8

The next morning, I showered and straightened my hair this time. I went out to take some photos of the land. The snow was beautiful as it fell. A part of me wanted to hear from Viktor, but the other part wanted me to leave him alone and just not worry. Last night didn't mean we were an item. He's a professional fighter. He had tons of training to do. As I was returning from the park, I noticed a familiar car parked in my spot. Standing beside the driver's side was my brother. I was not expecting him to be here. I parked, cut my engine off, and got out. He approached me with a light smile.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, and he shrugged.

"I figured this was the only way to get you to talk to me." he said. I looked him over and shrugged.

"What do you want?" I asked and he sighed and shook his head moving closer.

"I don't want to fight anymore. I shouldn't have yelled at you and said those things I said." he said. I wasn't sure if I should accept his apology. But who was I kidding? "Look, Azzy, you're my sister, my twin. It's just been us from birth. We came out of our mom holding hands."

I looked down smiling at the thought. Our mom told us that story. I wasn't sure if it was the truth, but Adonis believed it.

"I don't want to fight anymore either." I replied and he smiled and raised his hands and we embraced each other. He smelled of sweat. He must have been training.

"In a few months I'm going to be fighting this guy soon. Rock… he said he won't train me. Too much bad blood." he explained. I nodded and leaned back. I could hear how hurt he was. I hadn't spoken to Rocky in a while and I refused to look at any social media that involved my brother and this guy he was going to fight. I didn't even ask my brother the opponents name. "I need you in my corner."

"You always have me in your corner. And I'm sure Rocky has his reasons… but let's talk about you. You're going to be a father." I replied and he smiled wide.

"Yeah. A daddy!" he said with excitement. It felt odd seeing him here. I would never spend money just to see someone for a few minutes in another country then just leave.

"Would you like to come in?" I asked and he shook his head eyeing my place.

"Nah. I can't. I'm actually here for a family get together. There's an art show taking place here tonight. Auntie and Alexander are going to be there." he said. My eyes popped in shock.

"What! Everyone's going to be here and no one told me?" I asked. Adonis laughed.

"Auntie wanted me to tell you since I was flying here already." he said, and I gawked.

"Well who's art is going on display, what time does it start, what time is everyone getting there, what am I going to wear!" I snapped, and he raised his hands.

"Slow your roll. It's a grand event featuring Simone Avant. A few celebrities and singers will be there. Of course, the Creed Family got VIP passes. It starts at seven. And Celine Dion gave this to auntie to give to you for that portrait of her husband."

My aunt was a fan of Celine's music and Celine was a major fan of my aunt's art and soon my own. When her husband, René Angélil died, I painted a grand portrait of the two. It took me five months to paint. It would be perfect. Adonis reached into the back seat and that's when I noticed the hanger of plastic hanging up. He slid it out and raised it up to me. I immediately saw white with warm cotton around the hem.

"What is that?" I asked in utter shock and he smiled.

"This is the dress Celine wore when singing Ashes for the Deadpool 2 movie. She had one custom designed for you and the cold. She wanted you to have it." he said. Tears streamed down my face as I covered my mouth. I loved her dress from the music video. To be able to wear it gave me great pride.

"OH MY GOD!" I squealed and leaned forward hugging my brother.

"And you have shoes in the back seat too." he said. I pulled back and looked inside the back to see beautiful white heals with jewels around the front. They were open in a white shoe box. A white envelop was on the top of it. I picked it up and opened it.

Astrid,

Let this outfit be a token of my appreciation for everything the Creed Family has done for my family. Your aunt said you said I looked like a goddess. Well now you can too. -Celine

I closed my eyes and pressed the letter to my chest. Oh how I loved Celine Dion. Her music was as flawless as she was. Adonis just smiled.

"Let's get all this inside." he said and I nodded and led him inside. We put the outfit away and he informed me of the limo that would be picking the entire family up. Simone Avant was a model and an artist. Her style of expressionism was out of this world amazing. I had never met her and hoped to do so tomorrow night.

"I'm going to head back to my hotel. I'll see you tomorrow night." Adonis replied as he hugged me. I nodded and saw him out.

The next day was like a dream and I didn't want to wake up. I showered, lotioned up and got ready. Aunt Alicia called me and told me they were on their way maybe twenty minutes ago. I put on the dress and felt I would cry again at its beauty. My hair was in soft waves and my shoes fit perfectly. The entire outfit fit perfectly. I picked up my phone and decided to text Viktor earlier. He said he wanted to hang out, but he was going to some outing with his father and some business friends of his.

