A Mélange of Blood

The Wedding (1)

xChristiana stepped back from her mother, smiling as the woman turned to face her in the stunning red Chinese-style wedding dress. "You look perfect."

"Thank you, sweetheart." Chi-Lan glanced in the full-length mirror they had prepared earlier. "I can hardly believe it. I know this is my second wedding, but I feel just as nervous as I did the first time." Her smile faded into something more melancholy.

Ana looked in the mirror as well. She was also wearing a traditional Chinese dress, trimmed with the same gold, although hers was green and had less patterns. Chi-Lan loved her Asian heritage, and Cirrus, the groom, had a touch of vampire nostalgia in him that also embraced old traditions. Not everything was Chinese though. The ceremony and decorations were American, although some Chinese culture could still be found sprinkled throughout, while the food was a mixture of both nations.

"Did you and Dad have a traditional wedding?" Ana asked, looking at her mother in the mirror.

"No, it was all American. I didn't care for tradition then like I do now." Chi-Lan reached out and brushed her daughter's shoulder. "I know this is difficult for you, sweetheart. Just know... it's hard for me as well. I loved your father, but six years of mourning has been enough, don't you think?"

David had died when Ana was only eleven. She remembered him, but only faintly now. His face was fuzzy in her memories and his voice fluctuated, but his laugh stayed the same. Three deep chuckles, usually followed by a happy sigh. She knew things had been hard on Chi-Lan since then, having to provide for herself and her daughter without someone to lean on. Ana was content the way they were, but Chi-Lan had tasted marriage, and missed the feeling of family. That's where Cirrus and his five children came in.

Ana tried her best to smile sincerely. "I want you to be happy, Mom."

"And I want you to be happy. I want you to have a family, Ana, not just a mom. You need brothers and sisters... and a dad. You know Cirrus wants to be friends, don't you?"

She knew all right. She really did like him, but he and his family were so boisterous compared to her and her quiet mother. He was friendly, cheerful, kind—everything anyone could have asked for in a dad. But why does his family have to be so... enthusiastic?

Cirrus had been around a lot, so he was technically no stranger to her, but with her shyness beating back his friendly advances, she had a hard time getting to know him. When they first met, he shook her hand with a grin that she had come to learn almost never left his face. He had tried to keep up a conversation, but eventually her quiet, one-worded answers dissuaded him.

"I know," she said, keeping up her smile. He's not going to be my dad though. Maybe someday a friend. It's going to be a long road ahead if I can't learn to be comfortable around him.

Someone knocked, and one of Cirrus's daughters slowly opened the door, movements quickening when she realized everyone was decent. She smiled briefly. "We're ready when you are."

"We'll be out in just a moment. Thank you, Anastasia," said Chi-Lan.

Ana barely looked the other girl in the eye. Anastasia was a little older than her, maybe twenty. It was hard to remember. She was the second oldest out of the five, with incredibly long, beige-blond hair and arctic blue eyes.

After Anastasia nodded and closed the door, Chi-Lan turned to her daughter. "This is it, sweetheart. The start of our new life." Her voice was warm and excited.

Ana would never do anything to take that away from her, so she tried to look as happy as she could. "I can't wait."

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