Becoming Mortal

Preparations and Questions

February 20, 1803
~Scarlett~
•11:23PM•

I sat at my vanity in my bedroom and brushed my waist length black hair to make it smooth to perfection.

My mother had stated that tomorrow would be a "big day" for me, and had said that I needed to be asleep before midnight.

The day that I have been dreading for a few years has finally come. My eighteenth birthday.

When Damon was alive, he and I would talk about how such an important day this would be. He would tell me that this day I would be an adult and finally have my freedom.

He was supposed to be here and help me grow up. I know that why happened was not my fault and that he was just doing his duty, but I just wish he could be by my side once more to tell me everything will be okay and it will get better.

Erasing my thoughts, I stand stand up and smooth out my night gown, and heading toward my bed.

As I was pulling my curtains closed, I happened to see two blazing red eyes attached to a shadow standing a few yards away.

I stood there shocked and unable to move. My body started to shake with unknowing fear. I felt that I've seen those eyes before.

Finally realizing the eyes had disappeared, I ripped the curtains closed and dashed to the bed and blew out the candle on my bedside table. I closed my eyes and tried to erase those haunting red eyes from my mind.

February 21, 1803
•7:46AM•

"Ms.Scarlett, Mrs.James said it is time to wake up." I heard our maid, Madeline, say through the door. She was a little old than I am, maybe about three years and has been working for us since I was fifteen.

I removed the duvet off of my body and stood on the hard wood floor, stretching my limbs.

Not caring of my attire, I made my way towards the kitchen where I figured my mother would be sipping her tea and writing in her books.

"Good morning, sweetheart!" My father, John, smiled with both dimples showing in his cheeks and his blue eyes shinning.

"Good morning, Father." I spoke with the biggest smile I had.

"Mother." I said sweetly while nodding my head.

"Hello, Scarlett." She said with a little grin.

"What are you planning to do today?" My father questioned trying to ease the tension between my mother and I.

"I will be meeting Tabitha and David later today, and possibly taking Blaze for a stroll." I said telling him most of my plans for the day leaving out other things.

"All right, well, I know this is probably a bad time, but I have something for you." He said trying to keep the sadness out of his voice.

He hands me a black velvet box and I'm confused at first when I see the initials D.T.J. & S.R.J.

Damon and I's initials.

My eyes welled with tears just at the thought of him getting something for me and him not being here with me. For some reason, I think he knew he wouldn't be alive when I turned eighteen.

I slowly lifted the top of the velvet box to see a ring that held look looks of a serpent and had a deep purple jewel in the center.

My eyes scanned over its shape, admiring it.

I slipped the ring onto my right index finger and smiled while letting a few tears slip.

I looked up at my parents and saw they were looking at my finger with curiosity. I showed them my hand my my father smiled with admiration while my mother looked at it with disgust.