Shadow: A Short Story

1. Family Secret

Present Day;

I woke up from a bad dream, sweating and out of breath. I heard footsteps walking towards my bedroom. There was a knock on my bedroom door.

"Ariella?!" exclaimed my older sister Laney. "Are you alright?" She walked into my bedroom and saw me almost crying. She sat down on the corner of my bed. "Don't worry, it was all a bad dream. You okay?"

"Yeah," I said, sitting up. "I'm fine. I just don't understand why I've been having nothing but supernatural dreams lately." I brushed my dirty blonde hair out of my face.

"Supernatural dreams? Has it been 6 months since you turned 14?"

I looked at my phone calendar. Today was March 28th. It was 6 months after I turned 14. But what did Laney mean by all this? I put my phone down and said, "Yes. But why are you asking if it's been 6 months?"

"Hey girls, can you come down here for a second?" shouted our father James. Laney and I made our way downstairs to the dining room. We saw Dad sitting down at the dining table.

"Sit down, Ari," said Dad as I sat down. "Okay, since you've been 14 for exactly 6 months now, your mother and I think it's time that we told you the truth about the entire family."

"This includes me doesn't it?" I asked.

"Of course it does. Okay, I think it's time that I told you. You're at the right age that you can understand."

"What is it?"

"Alright, you might not believe me when I tell you this, but the supernatural exist. This whole family is supernatural."

I cringed. "What do you mean that the supernatural exist? They can't be real, can they?"

"Of course they are," Dad said. "Listen, there are good supernaturals and evil supernaturals. Of course, we're good supernaturals.. Let me explain what I meant by the family is supernatural. Your mother is a witch, and so is Laney. I'm a werewolf, and you, Ariella, you're a half-werewolf half-witch hybrid."

"What's a hybrid?"

"Hybrids are rare in the supernatural world. If a supernatural marries a supernatural and have a child, that child will most likely inherit one of the parent's abilities, kind of like your sister. But something clicked when we had you. You were tested to see if you inherited one of our abilities, or if you were just normal human. We were told that you were a hybrid. Since you're half-wolf and half-witch, you're able to transform into a werewolf at any time you wish, and you're able to do magic just like regular witches and wizards. You have a wand just like your mother and sister." Dad pulled out a long black wand. "You're gonna need it."

I held the wand like I'd never seen one before and said, "Wow."

"Are you surprised?"

"Uh, kind of." I looked at my watch. It was 7:46. "I have to go get ready for my date with Steven."

"Go right ahead."

I ran back up to my room to get ready for the date. I put on my favorite Twenty One Pilots shirt, along with some shorts and tights. I laced up my all white high top Converse and put on my favorite red beanie. I picked up my phone to check the time. It was 7:57.

I heard the doorbell ring as I raced downstairs. I opened the front door. It was my boyfriend Steven Ashford.

"Hey," I said, smiling.

"Hey," he said. "So you ready? It's my treat tonight. Renfield's. You down?"

"Yeah, thanks for that."

Steven kissed my cheek, then said, "You're very welcome, Ari."

We then headed out to dinner. I could tell this was going to be a great date.