Phantom and the Black Wizard

I spun the beautiful girl in my arm, then dipped her. Everyone around us clapped as the song came to an end. I lifted her with a smirk, "Impressed yet?"

The girl was my beautiful Sprite, Talia. Her long blue hair draped her shoulders, which were bare in the slender, strapless red dress she wore. A rose in her hair and the vibrant red lipstick only made her look more enchanting as they brought out her gold eyes.

She smiled, moving in close, "How can I be impressed by something I always knew?"

"I didn't even know he could dance."

I turned to the person who spoke. At a nearby table sat the Jet Family. The father Ted Jet, his wife Maryann, and their three daughters Sarah, Erica, and Inez. There was also Erica's boyfriend, Garett, as usual. The mortal family that, in a way, made me part of it. Ted was the one who spoke, looking impressed.

Sarah wore a beautiful blue dress that brought out her blue eyes of the sea, "You know Phantom. Anything to remain the center of attention. Even at someone's wedding."

I smirked as I walked over with Talia on my arm, "Can it really be helped if I'm just that amazing?" Erica and Garett laughed as I pulled out a chair for Talia, "Besides, this wedding needed something impressive. Any more sitting and I would have melted from the utter boredom."

Erica smirked, "I can understand. Weddings can be really boring, especially when it's someone from dad's side of the family." She was, of course, dressed in a punk-like black, violet, and teal gown. It looked like someone ripped off the bottom half of the skirt and tore off the sleeves. Her jewelry was a black choker, black cuffs, and dangling black skull earrings. The not-so-punk punk-girl.

Which only made it obvious what she saw in Garett, who was the not-so-goth goth-boy. His short black hair and bi-colored eyes of silver and dull blue were the same as ever and he still wore all black. He actually was wearing a black suit jacket over his black T-shirt and jeans for the wedding. Apparently his family never did anything formal, so he didn't have anything better to wear.

Ted was surprised, "My side of the family? What's wrong with my side? They're simply very formal."

Garett smiled, "I think that's her point."

Maryann simply smiled, "Do be careful with points, dear. You could get hurt." Poor, confused Maryann.

She was wearing a cute pink dress, though she somehow managed to leave the house with rainbow socks and pink sneakers. Not that anyone was surprised, seeing as everyone already knew how slow she could be. Most thought she was cute for it.

Little Inez, dressed in her sky blue dress, matching shoes, and matching headband, spoke softly, "I want some cake." Of course, she looked up at me, "Do we get cake, brother?"

Yes, I was now big brother Phantom. She started calling me that a few months prior. No matter how many times I told her I wasn't her brother, she insisted on continuing, so I gave up.

I only shrugged, "I guess. What kind of wedding doesn't even have some cake?"

Then the woman hosting the wedding spoke for everyone to hear, "Alright, the cake has been cut. Everyone please come to the front for a slice."

Inez smiled, then looked up at me, "Can you take me?"

I didn't really want to, but those big, mysterious eyes always had me, "Alright, fine. Let’s make it quick." That made her smile as I followed her over to where everyone was getting a slice of the large wedding cake.

Inez looked a little sad, "It's strawberry."

I looked at her, "So?"

She looked at the plate she was holding, "I'm allergic to strawberries."

I raised a brow, "You are? I don't remember that."

She nodded, then noticed another cake nearby, "Can I have some of that one?"

I looked to find a rather large chocolate cake decorated with white rose patterns. I shrugged, "I guess so." I picked up the silver knife next to it to cut a slice for her.

Just then, the host woman walked over with that plastered-on smile, "Excuse me, but that cake isn't for guests. The guests' cake is right over there, already cut for everyone."

I looked her over. She was a plump woman who was about two inches shorter than me and wearing way too much jewelry. I motioned to Inez, "It's for her."

The woman continued to smile, "Sir, this cake is exclusively for the bride and groom and their families."

I shrugged, "She is family. The bride's side, I believe." Inez nodded.

The woman was clearly getting impatient, but kept on smiling, "Direct family."

I sighed, getting a bit impatient myself, "Look, she's allergic to strawberries. I don't think the bride or groom is going to be too upset just because a little girl wanted a slice of cake that wouldn't kill her." I started cutting the cake.

Now the woman looked annoyed, "Young man, you have no right to..."

I cut her off with a glare, making her stop. I let go of the knife and turned to her, but it continued to cut the cake with my magic. Inez watched the knife, her eyes full of wonder, as they always were when she watched me do magic. I spoke calmly, "Listen very closely, lady. I don't really care to argue with you over this. No right? You have no idea who you're talking to." She didn't dare make a sound.

As the slice floated down onto Inez's plate, the bride walked over. She was a very wide woman in a white dress that was clearly too small for her. She watched us, "What's going on here? I thought this cake was for my family."

Inez spoke softly, "I'm allergic to strawberries."

The bride sighed, "Well, I'm sorry, but this cake was very expensive."

I looked her over with a mean grin, "Take it from me, you don't need it."

She gasped, "Did you just call me fat?"

