The Damned

Luna Birthday

Darian POV

Today is my mother’s birthday.  The whole house is full of people preparing for the party tonight.  The DJ comes and sets up his equipment.  People from the island are hanging up decorations and lights in the backyard.  A stage is set up for Mom’s birthday speech and for anyone who wishes to toast their Luna on her birthday.  I am just excited to see what she thinks of the new leather briefcase I got for her.  Her briefcase right now is falling apart so bad that I don’t know how it is still functional.  I am also excited to see what Nix picked out for my mom.  Most of the shifters on the island no longer get my mom anything for her birthday.  But my mom doesn’t care about that.  She just appreciates when people show up to help her celebrate.  I go to school and the party is all anyone can talk about at school today.  The teachers have a hard time keeping everyone’s attention in classes.  The party starts at five, so, after school, I go home, shower, and dress in black slacks and a black button down with a silver necktie.  I can’t wait to see what Nix is wearing tonight.

Nix POV

School today is buzzing with the party for Luna Aslanta’s birthday tonight.  I find it difficult to concentrate on anything.  Lunch is the only time I really have some peace and quiet.  I can still hear talk but it’s not as loud because I’m not as close to it at lunchtime.  After school, I go home and start getting ready for the party.  I put on my new dress.  I take off my tree of life necklace and replace it with the long silver drape necklace I got to match my dress.  I put on my stilettos and go into the bathroom.  I put on some blue eyeshadow with black eyeliner and mascara.  I put a small amount of blush on my cheeks then add a dark red matte lipstick to my lips.  I undo the braid in my hair that I did after my shower this morning and my hair falls in waves down my back.  I grab the wrapped gift I got for Luna Aslanta and meet my family downstairs.  We pile into Dad’s Equinox and head for Luna Aslanta’s house.  Sometimes we don’t bother with a vehicle since her house is like a ten minute walk from my house, but since we are all in such nice clothes it only makes sense to take a vehicle.  We park and file out of the car.  We walk around the house to the backyard.  It’s beautiful back here.  Lights are strung up between trees and makeshift light poles.  There’s a DJ and a stage with streamers.  There’s a long table of a bunch of food.  Sparkling grape juice for those under eighteen and sparkling champagne for those over eighteen.  Eighteen is the drinking age on the island.  My family and I drop off our gifts on a white table that has some cards on it already.  Luna Aslanta has said before that the gifts don’t make the party but the people who show up do.  I back into a corner while my family mingles.

Darian POV

‘There she is!’  Xavier says excitedly in my head.  I look closer and there is Nix standing in a corner away from everyone.  She looks stunning tonight!  ‘Go talk to her!’  Xavier says hopeful.

‘And frighten her off?  No thanks.’  I say deflating Xavier’s hopes.  He remains quiet then.  The DJ starts playing and most of the couples go out onto the lawn where a dance floor is laid out so that women’s heels don’t sink into the ground while they are dancing.  I mingle for a while before it’s time for Mom’s speech.  I go up onto the stage to make the introduction.

“Ladies and gentlemen.”  I say and everyone stops what they are doing to turn and look at me.  “Thank you all for coming tonight.  It means the world to Luna Aslanta, my mother.  Please give me a hand in welcoming her on stage.”  I say and everyone starts to applaud and cheer.  Mom comes onto the stage.

“Thank you, Darian.  And thank you to everyone for coming to my party.  I am so grateful to have so many people care for me.  I would just like to say a few words then open the stage to anyone who wishes to speak whether it be about the party or pack business.  Tonight is a night that I love having because it gives me an opportunity to hear anyone out about anything on their mind.  I hope no one will hold back.  As you all know we are The Damned.  However, my son, Darian, has learned some new things about us.  Darian, is it alright if I share what you have learned?”  Mom says looking at me.  I nod and she smiles.  “Darian has learned that we are NOT here to help bring the world to an end.  Instead, we are here to help keep humanity safe from other immortals.  Darian also learned that the prophecy has been severally muddled through the years.  Turns out that when the white vixen comes along, she is to be a bridge between humans and The Damned.  She will help bring us closer to the humans so that we may better protect them.  So, we are not The Damned because of our destinies but because of our improbable deaths.  Whereas other immortals can be killed somewhat easily, we, The Damned, cannot be so easily killed.  I hope you all understand and appreciate what was just said.  Now, if anyone would like to speak, the stage is yours.”  Mom finishes and gets off the stage.  About ten members go up to speak on the subject of our new destinies.  Twenty members go up onto the stage and say a few words about my mom.  Then after five minutes of no one going up, we continue the dancing and feasting.  After an hour, I announce that my mother will be opening any gifts received tonight.  With that announcement, most people wish my mom one last happy birthday and then they leave.  Mom won’t be opening up all the cards just because that is what most people got her.  So, instead those who are left gather around the stage to hear who the gift is from and watch Mom open her gifts.  Mom gets to Lucian’s gift before mine or any of Nix’s family.  She smiles at the drop earrings and thanks Lucian.  She opens Theo and Mr. and Mrs. Delaney’s gift which is a set of new luggage tags.  A couple gifts more and Mom is opening Nina’s gift.  Nina got her a necklace to match the earrings Lucian got her.  Two gifts left now, mine and Nix’s.  Mom picks up the one from Nix first.  When she opens it, Mom’s eyes light up.  I wonder what it could be.  Mom turns the gift and it’s an LED water fountain.  Mom loves her fountains and this one is unlike any she has so far.  Good job, Nix!  Lastly, Mom opens my gift and once again her eyes light up.  She thanks everyone who got her a gift.  The rest of the people start leaving.  Soon, it’s just the Delaneys, Lucian, me, and Mom left.

