It was slightly awkward that he was here in Sularia, especially without Raeguel with him. It had been some time since he was invited to these parts and that was to see the niece he had never known about get married. Since then, he had still been coming to terms with how much time he had lost with his brother, and even more so towards Nerezza and Lucian. He owed them for all that wasted time that the elders had been fighting and avoiding one another for centuries.

The desert sun was still something Reaver was getting used to, as well as this women-dominated city. He could feel some of those eyes falling onto him with obvious interest but he largely ignored it as he made his way to the Red Court Manor. His heart was already spoken for and if Angelique was here, he was sure that she’d get them to stop with their ogling one way or another.  As soon as he met up with the guards at their post, he looked to either one of them and relaxed his body. “Reaver Augustus. I came to see my niece, Nerezza.” One of the ladies there allowed him access and then went to look for lady in question while he waited at the foyer.

The last time they had met, little words were spoken between them; he hadn’t wanted to disturb her most sacred day, of course. Heaven knows that he was a secret from them as much as they were one kept from him. He didn’t fault Raeguel for making that choice back then. Things hadn’t been exactly civil and they both had done things they weren’t proud of. He wouldn’t put the other members of the family through any pain because of it.

When Rezza wasn’t causing trouble for her brother she was a proud wife. She did her husband well by attending all of the public events her family hosted. She was a strong-willed woman who only wanted to play with life. She had her playful side but there was the serious Nerezza. The one who was the lady of the house when her brother couldn’t be the lord.

She was in the study looking at the new plans for her and Kaiser’s own little abode. It was high time that she and he had their own home. It would be beautiful and it would stop Lucian from constantly nagging at her. She quiet drafted up the manor’s plans and before long one of the house help came into the study and informed her that her uncle Reaver was here. She froze up a bit. She had never spoken to her uncle alone before. Hell, she didn’t even know him that well.

She scooped her skirts up and pushed the chair out so she could get up. Going to a mirror she fixed her long white hair and the purple dress she was wearing. She did look very much like her father but not as much as her brother Lucian. Making her way down the grand staircase she froze up when she spotted him. “Uncle Reaver…” The words came out almost in a whisper as her gold eyes grew wide for a moment. She had known he was there and yet the reality of it hit her. She continued to carry the skirts down the stairs and approached him before bowing softly. “What do I owe this visit from you for? Do you require Lucian… Or maybe my father?” He had asked for her directly though but it never hurt to ask.

“I’m sorry… I suppose that I am a tad nervous.” Rezza knew to be honest with Reaver and she took a deep breath. “My father and brother call me Rezza so if it would make you more comfortable you may as well Uncle Reaver.” She gave him a smile. “I’m afraid that Kaiser is out on family business so it is just me in the manor today until Lucian comes home from the Courts.”

The moment he saw her, the more it struck him that she truly was Raeguel’s flesh and blood. She was young yet regal looking like her father had been early onto his vampire life. It was also apparent that she was taken back by the sudden visit, not that he blamed her. But he felt as though he owed her a relationship with her uncle. When she addressed him, he himself was taken back for moment before recovering. “No, no, I didn’t come here for your father. Your brother…well I wouldn’t mind seeing him soon at some point, but I did come for you immediately.”

Reaver kept his distance as to not worry her even further, and for a moment he chuckled. “I can’t say that I’m not nervous either. It wasn’t too long ago that I learned I had more family. Don’t fret, Nerezza- tis is life.” Despite her nervousness, Nerezza was handling herself quite well, impressing him greatly. So it wasn’t just her father’s looks she adopted. “If that is what you wish, Rezza. Anyway, we barely spoke to one another during your wedding. Congratulations are in order- you are both lucky to have found one another.” At least she didn’t seem to have the ill fortunate he and Raeguel had when it came to love. Especially since she was very young yet held an air of maturity nonetheless. He wasn’t too concerned with Kaiser and like before, Lucian could wait for a bit. He needed to learn about both, but one at a time seemed to be easier.

“I know you must have some questions since our first meeting and I do want to be a part of your life, no matter how small. So I will answer whatever thoughts or concerns you have in your head to the best of my abilities. I will be completely honest with you, Nerezza.” 

Rezza noticed how he was taken back when she finally did address him as Uncle. It must have been weird for him as much as it was for herself as well. “I see…” Her voice drifted for a few moments as she thought about what he could be there to talk to her about. “Lucian should be home later tonight. He never really leaves the mansion for long periods of time unless he has to.”

The white-haired woman nodded as she watched him cautiously. She nodded and smiled as he called her Rezza. “Hardly anyone ever calls me Nerezza unless I’m in trouble for some reason or another.” a light chuckle left her lips before she beamed him a smile. “Thank you, Kaiser and I are very excited about our wedding. We’re working on building a home so Lucian doesn’t utterly be driven mad by us.”

Finally, she moved from her comfort zone and took her uncle’s arm. She pulled on him lightly to show him to follow her. “Well if I have to ask questions we might as well be comfortable. There’s a sitting room by the gardens.” Not wanting the entire walk to be awkward she turned her gold eyes up to him for a few moments. “For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t mind having you in our lives either. It’s not been easy for Luc and I. Before Revaliir, our parents were at quite the odds with each other.”

The sitting room was more like a sunroom but it was cool thanks to the night sky. She sat down on one of the sofas and had tea brought in for them like she was taught. “I just worry about you and Papa getting along is all. I know he told me that you two had managed to get along again but my papa is very important to me. Both Luc and I have great bloodlines running through us and we do struggle from time to time to keep things under control. Lucian won’t say it but sometimes he is afraid of the Shiran blood in him. I can’t say that I blame him. It can be taxing to deal with it even if it is watered down by our mother’s equally powerful blood.”

She had her hands crossed and her fingers tapped on the hand underneath as she thought. “It must be weird coming and seeing us like this… I can’t imagine living as long as you and Papa have only to find out you have family suddenly. While we have a large amount of family here Lucian and I didn’t expect to get any from our father. We weren’t exactly very welcomed into the Shiran hold when we were born. What do you think of us?” It was an odd question but things had been thrown in their direction before. Insults that had been met with screaming and then death. Her papa had always taken care of them when they were in his home.