Ruby Blue

Hope had started her heroics at around 19. She had no powers of her own, but she did know a few magic tricks, took a few self defense classes and did gymnastics as a kid. So she was able to handle herself better than most would. Back then she went by Hat Trick, she was a street level hero. So she stopped robberies, assaults, maybe took down a gang or corrupt politician or two. Nothing major that would put her in the big leagues, and she had no problem with that.

  So when she went to stop a bank robbery, she figured it would be business as usual. Nothing went out on the police scanner that would indicate otherwise. So she snuck in and posed as one of the hostages without the robbers knowing. She didn't realize half of the hostages had already been executed. The thieves weren't there for money, they were there for some jewel rumored to be magical. They were conducting a sacrificial ritual to active and attune the jewel to themselves, and they started with the children present. It was to late for her to do anything about the ritual, it was mostly done but she reacted to save the rest of the people.

  Whatever they were doing, she didn't allow them to complete the last step. She killed them before they absorb the power. It was the first time she had to kill in her career, and she wasn't to shaken over it. She didn't know what to do with the jewel, and when she grabbed it she unwittingly completed the ritual. The power of those sacrificed souls now belonged to her, but because not enough people had been killed, it came with side-effects. She'd figure out the powers later, for now she had to deal with the realization that she felt comfortable offing people. Child killers were to far gone for her liking, and she couldn't go back to just handing them to the police. She'd later join a group of likeminded people, dispensing her personal brand of justice to the world.