I love magic and expanding magic systems, it is a joy.

I hate how weak the lore was, it had so much potential

"NO!" Gabe coughed into his arm, a feeling of dread crossing his heart as he felt a twinge of sickness fill him. He shook, terrified. "I have only been marked for a eight days!" It was the day after he the Full Moon Ritual. He had woken up early, as he always did, to go jogging and keep in shape. Only to wake up sore, coughing and weak. "I am dying, already... No... NO!" He stood up and walked over to his basket of herbs and candles, things Anastasia got him to practice with after his first day. Things he used in his ritual the day before. " I will not die."

Quickly lighting candles and summoning each element without fanfare, he poured all of his healing herbs and salt into the small vial of wine he had. Swirling it around, he poured it in offering on the ground. Then, he focused, using his poet's heart and magical knowledge ( No matter how weak) to cast a spell. One of his own creation, one of power and passion.

I call now to you, spirits of charity,

Lend me your power and clarity.

A gift I seek, of empathy

to from death be free

Aid me in this quest, this task

To you this I ask!

Take whatever you need.

so that from death I am Freed!

Heat exploded through him, his mark searing as terrible soul wrenching coughs wracked his body. Blood spewed from his lips, covering the ground and his front. He fell to his knees, shaking.

'No... I won't go... i won't die... not like this!'

But it was too late and slowly blood red covered his vision as he fell out of his body and into the realm of the dead... and into the arms of a very, very unfamiliar woman. One that was short with bronze skin, green eyes and piles of black hair.

"Hello, child, we have much to speak on and no, I am not Nyx."

He froze, realizing he was standing in an endless black lightless void. "Limbo?"

She nodded. "Yes, indeed. We are in the place between your world and the Otherworld... and it is here that we can talk, before your spell saves your life."

"How so? I failed, I died..."

She sighed. "In a way, yes, but your magic was successful, your passion strong enough to sway the forces of magic... it drew my attention, and I powered the spell, but at a cost."

"What cost, I did say anything would be a willing sacrifice."

She poked his forehead. "Your mark, your connection to Nyx and the spark that makes you a fledgling."

He gaped. "But how?"

"I took it, the spark, in return for sustaining your life. You are human... and so are technically no longer a part of the House of Night academia. An illusion spell is something I would try if I were you."

"Who are you?" he asked, terrified.

"I am Hecate, Goddess of magic, choices and so much more."

He bowed immediately. "I am sorry, I meant no disrespect."

"None shown... now we must be fast, if I am to send you back. However, I have a proposition. I am not Nyx, who gives out gifts and blessings to all her chosen followers. I lead my children on paths with choices, by choice. If you wish to be of magic human or not, you must make good choices. Here is your first choice, become my Priest and if you do so I will guide you as you walk the path you choose, guiding and protecting you as you prove your worth. Do we have an accord, which by the way includes your life that I have so kindly restored?"

The answer was easy. "Yes, ma'am!"

She started to twirl her fingers, and a gray energy formed in her hand. So be it. I send now, the gift you desire. The spark of life's fire!" As she threw the power at him, he felt himself flying back to his body on a wave of heat, landing in himself. The fire, the blessed magic spread and he found himself waking up. Very sore, very tired but very, very much alive!

Standing wearily, he realized his blood was gone, as was all traces of his spell. All was packed away neatly, like nothing had ever happened. Hurrying, he rushed to hsi bathroom, and peered inside, only to see his mark was gone... entirely wiped away.

"Damn... so... now I am human again, and a priest to Hecate... great... so, I guess I need to cast that illusion spell, but how?" A whispered washed through his head and he knew the answer.

Quickly he pulled grabbed his lanyard, where he had a small coin he had found whilst homeless. It was nothing special, but he liked it... pricking his finger and bleeding over the coin, he cast a simple spell, given to him by Hecate or so he assumed.

A crescent mark is what I ask,

So my humanity is masked

Bound to this coin, bound in blood so red

Let it be as I said.

And the blood evaporated, the magic sinking into the coin, creating a simple glamour that would protect him from all discovery... or, so he hoped. Placing it over his neck, he looked in the mirror and saw that he watched as a crescent mark formed in a shimmer. "That's cool... now, I just have to keep it up... I have to write that spell down... and I have to really master magic more than ever, less I be kicked or worse, put on a slab... Thank you Hecate, I am not sure how to honor you but boy will I..."

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a joy to write. Death comes very fast for some, so I thought it felt right.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.