Luna lied awake in her queen sized bed, cocooned with three large white blankets, as the sun gradually made an appearance above the treetops. As the sun lifted to the top of the sky, Luna noticed the shaking of her hands had stopped and the tension fled her body. She felt like a child again that night. After Twyla bidded her a goodnight and fled to the confines of her new room, Luna tried to stay outside for just a little longer. But in those few seconds left alone she felt a strange fear creep into her bones, one she hadn't had since she was very young- the fear of the dark. She checked her closet and under her bed twice before allowing herself to lie down on the bed. There many moments of precious sleep she wasted by subconsciously rehashing her newfound knowledge of monsters. The only real difference between the monsters that plagued Luna's mind as a child and the ones she faced now was the simple fact that a barricade of blankets would not stop them from getting her.

With a dull ache in her heart, Luna reminded herself that it was her birthday. She was eighteen. If only her birthday had come two weeks earlier, she would have been jumping up and down with joy and happily tearing into silver and gold wrapped presents. Now, she just wanted to get the day over with. There were two many obstacles she would have to face to make the day even remotely enjoyable like her sister and her freaky aunt and grandmother- the three of them were definitely to receive looks and not the good kind that Luna usually pulled. She didn't really know how her mother would act today, she was learning, that she really didn't know much about her mother at all. And then, there was Jane. Jane who had always proven to be a good friend when needed but her recent adamant curiosity was sure to give Luna a headache or two. Will was the only person she could think of that she actually wanted to see. She knew that no matter what happened later that day, he would be by her side. And for now, that was enough motivation to push her out of bed.

The sound of crackling static and mumbled thoughts entered her mind as two pairs of footsteps approached her door. From the parts she managed to catch, Luna recognized the person as Deena, the person beside her though, remained a mystery. The tension returned to her body as a knock sounded on the door. Forcing her body to obey her mind, Luna took a deep breath and told Deena the door was open. The door flung upon a moment later revealing the elder woman in a pale pink button up dress and a embroidered apron. Beside her, stood half exposed hunched over figure. Luna couldn't see the person's face but she did see the steel staff of her Grandmother's cane.

"I'll speak to you later, my friend." Her grandmother said to Deena before disappearing down the hall.

Luna felt slightly miffed by the lack of attention her Grandmother gave her. She hadn't had a moment alone with the old hag since the the trio arrived yesterday- and she didn't necessarily want to meet her- but a simple happy birthday was customary.

"Look at you," Mused Deena as she placed a silver bubble dish on top of Luna's nightstand.

"Oh god!" Deena then exclaimed when she stepped away from the dish and got a good look at Luna's haggard face. "My oh my, dear, time has not been good to you."

"Deena!" Luna cried, outraged. "I didn't get a good night of sleep. It's not like I turned eighteen and suddenly became a hag! It's just another year older."

"Another year closer to death, if you ask me." Deena grunted.

A heavy sigh fell from Luna's lips as her shoulders sagged. She didn't expect Deena to be cheery or help her mood improve but she also didn't expect the bitter old woman to make it any worse. It was her birthday for goodness sake, she deserved a break!

"Closer to death? Well, I can't argue with that," Luna tone turned dark as forbidden memories of the previous day flashed before her mind.

Though Luna wasn't looking at Deena, she could feel the old woman's probing stare. Deena had always been good at keeping her nose out of the Goodwin's business, most likely because she didn't give a damn about Luna's torrent love life or Celeste's campaign plans but there were rare situations where something tragic was brought up and it seemed like Deena wanted to say something. But in those instances, she never would. It was completely bizarre to Luna because in any other situation Deena would say the first thing that came to mind with no inhibitions.

Glancing up, Luna saw Deena open her mouth to say something but quickly closed it after giving it a second thought. Not wanting the awkward silence to stretch on any longer, Luna asked, "How do you know my grandmother."

At that, a rare ghost of a smile touched Deena's thinned lips as her eyes turned glossy with a faraway look. "I was your age," she said, "When I first met Stella Goodwin, in Ukraine. She was strange, not like most people who don't fit in with society, she did fit in. Almost too well, some would say. Eventually when I got to know her, and I learned she didn't really fit in at all. She was as different as different could be. You know, now that I think of it, she reminds me of you a bit. Of course time has gone on and she shows her eccentricities a bit more on the outside than before but that happens when you become older and stop caring."

Heat rushed to Luna's cheeks at the blunt admittance of her similarities to her Grandmother. It wasn't pride she felt but embarrassment. Saying her grandmother was a bit eccentric was the biggest understatement of the year. There was not a thing about that creepy old lady that seemed normal and Luna would hate to see the day in which she found the slightest glimmer of herself in those hollow eyes.

"So that's why my mom hired you. You're friends with her mother."

The glossy look on Deena's eyes disappeared to a moment of darkness as the woman mumbled, "Among other things."

The quiet statement was not missed by Luna. She opened her mouth to question Deena but the older woman was already making her way to the door. "I hope you get your Happy Birthday, Luna." Said Deena as she walked out of the room, leaving Luna to contemplate her words.

