𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺.

Twenty three.

After their whirlwind journey to Seoul, the group returned to Japan, exhaustion weighing on their shoulders but urgency in their hearts. They had the final pieces of the puzzle: Akira's blood, her hair, and the hidden item from her mother's grave. It was time to return to Marcella's manor and complete the ritual.

As they entered the grand, gothic mansion, Marcella was already waiting for them, her dark eyes flicking over the group with a knowing look. The air seemed charged with magic, the flickering candles casting long shadows on the walls.

"Well done, you've returned just in time," Marcella said, her voice smooth but edged with authority. "Now, give me everything."

Rowan stepped forward and handed over the pouch containing Akira's blood, hair, and the small ornate box they had retrieved from her mother's grave. Marcella nodded, her fingers brushing over the items as she prepared the ingredients.

A witch, who had been quietly watching from a corner of the room, approached them. Her eyes glimmered with a strange, ancient power. "I'll handle the spell. You just focus on getting the potion into Akira's hands. The rest will be easy."

The witch quickly set to work, weaving her hands through the air as she chanted in a low, melodic language. The atmosphere seemed to hum with energy as she combined the items. Rowan watched with bated breath as the witch's magic took shape.

A shimmering liquid began to swirl in the air, gradually forming into a small, delicate vial. The witch held it out to Rowan, who took it carefully, inspecting the potion. It was a soft, ethereal shade of purple, the color shifting and swirling inside as if it contained the very essence of the magic that would unlock Akira's true power.

Marcella stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "You must get Akira to drink this, and quickly. The potion will break the spell, but it needs to be consumed before her consciousness returns fully. You don't want her fighting it."

Renetta nodded, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "We'll figure it out. We'll put it in a drink, something she'll want to drink... but how do we make sure she doesn't resist?"

"Simple," Marcella replied, her lips curling into a small smile. "She won't be able to resist once it hits her lips. Trust me, the magic will do the rest. Just be careful. If she fights it too much, it might backfire."

With the potion securely in hand, the group made their way back to the academy. The atmosphere felt even heavier than before, the anticipation thick in the air. They would find Akira in her room, asleep from the earlier dose of the potion that had kept her unconscious. It was now time to make sure she drank this one—and the magic would take care of the rest.

Rowan, holding the tiny vial in her hand, took a deep breath. "Alright, everyone. Let's make sure this works."

With the other's help, they prepared a drink for Akira, mixing it carefully with something she would find familiar. Then, they gathered around her bed, Rowan quietly slipping the potion into the drink.

Marcella had been right—this was the final step. Now, all they had to do was get Akira to drink it.

Akira's eyes fluttered open, groggily scanning the room. She blinked as her vision focused on the familiar faces around her—Rowan, Renetta, and the two guys standing awkwardly in the background. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in her head made her pause. The strange, uneasy feeling in her stomach only grew as she noticed the tense air around them.

Rowan, her expression soft but serious, leaned forward with a small vial in her hand. "Here. Please be good and drink this. It's for your own sake." Her voice was calm, but there was an urgency beneath it, something Akira couldn't quite understand.

Akira stared at her for a moment, confusion knitting her brow. "What... is this?" she asked weakly.

"Just trust me," Rowan said, her voice gentle but insistent.

Before Akira could protest further, Rowan gently tipped the vial, pouring the potion into her mouth. The liquid was cold but strangely sweet, and Akira's eyes widened slightly. There was something oddly familiar about the taste. Despite her initial hesitation, she found herself unable to stop drinking. The potion slid down her throat with ease, and before long, the vial was empty.

"What... did you just give me?" Akira managed to rasp, her voice barely above a whisper as she laid back against the bed, feeling strange.

Rowan took a step back, watching her closely. "It's to help you, Akira. Just... wait for a moment. It'll be over soon."

Akira's hand instinctively went to her mouth, her teeth throbbing suddenly with an intense, gnawing pain. Her eyes shot wide open, and she gasped, her body stiffening as the ache in her gums grew stronger. "This hurts!" she cried out, her hands clutching the sides of her head in a desperate attempt to ease the discomfort.

The pain intensified, as if her very bones were shifting, her fangs elongating painfully. Akira's breath came in shallow gasps as her heart began to race, the familiar sensation of her vampire side stirring beneath the surface. She could feel her body changing, twisting and reshaping in ways she couldn't fully control.

Rowan's voice softened. "It's okay, Akira. Just let it happen. You're waking up. This is what you need."

Akira's eyes narrowed, confused, but also frightened. She had been human for so long, and now... now it felt like she was slipping away from that reality. Her powers, her vampire nature, were coming back. The pain was overwhelming, but beneath it, she could feel something else. Something darker, more powerful, flooding her veins.

"No..." Akira whimpered, shaking her head as her fangs finally slid out, sharp and deadly. "I don't want this. I don't want to be... like them." Her words were barely audible through the pain, but the magic from the potion was undeniable.

Renetta moved closer, her voice barely a whisper. "You are like them, Akira. You're one of us. Don't fight it."

But Akira's resistance was growing weaker, and slowly, as the potion took full effect, her body began to calm, the growing power settling inside her like an awakening. Her fangs, now fully visible, glistened in the dim light, and the sharp pain began to ebb, replaced by a sense of clarity and strength.

"You're not human anymore," Rowan said gently, stepping forward. "But that doesn't mean you have to be like them. You're still you. You just need to accept who you are."

Akira's gaze flickered between the group, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She could feel the power surging through her, but with it came the terrifying realization: she was no longer the girl she once was.

"Akira..." Rowan's voice was softer now. "You're safe. You're not alone."

Akira didn't answer at first. She just closed her eyes, letting the last of the pain subside, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she could breathe freely again.

Akira felt hungry. This was the time she knew she had to feed. They brought  a human blood bag for her. She slowly fed. It was rusty and strange..but now she felt stronger than she'd ever have before.