Lumina stood trembling in the center of the reading chambers, broken golden chains of starfire still smoking around her wrists and ankles.
Blood trickled from the deep burns where the celestial bonds had seared her skin.
The poison they had forced into her veins burned like liquid fire, every nerve screaming in protest, yet something inside her had finally snapped.
The two priests raised their hands again, pale celestial light gathering at their fingertips for the final rite of unmaking.
Their voices rose in a haunting, ancient chant, pulling at the fragile threads of her soul as if they could unravel her very existence.
Lumina's silver eyes blazed brighter than their gathered light.
"Then I will not let that happen!," Her voice exploded with full force, energy erupted from her in a violent, uncontrollable wave.
She thrust her hand toward the nearest priest. Invisible threads of absolute will shot forward, wrapping around his throat and chest like iron cables.