I scoffed, "No, I said you don't need it." I smirked as I leaned in, "You are fat." I laughed at her horrified expression, "See? Now I called you fat."

She looked angry and hurt at the same time, "You little-... how dare-... I-... Put that slice back right now or I'll..."

I smirked coldly, "You'll what?" The two women stepped back in fright. I knew my eyes had started to glow, making them realize what they were up against.

"Sorry I'm late, Miss Ann. I was just..." I turned to the person who walked over. We both stopped with gasps of shock.

The face I looked into was a face I hadn't seen in ten years, yet I recognized him in an instant. From his fiery red hair, his golden eyes, and his medium toned skin to his magic markings that looked like red tribal fire tattoos up the left side of his face.

I spoke softly, trying to wrap my head around what I saw, "Matthew?"

He gasped, equally shocked, "My gosh, it is you."

The bride spoke, "Dear, you know who this is?"

Matthew glanced at her, "Someone I knew growing up." He looked me over, "I can't believe it's really you, Phantom. It's been ten years."

Inez tugged at my shirt, "Who's your friend, brother?"

Matthew raised a curious eyebrow, "Brother?"

I sighed, "It's a long story."

The bride hurried to Matthew's side for help, "Dear, could you get control over your friend?"

He smirked, "Control? Phantom? I don't think so. You can't even put those two words in a sentence together."

She looked worried, "But he's crashing the wedding reception."

Matthew chuckled as he looked around, "I don't see anything broken. Nothing on fire. Doesn't look like anything crashed in here."

The bride looked at him with pleading eyes, "But, dear..."

Matthew took her hands, "Please calm down, Miss Ann. You're overreacting again. Look, if Phantom was here to cause trouble, he'd have done so. You should be grateful he hasn't set anything on fire yet."

I spoke up, "Yeah. All I did was get a little girl a slice of chocolate cake. Get over yourself."

Inez giggled, "You sound like Thomas." I rolled my eyes.

Thomas was Inez's real brother. He was a year older than me and had left for some school-thing. He was the only person in the Jet Family who always believed I was still dangerous and evil after I became the hero, even after I saved his life a few times. Of course, he never cared for my arrogance. Figures Inez would remember how much he'd tell me to get over myself.

Matthew sighed, "See? That's nothing to get so worked up over, Miss Ann. Try to relax and enjoy your wedding day. Ok? I warned you against getting over-controlling. You're only going to make yourself faint again."

She sighed, fanning herself with her hand, "You're right. I'm calm. Calm. I will enjoy my wedding day." She walked away, chanting that to herself. Clearly Matthew had been around her a lot.

I turned my attention to him, "Ok, will you please explain to me what you're doing here and how you know her?"

He grinned, "Remember Sir Calloway?"

I nodded, "Yes, that's your wizard."

He pointed to Miss Ann, "That's his wife as of today."

I was surprised, "Wait, that was Sir Calloway at the altar? But he looked so... young! That groom looked maybe in his forties! Isn't Sir Calloway a hundred and something?"

Matthew chuckled, "Yes, but that's what magic's for."

Inez spoke as she ate her slice of cake, "Is he your friend, brother?"

Matthew smirked, "Brother, huh? How'd that happen? Finally discover who your parents were?"

I crossed my arms, "She's not really my sister, she just likes to believe she is."

Inez spoke up to Matthew, "Phantom is part of our family now."

Matthew rubbed his chin, "Oh yeah?" He turned to me, "Willingly or forcefully?"

I scoffed, "Delusionally." He laughed. I always made him laugh. He was always so carefree and easy going, even if he did like burning things a bit much. Yes, I was childhood friends with a pyromaniac wizard. Are you really surprised?

Matthew sighed, "It's nice seeing you again, Phantom. It's been too long. Though, why are you here? I'm with the groom, but how did you end up here?"

I pointed to Inez, "Her family decided I just had to join them. They're related to the bride. I had nothing better to do."

Matthew chuckled, "So we're tied into families that tied the knot? How often does something like that happen?"

I shrugged, "Who knows, who cares." I looked him over, "You look pretty good, Matthew. I thought you'd be a weak little runt forever."

He smirked, "Yeah, I'll bet you did. Though I don't go by Matthew anymore. It's Phoenix now. Phoenix, the Wizard of Fire."

I rolled my eyes, "Of course it is. I may be arrogant, but you'll always be ignorant."

He shrugged with a grin, "Ignorance is bliss!"

Inez looked up at me, her plate clean, "Are we going home soon?"

I looked over at the table where the Jets looked bored, "Probably."

Matthew smirked, "You live with them too?"

I scoffed, "Absolutely not. I have my own castle. You know where Sallow's Mountain Ridge is, right? My castle is just north of that. You can't miss it."

Matthew looked impressed, "Oh yeah? Well, then I'll have to come see it myself one of these days."

Suddenly, something crashed down through the ceiling across the room and Miss Ann screamed. Matthew ran over as I turned to Inez, "Go back with your sisters." I hurried after him.