A/N: Chapter 69 of REKT. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or teams of RWBY, they belong to Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum. What I do own are the characters and teams of my OCs: REKT, GTSY, KACE and DAZE. I also claim Ingrid, Teo, Reina's parents and aunt as well.

Special thanks to the reviewers and to the readers who Fav/Alert this story, I really appreciate it.


Chapter 69: Brainwashed

Old Desert Ruins...

I sat across from my father, mouth slightly open in shock and bewilderment. It did confuse me when my teammates obtained their own marks the moment they touched their respective scrolls, but now a small piece has been filled. However, there are still large gaps within my knowledge, and my father says he'll tell me how to use my own mark to its greatest potential with some training. I had a gnawing curiosity about my powers, and wondered what it is about my mysterious power that granted me strength.

"To start off, our family never adapted to using physical weapons like other people. Believe me, we tried all sorts of ways with a variety of weapons. Our ancestors focused solely on spiritual enlightenment, and spent their entire life meditating and channeling their Auras. Once they had complete control they shifted their focus towards projecting Aura outside of the body."

"So, all of the attacks are just us expelling our Auras? Then when we do that, is it not the case that our bodies will be vulnerable for an attack?" I asks him. "When I fought Mercury...I received damage despite activating my Aura."

"That's the thing, you will have holes in your defenses. Because you are channeling your Aura outside your body when you attack, there won't be enough to stay behind and protect." Rikter shook his head with knowing, crossing his arms across his chest. "It's one of those holes our ancestors never thought to fix, but I believe they came to the conclusion that there's no way of patching it up. You'll just have to be very careful."

"I see."

"Now...the scrolls that were delivered to you, as I mentioned before, were meant to be prophecies; not all scrolls are prophecies. The elders back when I was a child foretold that an heir or heiress of our family line would rely on the scroll's power, but it was only a matter of time." He picks up the scroll that I had placed down on the slab of rock and unfurled it. The words gaze back at him, and he releases a sigh. "If I'm being honest, I thought I was going to be the one, but it seems like that is not the case. You were the child of the prophecy."

"I have a slight idea what mine means, but what do the words mean to you, Dad?" I ask him as the Aura signatures within my head weaved back and forth to make the letters. "I just want a second opinion just to verify my hypothesis."

"My dear daughter, you don't need my interpretation of your scroll. Just trust your gut feeling." He reaches out and gently caresses my hair, watching the strands flow through his fingertips. I leaned into his touch and smiled. "You're a big girl now, I can't make all the decisions for you."

"No...I suppose you couldn't." I lamented, pulling back from his touch. It always calm my nerves whenever my father gives me advice about just about anything. That or I just absolutely loved it whenever he talks. "Anyway, please continue. I would like to know more about the scrolls."

"Each prophecy has their own set of words and rules, I'm sure you and your team read through all four of them. The elders have no control what is written on the parchment, they only provide the ink...their Auras to be exact. They infuse their Auras into the parchment, and the words that would appear would be the words of fate.

"Is there a reason for four different scrolls?"

"From what I gathered, each scroll resonates with an element: Water, Wood, and Fire. Yours is set into a category of Spirit, an element that encompasses all else. The number of scrolls created are determined by fate. It just so happens that this time it is four."

"Why is it those elements? What about others that exists?" I questioned.

"Honestly, the element of the scroll depends on the elder crafting it. Although the elders are well verse in the elements, it is all up to fate which scroll ends up with which element." My father told me, rubbing his temple with a hand. "In a way you can associate the scrolls to the life of an ancestor, a predecessor who comes before you. The most important thing is to take the words to heart, understand their meaning, and make them your own."

"Make them...my own?" I tilted my head at the statement.

"One day you'll understand what I'm saying. Another subject I brought up is this concept of 'Mark-bearers'. These are people who are linked up with their personal scrolls. Have you seen or sensed anything different within yourself and your fellow teammates?"

"Not that I...know of?" I answered him, scratching the back of my head as I tried to think. After awhile I shook my head. "No...I don't know."

"A mark-bearer, when linked up with a scroll, will start to develop changes, both physical as well as spiritual." He explains to me. "When the person fully harnesses the meaning of the words, he or she will go another step higher in power. Now the distributed power given by the scrolls are at random, no two scrolls are the same, obviously."

"Do you have any idea what boost I'd gain if...if I were to uncover the secrets of my scroll?" I ask him.

"Well...that's only for you to say when you figure out your scroll." Rikter told me. "The positive thing that comes from this – at least from what I know – is that there isn't any repercussion. You'll only get a boost."

"How come...how come you kept these away from me back when I was a little older?" I ask him, my voice just a whisper as the information sunk into my brain. "I mean...I guess there wasn't enough time, we had to escape and save our own lives. But, the moment I got my mark...wouldn't that have been a good time to at least...bring up the subject?"

"Your mother and I talked about it, once while you were sleeping in your room. Look, I know this must be a lot for you to take in, but it is as you said: We didn't have enough time before my sister-in-law made her move. The reason why I didn't bring this up the minute Rhea noticed your mark was because Raisa was listening and watching our every move. She had her suspicions about you, and wanted to be alone with you whenever she had the chance."

