The Resurrection of a Heart

Chapter 1

The Lady Boss

Mara attentively observed the bag of contributions, which Serafín, the collector of the northern area, was reporting. And despite her doubts and the knowledge that this man wanted to trick her, her expression remained neutral.

Taking the small sack in her hands, Mara, weighing it, looking up. After a few seconds, she directed her gaze to Serafin, who kept his expression steady, as much as possible, faced with his lady’s fearsome presence. However, the movement of his throat swallowing saliva denoted that he was not as calm as he wanted to appear.

The intense pain that Serafin felt out of nowhere made him close his eyes and make his head tilt. A red line on his cheek, which was bleeding, was the cause of that sudden pain. But he only realized what had happened when he felt the first drops of blood running down his skin.

Hesitating and unable to form a coherent word, Serafín returned his gaze to the front. His eyes widened in fear as he saw his mistress standing, holding her leather whip, entwined with metal threads. This was a fearsome weapon in her hands, as a single blow could reap off pieces of the skin.

Serafin fell to the ground, stuttering. He knew that his life was about to end. Those coins that he set aside to later bet at the local tavern would cost him his life. He knew it, but at that moment, his addiction was bigger than his reasoning. It didn’t let him think, and unfortunately, he succumbed to his desires. And now, on the ground, begging for his life with only his eyes, he is sorry for what he did. Nobody gets away with it. No one can think of tricking Mara, the Queen of the bandits.

“My lady, spare my life. I have followed you faithfully for six springs. Have mercy on your servant.”

Mara watched him. Her cold eyes, vacant of any emotion, made this poor lost man tremble. He had met no one like her. In these years of being at her service, he witnessed unspeakable punishments meted out to all those who dared to cross her. However, he never imagined being on this side of the coin.

His mind went blank as a breeze touched his neck, followed by a penetrating burning. Afterward, nothing.

With his eyes still open in shock, Serafin’s head slowly slid from his neck to the side, then fell with a definite sound to the ground.

The place became silent. The walls echoed with the breathing of those present, as they observed the disturbing scene in silence. Everyone knew that this would be their fate if they dared to go against the boss.

Mara, without giving more importance to the body lying on the floor, turned around, returning to her throne, while her heavy leather boots resounded with a forceful echo on the cavernous walls of her lair.

With no decorum, she dropped her figure on the seat to later observe her thieves. How she loved seeing their faces after decapitating someone who didn’t think twice. It was all a power play in her eyes. If anyone dared to step out of line, her whip was there to get them back on track.

“Maddox,” Mara called to her Second in Command, who was standing next to her, observing everything with a clinical eye. His corpulent appearance was a clear incentive for everyone to stay in line and avoid facing deadly consequences.

“Name another one to collect the contributions from the north…” Mara paused for a moment and, making a mocking grimace as she looked at the dead man on the ground, continued, “Serafin has retired.”

The place was filled with laughter, mockery, and remarks about poor Seraphin. These pirates were tough and expected their lives to end like this, like the unfortunate man in front of them, dead somehow. There was nothing more for all those who had joined Mara’s army. Souls without hope and without something to live for, just like her. Their lives were hers now.

After Seraphin’s body was removed from the site, slaves made their way through the place, holding trays full of wine bottles in both hands. The pirates did not think about it, and snatched the bottles with no shame. Not even the death of one of them was going to prevent their palate from tasting this elixir until they filled their stomachs with such a blessing.

Mara, watching her pirates with satisfaction, felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She slowly turned her head until her eyes contacted Maddox’s, who was never far from her.

“Tonight, we will attack. Everything is ready. The cargo that the Bodoro kingdom so generously sent to Mahala for the celebration of King Alcott’s third daughter is about to arrive. Exotic fabrics from different parts of the world, precious jewelry, gold. That’s what our spies reported, among other treasures they didn’t put on the list.”

When he spoke, he did not miss a single detail of the shine that formed in Mara’s eyes. His creation was perfect. She would certainly wipe out all of their enemies. But despite those years grooming her to become Mara, he was still surprised, and sometimes with his mouth open. The woman in front of him had blossomed, but not as he or others had expected.

Betrayal and heartbreak were the perfect catalysts to create monsters. To that, there was no doubt.

Mara’s frozen facial expression changed slightly, as the corner of her mouth lifted millimeters, and turning her head toward him, she said, “I imagine the treasure is incalculable. The regent of Bodoro would spare nothing to show the entire world his unquestionable loyalty and devotion to Mahala's Royalty.”

And in an instant, her eyes darkened, giving rise to an uncontrollable torrent of resentment and hatred in her heart. But everything that was contained in her chest, she would wisely channel to destroy them. She would not rest until she saw that kingdom destroyed. Poor and in ruins.

“Yes, the treasures we will soon have in our hands, I am sure will be exquisite, but…” Returning her gaze to Maddox, Mara continued, “the humiliation will be even more satisfying than all that wealth.”