After three cans of beers and ten solid minutes of cursing the world Twyla sunk into a restless sort of slumber. The alcohol managed to alleviate her fears as she slept a dreamless sleep but they all came rushing back as she was awakened by the abrupt knocking on her door. Not knowing who or what waited for her on the other side of her door, she jumped out of bed with her hands curled into tight fists. Inching towards the door, Twyla kept her eye narrowed and focused on the wobbling knob. The door creeped opening, eliciting a curse from Twyla as she prepared to knock the unexpected visitor off their butt.

"Think again before you using your magic on me," said a familiar voice.

The fight drained from Twyla's stance as the door swung open revealing Nana. An exasperated look sat on Nana's feeble features as she surveyed Twyla and the guestroom that she already managed to trash. An empty suitcase was thrown in a corner of the room, the clothing that belonged in there was scattered on the floor. The twisted mess of striped pillows and blankets used to be a perfectly made bed but after one night of sleeping in it, Twyla managed to completely destroy it.

"Nyx is going to be mad that you drank her beer," Nana said as she noticed the three empty beer can lying on the nightstand.

"It's a twelve pack, Nana. She's got more," Twyla growled. An incessant pounding had sprouted in the back of her head.

Causally limping over to the window, Nana eyed the heavy Royal blue and gold drapes before pulled them back with the beak on her cane. Twyla hissed and spun away from the burning light.

"You're not a vampire Twyla, just hungover. The sun can't actually hurt you," chuckled Nana. Her short silver hair looked white in the blinding light, creating a drastic contrast with the with her black turtleneck and sweeping skirt.

It took every ounce of control that Twyla had to not start cursing out Nana. Instead, she flicked her wrist and the drapes closed shut. Feeling cold in only a sports bra and gray sweatpants, Twyla grabbed a matching sweatshirt. It was only after she was completely dressed, did she turn to face her glaring Grandmother.

"Sober up," said Nana, "You're going to need all of your strength today."

"What does that mean?" Twyla asked knowing full well she wouldn't receive an answer.

As she expected Nana gave her a cryptic non-answer, "Whatever you want it to mean. I don't care how you decipher the things I say Twyla, as long as you do what I ask."

A spark of anger ignited within Twyla. "I can't meet your expectations if you don't tell me what to do."

"For now I'm just asking for you to be sober. That is something you can do, right?"

Twyla wasn't entirely sure it was something she could do. Not with them hiding around the corner and her sister's stupid plan. And then, there was the party that was still happening that night for some strange inexplicable reason. For Twyla, impending doom was enough reason for her to want to cancel a party. But no- Luna had to take another step closer to falling off of the cliff of insanity.

"Sure. Whatever you want," Twyla said bitterly.

"I can't tell you that everything will be fine today because I do not know. I don't know if anything will be fine, ever again. But I want you to try and put your fears to the side and have a good birthday."

That was not going to happen, both Twyla and Nana knew that. But for the sake of trying, Twyla agreed reluctantly. Using as much effort as possible, she would try to block her demons from her mind, sip spiked bubbling water with Aunt Nyx and fade into the background Luna's birthday extravaganza. She didn't want to but she would try because despite being depressing, Nana's statement was true. Without their psychic's knowledge of the future they were left blind to all the possibilities. Who knew what would happen tomorrow or even in the next hour?

"One day I'll know," Twyla said. "I'll know all the secrets you've worked so hard to hide from me and all that time you spent doing so will be a waste."

Nana walked over to Twyla until they were a mere inches away from each other. Her coal black eyes, were unusually warm as she stared at her granddaughter. Reaching into the pocket of her skirt, Nana pulled out a familiar rectangular box. The box quaked and quivered in her hand, and not because of the older woman's fragility. Opening the lid, Nana revealed the two twin moon necklaces, the ruby lied on top, pulsing with magic as it called to Twyla.

"I don't expect anything less from you," said Nana as she picked up the ruby necklace and held it in front Twyla.

"W-wha-"

"Take it. It belongs to you."

Twyla's hand shook as much as the ruby as she reached out and grabbed the necklace by the chain. Nana closed the box and silently left the room, leaving Twyla alone with her past. Careful not to touch the ruby, Twyla placed it beside the empty beer cans on her bedside table. Also on that table lied Twyla's thin black smart phone, two messages appeared as the screen illuminated.

The first from Laurel:

HAPPY BD! MISS U!!

The second was from Alix, a pleasant surprise until she read the message:'

BE SAFE. SEE U SOON.

**So this was Part 1 of the birthday party. There will be three parts. In the next part Twyla and Luna will be ready to share their first birthday together but the girls are both frightened of what has yet to come. Both Luna and Twyla will have to confront demons from their past, the magical and mortal kind, while trying to act as if they're not at all frightened by the threats from them. I'm really happy that's there's only one more chapter before things start to get more interesting for the girls. Their family can't keep their identities a secret from them together and once the girls know there is no going back. Tell me what you think will happen at the birthday party and what was up with Alix's cryptic text?

Thank you for reading!
XOXO,
Ro.**