The Red to My Grey

by William Dudley Berridge Tuckey

“Chow down then.” She pushed it away and I could tell I made her nervous.

  “I couldn’t possibly indulge myself on someone who helped me settle here so comfortably.”

  “Chicken,” I teased her after a short sigh. Cin waved a piece of paper in my face before turning back to her desk to crunch numbers.

  “Hmm? Why the hell were you invited to Dad’s wedding? He doesn’t even know you, does he?”

  “I thought Johnson might have put in a word for me, but Risk got one too so I’m not sure on that idea anymore.”

  “What’s my old man thinking? The wedding’s less than a week away, but it sounds like it’s already a mess if people he doesn’t even know are tagging along.”

  “Last time I went to a wedding was when I was only a little girl. I’m actually pretty excited for it. Oh, I’ll make sure Risk is on his best behaviour; we won’t cause any trouble. I promise.”

  “Don’t worry. I believe you. You know what? I’m probably just overthinking it. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Let’s enjoy ourselves and get super drunk at the reception.”

  “Ah you’re right…I’m looking forward to it, ha-ha-ha.”

  From then on, I tried to relax until the wedding and all throughout the next week everyone spent their time getting prepared for the big day ahead of us.

  Chapter Ten

  It was the day before the wedding and I had finished work for the night. I got home around ten and the house was dead quiet. I walked to the fridge and downed a bottle of water to unwind after a long boring day. Even with the entire family rushing around trying to get everything sorted, the past week had been pretty chill for me and I made good on the time to relax.

  “Oh, you’re home Wade; how was work?”

  I brought myself from the fridge to see Celia. I noticed she wasn’t wearing her bandages for once, so I asked her about it.

  “I’m taking them off for the wedding; it would be awkward if people asked me about them and I told them the bride was the reason for them.”

  “But won’t they just ask about the scars instead?”

  “I’m just going to wear gloves, nobody will notice them.”

  “I guess that’s fine then. It sure has been quiet lately though, like before everyone moved in.”

  “Yeah it has; life’s really taken a wild turn since you brought Angel home.”

  I turned to face her with a smile on my face after closing the fridge. “Yeah,” I agreed as I walked away and went to my room. Inside was Angel fast asleep on my bed and lined out on the carpet was her dress and shoes for tomorrow. I lied down next to her and looked at my phone to see a message from Johnson. He sent pictures of him and Sabrina trying on their outfits. I put my phone on the charger and laid back in bed with my hands resting behind my head.

  Everyone seems pretty hyped about all this. I’m still not sure what to think of it. Sigh. Too late to start second-guessing myself now. I thought to myself as I closed my eyes for the night.

  I woke up the next morning to yet another empty house. Dad and the others had already left for the wedding, so it was just me and Angel. I woke her up and we hastily dressed ourselves. Minutes later I heard the front door knock; it was Johnson. His car was parked at the front of the house with Sabrina waiting inside. We spent the next ten minutes helping Angel do her hair; at this point it was back to the length of just behind her thighs, so it wasn’t exactly easy. After we were done, we crammed ourselves inside Johnson’s car and by the time we left it was eight-thirty.

  “Did you hear that apparently Ms Ashlyn reserved the entire club just for the wedding and will be serving no other patrons?” Johnson asked us as he drove through the bustling early morning rush.

  “Really? Sophia must have some pretty deep connections in that place.”

  “Or your Dad had something to do with it,” Sabrina added.

  “That’s not impossible either.”

  When we arrived in the club parking lot there weren’t many open spaces and that had us asking just how big this wedding was going to be. Out the front of the club was Dan, Em and their baby, Chloe.

  “She’s so cute!” The girls shrieked as they rushed up to Em holding Chloe wearing a tiny dress.

  “Everyone’s looking great, guys. I hope everyone’s comfortable. I think it’s going to be a long day,” Dan greeted us. We went inside the club to see some familiar faces and some I hadn’t seen in a very long time. My grandparents on my mother’s side were there and were praising Celia for how grown up she had become but also for the resemblances she bore to Mum. I guess to them it was a chance to remember their daughter a little better. Sophia’s mother, Charlotte, was sitting beside Nami at one of the tables too.

