Welcome to Gaia! ::

Aira walked on the path, the heels of her boots crunching against the loose gravel. The wind whispered softly through the trees, lightly grabbing her dark hair with its icy hands. The trees, naked from autumn, waved in the air. Aira pulled her jacket closer around her, shuddering. She found herself wondering why he had planned it to be tonight-the coldest of the week. She looked up and the answer to her question was hanging above her head: a bright, pale, perfect orb. The full moon. She stopped in front of a statue that marked one of the many graves and looked up, seeing if it were where she needed to be. The concrete angel stood over her, the only one of it’s kind, it’s eroding hands clasped in a silent prayer.

“Glad you could make it.” A voice said softly from behind the angel. A dark figure stepped out from the shadows and into the light of the moon. His black hair was pulled back into a small pony tail at the nape of his neck. A dim metallic shine cutting down his lower lip indicated a piercing. He had a pale complexion, and was mostly hidden in a long coat that dragged the ground.

“Hello again, Slade.” Aira said simply, too nervous to add anything. He nodded to acknowledge her greeting.

“I’m surprised you came. Most people wouldn’t for fear of their life.”

“They should be. The rumors they hear are true. There are always rumors concerning graveyards, anyway.” She took a deep breath. “I, however, am not most people. But, as I recall, now is not the time to discuss such things, but the time to complete what we’ve been talking about.” Aira said, a brisk-business like tone creeping into her voice to mask her apprehension. Slade nodded again, then turned around and stepped back into the shadows that lurked around the angel. Aira followed hesitantly. She met him behind the statue; he was crouched down by the base. With a swift gesture, he unhooked a square section of the stone slab on which the angel stood, and it swung out like a door. A dark, gaping entrance was revealed. Slade went in feet first, his boots catching the rung of the metal ladder hidden below. Aira lost sight of him as he descended, and shortly after she saw a bright glow coming from out of the tunnel.

“Aira, come on. We can see now; I have a flashlight.” Slade’s voice drifted out of the tunnel. Aira slid into the hole, trying to find the ladder with the toe of her shoes. It caught, but when she put all her weight on it, her foot slipped. She cried out, bracing herself for an impact.

Suddenly, strong hands were wrapped around her waist and she felt herself being set on solid ground.

“Be more careful next time.” Slade said roughly.

“Sorry.” Aira said, then added, “You can let me go now. I think I’m safe.” Slade let go of her and coughed.

“Close the hatch behind you, please.” Slade said. Aira nodded, although she was unsure if Slade saw her, and hesitantly stepped up onto the first two rungs, grabbing a silver knob on the door and pulling it shut. “Yes, well, we really must be going now. Can’t waste moonlight.” Slade said, picking up the flashlight from where he had dropped it. He continued down the tunnel with Aira still in tow. They stopped as he reached an archway that led into a large chamber. Aira peered over his shoulder.

“Where are we?”

“The secret escape passage that leads from the house. We dug it out and made a few modifications. Now it doubles as the ceremony chamber.” Slade grinned, obviously proud.

He gestured for her to follow, and she obliged.

Slade turned to the wall, where a rope was hanging. Aira couldn’t see where it went; the shadows clinging to the ceiling were too dense. He pulled on it and a shower of dirt fell from the top. He continued to pull on the thick rope . A circular portion of the ceiling shifted, then spiraled into the rest of it, cause a large beam of moonlight to shine in the chamber. Slade cut off the flashlight and set it on the floor. The room went dark, save for the shaft of silvery moonlight filtering through the opening. Slade took her gently by the hand and led her to the center of the room. She was suddenly bathed in moonlight; every little dip in her body was filled with the silver luster.

“Bit theatrical, isn’t it?” Aira mused.

“I’d want my Change to be theatrical. It’s slightly more elegant than a back alley.” Slade smiled. “Are you ready?”

Aira nodded.

“You sure you want to go through with this? After the ceremony is completed, there is no escape but death.”

“I’m sure.” Aira whispered. Butterflies were having a full-scale war in her stomach.

“Well then, we will delay no further. It will be brief, I promise.” He said, taking a hand and titling her head to the side. Aira closed her eyes, steeling herself for what she knew was about to come. She had crossed the Rubicon and beyond this there was no return. He leaned down, his hot breath blowing on her neck. He bit the vein, and a fiery pain exploded in her head. Aira gasped and opened her eyes, feeling the blood being taken from her. A shudder went through her body, and all went black.