Red.

ELIJAH 

"Is it done?" I asked, my neck stiff from sitting still for what felt like an eternity. I was shirtless, and the only thing I wanted more than a cold drink was to be free from whatever this was. 

It was Saturday, and I had picked up Nadia from her house, expecting to spend the day helping her study biology - she was definitely a schoolholic, after all. But instead, she had convinced me to sit for her as she attempted to draw a sketch of me.

At first, I thought it would be a quick session, but hours seemed to pass as she worked on her masterpiece. 

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my muscles screaming for relief. Nadia, on the other hand, was completely absorbed in her art, her eyes fixed intently on the canvas as she occasionally glanced at me. She was so focused that I half expected her to pull out a tiny easel and start lecturing me on why I should stay still. 

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Nadia placed her pencil down and stepped back, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. "Done," she declared, and I nearly leapt out of my seat, stretching my cramped limbs and arching my back in a yawn.

"Let me see," I said, curiosity getting the better of me, but Nadia just shook her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Come on," I wheedled, but she just laughed and held the sketchbook closer to her chest.

I got up and walked over to her, trying to pry the book out of her hands. "Please?" I asked, my most charming smile at the ready, but Nadia just bit her lip and turned the book over, revealing...

a sketch of a grasshopper?

I sat so long for this?

I felt my shoulders drop in mock disappointment, and Nadia burst out laughing. Before I knew it, she was running, the sketchbook clutched to her chest, and I was chasing after her, both of us laughing and spinning around the room like a pair of lunatics. 

We ran in circles, our footsteps echoing off the walls, until we collapsed in a heap on the floor, gasping for breath and holding our sides.

As we lay there, grinning at each other like fools, I realized that maybe - just maybe - this art session hadn't been such a bad idea after all.

"I need some water," Nadia said, her chest heaving up and down as she lay on the mat, her face flushed from our earlier playful escapades. "And I need the bathroom," I added, as we both got up simultaneously. She already knew her way to the kitchen, so I left her to it, heading to my room to grab a shirt and use the bathroom.

As I came out of the bathroom, I saw my father heading out of his room, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my jaw tick. "Ah, son. I'm glad you're here," he said, his voice dripping with a familiarity that I didn't quite trust. I said nothing, waiting for him to get to the point, my mind already racing with the possibilities.

"That girl of yours?" he started, and I felt a twinge of annoyance at his dismissive tone. 

"The name is Nadia," I corrected him, my voice firm but polite. He chuckled, a low, knowing sound that made my hackles rise. "Yeah, her. Be careful, my boy," he warned, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer.

I raised an eyebrow, my patience wearing thin. "What are you talking about, Vincent?" I asked. He snorted, his expression skeptical. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. She's not one of us, son. What will happen when she finds out what we really do?"

I rolled my eyes, my gut instinct telling me that he was up to something or at least he has some sort of idea. Vincent doesn't bluff, nor does he like anyone coming for his empire. He cherished his empire above all else, and I knew he wouldn't risk it for anyone or anything. 

"I know what I'm doing, Vincent," I said, my voice firm, as I patted him on the shoulder and headed downstairs.

But as I searched for Nadia, my annoyance turned to concern. She wasn't in the kitchen, or the living room, or the dining area. 

I checked the study, but it was empty, although I could've sworn someone had been in there. My gut instinct was never wrong, but then I turned around to find Nadia leaning against the dining room wall, a smile on her face.

"Looking for me?" she asked, her brown eyes sparkling with amusement, but my mood was far from playful. I squinted my eyes, shoving my hands into my pockets. 

"What were you doing in my parents' study?" I demanded, my voice low and even. Nadia's smile faltered for a moment, before she recovered, her eyes never leaving mine. "What are you talking about?" she said, her voice light. 

My mind raced with possibilities, my instincts screaming that something was off.

Just as I was about to press Nadia for more information, Vicky popped into my room, oblivious to the tense atmosphere. "Hey, gala princess!" Nadia gasped, as if the event had completely slipped her mind. "Crap, I almost forgot about that," she said, her eyes wide with panic. "When is it?" she asked, her voice laced with urgency.

"Tonight," Vicky and I said simultaneously, our voices echoing off the walls. Nadia's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? I haven't even prepared. I don't know the dress, the theme... I don't know anything," she said.

Vicky chuckled, her expression reassuring. "Hey, relax. We have the whole afternoon. We'll go together, okay?" she said, her voice soothing Nadia's frazzled nerves. Nadia nodded, her worry seeming to dissipate as quickly as it had appeared. 

"Go get your shoes and we can leave for the mall in my car," she said, setting her glass aside and heading upstairs.

My eyes followed her until she disappeared from view, my mind still on who had been in my fathers study. As soon as Nadia was out of earshot, Vicky turned to me with a smirk on her face. "Hey, look, I have good news," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I tilted my head, my interest piqued. "About the Rossi's?" I asked, my voice low and even.

Vicky nodded, her grin widening. "Bingo. I finally tracked them down. It was a bit harder because they were using a different last name, but it turns out their kids have been here for a while now, and they're arriving tonight."

I nodded, feeling a sense of victory already. "Good, it's about damn time I make that whole family pay," I said, my voice dripping with determination. Vicky's eyes gleamed with understanding, her expression mirroring my own. 

We were in this together, and nothing was going to stop us from getting what we wanted.