings. He commanded the mansion guards in advance to secure the area in case something would happen after his announcement. He was wearing an earpiece that allows him to communicate with them. A voice from the other line said, “We're ready boss.” so he continued talking. “I will take over Travis Harriett Evans' place as the First Family head.”

The entire audience broke out in different kinds of whispers and reactions. He was already expecting this kind of reaction from the crowd so they just gave him a blank stare.

"Why you?! You're too young and inexperienced!! We will not entrust the future of this organization, Anderson Evans, the patriarch of the Third Family, shouted standing from his seat.

“Andrew, what’s the meaning of this?! The head of the second family, Percy Evans also joined Percy.

His Uncle Andrew, who was sitting beside Troy stood up, “ Everyone, you heard it right. My nephew, Terrence Vaughn Evans will now be the head of the First Family from now on. Anyone who will disagree with this decision will never leave this mansion alive tonight.”

The guests and the members of the five families got tense. They started whispering to each other again while others alerted their own bodyguards.

The rest of the five families know how powerful the First Family is. They are the first family formed in 1965 which inherited more money from Jacob, the founding father, so Percy and Anderson Evans both took their seats and kept their mouths shut for the entire night.

The night was full of tension, but luckily no bloodbath happened.

During the traditional British funeral repast, attended by friends and family of the deceased, the five remaining families gathered in a conference room inside the mansion.

When his father was still alive, this is where he held meetings and assemblies. Books and maps fill the room, making it look like an actual library. In the center of the pentagon-shaped table, there were five seats that resembled the King's chair. The Black Scorpion banner is also displayed in the center of the room. There were also portraits of the former heads, the founder Jacob Evans and their great-great-grandfather Robert Evans.

Terrence sat in the middle where his father was sitting before. Andrew asked him to take that seat.

"Gentlemen, I appreciate your presence. As you may have heard, Terrence will now be taking over my brother's position in the organization. We still need to follow tradition, so we gathered you here," Andrew said as he stood next to Terrence. He was holding an old book that had been passed down through generations. Travis and the other heads are Evans' third generation of families. Andrew opened the dusty and worn-out book that contained the Evans family's history, the Black Organization's history, and the signatures of the former heads written in their blood.

He turned it into a blank page and started writing the names of the current heads and Terrence’s name using a fountain pen. On the table also is a golden dagger, a quill, and the stamp of the Evans family. After Andrew finished writing all the names, he passed the book to the head of the Second Family, Anderson Evans. He slashed his arms with the dagger he had just picked up. The wound was dripping with crimson red blood. He then dipped the tip of the quill into the wound and signed his name on top of it. Andrew held the book with both hands and passed it to the head of the Third Family, Percy Evans. He reluctantly signed it and handed it to the next head, Bailey Evans. Andrew proceeded to hand it to the Fifth Family head, Ernest Evans, and finally to Terrence.

After the blood compact, Andrew took the seal of the Evans family and stamped the page where they signed.

Andrew, as the presider of the meeting, turned the book to the page where the oath of acceptance was written. He asked all of them to stand up before Terrence read it.

With conviction and confidence, Terrence placed his left hand on his chest and his other hand doing the secret hand sign of the organization, and began reading it.

“It is my pledge that I, Terrence Vaughn Evans, will support and defend the Black Scorpion Organization against all enemies, both foreign and domestic; that I will pledge my true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of our forefather, and fulfill my duties and responsibilities as the head of the First Family.”

Everyone in the room acknowledged the oath by shaking Terrence's hand, but you can see the displeasure on their faces as they did so. On the other hand, Terrence made every effort to maintain his composure in the situation.

Terrence went back to the cemetery where his father was buried after the meeting. He stood before his grave now holding a piece of white daisies. Terrence reminisced about the past while staring at the marble tombstone engraved with his father’s name and the year he was born and died, June 1976- November 2020. He was never his father’s favorite son, it was Troy. Troy was more inclined toward their business than he. Once he caught Troy playing with their father’s gun. He also likes to play mafia boss during their playtime, and I as police. Their father adored Troy more than him. He gently placed the flower beside his father’s tombstone.

"Dad, I promise to continue our family's legacy from now on." With that promise, Terrence started accepting his fate of living in the dark from this day forward.

The Black Scorpion Organization operation is now under new management.  With his brilliance, his Uncle Andrew’s supervision, and their armies, the First Family continued to be the most notorious group in the entire UK and among the five families.