S.M. owns all. I just enjoy the sandbox.

Today is my sixteenth birthday. Normal girls are having their sweet sixteen on this birthday. That's was okay. I'm different. My mother is different too. She and I are Magic.

Yesterday me and Bazel, my mother's familiar, gathered wood and brush for a small bonfire. This is to be a private family shindig.

A party of four. Almost four, but actually three. Soon to be four. Mom and Bazel, and me and soon my own familiar.

Bazel is bonded to my mom. He has been for almost 40 years. Bazell is a large yellow North American panther. A mountain lion.

When a creature takes up the mantle of a familiar, there are always perks involved. All familiars get an extended lifespan and the ability to share their bond-mates' magic. Mom has told me stories of where magic-users who have bonded with long-lived animals and their own lives were given longevity.

My grandmother's bond is with a sea turtle. She is in her 60's. She barely looks 40. She could also hold her breath for hours underwater.

The stronger the magic-user, the stronger familiar that answers Magic's call. I am impatient to get started.

Behind me, I hear Bazel make several a raspy growl purring noises. He is laughing at me. He knows how I feel. He's been listening to me all day today and most of yesterday. Mom said that he told her that I made more noise than a basket of crickets. Playfully I stuck my tough out at him.

"Bella," my mom spoke quietly as she sat down next to me. "It's almost time, sweetie." Absently she strokes a few strands of my hair as she sits down on the ground next to me. "Are you ready?" All I can do is a nod. I am ready to get started. The air around me is filled with nervous energy.

"Happy birthday baby girl." Mom smiles at me. "Close your eyes. Don't open them again until your new friend says you can."

Nodding, I did as I was told and close my eyes. Bazel butts his head against my shoulder in reassures. He and Mom are my guides today.

First, I have to light the bonfire. Reaching with my energy, I can feel the wood and bits of paper in the center of the pile. I have to make it so hot that it catches fire. My mind is the only thing I can use for this task. I have to speed up the natural vibrations to make it hotter.

I can smell it first. Then I hear the crackling. The fire gives off a happy hum. I can hear the flames climbing through the deadfall that we scavenged all day yesterday.

The fire is my focus. I channel all my energy to the flame and begin the calling.

RPOV

I am so proud of Bella. She has worked so hard for this ceremony. Between Bazel and I, we are taking bets and what will answer Bella's call.

I am betting a large cat like I have. Both my sister and I called to large predatory cats. With our magic, we make them look like big house cats when we have a house guest.

Bazel bets no. According to him, she is stronger than that. I can only raise an eyebrow at this. I trust his intuitions. Large cats are pretty high on the list.

The flames have begun to climb higher. I have made sure to keep a good supply of wood off to the side. I will keep the fire going while she goes on her magical walkabout.

I notice the flames changing colors. A deep red meant a natural creature of Great Mother. Purple means something Fey or another realm. But this one changed to green.

Bazel and I look at each other. Green is an earthbound creature, but one with magic origins. What the hell...

BPOV

I can feel him. He's trapped. Feeling the vibrations around him, I figure out he is captured by vampires. He isn't human. Familiars can't be. All humans are given a name at birth. For the calling to work, the creature can not have a name. That didn't matter right now. He belongs to me. He just didn't know it yet.

Let me help you. My mind is slam with fear and confusion. He has a strong mind and his own magic. But he is still young. His vibrations feel similar to the two vampires nearby.

Get ready. That's all the warning I have time to give him. Reaching out with all my energy, I displace him. Then I wrap a shield around him. When I displace the molecules in his body, he drops through the body of the car he was riding in and hitting the pavement hard.

He bounces up on his feet within seconds. Looking around in confusion. I urge him on. Pulling him to me. It feels like a cord pulling tight between us. It's the only way I know to show him where I am.

I overpower his mind and push his body to its limits. He's fast. As fast as a vampire. This is a mystery that I will solve later when the creature is standing before me.

A witch can't bond to a vampire. They aren't a living, breathing creature with a heartbeat. I can not open my eyes or ask my mother right now. That will break the calling. There is a need building up. A need to touch him and make the bond permanent.

Something in the back of my mind tells me that I still need to keep him shielded. I want him to disappear from all six senses. I quickly hide his scent. Mom told me before that a vampire's nose is a thousand times stronger than a bloodhound. She also told me, that many of them have talents too.

A Magic-user isn't the same as a witch. A witch is someone who worships the horned goddess and horned god. Yeah, they have their own spells and earth magic, but it is not the same. I have a magic core that I am taught from birth to control with the full capacity of my mind. It is a skill that is passed down from parent to child. Some bloodlines have forgotten how far back they go.

There are many creatures that I have spent years learning about. If I can't figure out what he is, I know Mom probably can.