Ambushed

Celestia Ivone's Point of View

"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" I exclaimed happily as I entered our house.

"Celestia! You're just in time. Come! I baked some cookies," Mom exclaims back enthusiastically as she pulls me into our kitchen. I just let her be since I know she loves baking and making others taste it.

"Sit here," she tells me while pointing at the tool which I obliged. I set down my backpack on the seat beside me as I clasped both of my hands together, patiently waiting for the cookies to be served.

"Here. Tell me if it tastes good, or if something's lacking," she says while gently putting down the plate of cookies. I chuckled upon seeing the different shapes of cookies.

I picked one and immediately chewed on it. Mom was staring at me with an expectant look in her eyes- one that she always sports whenever she's making me taste her recipes.

I didn't say anything while eating the first cookie. Minutes had passed and my silence seemed to bother her and so her expectant look slowly contorts into one of concern.

"So...?" She reluctantly trails off, waiting for my response.

I stared at her dead in the eye and when I saw the dismay in her eyes, I burst out into laughter.

"I'm just kidding, mom! It tastes great as usual!" I say in between laughs. "Though I think I'd like its taste more than what you baked last week."

She heaves out a sigh of relief, and then she slaps me on my hand that was reaching for another cookie.

"Ouch! What's that for?" I complain while caressing my hand.

Mom sent me a glare, "No more cookies for you, young lady! You made me nervous! I thought it didn't taste good."

I pouted, "Oh, come on, mom! When do your recipes taste bad? I was just messing with you!"

I tried to reach for the cookie but she pulled the plate away from me. I whined.

"No more. Save it for later. We have visitors. I just made you taste it so I know what to adjust in case," she says and then she takes the plate.

"Visitors?" I ask, brows furrowed.

"Yup. Your dad's side is coming."

"All of a sudden? They usually informed us beforehand. We could've prepared more."

Mom shrugs, "I don't know either. Just go and prepare. Wear something semi-formal, okay?"

"Alright," I replied and went upstairs.

I did my usual routine before changing into a simple dress that would suit the semi-formal look that mom wants. After that, I just sat down on my chair and drew on my sketchpad to pass some time.

It was almost an hour later when I heard mom calling me to go down to the dining area since our guests had already arrived. I hid my sketchpad where I drew our family that I managed to finish under my bed, and then I went out of my room.

"I'm coming, mom!" I exclaim while going downstairs.

I was smiling all the way to the dining room, already prepared to greet and hug my Uncles and Aunties from dad's side but it slowly faded away when I saw the serious expressions of everyone. It was unusual, they always greeted me with smiles and compliments whenever they visited us here.

"Uh..." I mutter, unsure of what to say.

Mom notices how I stood awkwardly and unsure in front of them so she immediately calls me.

"Come here, sweetie. Sit down. We have to talk about something," mom says, beckoning me to sit on the empty chair between her and dad.

I obliged despite my confusion. I awkwardly sat, eyes looking everywhere since everyone was looking at me and I kind of felt awkward.

"Mom?" I start, turning to face my mother. "What's... wrong?"

"I want you to listen carefully, Celestia," mom says in a serious tone.

"W-why do you sound so serious? It's scaring me, mom," I say, chuckling a bit trying to alleviate the tension.

"Because this is serious, Celestia," Aunt Reina, dad's older sister, says in an equally serious tone. "So better put everything your mom's going to say in your mind and take it seriously."

Almost immediately, the small smile I've been keeping to light up the tension vanishes. I swallowed nervously as I turned to face my mother, "M-mom? What is it?"

"The reason they came here is not to visit nor check on us. They came here to deliver some news and well, to warn us."

My heart starts hammering against my chest out of nervousness at how serious she sounds.

"Warn us about what?"

"You know about the witches, right?" Mom asks.

I nodded my head, "I'm guessing it's the evil witches? I doubt this has something to do with the white witches knowing that they have been trying to live quietly and independently from our realm."

"You're right, it's the evil witches again," Mom affirms. "They're up to something again, Celestia. They're coming up with a plan to bring chaos to the realm once again."

"I get it, but what does this have to do with us? We're also living independently. We won't get involved, right?"

Mom glances in Dad's direction, then to the others. They seemed like they were talking through their eyes, something I couldn't understand so I remained silent while watching them.

"Mom, we won't get involved... right?" I ask again, reluctant and slowly. Judging from the look in their eyes as they turn to me, I already knew the answer.

A lump forms in my throat.

"Listen, Celestia," Mom says. "We're not involve—"

"Then why are we—"

"Because we're the main target, Celestia."

My heart nearly drops at my mom's words, dread filling my whole being.

"W-what do you mean we're the target?" I asked. "Is it because we left them years ago? Do they feel betrayed that their own kind left them? But you were just a half-witch, mom! You said it wasn't much of a big deal when you left them!"

"Celestia! Calm down!" Dad says, holding my shoulders in an attempt to calm me down. "Listen to your mother first, sweetie."