There was a knock on the door and my head snapped up taking me away from the phone. It must have been Adonis. I moved over to the door and opened it. My eyes popped at who was standing there in a nicely pressed uniform.

"Alexander!" I said happily. Alexander stood tall at six-three with sandy brown hair and popping blue eyes. He had a strong jaw line and an intimidating stare when he wanted to intimidate someone. He was tall, handsome, and wanted by many women. His outfit was a beautiful navy green with black pointed shoes. Under his arm was his hat.

"Astrid!" he said happily and we embraced each other. His scent rolled over me and I could smell his cologne. It was a scent auntie picked out for his eighteenth birthday. I bet it made her happy to smell it on him. Her baby boy.

"Oh my god, you look amazing!" I said pulling back and he smiled down at me.

"Me? Look at you, Celine!" he complimented, and I smiled happily. I gathered the white shawl that came with the dress and put it on. I walked with my arm around Alexander's. We looked like some royal couple. Many stared at us as we moved through the building and finally outside. Aunt Alicia was waiting outside in a beautiful black dress with stripes on the hem of her dress and sleeves. Around her neck was a beautiful diamond necklace with matching earrings. Her hair was down and straight. It was professional almost for a woman her age. Red heals popped at her feet. Adonis was standing beside her smiling in his nice black suit. Aunt Alicia saw me and smiled.

"Oh you look amazing, Astrid." she said hugging me gently. She pulled back to look my face over which I was happy for. She could tell me if my makeup was off or if I had lipstick on my teeth. She didn't comment so I knew I was good.

"Aight ya'll let's go slay. The power family is going to be the best family there!" Adonis called out jokingly as he opened the back door for us. We were a very goofy family when we were all together.

We rode in the back laughing and talking about the past and the future. It was a joyous scene. Aunt Alicia sipped champagne from her slim wine glass and laughed beautiful. She was truly a gorgeous woman and the definition of strength. She was my inspiration for The Giver. We arrived at The Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko Museum of Arts. There were numerous cars parking and mild traffi, but our limo drove off to the side of the building across the street where there were other limos and expensive looking cars parking. Our driver found a spot and opened the door for us. We exited the car and the air was crisp. There were a few snowflakes falling.

Numerous people were walking across the street wearing beautiful gowns and suits. Some men wore bow ties and tuxedos. Women wore pears and ribbons while young girls wore diamonds and anything sparkly.

"Let's go slay." Alexander said raising his arm to Aunt Alicia who just gave him a humorous glance before wrapping her arm around his and guiding us across the street. Adonis did the same, raising his arm to me, and I took it following after out aunt and cousin. There were flashing lights everywhere and reporters near the front.

"And here comes world known artist, Alicia Creed, sister of the famous boxer Apollo Creed. With her is son and Sergeant Alexander Creed. Walking behind us is twins, Adonis and Astrid Creed, the children of boxer Apollo Creed." I heard someone announce. At least he didn't say the illegitimate children. We followed everyone on the red carpet up the heavy marble steps of the museum. The cold air flushed from our bodies and in unison, Aunt Alicia and I peeled out of our shawls and coat almost modeling as pictures were taken. Two staff members took our coats sand disappeared with them. Art museums were equivalent to the play pen at McDonalds for me. Immediately, the four of us melted into the scene along with everyone else. Staff members served drinks and I could hear someone singing. It was not a recording but an actual person singing. I knew the voice. Leona Lewis is here?

I moved gracefully through the crowd looking for her, following her voice. People complimented my dress, taking note of it immediately. It got me more attention than I thought. As I moved I noticed a familiar painting and I paused now and stared up at it. It was a picture of him, my father standing tall in the ring with his gloves raised high. He was surrounded by all the men he had boxed. Their arms are raised at him in praise. I didn't draw this. My Auntie did. His face was perfectly shaped, his skin dark and smooth looking.

He looked like the king of the world.

"A great man." A low, thick accented voice said above me. I merely jumped at the giant before me. I was stunned to see who it was. Viktor's father. What was he doing here? I mean he had every right to be here. Was this the meeting Viktor spoke of? The man looked cleaned up with his face shaven. The last time I saw him, he did not look so well kept. He was in a black suit and tie. I cleared my throat and nodded.

