Origin
Mona Castelli was born into a middle-class family with deep connections to the Talbane family, as her father Bob Castelli, had been a trusted business associate of Natas Talbane’s father. Growing up, Mona was always curious and had a natural inclination towards the mystical and the unknown. This curiosity led her to explore Wicca during her teenage years, where she found a sense of belonging and purpose in its rituals and beliefs. Despite her fascination with the occult, Mona pursued a traditional education, earning a degree in business administration.
After graduating from college, Mona was offered a job by Natas Talbane himself, who had always taken an interest in her as a family friend. Excited by the opportunity and eager to prove herself, she accepted the position as his administrative assistant. It wasn’t long before Mona realized that working for Natas involved much more than the typical duties of an assistant. She quickly became privy to the darker, arcane aspects of his life, witnessing rituals and hearing whispers of The Rise of Magic, a secretive group that Natas was deeply involved in.
During one of her late-night work sessions, Mona noticed subtle unusual symbols in Natas’s office, strange and talismans that didn’t quite fit with the image of a tech mogul. Curious and intrigued by her own Wiccan beliefs, she began to ask Natas more direct questions about what they meant.
Initially, Natas was evasive, but Mona’s Wiccan background and her experiences gave her a deep interest of both traditional and arcane practices and through her persistence he opened up, implying that his success may not be due to just savvy business decisions, but also because of his involvement in the supernatural. Mona, was both enthralled and frightened by this revelation, as he said it with a smirk.
Mona’s curiosity grew after Natas’s initial revelation. The idea that a man like him, so successful and seemingly grounded, might be tapping into something far beyond traditional business acumen was both thrilling and terrifying to her. She couldn’t let it go. In the days following their conversation, she began to subtly probe, referencing her own Wiccan interest and experiences in the hope of drawing more out of him.
Mona would casually mention things like the energy she felt in certain places or her experiences with rituals and tarot readings, each time watching for Natas’s reaction. She started bringing books on the occult to work, leaving them on her desk in plain sight. Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed. Natas observed her growing fascination, her persistence, and her willingness to dive deeper into a world most would shy away from.
One evening, after a particularly intense day, Mona asked him directly, how much did he believe in the power behind the symbols and rituals? Natas chided her telling her some things are better left unknown, unless you’re prepared for the consequences. His words were cryptic, but Mona pressed on, her interest piqued further.
Over time, Natas began to share more, though always with a degree of caution. He would drop hints, small pieces of information that seemed insignificant on their own but, when pieced together, formed a clearer picture of the truth. He spoke of ancient texts and rituals, of forces that could be controlled but at a great cost. Mona listened intently, absorbing every word, her fascination growing.
One evening, as she pressed him for more details, Natas’s demeanor shifted as he warned her she was crossing a line. She did not care. She wanted to know. He warned her again, once she cross the line, there’s no going back. True arcane knowledge is not just power, it’s a burden. It changes you. It can destroy you if you’re not careful. She was determined telling him it was her chance to take. He swore her to secrecy, what he tells her, would stay between them. She could not share it with anyone as the risks are too great.
Excited and terrified, she swore an oath of secrecy. She understood that this was no longer just an intellectual curiosity, it was a matter of life and death. Natas had opened a door for her, but it was up to her to decide how far she was willing to walk through it.
Although initially frightened by the things she encountered, Mona’s fascination with the mystical side of life only deepened. She was never officially invited to join The Rise of Magic, but Natas recognized her potential and loyalty. He entrusts her with sensitive information, swearing her to an oath of secrecy that she has never broken. Over time, Mona became not just an assistant but a confidant to Natas, who he treats her like a daughter. She, in turn, is fiercely protective of him, valuing her unique position within his world and the trust he placed in her.
Major Story Arcs
Mona was first introduced in Epitaph Bread and Salt #1 of the short lived ongoing series as she tried to help find out information on Loren’s body after her private jet exploded on take off.
In Epitaph: Ultimate Control #1 Mona warns Natas when Serpina comes to visit him before he and the corporeal succubus get into a physical fight. This storyline plays out similarly in CurseRisen #1 – Communion of the Fallen Part 1 on slightly retconned as, fearing the worse, Natas tells her to leave, send everyone home and contact specific people. She does as instructed as he prepares to face Serpina.
Powers
Aside from basic spellcasting, Mona Castelli, despite her deep involvement with Natas, Talbane Industries and her exposure to the arcane world, does not possess any major supernatural powers of her own. Her value lies in her intelligence, loyalty, and the knowledge she has gained from her close proximity to Natas and his dealings. She does have great intuition that could be connected to her spirituality, but understands the dangers of true arcane knowledge and is careful not to overstep, aware that her role is to support and protect Natas rather than to wield power herself. Mona is a trusted confidant and a key player in the mundane operations of Natas’s enterprises, serving as a bridge between the normal world and the shadowy realms of magic that Natas navigates.