Capítulo 2: Transformation
Garnette drifted in and out of consciousness, suspended in a strange liminal space between life and death. She felt weightless, as though she was floating in a dark abyss, with only the faintest sensation of movement around her. Her body was numb, the pain from her wound a distant memory, as if it belonged to someone else. Yet, somewhere deep within her, a fierce will to survive pulsed, refusing to let go.
As her mind swam through the darkness, fragmented images began to surface—memories she hadn't recalled in years. She saw herself as a little girl, holding her mother's hand as they walked through a sun-dappled forest. Her mother's laughter echoed through the trees, a sound that had once been so familiar but now felt foreign and distant. Then, the scene shifted, and Garnette was older, standing beside her mother's grave for the first time, clutching a single red rose in her trembling hands. She remembered the hollow ache in her chest, the overwhelming sense of loss that had consumed her.
These memories flashed before her eyes, disjointed and fleeting, like a reel of film spinning out of control. Garnette tried to hold on to them, but they slipped through her fingers like grains of sand. And then, just as suddenly as they had come, the memories faded, and she was plunged back into the darkness.
But this time, there was something different. A presence, ancient and powerful, began to take shape in the void. Garnette felt it before she saw it—a pulse of energy, like a heartbeat, resonating through the darkness. It was both terrifying and comforting, a paradox that drew her closer, despite the fear that gnawed at the edges of her mind.
Gradually, the darkness began to recede, and Garnette found herself standing in a vast, dimly lit chamber. The walls were made of stone, covered in intricate carvings that seemed to shift and move when she wasn't looking directly at them. The air was thick with the scent of incense and old parchment, and a faint, otherworldly glow illuminated the space. Garnette's breath caught in her throat as she realized she was no longer alone.
Standing in the center of the chamber was a man, tall and imposing, with dark hair that fell in loose waves around his face. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and his eyes—those same unsettling blood-red irises—glowed with an inner fire. He was dressed in a long, dark coat, the fabric rich and luxurious, and he stood with an air of authority that demanded respect. Despite the darkness that surrounded him, there was a beauty to his features, sharp and refined, like a marble statue brought to life.
The man's gaze fixed on Garnette, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. His eyes were like twin embers, burning with an intensity that seemed to pierce through her very soul. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them thick with unspoken words.
Finally, the man broke the silence, his voice soft and melodic, with that same lilting French accent. "You are in between worlds, Garnette. Not quite dead, but not yet reborn."
Garnette's mouth felt dry, and she struggled to find her voice. "Who... who are you?"
The man took a step closer, his movements graceful and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. "I am Raphael," he said, his name rolling off his tongue like a caress. "I am the one who will guide you through this transformation."
"Transformation?" Garnette echoed, her mind reeling. "What... what's happening to me?"
Raphael's gaze softened, and for a brief moment, there was something almost tender in his expression. "You are becoming like me, ma petite rose. You are shedding your mortal skin and embracing the darkness within you."
Garnette's heart raced as his words sank in. The reality of what was happening, what she had agreed to, began to dawn on her. She was no longer human; she was becoming something else, something far more powerful—and far more dangerous.
Raphael seemed to sense her fear, and he extended a hand toward her, his fingers long and elegant. "Do not be afraid," he murmured. "I am here to help you, to teach you. Together, we will unlock the full potential of your new existence."
Garnette hesitated for a moment, her instincts screaming at her to run, to flee from this man and the darkness he represented. But there was something in his voice, in the way he looked at her, that made her want to trust him. Slowly, she reached out and placed her hand in his. His skin was cool to the touch, and yet, there was a warmth in the connection, a strange sense of belonging that she couldn't quite explain.
As soon as their hands touched, the chamber around them began to dissolve, the stone walls crumbling away like dust in the wind. Garnette felt herself being pulled forward, drawn into the unknown. But this time, she wasn't afraid. Raphael was with her, guiding her through the darkness.
They emerged into a new space—a vast, open landscape, bathed in the soft glow of twilight. The sky was a deep shade of indigo, and the stars above twinkled like diamonds scattered across velvet. The air was crisp and cool, carrying with it the scent of pine and fresh earth. Garnette realized they were standing on a cliff overlooking a dense forest, the trees stretching out as far as the eye could see. In the distance, she could hear the faint roar of a waterfall, the sound soothing and rhythmic.
"This is where your journey begins," Raphael said, his voice low and steady. He released her hand and stepped back, giving her space to take in her surroundings. "You are no longer bound by the limitations of your mortal life. You are free, Garnette. Free to explore, to learn, to become whatever you wish to be."
Garnette looked out over the landscape, her heart swelling with a strange mixture of excitement and apprehension. There was a part of her that mourned the life she had lost, the girl she used to be. But there was another part of her—a deeper, more primal part—that reveled in the power coursing through her veins. She could feel it, thrumming beneath her skin, like a caged beast waiting to be unleashed.
Raphael's voice broke through her thoughts. "There is much I need to teach you," he said, his tone serious now. "The world you knew is gone, and the one you are entering is fraught with danger. But with my guidance, you will survive. You will thrive."
Garnette turned to face him, her eyes burning with a newfound determination. "Then teach me," she said, her voice steady. "Show me how to live in this new world."
A slow smile spread across Raphael's lips, one that spoke of both pride and anticipation. "As you wish, ma petite rose. The first lesson begins now."
Raphael began by showing her the basics—how to feed on animals, how to control her thirst, and how to move unseen in the shadows. He spoke of vampire history, the covenants that existed, and the Volturi, who ruled over them all. He taught her how to blend in with humans, how to use her beauty and charm to her advantage. But through it all, Raphael never mentioned any special abilities. He seemed unaware that Garnette might possess powers beyond the ordinary.
Days turned into weeks as Garnette trained under Raphael's watchful eye. She mastered the basics quickly, her natural intelligence and determination driving her forward. But as she grew more confident in her new existence, strange things began to happen—things Raphael did not teach her.
One evening, while practicing in the forest, Garnette noticed something unusual. A patch of wild roses had sprung up in the ground where she had stepped moments before. The roses were unlike any she had ever seen—their petals a deep, blood-red hue, and their stems covered in thick, menacing thorns. Garnette stared at them, confused, her heart pounding in her chest.
She reached out to touch one of the roses, and as her fingers brushed against the petals, a surge of energy coursed through her body. It was a strange, exhilarating feeling, as if the rose had come alive at her touch. She pulled back, startled, but the rose bush remained, swaying gently in the breeze.
Garnette knelt beside the bush, her fingers trembling as she examined it more closely. It seemed to respond to her presence, the thorns quivering slightly as she moved her hand closer. Tentatively, she reached out again, this time wrapping her fingers around one of the thick stems. The thorns dug into her skin, but instead of pain, she felt a rush of power—raw, untamed, and completely intoxicating.
She gasped, pulling her hand back, and the roses seemed to wither slightly, as if they were drawing their strength from her. Garnette stared at her hand, the tiny pinpricks from the thorns already healing before her eyes. She realized with a jolt that this was something Raphael had not taught her. This power, this connection to the roses, was something she had discovered on her own.
Her mind raced with the implications. What else was she capable of? What other abilities lay dormant within her, waiting to be awakened? She knew she couldn't hide this from Raphael, but a part of her wanted to explore it on her own, to understand the full extent of her powers before revealing them to her mentor.
With newfound resolve, Garnette rose to her feet, the roses at her feet now fully in bloom, their blood-red petals gleaming in the twilight. She would discover the truth of her abilities, and she would do so on her own terms. There was a world of possibilities before her, and she intended to master every one of them.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder