Queen of Shadows
Hear our prayer.
Grant us your blessing
Goddess of that which is,
Which was,
And is yet to come.
Goddess of the night
Goddess of power
Goddess of spirit
Bind our souls together.
Let us be a light in the darkness.
Let us be your hand of justice.
Let us be comfort to all.
Help us guide the lost.
Help us punish the wicked.
Help us mend the broken.
As we unite to fulfill your wishes
As Sons of Hecate
After the first recitation of the words, I felt my power rising. Everything seemed brighter, the fire in front became a blinding beacon. The smells of the river became deeper, the crisp fir trees sharper. I could hear every inhalation of every smiling person around us.
I saw Ri grin as his magic began to circle around us, his fire enveloping us in a bubble of warmth, a flame that didn’t burn.
At the second recitation of the ritual I saw Ri’s magic turn from golden to green as his Earth magic unlocked. I felt a strange stinging sensation in my hands. I looked down in awe at my hands as my fingers lengthened, hardening into claws. Before this, all I’d been able to do was grow the nails super long, not what I was looking at now. This was it! One more recitation and my shape changing and healing powers would unlock, and so would Ri’s ability to use all four elements and block the Elusian Suppression ability.
He grinned at me, his green eyes throwing off multicolored sparks as we began the third recitation. I couldn’t help but grin back. The power was intoxicating.
The crowd around us began chanting with us. Bonded pairs reached out to take each other’s hands, though in truth Ihardly noticed. I was too caught up in the feeling of bonding with Ri.
For an instant I felt as though something wrapped itself around my heart. The feeling was effervescent and filled with joy. I realized after a startled moment that what I was feeling was Ri’s soul.
A high, whistling noise grew louder and closer. The sharpening of my senses was overwhelming, so much so that I didn’t realize what I was hearing until it was too late.
I saw Ri’s eyes go wide and felt the rush of his magic as he tried to pull up a shield to protect us from the incoming missile. Somehow, I could feel his sudden fear and desperation.
Then, like a candle in a gust of wind, his soul just…disappeared.
I didn’t feel the missile hit, just found myself flying, and felt the flames of Ri’s Fire shield change from warm and comforting to a fiery agony.
Mercifully, I didn’t remember any more for a long time.
The next few days were a hellish agony, both physical and mental. I couldn’t make sense of what was happening, of what I was feeling physically, or why I had an aching void in my heart where Ri had so briefly been.
