Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Wyatt, happy birthday to you--

Wyatt faked a smile at his cliques poor attempt to make him feel significant at lunch hour. Sadly, he saw right through the cupcakes with candles in them as he blew them out. Sitting across the table, Cassandra was on the same frequency, encouraging him to accept that it was the thought that counted. Wyatt rolled his eyes and sighed, sucking it up.

For the rest of the school day, Wyatt watched every minute on the clock slowly die. When the final class was dismissed and the last bell had finally rung, he met up with Cassandra and his friends in the hallway near their lockers.

"So, I was thinking," Cassandra rummaged through her locker, organizing it to make room for her chemistry books, "Later tonight we should go to dinner at the Diner, then follow it up with a movie at your place?" her locker door slammed and she turned to face Wyatt. "Mr. and Mrs. Covington are paying me today for babysitting their little, twin devil spawns last week so we could even get popcorn and snacks."

"You're insane if you think I'm letting you buy me dinner," Wyatt narrowed his eyes, "Or anything for that matter."

"First of all, yes, I am insane," she smirked with a sarcastic flare, "And second, I don't think you're letting me buy you dinner, I know you are."

"Babe, come on how does that even make sense--?" he grimaced at the thought. Why would she spend money she didn't have when he would willingly pay for everything?

"It makes sense because it's your birthday Wyatt, and you're my boyfriend. I love you," she put her arms around him looking up into his eyes, "I just want to make you feel special, today of all days, that's all."

He pressed his lips against hers mid breath, devouring the honey on her tongue. It was spontaneous enough to catch Cassie off guard. She unknowingly knew his weak spot and he fell for her, hard, every time she brushed it. This feeling was like ecstasy; he never wanted it to end.

"I love you, you know that?" he whispered, eyes closed to savor the moment. He pressed his forehead lightly against hers and slid his hands down to her waist, "So fucking much."

"I love you too," she giggled, pecking him on the lips one more time, "Now lets get the fuck out of here."

"You read my mind."

They parted with their friends and headed back to Wyatt's place. Along the way they stopped at a few places to get ready for the night. Cassie picked up clothes and the money Mr. and Mrs. Covington owed her form the previous week. Then they grabbed popcorn and sweets from the gas station for their cheap date. As they pulled up to the front gates of Wyatt's estate, something was out of the ordinary.

"Who's here?" Cassandra asked suspiciously, looking over at Wyatt who was just as confused as he was.

Through the slowly creeping gates, there was a car in the long rounded driveway Wyatt hadn't seen in a while. A white, two door mustang that had an open top. For a split second, he froze. His eyes widened slightly like he had just seen a ghost-- though they might as well have been. Could it really be? He thought to himself. He didn't want to get his hopes up-- he couldn't. But why would they be here? Why now? It left an uneasy feeling bubbling in the pit of his gut.

"No way..."

"What? What is it?" Cassie looked over at him, undecided of how to process his demeanor. When he didn't produce a response she got nervous. "Babe? Talk to me, you're scaring me."

"I-I think my parents are here."

"What??" she shrieked excitedly, "Oh my god! I think the last time I actually seen you parents was when we were seven! I don't think I'm ready for this!" her excitement slowly died when she realized Wyatt didn't seem to care. "Okay, why do I feel like I'm more excited about this than you are--?"

"Somethings wrong," he shook his head, "They're never here for my birthday."

Wyatt pulled the car past the gate once it was fully opened, creeping up to his mother's car. He shifted into park and killed the engine, sitting there in the drivers seat in a deep train of thought. Why were they here? What could have happened? It wasn't that he didn't want to see his parents, it wasn't that at all. The small part of him that hoped they'd be here was somewhat satisfied, but there was just something about it that didn't feel right.

"Vidian?" Wyatt called as he stepped out of the Hemi to his butler grabbing suitcases from the trunk of his mother's car. "What's going on? Are they, actually here?"

"Ah, Master Wye," Vidian slams the trunk and bows slightly to Wyatt's presence, "Your mother and father await you in their chambers, they wish to speak with you," he turns to face Cassandra with the slight look of condolence, "Alone. My apologies m' lady."

"Alone?" Wyatt scoffs, grabbing her hand as if to defend her. "Anything they have to discuss they can say in front of her."

"Sire, it is of upmost urgent importance. I would highly suggest not to allow such--"

"She's coming with me--"

"It's okay babe," Cassandra squeezed his hand, simmering the small flame from building inside him, "Your mother and your father just want to speak with you alone. There's no reason for either of us to take it the wrong way."

