Blood of My Blood, We Are One

[Hades Styx]

The Dark Priest, Hades Lutrov, entered the hollow grounds of the cemetery, privately owned by the Zhefarovich’s. On the grounds was a rather large and black building, a mausoleum. This would be the perfect place to conduct such a ceremony that was brought upon Hades this lovely evening. He was the first one to arrive, of course. The bride and the groom would have to look their best, both dressed in black, for this traditional wedding. Hades didn’t think he would ever live to see his Grandfather marry another woman. This time, Hades chuckled at the thought, she wasn’t lying about her blood status. This would be a momentous day, and it was required to have allies and descendants attend. However, it was more mandatory for the descendants to attend unless they were in school. That was their only excuse. They could not get out of this day. Hades was certainly glad that he would be performing the reading as well.

Though the Zhefarovich Mausoleum was also underground, beneath the graves of those ordinary members and those married in, it still had class. Hades opened the large, black door, and he stepped inside to breathe in a musky smell. Hades glanced about the place, seeing it relatively empty, except for a sign over the stairs stating “Vie na krŭv Zhefarovich vliza tuk. Vie ne zasluzhava krŭv, da bŭde prokŭlnat s vechno proklyatie.” Or in English, it would translate to: “Ye of Zhefarovich blood enter hither. Ye of not worthy blood, be cursed with eternal damnation.” Hades chuckled at the lines, knowing that was a curse all in its own. Hades descended the stairs, his trenchcoat following after him in a manner unlike any others had ever seen. It was as if Hades were a mere spirit, gliding down the stairs. Hades opened an iron gate, protected by a spell, and he found himself in a large room.

The walls themselves had the bodies of the members of the Zhefarovich’s that had titles, but more importantly, in the northern part of the room, was the graves of the past Patriarchs. Hades walked across the room, and in a moment, he reached Ivaylo Zhefarovich’s grave. Hades dusted off the spiderwebs, and with a smirk, he opened up the grave to see an old urn. It was the body of the first known Zhefarovich back in the 1300s, one thing certain to have in this marriage. A disturbing tradition, no doubt, but one entertaining nonetheless. Hades took the urn in his white hand, and he held it beside him. The alter close to the northern section of the room would be where the bride and groom will stand. Hades summoned a black velvet cloth and draped it over the alter and set the urn in the middle. Hades then conjured two goblets, black and silver.

Hades reached inside of his robes after setting the goblets down on both sides of the urn, and inside was a good amount of Asparuh’s and Danielle’s blood kept in a large vial for each. He put the vials next to the goblets, and he smirked a bit. He needed a few other details. Two human skulls to watch them make their scared act under the ashes and the bodies of the Zhefarovich’s, black roses to ensure that in death they will never be apart, and finally, rows of benches for the witnesses. Hades summoned benches with a wave of his wand, and then placed the two skulls on the alter at each end. Hades stood behind the alter, dressed in his usual black attire, and finally, it was time to open the gates for the guests to start arriving on this day of All Hallow’s Eve. Hades nearly forgot something. It was almost pitch black here. Floating black candles above remained unlit. Hades waved his wand and they were lit instantly, though the flame itself was an emerald green. Now it was time for the guests to arrive.

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif led his family, what was left of them for a chunk was at school, through the grassed graveyard of those that died before his time, maybe during. Kalif entered the mausoleum, before telling them to stay as silent as possible as he descended the long flight of concrete stairs. Kalif entered the long room with Hades standing before the alter. With a slight sigh, Kalif passed through the aisle which was covered with black velvet cloth, and he went to the front of the bench to sit down. Where he was, as Head and future Patriarch, he was in his assigned seat. The others would have to sit on the bench behind him. Kalif had already instructed so. However, Damianos was the only exception. As one with a future title, he had to sit in the front. Kalif wasn’t very pleased about this, but it would prove to be an interesting event.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette followed her family through a graveyard that she had never seen before this day carefully, she had to admit that she got a power but ominous feeling the whole time she walked through it. Her black dress flowed around her, usually she didn’t wear such a color to a wedding but she was told that this was actually a tradition almost. Asparuh was getting married to some woman Nicolette had never heard of and apparently it was a really big thing and everyone from the family even some allies were going to be there tonight. Nicolette entered the mausoleum after her children, clutching her newborn baby close to her , Bothizar had been born just a month before all of this and she had to say that she was beyond pleased to finally have another baby, even if it still left her a little weak sometimes. Kalif told them all to be as silent as possible and Nicolette nodded her head before she gave her youngest son Nicolas a look that meant he was to stay quiet as well, he looked very amused right now. Niccy passed through the aisle which was covered with black velvet cloth, and he went to the bench behind her husband to sit down. The room had a very eerie feel to it and as she took in her surroundings she cuddled Bothizar close to her, she was curious to see how this wedding would work out and who Asparuh’s bride happened to be.