"I heard he was. It's a shame I never got to meet him." I said. He looked down at me and nodded.

"I met him once." he said and I looked up at him mildly taken back.

"What was he like?" I asked. His bottom lip stuck out a bit as he looked back at the painting. He seemed to be reminiscing of the past.

"Cocky, but proud of his country." he said. "I fought him once in an exhibition match…" The vibe he was giving off was quite dangerous. Had I seen him somewhere? On TV perhaps?

"Who won?" I asked lowly, and he just looked down at me with blank eyes. Our eyes just stayed connected and slowly the emotions filled me quickly. My auntie told me my father was killed in an expedition match with a Russian soldier. The air around me darkened and it seemed we were the only two standing here on the face of the earth. My heart beat increased and I felt almost sick.

"Champagne?" a short, black haired girl asked bringing me back to the world around us.

"Astrid." Adonis called out. I blinked rapidly as my twin was at my side, hand on my lower back. He glared at the stranger before me. "You good?" He was asking me and right now I wasn't sure.

"Ah Ivan Drago." I hear my aunt say as now Alexander and my aunt approached standing beside my brother and I. We both moved aside so my aunt could see the man.

"Drago?" I whispered. I never knew the names of the man who killed my father. I noticed the older man look at my aunt with a sort of softness before looking at my cousin who just stood straight like a soldier, eyes warry of the man who was making his little cousin uncomfortable. Aunt Alicia stared at him politely dipping her head at him.

"I didn't know you liked art." she said and Ivan Drago nodded taking the champagne from the young girl and downing it immediately.

"Alicia… I am here with family and comrades." he said. He said my aunt's name with a touch of softness. Was I the only one who noticed that. I looked back at my aunt to see she was staring at him politely. Something was very wrong here and I was hoping I didn't figure it out.

At that very moment he was joined by two people. One a very talk and pale skinned woman approached us wearing a black dress, the shoulders big and puffy. Her dress flowed at the bottom which took attention away from her long prudish face. Ivan scowled in her direction and looked away as if not too happy to see her.

"Ah Alicia Creed. Time has done you well." she said.

"Ludmilla Drago. Time has been fair to you." My aunt countered. The woman almost scowled but looked up at Ivan Drago.

"So the Creed clan and the Drago family meet again after all these years." she said and I was confused by her words, but immediately my eyes popped as Viktor came up behind his father looking almost withdrawn in the eyes. Adonis glared heavily and Viktor gave the same glare, not even looking my way. Ludmilla smirked at Alexander.

"And who is this… strapping young soldier?" she asked with venom in her words. My aunt smiled up at my cousin who never looked away from Ivan Drago's face.

"This is my son, Alexander. You already know nephew, Adonis Creed. And my niece, Astrid. Children these are Ludmilla Drago, her… husband Ivan Drago." she introduced. But her eyes questioned him when she said husband. I caught that too. "And their son, Viktor."

"Yeah I know who you are. You killed our father." Adonis said aggressively. My body was ultimately still as the invisible camera of my life zooms into my face as it captures every inch of my surprised face.

"Adonis, mind your manners. We are all friends here." Aunt Alicia scolded, looking at the three. Ludmilla looked very proud as Adonis said that and Ivan just looked down.

"That is the past." he said looking up at us again. "Right now, we focus on future, the fight between my son and him." He motioned at my brother.

"He has a name." Alexander defended with a hard tone and stare. Viktor notices it and takes a step closer to his father as if ready to defend him. Adonis does the same as if ready to throw a punch if a fight breaks out, his eyes glaring up at the men. Ludmilla laughs wrapping her black gloved hands around Ivan Drago's arm.

"How cute. Your boys show the same gushing energy as their father and uncle did so many years ago." she chided. Aunt Alicia just stared at her with a calm smile before gently tugging at her son's arm.

"Come. We have more art to look at." she said before looking at the three Russians. "Enjoy your night." Alexander turned slowly glaring at Ivan Drago before smiling down at his mother and completely tossing him from his mind. Adonis did the same and I just took his arm and let him lead me away. My entire mind was crashing, and I would not dare look back.

I thought this was a beautiful dream, but instead it was a nightmare devouring me completely. I wanted to wake up. Someone please wakes me up.