Earlier that night: The novices choice

The night was dark and full of sin as Grace approached the secluded mansion, her platinum blonde hair catching the moonlight. Clad in a leather bolero and crotch-high stiletto boots, the once plain Jane now exuded an aura of danger and desire.

Grace had been an awkward, unnoticed girl in high school, but those days were long behind her.

Hungry for power and vengeance against those who wronged her, the ambitious novice was to join the infamous Rimeshec Cult, eager to transcend her old self.

As she sauntered down the dimly lit hallway, the scent of incense and sweat filled the air.

Groaning and moaning of lust...

as well as pain was to be heard from behind closed doors along the hallway

In the grand ballroom, dozens of scantily clad initiates writhed together awaiting the first step in the initiation process.

Grace's eyes found the Cult Ceremonial Master, a tall figure draped in velvet robes, who beckoned her forward with a lecherous grin.

Grace's fragile frame trembled with anticipation as she approached him.

With a firm hand, he traced an arcane sigil across her creamy skin.

She gasped as it seared her flesh, marking her as the Cult's newest convert.

"Welcome, my sweet little temptest," the Master purred, his voice dripping with dark promise.

"Tonight, you shall be reborn in pleasure and pain. Tonight, your true ascent begins."

Yielding to the Cult's twisted allure, Grace let the shadows consume her, her innocence forfeit to the ravenous desires that now ruled her.

Driven by a lust for power and retribution, the once-plain duckling spread her wings as a creature of the night.

Her transformation had started, there would be no turning back...

A little spark of doubt echoed in the deepth of what little was left of her conscience

Should she really do that?

She touched her cheek. It still felt hot yet the mark was gone....

Was that real magic or just a trick?