I couldn't believe I was finally twenty-one. I stood in front of the mirror, getting prepared for the party my best friend; Kristen had forced me to attend.
Little did I know that this night would change my life forever.
Little did I know that by the end of tonight, everything I knew would be turned upside down.
I should have seen it coming though.
My dad had raised me all by himself since I was just an infant when my mother had passed away during childbirth. I never got the chance to meet her, but my dad had told me stories about her.
Bizarre stories.
He would tell me how special my mom had been, and how different she was from every human. He even went as far as saying she had magic within her, that gave her the ability to transform into a wolf.
A werewolf.
All his life, he studied the supernatural, so I guessed it must have gotten to his head.
I had believed as a kid, so intrigued by the wonders of the story my dad would tell me, but as I grew older; I thought them to be bullshit, and because of this, my dad and I were a bit distant. I loved him very much though, but from afar, so he wouldn’t suffocate me with his supernatural ideals and beliefs.
The day before my birthday, I received a call from him. He had said we should meet up so we could talk. I agreed, and when I got there, he spewed the usual supernatural crap, but this time, it was different. He had a grave expression on his face when he spoke and there was a seriousness to his tone that sent chills down my spine.
“You have a destiny to fulfill, one that would manifest on your twenty-first birthday. Be ready.”
He had said to me.
Maybe if I had believed him then, I would have been a little prepared for what was to come.
———
It was past eleven and the party was already in full swing. My best friend; Kristen had already called a few minutes to let me know she was on her way to pick me up.
I didn't like my birthdays. I was plunged deep into the actuality and constantly reminded of how meaningless my life was. We all lived in a stagnant simulation where nothing ever changed and life never got easier – and I grew sick of it every day.
Reluctantly, I got prepared, wearing an oxblood backless mini dress that clung to my body like a second skin, its low neckline exposing my full cleavage. I stopped to gaze at myself in the mirror, thinking about whether to wear my deep brown wavy hair down or tie it into a ponytail. Eventually, I chose to let it down.
I applied mascara on my lashes and smeared a deep shade of red lipstick on my lips that brought out my amber eyes, all the while my thoughts drifting back to what my dad said. As much as I tried not to think about it, it kept nibbling at the back of my mind.
I got a sudden text from Kristen, saying she was outside the building.
When I got downstairs, I spotted Kristen's Honda parked across the building. My gaze immediately fell on the Range Rover I had seen earlier on my way to campus this morning. It never left since then and it made me wonder what such a luxurious vehicle like that was doing in a place like this.
When I arrived at Kristen's car, I slipped into the passenger's seat and fastened my seatbelt.
“Looking sexy,” she grinned as she sized me up, “You'll drive the guys wild.”
“Likewise.” I chimed as I peered at her. She wore a black dress with daring cutouts along her midriff, revealing the underside of her breast. Kristen and I had been friends since high school. Even though her overly lively personality was quite the opposite of mine, we were perfect for each other. She wasn’t just a friend to me but a sister, and I loved her very much— though I would never tell her that.
When we got to the club, we were greeted by deafening music even before we got into the building. Stepping inside, the place was hot like there was a pressure cooker underneath and the familiar stench of sweat I could never get used to hit me, my face crinkling in disgust. Kristen, on the other hand, looked thrilled to be here, so I tried to act happy— I didn’t want to ruin the fun for her.
When we got to the bar, I called the attention of the bartender and ordered a margarita, while Kristen opted for a Dirty Martini.
"Don't overdo it," I warned her, well aware of how badly she handled alcohol.
"Just one glass," she grinned as I rolled my eyes. We both knew one glass was never enough for her.
"Ladies," a voice chimed in from behind me, and I turned to see who it was. My whole face lit up when I saw it was Nigel. He pulled me into a warm hug and wished me a happy birthday.
Nigel was one of the few sensible people I knew and a close friend too. He was boyishly handsome and had the body of your regular football player.