 

[Jaken Styx]

Jaken was just learning to walk with a cane now, as his thigh wasn’t working properly after being stabbed. He had yet to realize that he was married and had children. (This was why Lydia and Olivia did not have to come, because of Jaken’s special predicament.) Jaken limped into the mausoleum after his father, and he winced a bit as he heard that he would have to descend stairs. Stairs were not his friend yet, as every time he would fall down them. Now, in this sort of area, he would have to take things slow. After losing his memories in a bizarre fight, he wondered how many new additions in the family would there be. This was all so new to him, and he needed to take things extra slow. Jaken was thankful that apparently, he hadn’t missed much – but he had. He had a huge chunk of what was his life forgotten. Jaken was just taking baby steps at a time. Much like he was going now with his cane while making his way across the aisle, and finally sitting next to his step-mother, Nicolette.

 

[Kailie Styx]

Kailie wore a cute little black dress with black shoes as she bounded next to Nicolette. Kailie wore her hair straight and it was down over her shoulders. Her bright blue eyes gazed in wonder at the place. She didn’t understand that she was in a graveyard, stepping all over her ancestors. Kailie stayed quiet though, as her father ordered. Kailie entered the building, and didn’t mind the creepiness. She simply followed her family down a dark staircase, before ending up before a large room with Hades. Kailie waved to her older brother, before rushing to sit next to Jaken. Kailie sat up straight like a proper girl and she smiled while she waited. This was her first wedding, how exciting!

 

[Damianos Styx]

Cold, golden eyes of a toddler gazed around the area as he walked with his mother and his other siblings and father. Damianos walked like a pro now, but his expression seemed to mimic his father’s a lot. Cold. He was destined to be the future Head, and now, he was being trained. Though he might be a little more advanced than Nicolas, Damianos was still a child. He could not speak in complete sentences which worked marvelously for him as he simply pointed to wait he wanted. Damianos slowly walked down the stairs before ending in a large room. He made his way to the front of the aisle, motioned with his tiny hands to be picked up to his father, before receiving what he wanted. Damianos was placed on the bench, where he folded his hands over his lap which was covered in a black robe, before staring at the front, mimicking Kalif.

 

[Nicolas Styx]

Honestly Nicolas really had no idea what was going on right now, his mother dressed him and his brother up in a little black baby suit before taking them off to some weird place with a lot of large rock things he had never seen before either, he heard someone call it a graveyard or something. Baby Nicolas entered the mausoleum with his mother and let his stormy eyes take a peek up at his baby brother, he didn’t know why he was suddenly here one day but he was and suddenly his mother’s stomach was smaller and easier to take naps on too. The family was led to a bench behind his father and his brother and even though Nicolas was slightly jealous that Nicolas got to spend more time with his father he was a little bit more interested in the room around him, what was going on and why did the room look so cool right now?

 

[Raisa Zhefarovich]

Raisa entered the mausoleum with Asparuh Zhefarovich IV in her arm and holding Ivaylo's hand with her other hand. Raisa might have hated children, but these two had a spot in her black heart. If only that leech inside of her was like these other two. Raisa was seven, almost eight months along. Raisa felt huge, even though she wasn't so much huge. She was just having one. Carefully, she guided Ivaylo down the stairs, and made her way down the aisle with her black gown following after her, her heels clacking against the concrete. She took a seat in the middle of the long bench were those with future positions were to be held and those who held titles currently. Ivaylo's was in debate, so he did belong here, as did Asparuh IV. Raisa lifted Ivaylo up by his shirt and placed him next to her. Asparuh IV fit snuggly in her arm. Soon, the wedding would commence. A cold smirk curled along Raisa's lips. Finally, a woman suitable enough for my oldest brother.