"But I--?"

"Go, please?" she kissed him on the lips, "I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself. I'll be right here when you get back."

"Vidian, draw a bath," Wyatt ordered without losing his place in his girlfriends eyes, "I'll be quick, I promise. Get ready, because when you're done, it'll be just you and me."

Her cheeky smile grew, "I like the sound of that--"

Cassandra followed Vidian up the stairs she felt she were running away to, like Cinderella on the stoke of midnight, leaving behind a glass slipper. Wyatt watched the love of his life with pure euphoria, already longing for the next taste of her presence. Even when she disappeared from sight, he couldn't get over the feeling she gave him. He just stood there, smiling, taking in the moment. How did he get so lucky? He thought to himself. Little did he realize that the same thought -- in that exact same moment -- lingered in her mind as well.

His father's study was in the west wing of the house. It was the biggest room of the estate that only Wyatt's mother and father could access due to a three part security scan; fingerprint, optical and blood. Wyatt could count on one hand how many times he's actually ever been inside his father's study. This time would be the fourth. From his vague memory as a child it was exactly how he last remembered it. Giant oil painting of his great grandfather hanging above the fire place, large mahogany desk, and a whole wall of window to let the sunlight in at the perfect angle.

Though Wyatt despised this room for many reasons, the main one being his restriction to it, the one thing he did enjoy was the endless bookshelves filled with book. From the floor all the way up to the high vaulted ceiling, covering what were meant to be the walls, were nothing but title engraved spines of the ageless books his bloodline had collected over the centuries. There was enough information in the room to conquer an entire empire, and then some. It was his father's most prized possession.

"You summoned me?" Wyatt cleared his throat to catch the attention of his mother and father who were frantically scanning the bookshelves.

"There he is," his mother's face lit up as she paused her search in the shelves.

"Is everything alright?"

"You know, I thought you'd be a little more," his father hesitated, nose lost in the pages of a book, "Excited to see us."

"Why are you here?" Wyatt cut straight to the point. "Because the little gift you left on the doorstep tells me it isn't for my birthday."

"does something have to be wrong for us to be here?" his mother asked. She climbed down from the latter of the bookshelf with an old scripture text book. "We do live here--"

"Why did you summon me?"

His father sighed, "Your mother and I are having dinner tonight, here, and we would like you to join us."

"Tonight? I-I don't think I can do tonight I already have pla--"

"We have much to discuss, son, and now that you're eighteen it's time to introduce you to the business side of this family--"

"Can't this wait till tomorrow?"

"It cannot wait," his father shook his head, closing his book and looking at Wyatt for the first time. "And you will be there, end of discussion. This is much bigger than anything you could possibly imagine and if you knew what was good for you, you would believe me when I say that there are very important things we need to discuss--"

"Then why don't you just tell me? Right now? Huh?" Wyatt sneered. It didn't make sense as to why it had to wait. If it were so important, why wasn't it being said? "What is going on?"

"Honey, listen to me," Wyatt's mother chimed in to break the tension building in the room, "The truth is, you're right. Your father and I weren't planning on being here today, as much as it hurts to say. But something came up and it caused us to delay certain, business transactions until we came up with a solution--"

"Which is why we're here looking for answers," his father regained the light, "There are dangers out there to this family that you know nothing about. We just want to make sure you are prepared for them now that you are old enough--"

"I know it's a lot to take in, in such a short amount of time, and everything is so vague but we will fully explain and talk about it over dinner--"

"Can Cassandra come at least?" Wyatt threw his hands up in defeat. He was just so unsure of how to feel or even process the information. "We were supposed to go to dinner for my birthday and she's my girlfriend now so--"

"No--" his father replied blandly.

"No?? What do you mean no? Why not??"

"We cannot bring outsiders into the business of our affairs. Only those bound to us by blood or sacrifice may have access to any knowledge we posses--"

"So I'm just supposed to bail?? Sorry, I'm not doing that to her she means everything to me right now--"

"You can, and you will--"

Wyatt scoffed, starring his father down with no more words left to say. Who did he think he was? After three months of being away he comes in here and demands obedience? Wyatt stormed out of his fathers study. More than anything, he was angry. What was so important anyway that they had to keep it a secret? Surely Cassandra wasn't the type of person to squeal, He thought as he marched to his room. What could they possibly have to hide?