Magicks & Mortals: Volume One

5 - Right of Passage

*Reyna*

Reyna stared at herself in the mirror, she has no desire to have her right of passage at the VonUmbra estate in the demon forests. It's the most important night of her life. It's when she becomes a true DiEdaan witch.

Her powers will be solidified and her soul will choose a familiar. A familiar is the being that anchors her power and helps guide and protect her. Both her parents' familiars are shape shifters and she can't wait to meet hers.

Reyna took a deep breath as she followed behind her mother and father through the forests. The blackened trees were lined with globes of starlight and she smiled as they entered the clearing. Her coven was standing in a circle around a grey stone slab with the symbol of her coven written in a glimmering white paint.

She gasped, "You saved our stone?" She breathed at the twinkling granite.

"We had to save it, the VonCaligos weren't strong enough to destroy all of our sacred things." Sienna smiled as he father took her hand and led her to the center of the stone. Her starlight gown illuminated underneath her as she stood waiting for the ceremony to begin.

*Lucian*

Lucian stood with his parents and the other VonUmbra clan behind the DiEdaans waiting for Reyna to make her appearance. He heard the collective gasp and looked towards the entrance of the clearing and his breath caught in his throat at the sight of her.

She was dressed in a starlight gown, the bodice of her dress shimmered in the moonlight and the gold epaulets on her shoulders were in the shape of a crescent moon. Her hair was left down with intricate braids wrapped around her head.

He's never seen her like this before. She's breathtaking. Something unfurled inside of him, a dull burn in the pit of his stomach. He clenched his fists to fight his demon from rising. His body shook aching to protect her. He's never felt a pull like this to her or anyone before.

"Are you alright, Lucian?" His mother asked seeing the torment on his face.

"I know you two aren't friends anymore but you don't have to glare at her all the time." His father whispered to him.

"It's not...that." He grumbled, taking a deep breath trying to calm his irrational response to her.

Reyna knelt down on the slab as the moon reached its highest peak in the sky. Her eyes began to glow softly while her starlight hair illuminated as the light of the moon fell over her. Sienna began the DiEdaan blessings and the stars seemed to grow brighter, the air collected around Reyna. The energy of the forest felt as if it were leaning into her, giving her its power.

Lucian felt his energy being drawn to her and he struggled to keep from changing. Sweat beaded on his brow as he looked around him at the other VonUmbras but none of them seemed to struggle as he was.

Reyna held out her hands, palms facing the sky, letting the power of the earth and moon accept her and flow into her body. She took a deep breath and began reciting the spell to summon her familiar. Her melodic voice filtered throughout the forest gently calling out for the being who would become her guardian, her talisman and her protector.

Lucian felt her words all around him and they seemed to flow and lick over his skin. The sound of her voice vibrated through his veins. He snarled against it, trying to hold on to his last bit of control.

"Come to me." Her voice commanded over and over in his mind.

A red halo surrounded the moon and a black cloud of thunder and red lightning swirled above Reyna. Lucian's blackened clawed feet appeared from the cloud as he slowly floated down behind her. His black legs and tanned bare chest engulfed her small frame. His onyx wings bending around her protectively.

As if in a trance, Lucian slid his large black claws underneath her upturned hands.

"Ego nota. Ego lumen sapientiam, et illustrat. Et ego veniam ad vos in hac vita nihil nocere neque in futuro. Imperare anima tua."

(I am your familiar. I shall be your beacon to wisdom and enlightenment. I will let no harm come to you in this life or the next. My soul is yours to command.)

At his words the red hue around the moon burst in a blinding light engulfing them in pure white energy.

*Reyna*

Reyna gasped at the flood of power entering her body as her bond with her familiar was solidified. She can feel a second heartbeat pulsing in time with her own. She slowly reached out to the being in her mind.

*What's your name, familiar?* She whispered testing their mental connection.

*Kova.* He responded and her heart clenched in her chest at the sound of his voice. The surge of energy flowing between filled her up and she blacked out from the shock.