 

[Ivaylo Zhefarovich-Dolohov]

Ivaylo glanced up at Aunt Raisa where she was holding his hand. Dressed in a black robe, his blond hair short on his head, this was the first time Ivaylo had even been out of the Zhefarovich Manor. Walking on graves seemed rather exciting as well, but no expression other than simple curiosity showed on Ivaylo's face. He strolled down the stairs, careful not to fall. His stubbly legs had some experience in stairs, but not that much. He couldn't release Raisa's hand, because he didn't know where to go. Ivaylo barely remembered faces, but he distinctively remembered Raisa, Rayna, Arnost and his father of course. Ivaylo felt himself being lifted by Raisa onto the bench, where he sat still. He was given specific orders to sit still and stay quiet. Ivaylo had to obey, even though he didn't like it.

 

[Asparuh Zhefarovich IV]

Asparuh glanced around with his dark, stormy eyes. He clinched Raisa's sleeve of her gown. He was becoming more and more understanding of the world. Today was his birthday, and he was going to see his Father marry his 'Mother'. Asparuh had called her "Maĭka" before. Danielle was his Mother, though Raisa had praised him many times over the fact that he killed Liyla. Asparuh didn't understand this yet, for he knew not of life and death, but soon he would. His eyes glared around the area, and he saw that there were candles floating. Asparuh reached up to try to grab a floating candle, but he couldn't reach. Asparuh narrowed his eyes and the candle moved, as if coming to him, but didn't. It just moved a bit, dripping a drop of wax on the velvet cloth. Asparuh showed some signs of magic already. Everyone was confident that he would soon know more. After Raisa sat down, Asparuh put his hand on her swollen tummy. He could feel something moving inside, and Asparuh wanted to know what it was. And wanted it to stop moving. Raisa seemed to feel this, and she hissed something about "Hela kicking." Asparuh continued to hold his hand over the stomach, feeling the movement, and willed to know what it was. Alas, he didn't understand yet. His head turned to stare at the white man with black hair, and the skulls. He wanted one.

 

[Leon Snow]

Even though Leon was absolutely terrified of Danielle Lefevre in every way possible, his older brother Alphonse had forced him and the rest of the Snows that were able to go to Asparuh's and Danielle's wedding due to them being strong allies of both of the powerful families. Entering the Mausoleum behind his brother he immediately became nervous when he was able to look at the surroundings of the room, when they said that it would be a dark wedding they were not kidding because every single detail about the room they were in was dark and had an evil presence to it. "A-Alphonse I don't like this place." He spoke to his brother softly for a moment before he turned to Svetlana and gave her a quick worried look with his icy blue eyes. Even though he knew there was probably going to be no troubles hosted between these people he still couldn't help but be a nervous wreck. Leon sat down on a bench behind his brother and further away from the Zhefarovich descendants and sighed, why did he have to be here?

 

[Svetlana Khamidouline]

Svetlana wasn't too keen on coming here, but in her arm was Sophia Valerie, who was just ten months old now. Svetlana held onto Leon's hand and she smiled weary over at Leon. Svetlana murmured, "It's fine hun." But she wasn't too sure about this place at all. It gave her the chills. As they entered the building, Svetlana suddenly felt sick. There was so much evil in this place, and being raised in a good household, you aren't used to these types of things. Svetlana thought that when they were going to attend a dark wedding, she thought it was going to be at night. Svetlana descended down the stairs, and she heard a clasp of thunder, and she jumped a bit. Sophia made a small whimper, and Svetlana hushed little Sophia. They took a seat close to Leon, and she caught the look of her past love, Jaken. No feelings remained, but it looked like he had through hell. Svetlana shrugged lightly, and she only snuggled closer to Leon. She would be lying if she said that she wasn't scared of everyone who appeared to be related to that ghostly white man behind the alter.

 

[Rayna Zhefarovich]

Death himself could not keep Rayna from witnessing her eldest brother bind himself to the first woman she had ever approved of. Dressed as the rest of the family in black, she'd dared as only she would do, to wear an indecently skintight dress with strategically cut out patches where her pale skin peeped through. A dark smirk showed pearly white teeth, light makeup graced her face and highlighted her onyx eyes. They glittered in the candlelight from beneath a black half veil pinned to her curled hair.

She glided over to sit beside little Ivaylo, smoothing his cheek with one pale, crimson tipped hand. Rayna loved none as much as she did the little ones who graced their families. It was only when they were small and dependent upon them did she shower them with affection. Once they got their letters and no longer needed her, she faded into the background, and would begin to kill more and more. Shifting on the bench, she turned her head and nodded at her sister. They were both of like mind; this was a match worthy of their family.