“Thank you all so much.  These are all lovely gifts.  And, Nix, the fountain is gorgeous.  I love water fountains and this one is unlike any I have up to this point.  So, thank you, my dear.”  Mom gives Nix a hug and I can see Nix smiling.  She looks so good when she smiles.  The Delaneys leave after wishing Mom one last happy birthday.  I watch them leave wishing I would’ve been able to talk to Nix even for a short time.  Mom gives me a hug.  “The briefcase is perfect!  My old one is falling apart like no other.”  Mom giggles.

“I know, Mom.”  I smile.  We go into the house then, but I soon come back out to go for a run.  Xavier takes over and soon we are outside Nix’s house.  I can hear them discussing what Mom said to everyone tonight.  They all seem rather relieved.  I watch as Nix’s bedroom light turns on.  She sits in her window with a book.  At one point, she looks out the window, but I’m concealed enough that she won’t be able to see Xavier sitting there.  Once she goes back to her book, Xavier gets up and runs home.

Nix POV

I swear it felt like someone was outside my window.  I mentally shrug it off and go back to reading Romeo and Juliet.  I have already read farther than we are supposed to for Works of Shakespeare, so, right now I’m looking over the scene I’m to do with the three boys for Intro to Theater I.  Tomorrow after school, the four of us are meeting in the auditorium to work on it.  It’s the first time we will be alone with just Miss Graham supervising.  She has said that she will give her input when asked, but otherwise, it’s all up to those doing the scene.  After reading through the scene twice, I go into my bathroom and start the water for a bath.  While the bath is filling, I go into my room and grab The Count of Monte Cristo and my pajamas.  I slip into the warm water and open my book.  Just like with Romeo and Juliet, I’ve read past where the rest of the class is.  I can’t help myself.  I love reading so much.  After reading another two chapters in the book, I get out of the bath and dry off.  I dress in my pajamas and crawl into bed.  I soon fall fast asleep.

Darian POV

Mom’s birthday yesterday was a total success.  I’m so glad she told those in attendance the truth about our kind.  Now to just spread the word to the packs in America and Europe.  Today in school, people seem to be focused on school again.  The teachers all look grateful for that.  I keep trying to spot Nix between classes, but I can never spot her.  It isn’t until lunch that I am able to sneak a glance at her.  She is engrossed in a book.

‘She looks so happy.’  Xavier says.

‘Yeah she does.’  I agree.  Lunch passes by too quickly.  I hope Lucian will have something interesting to tell me in Study Hall.  I want any news of Nix that I can get.  In less than a month, I will find out if she truly is my mate.  I’m thinking she is because of what Mom told me about Dad.  She said that he felt the connection between him and her for almost eight months before he turned eighteen.  I have been feeling something towards Nix since the first day of fall semester, which once I turn eighteen will be about six months.  I sit through Herbology which seems to go by slowly today and think about what news Lucian will have for me.  I watch the clock and when it gets to be a minute until the bell, I pack up my stuff and bolt for the door.  Mrs. Sprout clearly didn’t like that, but she doesn’t stop me either.  I meet Lucian at our lockers.

“So?”

“So what?”  Lucian asks.

“What news of Nix do you have for me today?”  We start walking towards the Study Hall room and he chuckles.

“What do you think I am?  Your spy?”

“Sort of.”  I tease.  We sit in our usual seats.

“Fine.”  Lucian concedes.  “So, she finally decided that she is going to do a scene from Princess of Thieves.”  Lucian says.

“So, she went from Titanic to Stardust and has now settled on one of my favorite movies without even knowing it.”  I say.

“Yup.  Pretty interesting, right?”  Lucian chuckles.

“Pretty interesting.”  I say.  “Wait.  You didn’t tell her that it’s one of my favorites, did you?”

“No.  I didn’t want her to change her mind again.”

“Okay.  Good.”  Study Hall passes with Lucian and I working on Chemistry and Calculus homework together.  I hate to toot my own horn, but I’m in line for valedictorian.  Although, I’m not sure what I’d say to the seniors on graduation day, but if I turn out to be valedictorian then I will make sure my speech is epic.

The rest of the day passes by and I go straight home.  As I’m leaving, I notice that Nix’s new car is still in the parking lot.  I look around, but Nina’s car is already gone.  However, I notice that Greg, Fred, and Shawn’s cars are all there still too.  Of course, so are a few other cars, but it’s weird to see those four cars still here.  I go home and work on homework before and after dinner.  I close all my books around eleven and get ready for bed.  I change into my pajama shorts, stretch a bit, and then crawl into bed.  As soon as I turn off my nightstand light and flip onto my back, I am out like a log.