"...yeah...it-it's overwhelming. And I felt it was a bit, weird...that she kept hounding me a few days after my marking ceremony." I breathed out, holding my head in my hands. "But throughout my growing up, I understand that she wanted me dead. And I knew that our marks – well technically my mark and my mother's – cannot exist on the same plane."

"Someone told you about the meaning of your mark?"

"The beowolves told me from what they knew, the ones I could control with my power. As far as I know, none of my friends can chat with or converse with the creatures like I could. I know deep down it is my destiny to fight my aunt one-on-one, until one of us lies dead on the ground. Time is slowly counting down, and I'm not sure when she'll break her silence and strike next. It is just unlucky we don't know about her whereabouts."

"It's getting late, and thinking about this isn't going to do you any good. Why don't we call it a night?" We both stood up and he led me to an unused coven, one arm wrapped around my shoulder. There was a cot along with some blankets, one that I immediately recognized was made out of leather.

"Dad...I miss Mom." I honestly told him as he tucked me in, turning my head in his direction. The behavior sparked a nostalgia feeling bubbling within the pit of my stomach, and I nearly teared up in response. It reminded me of my mother, and how she was the one who always tucked me in to bed. "I miss her a whole lot. I want her back."

"I know, honey. We all wanted her to survive that day."

"It's unfair...It's just so unfair." I growled angrily, turning my head so that I was facing up towards the ceiling. My hands were curled into fists, nails nearly piercing my skin. "If only I was older...if only I was more useful to help her..."

"I understand how you feel, and there's never been a day I don't think about my wife. I too, feel absolutely guilty about her death, and not being able to save her. Now go to bed, we'll continue this tomorrow. Good night and sweet dreams." He places his lips against my forehead in a kiss before pulling back. He made sure the old leather blanket protected me, and smiled. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Night, Dad. Sweet dreams to you as well." I told him, turning my head as he shuffled out of the room. "Hey, Dad?"

"Yes?" He looks over his shoulder when I called out to him, one eyebrow raised in questioning. "What is it?"

"I love you." I felt the warmth rush to my face as I told him, feeling a bit bashful when vocally expressing my love for my dad. "I...I didn't get to tell Mom that. But...I wanted you to know that since you're here with me."

"I love you as well, my daughter." He replies with as much emotions he could fill in his voice. With that he left to settle down in his own living quarters, his mind whirling with many thoughts. Burying himself underneath a pile of blankets, he closes his eyes and attempts to catch some sleep.


Some place else...

"Wake up, my dear puppet." Rikter heard the sinister voice, and his body follows the order. He wonders around the void before coming across Raisa as the woman stood before him. Her hands were folded in front of her, and the smile on her face was anything but warm. They were both standing in some kind of empty space, where physics and directions hold no merit. "You've done well to try and keep me out of your mental state, haven't you. That is bad behavior."

"Don't kid yourself, Raisa. I already knew I was losing my own will and spirit when you cast your spell. However, while I still have some energy left, I won't let you interfere with my moments with my daughter." He replies.

"Hmph. Still defiant until the end...I hate that characteristic the most out of heroes." Raisa scoffs with annoyance, flipping a piece of her hair over her shoulder with a hand. "But even though I hate it, a part of me loves the struggle. It keeps up the game, and once you decide to admit defeat I can finally savor my sweet victory."

"You are so full of it. I've never seen anyone's heart so tainted with darkness. How you ended up in the same litter as Rhea is beyond me!"

"Ha! You think that by throwing my sister's name at me would get me emotionally moved?" She asks him, eyes glimmering like tiny knives. "I killed my own kin, my own family. These hands," She lifted them up to show him, the skin already starting to turn red. "These hands is covered with her blood, and there's no way of scrubbing that scent away."

"Good. I hope it would never leave you. I want it to haunt you for as long as you live."

"Oh, but it will!" She crowed with satisfaction as if she already claimed victory in the war. "After I make you an even more useful pawn. It's time for the plan to go to step two." She stalks forward, pinning him in place with just her eyes. "I must congratulate you for luring your own daughter close to you. I haven't seen my niece in over years, but as the fates of our family have dictate, two people with similar marks are not allowed to exist at the same time."

"No...No!" His eyes widened as her fingers immediately latched onto his head, and dug into his scalp. He tried to escape her grasp, but there was like a spell keeping him trapped. "No! No!"

"Relax, this won't take but just a minute." Raisa whispers a few words, watching as the eyes glaze over and an empty expression soon took place. His body trembled twice before slumping over, head hanging down. "Now you won't be able to do anything now that I have full custody of your body."

Reaching out with a hand, she cupped his chin briefly and lifted his head so she could gaze into his eyes. She was pleased when she wasn't met with any resistance, her pawn was in position. "When you wake up, you and my niece...your beloved daughter...are no longer safe from my clutches. I've had my hold on you since the day I found you; I'll give you some credit, sending Reina away and out of my sight was perhaps the safest option you had. Sad to say, you are about to betray your wife – my own sister – when your body wakes up. I cannot allow that child to live, and since I am not physically where you are...I'm gonna borrow your body. This time...you cannot save your little girl."