  “Oh, Grandma you know Wade, don’t you?” Nami tried to introduce me.

  “I know him. He’s much like his father, unable to keep his nose out of things.”

  “It’s good to see you too, old lady; it’s not my fault this family keeps so many secrets.”

  “Chuckle. I suppose that’s true. Nami, go with your brother for a bit, enjoy yourselves a little.”

  “Thanks, Grandma.” She grabbed my arm and next thing I knew I was showing her around the club. Nami was dressed in a short red dress and had a bright red ribbon in her light brown hair. I went over to the table in the dining hall with everyone crowded around it.

  “Ah Wade, it’s good to see you. Who’s this lovely young lady by your side?” Mr Smith asked me as I sat down.

  “This is my half-sister Nami. Don’t let her looks fool you; she’s ten years old.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nami,” he said politely.

  “I-it’s nice to meet you too,” she replied nervously.

  “What’s wrong cutie? Where’s all that confidence you usually sprint around with gone to?” Sabrina teased her, yelling across the table. Nami hid behind me and I let out an exhausted sigh. I pulled out a chair for her and then sat down next to Angel. However, it was the late arrivals that really gave us a surprise. Just as she said, Cin arrived with Risk by her side. It was obvious he was feeling nervous being around so many new and unfamiliar faces. He fidgeted with the collar of his suit that clung tightly to his neck. He wasn’t well received either from those who hadn’t got to know him personally since the incident; they didn’t look they were giving him any welcoming looks any time soon either. Johnson took the initiative to welcome him with a handshake.

  “West, I’m surprised you’re here, well let’s all enjoy ourselves.” His kindness wasn’t enough to dispel the hatred burning in Angel’s eyes as she stared at the pair.

  “Ah, Angel…” Nami tried to draw her attention away from them but Angel looked to me instead and the expression in the red of her eyes said it all.

  “What haven’t you been telling me?” I said nothing.

  “That’s enough, everyone. I invited him. West is like family to me; he’s not what you think he is.” Celia was responsible for the pair being there, reassuring me that I was just overthinking things from the start. However, the pair was overshadowed by the next guest to step into the dining hall. He wore a black suit, resembling that of a butler, his pale skin hidden from the lights above by a large black parasol he lugged over his shoulder effortlessly and his red eyes made his flawless smile feel nothing more than malicious. Sinclair had also been invited that day, but not by any of us, not by Sophia or her mother, but by my father. Seeing him like that was almost incomprehensible to me. I had only ever seen him as worn, grey and ominous.

  “I believe some introductions are in order. My name is Sinclair Natsuki, Angel’s father.”

  “A pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Rex greeted him with a false smile.

  “No need to pain yourself like that. I’m sure whatever you’ve heard is nothing good,” he said as his eyes burnt slightly brighter. Risk gave off a violent vibe as he couldn’t take his eyes off the man. Turns out Sinclair had been invited to the wedding as Dad’s best man which left me completely confused. An
ne was the maid of honour for Sophia and that explained why we hadn’t seen her yet.

  “Now everyone, we’ll be starting the ceremony in half an hour. Please enjoy yourselves until then,” Sinclair addressed us briefly, only to disappear into one of the back rooms.

  “This wedding’s just full of surprises, isn’t it?”

  “Appears so. I wonder how the bride and groom are doing.” Johnson said while twirling a piece of cutlery in his hands. Angel insisted we go check, so she dragged me to Sophia’s dressing room and poked her head inside. Sophia called us inside and was already in her big white wedding dress. Her hair was nicely done but still fell down to her waist and she wore bright red lipstick that matched the colour of her eyes. There were people all throughout the dressing room though, planners, decorators, photographers. All of them trying to discuss the play out for the wedding with her. She ignored them so she could talk to us.

  “Mama!” Angel gasped as she admired her.

