The air is cold and still, thick with incense and the metallic tang of blood. Marble walls carved with ossuaries and skeletal wings rise like silent judges around the ritual chamber.

  She stands there, naked, her pale skin stretched over her willowy thin body. her eyes sunken in and tired stare ahead, the spark of defiance finally lost. Leonardo, her older brother looks up as he draws the lines for the ritual of awakening. His eyes wandering over her wounds, the bruised ribs, the scars on her wrists and thighs, the deep welts on her back.

  He knows she tried everything to escape their legacy. Hungerstrike, self harm, running away, outright defiance. But all it got her was even more suffering.

  His gaze turns to his Mother. Her formal gown black, with silver embroidery, her posture detached but dignified. She is not here for her daughter but because tradition demands it. Behind her on an altar of stone he sees the three essences.

  The rainbow glowing Magic essence

  the dark iron-like Force essence

  the pale bone Death essence

  Their mother raises her arms, her voice a quiet, lethal whisper that still reverberates with their souls. “Kneel Daughter. Tonight you will inherit the legacy of house deLuca. You will take your first sip of true power.” slowly, Melissa sinks to her knees lifting her gaze to their mother, her voice broken... barely a whisper “please mother. i... I don't want any of it” Their mothers gaze is sharp, unyielding “That is not your choice to make. You are a deLuca. Legacy is your Blood. The undeath confluence is your birthright. Your responsibility. Those childish protests are meaningless”

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  Melissa sags suppressing silent tears as hope abandons her. Her eyes follow Leonardos reverent steps as he moves to the altar.

  Leonardo stops in front of the altar, his category 2 aura tightly controlled, showing nothing. He knows that this is the moment that counts. One moment of silent protest. He reaches for the first two essences. But while he picks the force essence up, a trick with his dimensional storage power lets the Magic essence vanish and produces another at the same moment he grabs it.

  His steps take him to Melissa, her gaze now on the ground. Their mothers eyes closed. Her face showing only contempt for the weakness of her daughter. He puts the essences in her outstretched hands before putting his hand on the ground. He whispers, the Ritual circle glows as its magic activates and both essences vanish in to Melissas skin and her eyes snap to him “sound” she mouths in silent astonishment “to give you a voice” Leonardo says as he waves his hand and cleans the marble floor from the ritual residue “what was that sweety?” his mother asks with an affectionate tone as she opens her eyes and scrutinises Melissa “i just told my dear sister that she now understands the worth of her voice” he keeps his tone neutral knowing that his aura will not betray his emotions unless his mother will push it. He draws the second ritual out while she observes Melissa's confusion, hoping it is a sign that she finally shows some potential.