The Start.

My eyes shot open suddenly, a sense of dread pooling into my stomach. I sit up in bed and groan as I realize tomorrow is my seventeenth birthday.

Ma and I were supposed to go do something fun together.

My mom's idea of “fun” isn’t usually anywhere close to fun though.

but she tries and it’s just me and her ever since my father died, I was only four when it happened but to this day, I can’t remember how he died. Ma just says he was sick but I find that hard to believe.. .

From what I remember my father was a very strong, muscular, healthy man, but all of my memories around him are foggy and clouded…

Raya, my best friend, is supposed to be coming over for the night to be here in the morning for my birthday and I’m wondering where the hell she is.

She’s usually already here, early as hell, jumping all over my bed and yelling in my ear.

I decided to take a shower and get my mind out of the gutter. Ma is letting me skip school today and tomorrow. She only ever lets me do it when it’s my birthday so, I’m going to try to make the best of it.

I haven’t been feeling like myself lately. Like… something is missing in my life. I’ve always chalked it up to not having my father in my life but I don't know now. It feels different.

“Lily, breakfast is ready and Raya is here!” Ma yelled up the stairs, breaking me out of the haze I was falling into.

“Okay, mother!” I yelled back at her.

I quickly have my shower and brush my hair while looking in the mirror.

I see myself: light brown hair, bright blue eyes, perfectly shaped eyebrows with a sharp jawline and small face.

Raya always tells me how jealous she is that I’m so beautiful but I don’t really see it. All I see is the same thing everyday and all I think is I’m a freak.

Someone unreganizable.

Pushing my negative thoughts aside, I look through my closet for something to wear and come up with some black jeans and a dark blue, short sleeve crop top, one of my usual outfits.

Jogging down the stairs I see Raya and my Ma talking and eating breakfast. I quickly sat down beside my Ma. Not thinking about Raya’s late arrival and her sitting down here, not coming to talk with me.

“Hey Ma, thanks for breakfast,” I said and gave her a quick kiss on her cheek.

“You are very welcome, lovely,” Ma said with a warm smile, making me smile in return, “You guys have a big day planned tomorrow !”

I looked at Raya with an eyebrow raised because, who planned a big day? Hopefully not Ma I think to myself while laughing silently.

Knowing whatever she planned may not be fun but it comes from her heart. She does truly love me.

Suddenly, my phone beeps with a notification.

Making me look down at my phone.

“I need to run to the bathroom quick guys I’ll be right back,” I quickly mumbled and ran to the bathroom.

I pulled my phone out and read a message from an unknown number saying, “I know what you are.”

What the fuck, what am I? I’m human. What is this person even talking about?

Whatever, I can’t even with nonsense today. I have way more important things to worry about than a random number messaging me.

I started making my way back out to the kitchen when I heard Ma and Raya whispering something…

“You know she can’t find out! Tomorrow, while you guys are out, Magnus will be using his powers to keep her dragon hidden.. he says she keeps getting stronger each year and eventually he won’t be able to keep her contained,” Ma whispered harshly, “I need to find a stronger warlock! Her father can never find her Raya , do you understand!! You can not let her know what she is and how important she is.. she just can’t know.. I’m just trying to protect her the only way I know how..”

“Yes, Athena. I understand that’s why I’m here and I’ll make sure we get to Magnus at some point tomorrow and I won’t allow her to know anything, everything will work out just fine, don’t worry” as Raya finished her sentence I made it known I was coming.

I won’t let them know I heard them.. yet.

“So what’s this “big day” you have planned out Ma” I asked flatly. I’m fucking pissed that they are keeping something so serious from me.

…‘she can’t know what she is, her dragon keeps getting stronger every year’ … Like, dragon?! What the fuck is she talking about ‘dragon’?!

“I planned out all kinds of stuff for you guys to do tomorrow! First in the morning you guys will have breakfast at the diner on moonlight ave, then you’ll go to the mall and get some early shopping and of course, I’ll give you my credit card so you aren’t spending any of your own money on your birthday!” She gushed, totally oblivious that I was eavesdropping on them, acting as if nothing is wrong in the world, “After I have bowling scheduled and a hike up camel's mountain!!” She finished enthusiastically.

I look towards Raya and she has a faraway look on her face like she’d rather be anywhere else right now and it’s the first time I’ve noticed and I wonder how many other times she’s looked like that before…

Before I could dwell any longer, she suddenly said, “Awesome! We’ll have loads of fun Athena, don't you worry!” She winked at my Ma not noticing I was watching her from the corner of my eye.

How was I so stupid not to notice these little things?

Something weird is going on around here and I’m gonna find out exactly what it is.