  “You look lovely too, sweetheart; black really is your colour,” she said as she tugged on the front of Angel’s dress. Anne snuck up behind us and groped Angel, both Sophia and I laughed as she squirmed.

  “What about me, Wade? Do I look as lovely as these two?” Anne asked flaunting herself.

  “Whatever happened to ‘this day’s all about you Sophy’?” Sophia teased her as she put her in a headlock.

  “S-Sophy, you’ll mess up your makeup,” she said struggling to breathe.

  “It’s almost time now, isn’t it? Let’s go, Angel. We better let her finish getting ready.” I then practically dragged her out of the dressing room and we went back to the dining hall with the others.

  The ceremony began only a few moments later outside in the courtyard behind the club. There was a priest waiting down the end of the aisle and Dad was speaking casually with him while everyone found their seats. Ashlyn was in her usual attire, ordering people around and she looked as exhausted as ever. The music began to play, and we saw Sinclair walking Sophia up the aisle. They both had smiles on their faces, but they stayed facing forward as if they were trying to ignore their past together. Anne was on the other side of Sophia, watching the pair like a hawk from the corner of her eye. I looked around and noticed there were probably around fifty people. I didn’t recognise a lot of them because they knew Sophia and Dad before I was even born. From what I gathered they were happy for them to finally be together.

  They stood facing one another. Sophia had a veil over her face and Dad stood proud in the moment. They said their vows to one another and there weren’t any objections from anyone. Just like that he slipped a shiny new ring onto her finger and they were married after a kiss. The guests went wild; after a flash of cheers and celebration we found ourselves eating the wedding cake and giving them a toast to their new life together. Angel, Nami, Celia and I joined the bride and groom at a large round table. People came and mingled with us every few minutes, so we didn’t get much of a chance to talk amongst ourselves until Sinclair came to the table.

  “Congratulations. I hope this day has been what the two of you have always wanted it to be.”

  “Thanks for coming out, Sinclair. It’s been too long since we spoke as friends.” Dad pulled up a chair for him and he joined us at the table.

  “I admit it’s a nice change of pace from being at one another throats. Sophia, your beauty hasn’t faded a day since the last time we met, I see.”

  “Giggle. Thank you. It almost feels like a dream for the three of us to be here like this, except we’re all grown up with children of our own,” Sophia said cheerfully as she rested her head on Dad’s shoulder.

  “Ah, S-Sinclair, can I ask you a question?” Nami asked nervously.

  “My, my I don’t believe I’ve had the chance to meet you child, you have been Sophia’s secret from everyone until only recently.”

  “Oh, my name’s Nami…” she replied only to go quiet afterwards.

  “What is it you wanted to ask him, Nami?” I asked her to get the conversation flowing again.

  “Those eyes of yours, how they’re bright red. Mum has them, my sister has them, Anne has them and even that guy over there has them, but Grandma’s eyes are normal, and my eyes are normal. Why are you all like this?”

  “Nami I…” Sophia went to speak, but Sinclair intervened.

  “It’s alright; she has the right to know. Anyone would be curious about all this.”

  My ears were burning as I lingered on every last word of the conversation. I looked around to the other tables to see Rex and Johnson staring our way, trying to listen in on us.

  “I have been both wronged but committed many sins in my life and to right them I have used my blood. My family, the Natsuki’s, has a tainted bloodline and have been achieving feats thought to be impossible. We can reanimate the dead, attain strange powers that could only exist in twisted fantasy and we cling to our youth better than most.”

  “What do you mean by all of that?” Celia asked.

  “I’m saying all of that can be achieved through the blood coursing through my veins. Sophia is here because I brought her back from death with a transfusion of my blood. It was during Angel’s birth that things took a turn for the worse and I refused to accept that fate. Angel inherited my blood, so she was born this way. Anne ascertained my blood through Angel from their time at the hospital. I’m unsure what lead to such an outcome and that young man over there, I gave a second chance after being killed by one of my beasts.” The conversation had taken a serious turn and after hearing all of this I wondered what else he had done after all this time.

