The silence woke her. Amaya's eyes sprung open, her breath hitching in her throat as she gasped for air. She lay on a stone altar, her body chilled by the unyielding surface beneath her. Around her, a circle of robed women stood in strong unity, their hands joined together as they hummed in a low, resonant chant.
The flickering light of torches cast eerie shadows upon the cavern walls, their flames barely reaching the towering ceiling. Through an open section of the roof, the night sky loomed above, a deep abyss speckled with stars, and at its heart, the full moon beamed down upon her like an omnipotent eye.
The chants grew louder. Amaya's fingers twitched against the stone, her body reacting to the overwhelming energy coursing through her veins. The low hum turned into a powerful melody, a sacred hymn that vibrated in her bones, threatening to pull her deeper into its embrace.
Her breath shuddered once more, her body tensing as a sharp, searing heat spread through her limbs. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, an ancient force surging through her blood, awakening something primal. Her claws sprang forth.
She gasped, gripping the altar as her fingers elongated, her nails sharpening into curved claws. Her pupils dilated, turning into dark pools that swallowed the faint golden glow in her irises. Power swelled in her chest, wild and untamed, her body threatening to shift further. But she couldn't lose control, not here, not now.
She clenched her jaw, fighting against the primal urge to surrender. The Sisters of Hades continued their chant, their voices weaving together, creating an unbreakable link between them. They were not mere witches, bound by spells and incantations. No, they were something far greater.
The noble Sisters of the Hades pack. While the men of Hades rode into battle, the sisters stood as the silent backbone of their people. Their magic was not wielded for war or destruction but for healing, protection, and fortification. It was their power that shielded warriors from fatal blows, their whispers that strengthened the spirit of those on the battlefield.
And at the center of them all was Luna Jamayah, their high priestess. It was she who led this ritual, guiding the energy that surged through Amaya's body. It was she who had prepared Amaya for this moment, this sacred rite under the full moon.
Tonight was not merely a ritual. Tonight was a test. The voices around her crescendoed, reaching a peak before suddenly fading, ebbing like the last echoes of a storm. The power within Amaya pulsed violently before settling, weaving itself into her very being.
A final breath. Then, silence. A gentle touch cupped her face, fingers warm against her chilled skin. Amaya gasped, her chest heaving as though she had been pulled back from the edge of an abyss.
"Shh," a familiar voice whispered. "You did excellently, my child." It was her mother's voice.
Amaya blinked, her vision clearing to find Luna Jamayah kneeling before her, the high priestess's deep, knowing gaze locked onto hers. The warmth of her hands grounded her, pulling Amaya back from the haze of magic and power. Slowly, she sat up.
The other sisters, their faces hidden beneath the shadows of their hoods, bowed in silent reverence before one by one, they turned and departed, their robes sweeping across the cavern floor like whispers of wind. Only Luna Jamayah, Amaya, and Selene remained.
Amaya exhaled, her muscles still taut from the energy that had coursed through her body. She turned to her mother,
"How long was I gone?"
Luna Jamayah's eyes softened. "For quite a while."
Amaya swallowed, the lingering traces of the ritual still thrumming through her bloodstream. "And the totem, Mother?"
A pause. Luna Jamayah reached forward, gently tucking a stray lock of Amaya's hair behind her ear.
"In due time, Amaya," she murmured. "In due time."
A flicker of frustration threatened to rise within Amaya, but she forced it down. She had learned long ago that her mother revealed things only when the time was right. Selene, dutiful as always stepped forward and held out Amaya's cloak. She took it, wrapping the familiar fabric around herself, its weight grounding her in reality.
Without another word, they turned and made their way out of the cave, the heavy air of the sacred cavern lingering behind them like the ghost of an ancient power. As they emerged from the hidden passageway, Amaya shivered slightly. The night air was cold against her heated skin. The corridor outside the cavern was dimly lit, the flickering torches barely reaching the elaborate paintings that lined the stone walls, portraits of her ancestors, past rulers of the Hades pack, their watchful gazes seeming to follow her every step.
She had always felt their presence, even as a child. A silent reminder of the legacy she was bound to uphold. Luna Jamayah walked ahead with measured steps, her presence commanding even in the darkness. Amaya followed, with Selene at her side, her mind still reeling from the ritual. Her body felt different, stronger, as though something inside her had been awakened, something ancient and untamed.
The moon's pull felt stronger than before, its silver glow a tether she could not ignore. Her mother led them through the long hallway, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor. As they approached a familiar section of the corridor, Luna Jamayah stopped. Amaya watched as she reached out, pressing her palm against the portrait of herself.
With a soft click, the hidden door slid open, revealing the passageway that led back into the palace. Amaya stepped inside without hesitation, the scent of burning incense still clinging to her senses. As the door sealed shut behind them, the warmth of the palace halls greeted them, a stark contrast to the cavern's chilling embrace.
Selene walked ahead to prepare Amaya's chambers, leaving mother and daughter alone in the dimly lit hall,
"You must rest now. We have quite the day tomorrow"
Amaya exhaled. "Goodnight mother" she said as she turned toward her chambers. As she walked, the echoes of the ritual still lingered in her mind, the voices of the sisters, the pull of the moon, the surge of power she had barely controlled.
She had taken a step forward tonight, but she knew this was only the beginning. For deep within her, something had awakened.
And it would not be silent for long.