Gabriel plugged the USB into his laptop, opened the video file and pressed play. His grandma’s smiling face popped up and she started talking.
“Hello, my dear grandson. If you are watching this, it means I am no longer with you.
I am so sorry I couldn’t do this in person. I am so sorry I didn’t tell you any of this sooner, but I wanted to protect you. I couldn’t lose you too.
I hope that by the end of this video you will understand my actions and you will not be angry with me. I had no bad intentions, I only wanted what’s best for you.
I thought hiding this from you is the way to go, but I was wrong, and I am sorry. You know I love you. But, let me start at the beginning.
I was a young witch, about 20 years old when I first heard of a warlock named Victor. Supernaturals were talking about him like he was their God. They were saying he wanted justice for our kind, that he was going to fight for us and improve our position amongst humans. I liked what they were saying, and I wanted to know more about him. I wanted to join his cause.
See, that was a time when we didn’t live amongst humans as peacefully as we do today. We lived in isolated villages, we had to hide from humans. Their government knew about our existence, of course, but they didn’t want us close.
Victor said he was going to fight for us. Get them to let us live in the cities. Get proper jobs and education. My friend Grace and I both believed in what he was saying, and we wanted to get to know him and work with him.
As Grace and I both were always bright, it didn’t take us long to climb the ladder and soon we were working beside him. He was excellent, his aura was commanding, but calming. He was a true leader.
We thought we were doing something good for our kind, but we were proven wrong.
We found out his true intentions. He had a prophecy. This prophecy said that in the future twins will be born.
Twins so powerful that at the age of 22, they will rule the supernaturals. They will be fair and just, and they will bring true peace amongst supernaturals and humans. Victor didn’t like this prophecy. He wanted that power for himself. To rule, to remove humans from the face of the Earth.
He hated them. We saw his cruelty. But he didn’t know anything else about these twins. The prophecy didn’t say when they will be born, or what kind of supernatural they will be.
So, he hired a dark witch to find out for him. Cora was the most powerful dark witch at that time. She used her dark magic to find out about the twins. She said they will be born on a full moon, about 30 years from now. She couldn’t see their gender or their kind, but she saw they will both have a birthmark on their right shoulder blade. In the shape of a moon.
They will be a gift from the Moon Goddess. Victor was satisfied. He said he will give the order in 25 years to bring him all twin babies born on a full moon, and he will search for ones with this birthmark. His plan was to kill them and absorb their power and Cora was going to help him do that.
Grace and I were horrified and disappointed. We told his plan to other powerful supernaturals, and we had him removed. We thought we were safe from him.
Grace disagreed. She said we were still in danger, and we needed to find those twins and do something to protect ourselves.
She even went as far as to say we should kill one or both of them. I couldn’t believe that she would say that. I stopped hanging out with her after that. We just couldn’t agree on that. I moved on with my life. I met your grandfather and had my baby, your mom.
When your mom got pregnant with you, I was so happy. I was going to be a grandma. I was with her at the doctor’s when she found out she was having twins. As much as I was happy, I was also scared. Could it be? The prophecy said around 30 years.
And it was time for them to come to our world. The word got around and Grace found out about your mom’s babies. She came to me and demanded I call her when you were born to see if you had the mark.
I refused. I was scared of her and what she could do.
The months flew by, and you came into this world.
It was the night of the full moon. You both were so cute. The first thing I did was to check your shoulder blades.
And there they were. Two moon-shaped birthmarks. I was consumed with fear. I told my husband and your parents about the prophecy.
I hid it from them until you were born, but I couldn’t do that anymore. Our biggest concern was Grace. We feared what she would do if she knew.
So, we were really careful, and we did everything to protect you.
We always made sure one of us was with you and you were never alone.
But then I lost most of my family. Your parents and your grandpa, my husband, were killed in a car accident.
I was home with you when the news came. There was a knock on the door, and I left you in your crib to answer the door. The police told me what happened, and I broke.
I lost my family. It took me a while to stop crying and pull myself together. The cops wanted me to go to the morgue and identify the bodies. I told them I will go, but I need to take you with me.
You two were the only family I had left. I was going to protect you with my life.
I went upstairs to your room to get you, but I found only one baby. You, my darling Gabriel. The window was open and there was a note in the crib next to you.
It was from Grace. She apologized for causing the accident that killed my family and she said there wasn’t any other way to protect everybody from Victor.
I can’t even begin to explain to you the anger I felt. I wanted to kill her; I wanted her to suffer. But I couldn’t leave you.
I searched for Grace for a long time, but I couldn’t find her. And you needed me. So, I stopped. And I did everything so you could have the life you deserved.
And I thought we were done with Victor and the prophecy. But I was wrong.
Humans aren’t behind this inquisition. Victor and Cora are pulling the strings.
Humans don’t know, of course, but they are in charge.
Hiding behind this Middle Age cause and lying to humans about ridding the world of supernaturals. They are looking for you. He wants your power. He wants to rule the world and kill humans.
The best way to defeat him would be with your twin, when you are 22 and reach your full power. But you have to do it alone because I don’t know if she is alive anymore.
Everything I told you was hard for me to say but talking about your sister is going to be the hardest. I feel like I let her down.
Like she would be alive now if I was stronger. You wouldn’t be alone right now.
You would have her. She would be an amazing person, I am sure. Just like you. And she would be beautiful, just like you, my Gabriel. She was only 6 months old when Grace took her. She had the most amazing green eyes and brown hair.
She had your eyes, Gabriel. Her name was Aria. In the smaller box, there is a picture of you two. I want you to know her. And I am sorry I didn’t tell you about her sooner.
There is a picture of your parents in there as well. And a medallion. We bought you and Aria the same medallion and we put your pictures inside so you would never be alone.
I put a spell on them so they can open only when they are close. But Grace took Aria’s.
So, there is only yours inside. I am sorry you won’t be able to open it, but you will always know she is in there. By your side. I can’t even begin to tell you how sorry I am about everything.
Keeping secrets, lying to you, not saving your sister. I hope you can forgive me.
Because I will never forgive myself. I hope I will see your parents and your grandpa when I’m gone. And Aria. I can’t wait to hold her.
We will all be watching you and protecting you from afar. I love you, my darling. Never forget that.”
