The celebration before my birthday is going to be full of fun, and soon to be even more before the big moment.

My mom wakes me up with ice cream and a hug for breakfast in bed. She read chapters from my favorite book series, The Familiar Unfamiliar which is about this witch and her familiar going on a quest to save her father, Plinkman who gets kidnapped by this one eyed man and... shit. Sorry. Back on track. My dad put together a family photoshoot for the three of us, and we got to goof off for hours with props and costumes. Even my mom got involved and had a bit of fun, which is rare since she's so no-nonsense all the time. It's been a good day, even with the tension in the air.

We crash on the couch for lunch instead of eating at the dinner table per mom's rule and munch on grilled cheese (my favorite high carb meal) while we watch Under The Knife. My mom usually hates it and complains that it's inaccurate even though that's literally the point. Today though, she does her best to get into the plot and ask a million mom questions. Dad makes dad jokes the whole time so I can barely watch between my mom's questions and his apparently endless stream of the worst jokes on the planet.

At dinner, he told an even worse joke.

"By the way, Steven won't be able to make it for your party." My dad says carefully. He's always careful with me, and I guess this time he had every reason to be because I burst into tears.

"But I thought he would be allowed to stay until Midnight tomorrow!" I sobbed. "We were going to go stargazing until 11:30 and–,"

My mom grabbed my hand awkwardly and I was so shocked I stopped crying. My mom isn't very affectionate, she's polar opposite of my father who's always spoiling me rotten. "I'm sorry, Connie, but Steven came down with something." She gives me a sympathetic smile. "Just try to enjoy a last meal before everything hits. It's going to be a lot of strain on your human body at first and you'll need every form of energy you can get."

I stare down at the casserole and my stomach lurches. A coming of age ceremony is short, but the transformation takes a total of 96 hours or four days. I've read scrolls, my moms told me stories of how painful and awful it is. It goes in stages, from 1-4 with heightening intensity. On the last day, my powers will be available to begin to learn without misery. I'll be able to astral project and begin feeding on energy and dreams, I'll be able to fly and change my form as I see fit. But the most exciting thing of all for me was going to be the power to be with Steven before it all happened, and soak up every drop of encouragement I could get. Besides, what does he have? Dysentery? He knew it was a big day today, and I'm a little miffed he didn't just deal with it and come anyways.

I pull out my phone instantly. "I'm gonna call him."

"No! He– he lost his voice. So you can't call him. I'm sorry honey." My dad says. He stares at me for a moment too long, an unreadable emotion on his face.

"What did he come down with? Maybe in a couple of days I'll visit and bring him some food while he recovers." Yeah,and kick him square in his baby batter factory.

My mom and dad exchange a look. "Sure," Mom pats my hand once more and removes her comfort. "That sounds like a great idea."

"I think I'm done with dinner, mom." I push it away and rest my head on my hands. "I know, I know... no elbows on the table. I'm just..." I lose my voice as it starts to grow heavy with tears again. "I was so excited for Steven to come tonight just to take some of the load off. I know I've been acting really brave today but the truth is I'm so scared."

My dad takes off his glasses and wipes away his own tears. "You're gonna do great, and we're so proud of you, Connie. We love you as whatever you turn out to be. You're the bravest little girl I've ever met, you've known what your purpose is and you've never been afraid then," I raise my head to look up at him. "So why start now? You can do this, sweetheart."

I sigh and nod my head. Can't argue with dad logic. "You're right. I'm gonna be okay. Can I go take a nap one last time before we set Lilith's alter up?"

"Of course." My mom looks like she wants me to stay, but she doesn't say so. "Go get some rest and we'll wrap leftovers for in between periods and afterwards. I'm sure you'll be starving."

I trudge to my bedroom as my dad quietly asks my mom if I'll even need to eat human food anymore, my mind already imagining pain that not there yet. My right shoulder blade starts to ache and I slump over into my bed. "Let's just fast forward, I'm already ready to be done with it all."

I wake up at 11:22, the sounds of my parents tense whispering yanking me from my nightmare.

A candle catches my attention and I sit up fast. It's black, with little swirls of pink and red engraved in it. I keep it on my desk for worship and prayer, but it's never lit on its own before.

"Uhhh... Is this a birthday thing, or...?" The flame is strong as steady as I approach, almost picturesque. Even from three feet away I can feel the heat pouring off of it. I may be fireproof, but my wooden desk is most definitely not and for a second I worry about it bursting into a fiery explosion.
But then I stop. What if...?

"Well, you're beautiful. Are you a direct message from... her?" Her name feels to sacred to speak at the moment. I raise my hand to run my finger through it. No effect as usual. "What do I need to know?"

It stays the same for so long I almost give up, but then it hisses and crackles loudly, impatient and insistent I pay attention to it. "A message! You are a message!" Tears of relief start running down my cheeks. I've never received a message from her before, and it only seemed fitting that on my 18th would be the day I would. I've been waiting to say this phrase forever.

"Dic mihi, mater daemonum."

I tense with excitement as the crackling dies down. A spark jumps from the flame onto my incense and ignites. Smoke pours from my backflow burner and I look into my scrying mirror as the words appear,

"Forbidden and true
A half kin and crown.
An aid, a quest
To sacrifice or drown.
Graceful and Charming,
From horn to talon,
From shield to sword.
To conform and trust,
Or take enemy by storm."

More smoke rolls out of the burner now until it's covering my desk and then snaking up my arms and into my lungs. It chokes me at first and my chest spasms, but the more I breathe in the clearer the words are in my mind. I cough and the message fades away at the same pace the blood rushes from my face.

"Mom!"