Her Immortal Destiny

Balance

Misty POV

I stood pressed against the cool stone wall, almost blending into the shadows of the vast gathering room. The air was heavy with the scent of ancient books and the murmurs of the crowd. My mother, the head of our Coven stood at the front, her voice confident as she addressed everyone. We had suffered the loss of three more witches from our bloodline, their deaths believed to be the work of a rival coven. One that was once like family, now turned into our greatest enemy.

Amongst the dwindling number of immortal witches, I remained, burdened with the immense responsibility of maintaining balance in this realm. It was our duty to ensure that no one species reigned supreme. For centuries, we had succeeded, concealing the supernatural world from oblivious humans. Vampires lurked in their midst, careful not to cause enough harm to draw our intervention. Werewolves, for the most part, kept to themselves, establishing their packlands deep within the forests, far from human territories. Witches, though occasionally meddling, rarely involved themselves in the conflicts between species.

But as the human population grew, so did the greed and bloodlust of the vampires. Their attacks became more frequent, their presence undeniable. The werewolf packs, now closer to humans, started ravaging villages, reclaiming their land. Desperation consumed the humans as they discovered the truth about the creatures they shared their world with. Some sought the aid of witches, pleading for a way to fight back and protect themselves.

A powerful, immortal witch named Endora answered their plea. She understood that the balance was at stake, with the humans now under attack. In her wisdom, she cast a spell that bestowed the humans with enhanced strength and healing abilities. A child, born from this spell, became a beacon of hope for humanity. Blessed with special blood, even a small amount of her essence could grant a human extraordinary abilities, transforming them into hunters. For years, this spell maintained equilibrium.

But as time passed, the other supernatural beings learned of this child. They discovered that not only could her blood empower humans, but it could also bestow immortality and strength upon werewolves. The child became a target, hunted and stolen from the humans by the werewolf king. She was used to grant immortality, and due to her unique curse, she herself was immortal as well unless her blood was abused.

The King, fueled by her blood, grew stronger with each dose, his immortality assured as long as he continued to drink, providing him the power to stand above all. The delicate balance we swore to protect was now at risk.

In response, our coven devised a plan to exterminate the cursed child with powerful magic. We sought to end the spell and restore balance. However, when we approached Endora's coven for support, she staunchly refused. The spell she had initially cast, she believed, was destined to bring about the child who would restore balance. We clashed, our bloodlines locked in a fierce battle.

As our conflict raged on, One cursed child died. The king’s insatiable greed for power and immortality abused her blood, but with the death of one child, a new human child emerged, burdened with the same curse, falling into the clutches of the werewolves yet again. Time was of the essence, as we sensed the life force of this new child slipping away as well.

We knew we had to act swiftly, locating and destroying the next cursed child to break the curse and restore balance. The destruction of our realm could happen any time now, darkness threatening to engulf us all. The world we once knew stood on the brink of irreversible change, and the survival of many hung in the balance.

My mother's voice cut through the tension, summoning me. "Misty, step forward," she commanded, her words echoing in the room.

I pushed myself away from the stone wall, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze on me. The room was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the sound of my mother's voice. "Misty, you are to be the next one tasked with securing the cursed child," she ordered, her words hanging in the air.

My heart raced as I absorbed the gravity of her words. I was to head to the werewolf territory, a place known for its eerie atmosphere. I would have to monitor their activities, devising a plan to take the current cursed child. The murmurs of the crowd filled the room, creating a cacophony of doubt and uncertainty.

I cleared my throat, breaking the tension. "You mean cursed adult," I interjected, my voice echoing through the space. "The child has reached adulthood and has remained as an eighteen-year-old for quite some time now. So why do we still call it a child?" I sighed, aware of the weight of tradition and terminology.

"A child still, compared to our age," my mother replied, her voice firm. "But regardless, you are to leave immediately and carry out this task. The power within you runs strong, Misty. Do not let us down." Her words filled the room with a sense of urgency and expectation.

I nodded solemnly, bowing out of respect for my mother's authority. Voices filled the once silent area, objections and doubts echoing off the stone walls. My mother's commanding voice cut through the noise, demanding silence. All eyes turned to her once again.

"Do you question my daughter's power?" she asked, her voice laced with authority. "She is next to me in power. Do you see her as unfit to carry out this task?" The room fell silent once more, the weight of her words hanging in the air.

"It is not that she is unfit, she is different." one voice spoke up, breaking the silence. I couldn't help but laugh softly, despite my mother's disapproving glare. "I assume you mean my premonitions," I interjected, my voice steady. "I am the first in our bloodline to experience such vivid predictions."

The woman's voice continued, her doubts evident. "It is that you use them as a guide and have been wrong on several occasions. You are skilled, that is without a doubt, yet you have not mastered your ability to read your premonitions correctly, and that has already caused problems."

My mother's cane slammed against the ground, the sound reverberating through the room. "Misty has already been blocked from using that power," she declared with authority. "She will not be using it on this task. Misty will be assigned several witches to travel and work alongside her. They will show her respect and aid her in the completion of this task. As my daughter, I am confident she will secure the child, and then we can once again restore balance."

No one voiced objections this time, although I could sense the discontent in the air. The room began to empty, and as my mother approached me, her heels clicked against the polished marble floor. "Misty, I expect you to prove yourself," she whispered, her voice laced with a hint of threat. "Fail me, and you'll be cast out, your power stripped away." I nodded, "I won't let you down, mother," I assured her.

"You leave tonight," she commanded, her voice firm and authoritative. "Prepare your belongings and return to this gathering room to meet those assigned to travel with you."

"Arrangements have been made in a human village outside of werewolf territory for you," she continued. "I expect regular updates on progress," she added, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. "Understood," I responded, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions within me.

As I left the room to pack, the heavy wooden door creaked, adding to the eerie atmosphere. The moment I entered my room, a sense of solitude washed over me. I sighed, the weight of my responsibilities pressing on my shoulders. Taking a deep breath, I inhaled the scent of lavender from one of my candles, the fragrance calming my restless mind.

Never before had I been more than just a vessel for my mother's bloodline. There was no love, no warmth in our relationship, but such was common among our kind. Immortality and powers were bestowed upon us for one purpose only – to maintain the delicate balance of the world. Love and a fulfilling life were distant fantasies, our relationships predetermined and often devoid of joy.

I sometimes dreamed of a different life, one where I didn't have to face such daunting tasks. A life where I could experience love and all its complexities. But deep down, I knew it was nothing more than a fleeting dream, an unreachable desire.

With a heavy heart, I picked up my small bag and quickly packed my belongings. The room felt emptier with each item I placed inside. Casting a final glance at the room, I knew it would be a long time before I returned. But when I did, I would have earned the respect of those who doubted my mother's decision to assign me the task of the cursed child.

As I returned to the gathering room, I reunited with my fellow travelers and together we set out on our journey. Determined not to falter, my goal was clear - to become the immortal witch renowned for restoring and safeguarding balance.