I heave in a deep breath before nodding my head in my mom's direction, letting her continue what she's about to say.

"She's after us because of your power, Celestia."

My brows furrowed, "What? My power?"

"We never got to tell you about this because we didn't want anyone to know about it, which is why we chose to live far from the realm and away from the other creatures," she says.

"You have the power that can make everything happen, Celestia. Even the most dangerous, and the most impossible," dad added.

"Is nullification that powerful?" I mumble, frowning in confusion.

"It's not that," mom says with a shake of her head. "You know you're a hybrid, right? Just like me. But you were a unification of three kinds which means you have different powers and abilities."

"You have enhanced senses and the ability to transform into a werewolf like your father but unlike him, you can transform even without the full moon. You also have the power negation which you inherited from my vampire blood, and you have magic in you too since I have the blood of a witch. That makes you more powerful than your father and I will ever be, Celestia," mom continues.

I always knew about how powerful I am, more so if I got the proper training for it. But I never knew this meant danger, especially since we've been living independently too like the white witches.

"But that's not all, Celestia."

My forehead creases, "There's more?" I asked.

"You are powerful, my sweet. More than what you think. But with such power comes great responsibility and danger," Mom mutters. "You know you were born the day the comet flies through the realm, right?"

I nodded.

"That day, you obtained another power."

My eyes widened, "Another one?"

"Yes, another one," mom affirms. "And that power is what the evil witches are haunting for. It's the power that could make everything possible, as long as it was executed in the right way."

"Why didn't I know about it?" I asked. "Why didn't you tell me? And how come you knew about it but I don't?"

"We were waiting for the right time to tell you," dad says. "And I think this is the right time."

"Celestia, sweetie, the day you were born, we found out the prophecy. That's how we found out about your other power. We thought that once we tried to change the flow of our lives, it wouldn't happen. But then your Aunts and Uncles came here with news about it and we found out the prophecy will still happen even after what we did."

"And it seems like the witches have seen it too as they are making a move already," Aunt Reina chimes in.

"W-what's the prophecy all about?" I asked.

"The extinction of evil witches," mom answers. My jaw drops.

"Extinction? As in, fully wiped out?"

They all nodded.

"But what does that have to do with us? With my power? I mean, I can't wipe out a whole kind!"

"We know, sweetie. We know," Uncle James, dad's older brother finally spoke. "But it's what we heard from the prophecy and no matter how much we try to change it, it will still happen. A prophecy is a prophecy."

I shake my head, "N-no, Uncle. I can't... I can't kill! The prophecy is lying! I can't do that!"

"You can't, but some circumstances can make you do it, Celestia," Dad says, flashing me a sad smile. "And from what we heard and saw, it's the circumstances that made you wipe out a whole damn existence."

"How... how can I do that? I know I'm powerful, but I can't kill all the witches!"

"Your power can, Celestia," Aunt Vivian, dad's youngest sister says. "Didn't your dad tell you earlier? You have the power that can make even the most impossible, be possible."

I blinked multiple times, still in disbelief, "W...what exactly is my power?" I ask in a small voice, afraid of the response that I will hear.

"The day you were born, the comet flies through the realm," mom starts. "And that day, you acquired the Myth—"

We all shrieked in surprise when we hear something loud outside like someone had just dropped a bomb. It effectively diverts our attention from what my mom is going to reveal.

My eyes widened as my heart started beating fast and loud, "W-what is that?"

"Fuck! They're here!" Mom exclaims, looking at dad's family side with wide eyes. "I thought they're planning to attack during the full moon?!"

"We thought so too!" Aunt Leila, dad's oldest sister exclaims.

"Shit, we're getting ambushed," Aunt Reina's husband mutters.

Just then, several loud knocks were heard from our door. Mom and Dad immediately pushed me behind them as it got louder as seconds passed by.

"Hide your daughter, Silvia! We'll try to stop them as much as we can! Make sure Celestia is well hidden!" Aunt Vivian hurriedly says as they went outside the kitchen.

"W-what? Why am I going to hide? I'm going to help!" I nervously exclaim.

"No, Celestia! They shouldn't see you!" Dad says. "You're the one they're looking for!"

My heart drops at that.

"But..."

I shrieked once again when I heard something break, which I believe is our door. Someone must've forcefully opened it.

"Shit. Hurry up, Sylvia! Ivan! We've got no time to waste!" Aunt Leila's husband exclaims, pushing the three of us to the backdoor of our kitchen.

"How about you?" Dad worriedly asks them.

"Don't worry about us. What's important is to keep your daughter safe and away from these witches!" Aunt Reina responds.

"But Aunt—"

"Just go, Celestia! We can't keep them for so long!"

Tears fell from my eyes as I let my parents pull me away, "Please be safe, Aunt! Uncle!"

"Go, Celestia!"

I shut my eyes tightly before finally turning around and leaving at the backdoor.