 

[Effie Kingston]

Effie was indifferent to the whole entire idea of a wedding, she wasn't exactly a fan of Danielle Lefevre or Asparuh Zhefarovich but still she had to admit that it was nice to know that two more pure bloods would be tying the knot to make sure the line stayed pure instead of branching out like so many were now doing. Effie descended down the stairs after her brothers slowly, being mindful to watch her swollen pregnant stomach so she didn't bump into anything. She would have preferred to stay home with Audel and maybe take a nap but Alphonse seemed really intent to have all his siblings and him attend the wedding between their allies. Effie sat down next to Svetlana and patted her stomach gently, the room the wedding was being held in was really dark looking and she had to admit that they were really going all out for this wedding. 'I wonder where the bride and groom are.' Her thoughts shifted to pretty much the main attraction of the wedding and wondered how long it would be before they showed their faces.

 

[Axel Zhefarovich]

Axel entered the mausoleum with Avory carrying Aleric, about ready to give birth to twins. Their own wedding was on November eleventh, eleven days from now, as this day of Halloween was almost over. Axel had one hand wrapped around his love, and the other was grasping Athena's hand. Axel entered the room where some others had arrived. Where Axel had a title, he couldn't sit with his family. He gave Avory a kiss, Aleric a kiss as well, and finally Athena. "Go sit behind Kalif and them." They did as they were told, and Axel went up to sit next to Rayna, the other Viscount. Axel didn't really know Danielle, so he couldn't say if he was happy for his father, or felt sorry for him. Axel glanced around and everyone was wearing black as they should have been. His onyx eyes faced the front once more, and a smirk curled along his lips. This is one hell of a family reunion.

 

[Chavdar Zhefarovich]

Chavdar took a deep breath, after dressing up the children and all in black for the wedding. It was traditional; even though he didn't know Danielle very much. He has seen her around, but that was it. He led the family to the mausoleum, a place unplotted and unable to get to unless you know where it is. Chavdar was glad that Asparuh would end up married, having worried that he would die alone. Chavdar descended the stairs, and the room was getting to be packed already, with some members of the family that were so distant, it was unbelievable have arrived. It was rather extraordinary. Chavdar turned to Rosaline and he whispered, "Sit close to the other members of the family. I have to sit with Vladimir since the those with titles are to sit up front." Chavdar pecked her cheek, and turned to sit closer to the front. Chavdar took a seat next to Axel, and pat the place next to him for Vladimir. He let out a sigh, and wondered just how dark this wedding would be. It was nothing like his own.

 

[Krasimir Zhefarovich]

It was a traiditon for all Patriarch's to be married on All Hallow's Eve and that was why the family had all gathered inside the Mausoleum on the silent stormy night. Krasimir wasn't a close relative to any of the members here but was only here to acknowledge the marriage between a Zhefarovich and Lefevre. Both were fine families and the two bring them together would be soon thought of as idols to Kras. Sitffly he sat himself down upon one of the benches and stared forward at the preacher, a man he knew to be Hades Lutrov but nothing else was known about him. As he awaited for the ceremony to begin he couldn't ignore the chills that rose up his spine when he saw the vials of blood sitting atop the table.

 

[Gabrielle Kovac]

Gabrielle sat herself down near a few of the present Lefevre descendants gracefully and fluffed out her dress to make sure that not a single bit of dust or lint was present on it. Today was the day her mother was married to a long time friend and ally of hers, he was also a man that Gabrielle had come to respect over time so she could easily admit that she was proud and happy of her mother's decision to marry and unite two powerful families. "Xavier sit still, your going to get us in trouble." She stated curtly, her brilliant blue eyes glancing her father for a moment before she allowed her eyes to look up at the alter with slight interest and curiosity. The vials on the table made her curious about the type of wedding this would be, she heard it was going to be a dark wedding but she wasn't sure exactly how dark they were planning to have it or anything. Sitting herself in a more straight position she allowed her face to wander around a bit more, this whole wedding had her excited and suddenly she had thoughts of maybe having her own wedding someday.

 

[Rosaline Mckay]

Rosaline walked into the mausoleum with Vulcan held to her chest. The five month old baby slept in her arms and looked angelic as he was curled into her arms in a black outfit that matched the rest of the Zhefarovich family. Her own was a modest frock that seemed to make her thinner then she was after the birth of Vulcan. Her red hair was pinned back into a sleek pony tail and hung in curls, resting on her shoulders. As Chavdar instructed her how to act, Rosaline nodded her head slowly and hung to the back with Zinaida and Vulcan. This was rather exciting to her, to see the morbidity and darkness of this ceremony. Rosaline had some how become much more like her family since her latest pregnancy and to top it off was seeing Arnost in the Manor in September. Somehow she knew that this would only validify her reasons for becoming this way.

