The doors opened in front of Mélissa, revealing the entire monster family, gathered today to celebrate her 20th birthday. The conference room of Kalma's mansion had for the occasion been turned into a ritual area for her ceremony to take place. Mélissa felt beautiful but anxious, almost suffocating under her hooded cape and corseted dress. She breathed in deeply, and started walking on the carpeted path towards the altar. There her sister was waiting in her ritual gown, her face and hands painted with strange symbols. Beside her, to her surprise, was standing Amen in his golden and lapis pharaoh attire, a crook and flail in both hands.

Around her where sitting the rest of the monster family. She particularly noticed Revna in her pretty dress, sitting on the lap of her father, clinging to his arm. OX looked at her with pride in his eyes. On the other side of the path, sitting comfortably in an armchair was Hella and her heavily pregnant belly, gracefully clothed in a light tunic.

Mélissa reached the altar and bowed to her sister, following the choregraphy they had been practicing for weeks. Mantis bowed to her in return and raised her hands to her side, calling for her shadows. They twirled around her, then started to crawl towards Mélissa. The young lady could feel then run on her skin, tingling slightly as they went, feeling this rush of energy coursing her body. Quickly, it got entirely covered in shadows. Mantis placed her hand on her sister's back.

Mantis: Mélissa Nivyeska, daughter of Iris Nivyeska, do you embrace your identity as necromancer?

Mélissa: I do.

Mantis: Do you commit to following our rules and honor our traditions?

Mélissa: I do.

She felt another surge of power on her back, slowly making its way to her left arm.

Mantis: I hereby pronounce you a member of our clan. May the spirits of our matriarchs guide you.

And a sharp pain irradiated her upper arm, like a thousand needles piercing her skin. When it vanished, Mélissa threw a glance there discreetly. Sitting proudly on her skin was now a beautiful tattoo of a scorpion. Her powers were finally sealed and under her control. She brought her hands to her hood and slowly removed it, officially presenting herself to this assembly as a confirmed part of the necromancer clan. As the monster family applauded, Mélissa spotted a silhouette, half hidden in a corner of the room. A woman was staring at her with nothing but kindness in her eyes. She looked like Mantis, only her features betrayed a greater age than her sister. This apparition nodded at her then disappeared, leaving Mélissa with a racing heart. She had met her mother for the first time.

The young woman would have given up to emotion if her sister's speech hadn't caught her by surprise.

Mantis: Amen-Râ, son of Merenptah of Egypt, come forth.

Now this wasn't part of their preparation. Mélissa turned around to see Amen kneeling in front of her sister. She was baffled. What the hell was he doing?

Mantis: Do you wish to become Mélissa Nivyeska's guardian?

Amen: I do.

Mantis: Do you swear to protect her and guide her on a righteous path?

Amen: I solemnly swear to do so.

Mélissa had a hard time holding back her tears. This had to be the most beautiful gesture he could ever do for her. Mantis raised her hand and a small mass of shadows escaped it. In a similar way it did for Mélissa, this mass crawled onto the mummy's rotten flesh, and settled there forever in the form of a small scorpion tattoo, etched near the fold of his elbow.

As Mantis blew out the candles, a sign that the ceremony was over, another round of applause took place. Mélissa hugged her now guardian, both crying from emotion.

Kalma: Now is party time! Everyone follow me to the ballroom!

Everybody manifested their approval and followed Kalma. Mélissa went closely followed by Amen, already receiving congratulations. OX and Revna avoided the movement of the crowd to join Mantis near the altar, who was wiping away the painted symbols on her face. The hellbull held her beside him as they watched this merry congregation.

OX: This will probably be the best birthday ever.

Mantis: And to think not so long ago she was still a little girl. I'm so proud of her.

OX: You didn't tell me about Amen wanting to be her guardian.

Mantis: It wasn't planned to start with. It just felt right to ask him, and he gladly accepted.

OX: It's only natural. These two have bonded since the beginning.

Mantis: I feel so honored to have been able to do this for Mélissa.

OX: You did great.

He kissed her forehead and hugged her.

Revna: You're squishing me!

OX: Oh, sorry baby.

Revna: Can we go? I want cupcakes.

Mantis: Alright, sweetie.

The little family started walking away, and Mantis never felt so light-hearted. Nothing would come trouble this perfect day.


At last! It took me almost 4 years to finish this story! I feel so relieved and satisfied now that it has an ending. There was a big writer's block, but with the events that followed it, it became clear that it happened because of my relationships changing and evolving. The Lordi! stories were inspired by and written for my friends. With time, bonds broke and bonds strengthened. Conflicts stopped and some ties to people were cut. It was the ideal moment to revise all my Lordi fics and finish that one. Now I can truly move on.

Thank you to all people who read! Hope you liked it! :)