43 - Cake and Destiny

Spring had arrived, and with it had come the spring festival. Maia decided to celebrate Lavender and the witch triplets’ birthdays at the Eerie Park Festival Grounds.

Happy birthday, Lavender!

Happy birthday, Aiden!

Happy birthday, Ashton!

Happy birthday, Addison!

They all had a good time at the festival, although since it was Love Day, Maia couldn’t help but feel a little out of place.  Her destiny didn’t allow her to have that one special love that everyone else seemed to celebrating— even if most of them were juiced and just paying for kisses.

Maia hoped that one day, after her challenge was complete, she could finally have a true love of her own. The sooner she fulfilled her task, the sooner she could have the love she’d always dreamed of. But with everyone around her pairing up, Maia knew she wasn’t going to further her quest today.

Instead Maia focused on her kids, which was what the day was about anyway.  They all enjoyed the group dances.

The witch triplets also exchanged their training brooms for the adult versions and spent some time joyriding and doing stunts at the broom-riding arena until dusk.

Later, after they’d returned home, Maia gave each of the teens a potion to make their IF’s real.

Lavender and Vanilla

Aiden and Skittles

Ashton and Gumdrop

Addison and Jelly Bean

Unfortunately, that meant she now had eight teenagers to teach to drive!

And after that, baby Rowan aged up.

Maia started all over with toddler training again, but at least there was only one of her!

And Rowan also played often with her IF doll, Patterns.

It was time for Sebastian and Isabelle to age up as well, so Maia had a party at the Gypsy’s Landing to celebrate.

Happy birthday, Sebastian!

Happy birthday, Isabelle!

Maia noticed Rowan was already using her witch powers to conjure toys from home.

It was then that the fortuneteller, Kizzy approached her.

“Your daughter has the makings of a powerful witch,” Kizzy told Maia. “And I see she has red skin. Was she conceived on the night of the red moon?”

Maia thought back.  “Yes, actually she was, although I thought that she got her skin tone from her father, who has Vampire’s Fever...”

“Though that may indeed be a factor, it is not the only reason for her to be born as she was.  Legends say that when red moons appear, it foretells times of great change and upheaval. To balance this, powerful magic users known as red witches are born into the world.  I believe your daughter is destined to lead the coven of witches in Moonlight Falls in whatever dark times are to come.  Did you remember anything unusual or frightening happening on the night of the red moon?”

“Well, I destroyed a zombie with a sunlight charm. That was definitely something I’d never seen before.”

“I’ve noticed zombies have been escaping from the underworld more frequently, and in greater numbers.  I would guess that this might be the destiny your daughter will fight against.”

“But I thought that was why I’m doing the 100 baby challenge... to help keep the world safe from the Reaper’s destruction and the outpouring of his undying evil prisoners into the world.”

“That is true, but the veil grows thinner between the underworld and this one, and time is running out.  The Reaper cannot keep all of the undead contained forever— he was never meant to perform this task.  Also, the veil has always been exceptionally thin in Moonlight Falls; it is why supernaturals gravitate here.  And if the barrier were to fail completely, it would most likely be here.  I think that Rowan will lead the first line of defense between the zombies and the rest of the world, should they escape in force.”

Maia was horrified that her babies might someday face such peril.  “Isn’t there anything I can do to prevent this from happening?”

“You must complete your challenge,” Kizzy said simply. “In the meantime, make sure that Rowan and the rest of your witch children are well-trained in their spellcasting powers as a failsafe should your undertaking not be completed in time.  Teach them to work together with the other races, whose abilities compliment witch magic.  The fairies’ plant-blooming magic can help provide ingredients for potions, as can the werewolves’ abilities to hunt for collectibles.  Even humans can learn alchemy or learn to read the future to help prepare us all for what may come.  But above all, don’t give up!  The future is ever in motion, and this battle may yet be won before it begins.”

Maia sent the kids home and began to clean up after the party while she contemplated the fortuneteller’s words.

She wasn’t much reassured by Kizzy’s encouragement. In fact, if she was honest with herself, Maia had to admit her first instinct was to grab her children and run from Moonlight Falls.  But she knew if such a bleak day came, they wouldn’t thank her for uprooting them and preventing them from playing the roles they were born to.  All she could really do to avoid such an outcome was try to finish her challenge in time.  But if something ever happened to her, she knew Kizzy’s counsel concerning her children’s preparation for the future was sound advice.  She meant to take it.

After the trash was picked up, Maia was ready to head home.  But suddenly, she felt an unknown presence behind her.

Turning, she noticed a man with pale skin and glowing eyes.  A vampire, then.

“I’m sorry if I startled you, Maia. I’m Alexander Delling.”

Braeden’s half-brother?  “What do you want?” she asked suspiciously.

“I thought perhaps we could share this night beneath the stars that have aligned for us, entwining ourselves and our destinies.”  He spoke in way that Maia supposed was intended to be charming.

But by now, Maia had had enough talk about destiny.  “Uh, no thanks,” she said.

Alexander was puzzled.  Perhaps she didn’t care for poetry?  Maybe something less romantic and more straightforward would work better. He tried again.

“Oh.  Well, I'd still like you to have my child,” he said.

Maia threw her hands in the air. “Did Braeden put you up to this?” she demanded.

“Uh...  kinda?  We do need a vampire child for the family. But he also said you’re doing a baby challenge, so you’ll benefit, too.” he said reasonably.  But then Alexander noticed how angry Maia looked.  “And um... you’re kinda cute, so I don’t mind at all!” he stammered quickly.

“This is unbelievable!” Maia screeched, her hands balling into fists.  “Get away from me!”

This wasn’t going the way Alex had planned at all.  He was in a band and going to be a big rock star someday. He was used to having girls— well, groupies— throw themselves at him all the time.  How was he supposed to know what to say to entice a woman like Maia?

“Wait!”  Alexander shouted desperately.  And then he did the only thing he could think of... he used his vampire powers to take control of her mind.

But it backfired, and Alexander partially hypnotized himself.

He stood there, stunned, trying to regain his senses.

And Maia ran.