 

[Vladimir Zhefarovich]

Vladimir, newly three-years-old now and in training to become the new head, strolled after his mother and father. His brown locks took not after his father nor his mother, and he walked down the steps with ease of this dark building. Vladimir gazed over the tall figures of his family members. He followed Chavdar closely behind, while waving to his mom and sister, and baby brother before he turned down the aisle that Chavdar was going. Vladimir climbed up on the bench and sat close to his dad, unaware of how dark this wedding going to be. Vladimir glanced around, at the other children destined to have titles. Weird, he was the oldest. Vladimir shrugged and he glanced back at the alter. Were those skulls real? Vladimir started to pick at the black robes he was wearing.

 

[Zinaida Zhefarovich]

Zinaida stood close to her mommy, fear etched onto her young features, but there was a hint of jealousy in her eyes that her brother got to sit beside her daddy in the front. She tugged her mommy's dress and asked, "Can I go sit with Daddy and Vuh-lad?" Only to find herself pout when she heard her mommy say in a hushed voice, 'No.' Looking away from her mommy, she crossed her young arms against her chest she glared daggers at her brother, her blue eyes like a dark heat that could burn into the back of her brother but of course that couldn't happen.

 

[Demitris Zhefarovich]

Demitris entered the mausoleum, with his parents. Out of respect, he had to go, even though he wasn't really apart of this family, at all. He spotted Jaken in the huge room, and he didn't or rather couldn't sit with him. Apostol and Diane walked with Demitris to the middle of the benches, and took their seats. Demitris wasn't fond of wearing black robes, but he had to. Demitris' green eyes gazed ahead at the man who was also named Hades. That man gave Demitris the chills. In fact, this idea of a wedding did. No way in hell would he dare marry Kailey in conditions like this. The blood made him cringe a bit as well. Those skulls...they couldn't be real, right? His family couldn't be this demented. But what was that urn for?

 

[Xavier Snow]

Xavier didn't like the idea of his mother being married to some other man, especially someone as scary as he remembered the groom of hers being. He had met Asparuh on a few occasions and honestly wasn't all that fond of him or the scary family he was suddenly being exposed to now that their families were going to be combined as one. His eyes glanced to his sister before he snorted and crossed his arms over his chest, the fact that his father was even here made it that much more worse for him to think about. He hoped that Danielle wouldn't forget about the other family and not focus only on Asparuh, he figured at first as newly-weds they would always be around one another but hopefully it would not be like that always. This place was also extremely creepy, what kind of family was his angelic mother marrying into?

 

[Prodan Zhefarovich]

Prodan led the way to the mausoleum. He held Elisaveta in his arms, and he wore black, as did his little girl. Prodan had spoken to Cecily about how serious this wedding was. Before entering the building, Prodan turned to his wife and he said, "Look, this is a special event. It is rare this happens, and well, if you say something out of line, you will have about twenty members of family, not including hers, ripping you apart. Since we are in a graveyard, well, there won't be a funeral for you." Prodan's silver eyes were lit with fear as well. So many people were here, mostly dark wizards. There was no telling what would happen to someone if they screwed up this event. Even the children were silenced. "So, no jokes, no pranks, better yet, no talking. Okay? Also, when you enter, um, go sit in the third row from the front. I have to sit in the front cause I hold a title." Prodan kissed the top of her head, and handed her Elisaveta. Prodan led the way into the dark building, down the stairs and into the room. He kissed his wife again, before going to the front and sitting down with the rest of the family. He just prayed that the Zhefarovich's wouldn't get riled up. There were so many, the room was getting packed with distant and not-so-distant relatives, along with allies.

 

[Shanaos Zhefarovich III]

Shane had traveled with a distant cousin. He had taken a bit to get ready for this rare occasion. Shane ran his fingers through his hair, and he entered the mausoleum. The stairs seemed a bit long, and it got colder. His onyx eyes gazed over the room. There were a lot of people here, and Shane was a bit confused on where he would have to sit. Shane cleared his throat, and he made his way down the aisle, slid into one of the empty benches, thankfully there was actually one, and he folded his arms across his chest. He had been waiting for this moment. It seemed like it would never happen again, not in his life time. It was truly an honor.