  “Do you hate being this way?” Angel gently asked her father.

  “…No, if I wasn’t like this, I wouldn’t have you here today.”

  “Eh that’s enough; let’s go get some more cake,” Dad dragged everyone away from the topic.

  After we had our fill, there was probably about two hours’ worth of photographs for the lot of us and we ended up heading out to the lake ten minutes out of the city to finish them off, but also to celebrate for the night. It wasn’t exactly a traditional wedding, usually it’d be expected that the happy couple drive off in some limo for the honeymoon. Instead we would be having a bonfire by the lake. Honestly, we must have looked out of place. A bunch of people in nice suits and dresses either chatting or running around beside the water’s edge. Sophia seemed happy enough to me as she drank to her heart’s content on expensive wine straight from the bottle. I enjoyed myself and raced Risk to one end of the lake to the other, sprinting so fast we kicked up the dirt with every stride. Johnson, Dan and the girls danced under the light of the bonfire. It was around ten at night when Dad called everyone around to the edge of the water. Both he and Sinclair stood ready as if they were going to perform.

  “Rex, I can trust you to set off the fireworks, right?”

  “You can count on me Jason, have fun. I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly.”

  “It’s been a while since we’ve enjoyed ourselves like this,” Dad said as he cracked his knuckles.

  “Indeed, it has old friend.”

  The two of them lunged towards each other at the shot of the first firework; they were just fooling around, but to anyone that wasn’t them, a fight between those two was an epic yet to be recorded in history. They moved so fast that the wind from behind them would slice at the long grass that grew beside the lake. Every punch that they blocked would shake the earth beneath them. I had forgotten who the real freaks were in our family; it was the men that had been through so much in their past that they grew so strong it was unbelievable.

  The fireworks decorated the night sky as the pair had the time of their lives and only after about fifteen minutes they collapsed to the ground, huffing and puffing away. They watched the rest of the fireworks that Rex prepared as they lied there.

  “Have you worn yourselves out properly now?” Sophia asked Dad as she gave him her hand.

  “It is about that time now, isn’t it?” He t
hrew me the keys to the house and told me not to wait up for them. Next thing we saw was Anne driving off with them in some flashy red sports car.

  “Sigh. I keep forgetting Anne’s actually rich…” I said as I stretched out after running so much. After about an hour everyone started to call it quits and headed home.

  “Thanks for coming out everyone, it was a great day. Glad everyone could be a part of it.”

  “No, thank you, Wade!” Cin yelled while so drunk she could barely stand.

  “Ha-ha-ha. You’ve had a little too much Cin, come on let’s go home,” Risk said as he picked her up in his arms. He stared back over his shoulder for a final glance at Sinclair before he went to run off.

  “We can get a photo together if you like,” Sinclair teased as he brought himself from the grass.

  “Pfft,” Risk vanished from sight and left for the night. Nami had fallen asleep from being worn out after dancing the night away and from all the excitement throughout the day. Everyone dived into Johnson’s car except for me as I went to say some parting words to Sinclair as he stood alone on the grass staring up at the moon.

  “So, what’s next from you now that you’ve had your fun from today?”

  “That’s quite a bold question to ask. Nothing for the moment. Who knows? Maybe I’ll do the same as your father and try to find someone and settle down once again,” he said laughing wildly.

  “A lot of people would be better off if you did decide to do that…goodnight Sinclair, try not to do anything too upsetting until we meet again.”

  “Define upsetting?” he teased me as I turned around.

  “Sigh. See ya Sinclair.” I got in the car and Johnson drove us home.

  When I got home, Angel and I tucked Nami into bed and once we walked into the hallway I flopped to the floor. I was glad to be free of any responsibilities, well any I could think of for the moment. I was happy to be home. Celia had gone with Kitten to her house after the wedding. So, it was just Angel and me in the house. We got changed out of our nice clothes and crashed in bed. We didn’t do anything; we just lied there with the light off, under the covers.