The last sixty plus years of my life has been spent achieving greatness. As a young man I was a soldier and fought for my country, when the fighting was done I returned home, to take the place of my father as the head of the family business.
I had been raised to lead and trained to succeed. For forty years I was the head of my family and those were forty of the best years the family ever had. Alliances were forged and enemies were crushed underfoot, anyone who betrayed me lived to regret their mistake. When the time went to go to war I was merciless; those I wanted dead were never seen again and those I protected never knew suffering.
I married the daughter of another family to form an alliance between us and we had three children; two boys and a girl. Now in my late sixties, I am ready to pass on the family ring to my eldest son.
My eldest son is about to be married, unlike my father, I didn't force him into an arranged marriage, so little was known about the girl who he had taken for his wife.
I was sitting in the church with my wife and my daughter. My other son was chosen as his brother's best man.
"I can't believe he's getting married," my daughter commented, "I was always under the impression that he was gay,"
"Be nice," my wife chastised her, "he was just looking for 'the one' and he found her,"
"But he has no experience with women, how does he know she's the one? She could just be a fucking gold digger out for his money,"
"Watch your language young lady," I warn my daughter, she sighs and whispers an apology. I chuckle at her, "you aren't jealous because you won't have your big brother all to yourself anymore, are you?"
"A-as if," she huffed as her cheeks flushed, "I don't even like him all that much,"
My wife and I laugh at her reddened face as the procession arrives.
The ceremony was beautiful, my boy looked every bit as handsome up there as his bride was beautiful. As they exchanged vows, I looked over at my wife, remembering our wedding, she sees me and offers a small smile.
During the reception, the lovely couple are cutting the cake when one of the guest approaches my table.
"It is an honor to be here," the man says as he takes a knee and kisses the family ring on my finger. A sign of respect.
"Thank you, please enjoy the reception."
The ring was the symbol of the family head, passed down from generation to generation, it had been in my family for hundreds of years. It was made of a black metal with a blood red gemstone on it.
As I think about the history that rests on my hand my phone rings. It's the business line.
"I told you not to call me today," I bark at the caller, my right hand man
"Apologies boss," he quickly says, "but something's come up, I just got word that some upstarts from the Macciano family are on the move. We're on our way to move you and your family somewhere safe."
"No, this is my boy's big day, I will not let it be ruined by anything." I state, "send some men to hunt down these fools, while you and your best come here to protect this venue."
"Alright boss, I'm almost to you now, I'll be there in—bzzt!" The call suddenly cuts off.
"What's wrong, dad?" my daughter asks me noticing my hard face
"Dear?" my wife chimes in
I take a breath, "It's nothing, just some trouble at the docks,"
"I wish you wouldn't focus on work all the time," my wife chided me, "you'd miss all the celebration,"
YOU ARE READING
King of Chaos
Science FictionShe had been attacked, raped and left for dead in the street, but the moment she woke up, she discovered she now had the combined experience of two very different people from very different lifetimes in her head, as well as a mysterious mark branded...
