Chapter 49: The Wedding

Months later, big bells of silver adorned with blue ribbons rang loudly in the newly refurbished Silverclaw mansion.

The mansion was owned technically by the silverclaw kin, but it had become a retreat for vampire, werewolf, and witch alike, and certainly required the aid and unique talent of the three separate species to be rekindled to a state beyond its former glory.

Down the winding aisles of mixed company and standing at what had once been a court podium but had since been remodeled into an altar, Bruce stood tall and handsome, his chest out, ready and waiting in a dapper black tuxedo with a black bow tie. His messy brown hair had been cut and trimmed, and his face was clean shaven. He stood with a large smile on his face, though truly he was starting to get worried. Bruce glanced at his silver-strapped watch, then looked out into the stone benches filled with people casually chatting.

A firm, supportive hand pressed against the top of his back.

“Quit checking that thing, won’t you,” Angus said.

His blonde hair was slicked back and reached the bottom of his neck, and he wore a slim-fit ruffled white shirt underneath a crimson blazer.

“She’ll be here any moment,” Angus told Bruce, joining him by the altar and under the white wooden arches that displayed, in navy blue letters, the inscription: “Bruce and Silvana.”

“Thanks again for being my best man,” Bruce snickered. “And you’re right. I’m sure she’ll show up soon.”

“It’s an honor to stand beside you in such a ceremony,” Angus laughed. He got sarcastic and said, “Besides, this’ll earn me a lot of points with Amelia.”

Bruce fiddled with his watch strap one more time, caught himself before he checked the
watch’s face, and then asked, “How are you two doing, anyway?”

“Oh, she is very much enamored with the idea that she is the maid of honor and dating the best man.”

Bruce noticed that Angus’s pale skin was reddening as Angus continued and said, “And Amelia is already starting to talk about our plans. Where she wants to be wed. What she wants to do on the honeymoon.”

Bruce adjusted his bow tie and grinned at Angus, who in the short time he’d known the vampire had become far more of a brother to him than Kurt had ever been. Angus had supported Bruce in mourning the betrayal and execution of Kurt, and had it not been for their long discussions over a bottle of whiskey, Bruce, big and strong as he was, may not have found the proper confidence to marry Silvana publicly, as Bruce had always been a private man.

Angus, on the other hand, connected with Amelia in the fact that the two both loved to put on a show, and just as Amelia brought out the best in Silvana, Angus brought out the best in Bruce.

“Speaking of honeymoons,” Bruce said.

“I got my ticket,” Angus said assuredly and before Bruce could complete the sentence.

“Amelia has already packed a big bag,” the vampire chuckled.

“The way she packs, you might throw your back out trying to carry that thing for her,” Bruce quipped, narrowing his eyes as the giant doors leading to the second floor of the manor opened, and he saw the flow of white from the bottom of Silvana’s wedding dress as her snow-colored high heels took on one step after the other.

As Silvana walked out with Solaris by her side, the people of the crowd seated themselves and began to cheer and wave, all eager to be taking part in a ceremony that not only united the strongest individuals in the city, but also symbolically united all the species.

Cecilia Duponte seated herself at a wide organ with many keys, and began playing a lovely song that evoked harmony, serenity, and love. She too was dressed in a long and tight white dress, as was Amelia, who momentarily walked with Silvana and Solaris until Solaris extended an arm in his scarlet tuxedo and Silvana looped her arm around his. Then, as the father and daughter walked down the aisle to the thunder of applause and flashes from photos, Amelia peeled off to the side to join Angus.

“You look stunning, dear,” Angus said to Amelia over the fanfare.

She rested her head on his shoulder and said, “Thank you, love. Isn’t this magnificent?”

“She certainly is magnificent,” Bruce commented, only half-listening to his friends. His gaze was fixed on Silvana and hers on him, and although Silvana could hear little over the joy in the room, she knew Bruce had complimented her.

Duponte finished her song and walked towards the altar as Silvana hugged Solaris and he seated himself in the front row. There was no other family of his to join him, so he took great pleasure in Duponte’s presence, and had felt a kinship to her much like that of what he imagined having a sister might bring him. Overall, he was ecstatic that a member of his family could join him on this special day.

“Well,” Angus said, reaching into his pocket and flipping the ring casually over to Bruce. “The first ring of yours I found worked well, so I think I might be your good luck charm, big guy.”

Bruce caught the ring. It was even more magnificent than the engagement ring, and nestled by the large diamonds was a ruby, the gem of the vampire house, and a sapphire, the gem of the werewolves.

“Thank you, Angus,” Bruce said, his smile so big he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this happy, if ever.

Angus led Amelia by the hand to the seats by Solaris, and Solaris smiled wide as Bruce. Though he may not have had any blood family at the wedding other than Duponte, Solaris still had plenty of family by bond, and he hugged Amelia tightly and firmly shook Angus’s hand.

Duponte began to officiate the wedding by saying, “On such an altar like this I was once sacrificed for a cause of great evil, so it is only fitting that on such an altar I now bring to you all a ceremony of pure goodness.”

Duponte went on to deliver a beautiful speech that left many so touched they patted tissues or the sleeves of their shirts to their eyes. When she declared it time to offer vows, Bruce kept it simple.

“I vow to give you every beat from my heart,” Bruce said while lost in Silvana’s green eyes.

“And I vow to give you each from mine,” Silvana smiled back at him.

“You may now kiss the bride,” Duponte said, cheerful.

To the applause of the entire manor, Bruce grabbed Silvana by the hands, pulled her close to him, and kissed her long and hard, as if it were the very first time they had met.