Pact of Blood
The pages were yellowed and brittle, smelling of dried herbs and ancient secrets.
As she began to read, the words seemed to pulse on the paper.
Her grandmother had written of the "Fifth Power"—not as a blessing, but as a burden that required immense control.
She spoke of how the energy of their bloodline acted as a mirror; it reflected the intentions of those who sought to consume it.
If the seeker's heart was dark, the energy became a poison.
If it was pure, it became a fountain of life.
A sudden, sharp knock at the door startled her.