Chapter 15: The birthday present

Christopher was two years older than me and back then I was so grateful for that. He was the first one to experience everything in our family; he was the first one to graduate from high school, the first one who applied for college and got accepted. And not in any college; he got accepted to study Medicine in one of the best Medical Schools of the country. I couldn’t be prouder for him.

He studied really hard and gave his best self to achieve what he wanted; it was admirable. Chris chose his future career because he wanted to be able to help other people in need; he wanted to fight cancer and save humans from dying. I looked up to him, but at the same time, I realized I wanted to do something completely different.

I wanted to join the Police Academy. I wanted to become a Police officer and why not a detective? I wanted to be able to fight criminals, to prevent people from doing illegal actions; I wanted to make people feel safe. Besides, I thought that this career suits me best as a Keeper. We were something like the Police, but for supernaturals. Becoming a police officer would allow me to keep safe both humans and the supernaturals and sustain the balance between the two species.

I didn’t tell anyone about my thoughts for my future career, at least not until we learned the news about Chris’ acceptance. David was surprised by my choice; mom and Nana Eva looked displeased, while Papa Peter had a smile of approval plastered on his lips.

“Ophelia, you keep amaze me,” Chris muttered with a big smile and gave me a side hug.

“Don’t encourage her, Christopher,” mom scolded him

Chris’ eyebrows shot up in surprise; my mom had never talked to him like that.

“Mom this is not your decision to make. I want to hear your advice, but please be aware that I have to choose the job I'll be doing for the rest of y life,” I stated.

“Ana, I think Ophelia is right,” David started but mom cut him midsentence.

“How would you react if Chris announced to you that he wanted to wander around and catch criminals, playing the superhero?”

“Anastasia, you’re out of line. You should know better that if I wanted to dictate your life, we wouldn’t be standing here right now. Ophelia is very capable of choosing what she wants to do for a living. You can’t and you shouldn’t stop her,” my grandpa reprimanded my mom, and we were all rendered speechless.

My mom’s face turned red for anger. She didn’t expect to be scolded by her father, and to be honest none of us saw that coming. I was glad that my grandpa took my side and defended me. He was right; this was my life, and these were the choices I had to make.

My mom kept showing her disapproval, indirectly. I respected her and loved her a lot, but I had to follow my hurt if I wanted to be happy. Sometimes, I think it was destiny that made me follow that career. Because if I had made a different decision back then, I wouldn’t have met the two men that changed my life. Or at least not in that way…

The next two years at high school were perfect. I didn’t have to study as much as Chris did, but I decided to acquire a degree in Criminal Justice before I become a Police Officer. Izzie wanted to become a teacher, something very suitable for her sweet and caring personality. She loved children, too; hence it was the perfect job for her.

Chris and Izzie decided to break up and keep being just friends. Chris would be away, and they didn’t want to keep a long-distance relationship. Things were a bit awkward when Chris came back during holiday vacations, and we spent time all together. Eventually, Izzie started dating another guy, and Chris became the playboy everyone thought he was in high school.

Mom and David looked to be better than ever. At some point, I thought they wanted to have another child, and I was thrilled with the idea of having another sibling. Mom ruined my dreams when she told me that they were perfectly happy. They were a bit old to raise another child, but she told me that they were looking forward to raising their grandchildren. Well, we have a lot of time for that, don’t we?

Papa Peter and Nana Eva were having the time of their life. They went to mini trips all around the world. My grandpa was relaxed, so I assumed that we weren’t in danger anymore. I didn’t have any other weird dreams, but I did get some visions especially when I was close to law-breakers. I quickly became accustomed to these visions and informed my grandfather when I sensed something very dangerous. Papa Peter was very proud of me, and he believed that I had made the perfect decision for my future career.

It was mid-November when I finally turned eighteen. I had graduated from high school, I had the best summer of my life, and I was now attending the first semester of my studies. The university I got accepted was the one I wanted, mainly because it’s in our city and I didn’t want to move away. However, I rent my own house and moved again from David’s apartment. My new home wasn’t very spacious, but I was able to move my easel and some of my paintings. I could now draw whenever I wanted. My grandparents gifted me a brand-new car for my high school graduation. I had acquired my driving license since I was sixteen, but now I got to use it more since I had to move around the city to visit my loved ones.

I couldn’t believe that I finally turned eighteen. Grandpa had once told me that my full powers were to unlock once I reach adulthood. The changes didn’t occur overnight, but I gradually started to get stronger, and faster; my night vision and my hearing enhanced even more. I was going to be a very strong Keeper.

On the night of my birthday, we decided to have dinner at my grandparents’ house. It was the place where I had my first memories, and I wanted to start this new chapter of my life there. Along with my grandparents, mom, David, Izzie, and Chris, a few new friends from college completed the guests' list.

It was a beautiful evening; delicious food, some wine, music playing in the background, my friends were dancing and laughing. It was time to blow my candles and someone told me to make a wish. I was content and happy at that moment, except for missing my special someone. I wished to find someone to love and love me back unconditionally. That was what I was missing; I wanted to fall in love. Who knew that love means pain, too. I’d experience it firsthand…

Later that night, I went outside to relax and walked to Nana Eva’s garden. She loved flowers, probably more than jewelry, and that’s because she's a fairy. Even though she lived away from nature, she found a way to feel as close as possible. That’s why she had the most beautiful garden I’ve ever seen. I strolled around the garden and breath in the roses intoxicate scent. I sat down on the grass and looked at the stars; they weren’t as bright as when we used to watch them with Chris at the winter’s resort, but they were still magical.

“May I join you, angel?” I heard Papa Peter ask, and I nodded happily, a smile plastered on my lips.

“I pretty much know all constellations, thanks to Chris,” I muttered when he sat beside me.

“You two are really close,” he remarked.

“We may not be blood relatives, but I do consider him as my brother.”

“I'm very proud of both of you, Ophelia. Now please, allow me to give you your birthday present,” my grandfather said and took a small box out of his pocket.

“Another? Papa, you already bought me a whole new collection of oil paints and brushes,” I said perplexed.

“That is something special, angel. Something I knew I’d gift to you on your eighteenth birthday since the day you were born,” he said and opened the small, square, black, velvet box. A little, tear-shaped, diamond necklace was sitting inside the box. Grandpa removed it carefully and then proceed to help me clutch it around my neck.

“It’s beautiful, Papa. Thank you,” I said watching the small diamonds shining under the moonlight.

“It is a very special, necklace, angel,” he said, and once I looked up to him with puzzled eyes, he continued, “According to a legend, this necklace is made by the Moon Goddess’ tears. When the civil war broke out between the werewolves and the vampires, the Goddess of the Moon was devasted. She couldn’t bear watching her creations kill each other. She cried, and the tears that roll down her cheeks turned into little diamonds and then into this necklace. She gave this necklace to the first Keepers ever created. The necklace has so much power. We have to protect it, and we are only to use it if the whole world is an immense threat.

“The necklace is spellbound; if it is that you’re in danger and you must remove it from your neck, then the necklace will come to me or your mother. The spell is to ensure that it won’t fall at wrong hands, and of course, it’s a way to let us know that you’re in danger. Do you understand its power, Ophelia?”

“I understand, grandfather. I promise to keep it safe.”

“I know you will, angel. If it is for you to use it, then your instincts will tell you what to do.”

I touched the necklace on my neck; it was beautiful and powerful. I’d protect it with my life. That necklace wasn’t just the best birthday gift I could receive; that necklace would define our destiny.