A/N: Ally Dawson, a Caster, turned sixteen on November 5. It was the one thing she's always dreaded. To go Light or Dark? She'd become whoever she was inside. The thing was, she always thought she'd be Light. Her entire family believed it. She would be a Light Natural, like her father. But that wasn't what happened. In fact, she unleased a potential for something she never expected. She was an Empath in truth. And she was Dark. What will happen the night of her Claiming when she realizes her true form? What will happen when she meets Austin Moon, a Light Illusionist, whom she thinks she may be in love with? Can a Dark Caster love? Can she withhold the Darkness that could destroy him and everyone else she thought she loved?

Disclaimer: Based loosely on the Caster Chronicle Series: It only uses the Caster background and mentions a few characters throughout. The plot line will be entirely mine.

Prologue

"She was rage and vengeance, wrath and malice, in a beautifully twisted human form."

It was the night of her Claiming that it began. Something was off, you could feel it in the air like it was a tangible thing. Her family waited for the Sixteenth Moon to rise in the night sky. Her father waited for her to become the Light Natural he'd always known she was. Her mother waited by his side, prepared for the celebration to occur after her special moment. Ally sat awkwardly in the middle of the space they'd created. A circle of family and friends surrounded her, all silent, all staring up into the sky for the Moon. Her father, Lester stepped toward his daughter, for reassurance.

"I'm nervous," She told him, picking up a small piece of hair to chew on. Her father stopped her hand before it reached her mouth.

"Don't worry you'll be fine," He replied, smiling as he pulled his daughter into a tight embrace. Ally couldn't help but gaze around the crowd. It was her mother, a Sybil, her aunt, a Thaumaturge, her older sister, a Natural, and her cousin, an Evanescent. All Light, of course. The rest of the group included her closest Caster friends, and one mortal who was dating her cousin Dallas. Sadly many of her family members were not there, having turned Dark on their Claiming Days. No one liked to talk about it, but Ally always wondered. How was it that such a good family could have so many Dark souls? At least she knew she would not turn Dark. She has always been such a good girl. She knew deep down she was Light. She would not be kicked out by her family. In fact, she imagined learning to use her powers as a Natural from her father and sister. She imagined finding new abilities, and protecting her family with them.

"It's beginning," Her father spoke, backing away from his daughter. They could all see the Sixteenth Moon come into view. As soon as it came over Ally, she could feel the power surging through her. She shut her eyes, it was happening, she was being claimed for the Light. Even though she was never told how it would feel, she never thought it would hurt. And it did. She could feel the wind blow around her, she could hear the people around her shuffle back. It never occurred to her that this was not normal. It never occurred to her that she should try and steady her emotions. She felt everything at once. She was angry, happy, scared, and she was energized. She liked the feel of power. She craved more. She most definitely did not expect the reaction she received when she opened her eyes. She got gasps of shock, looks of hatred, and worse. Her parents seemed to be afraid. But for whatever reason, she enjoyed their fear. It fed her deep down. That was when she realized she was Dark.

"Dad? Mom?" She said innocently, the wind slowing as the Sixteenth Moon finished the process. Her parents backed away, her father standing in front of her mother protectively. She got up, walking closer to them.

"Something is wrong. This isn't right." Ally tried to explain, but even as she said it she felt the lie sting her throat. This was what she was now. It had to be who she really was inside, otherwise she would've gone Light.

"You're Dark…" Her father trailed off, motioning for everyone else to leave right away. Ally tried to reason but they tensed at any movement she made.

"Please, I can fight it!" She said, raising her hands up in surrender. No one moved.

"Please, dad?" She said stepping forward, and reaching her hand out at him. What happened next created pure chaos. With her hand raised a surge of what looked like black lightning formed, and hit Lester in the chest. Ally was shouting in fear as she felt the power go through her body, the power of a Natural. No a Cataclyst. She tried to move her hand anywhere else, but she willingly wanted this. It felt like she was taking her father's life-force. And she was actually enjoying it despite her outside reaction. She heard people screaming and but this only made her angry. That was when the surge disappeared and the mini Hurricane began. She didn't mean to make it start, but when she thought about that it only made the winds stronger. She watched with a wicked grin on her face as friends and family were swept up in the winds, her figure standing tall through it.

And when it all stopped and no one was left in sight, she fell to her knees, sobbing.

A/N: Ok so Ally doesn't know she's an Empath yet. Just in case you haven't read the Caster Chronicles here are some explanations for the types of Casters in Ally's family.

Empath: A Caster who can steal the powers of another Caster temporarily. (Ally thinks she's a Cataclyst when she only really took that ability from her father in a Dark form with the surge of 'black lightning.')

Sybil: A Caster with the ability to see hidden lies and truths in someone just by looking at them.

Thaumaturge: A Caster who can heal others' injuries or wounds.

Evanescent: A Caster with the ability to make objects disappear and reappear in their possession.

Natural: The Light Version of a Cataclyst. This Caster can control the elements and even sometimes time. (Ally's father and sister are both Natural's.)

Illusionist: A Caster who can create realistic illusions, or make things look like others.

So what do you think will happen? Has Ally killed her entire family with the Hurricane she mistakenly induced? What will happen when she meets Austin? Will she be able to stop the Darkness from turning her into a completely different and evil person? Please R&R!