Page 1 of Scarred Sacrifice
PROLOGUE
MORRIGAN, AGED 14
“Bring her in here.Where the hell is Kathy?” Bernie asks as they lay her down on the desk. Her voice fractures with panic, and I just stand there, not moving, hiding in my mom’s office closet. It’s a place I often hide to prank my mom. It was a game we often played on each other, but not today. As I stand here watching Bernie press her hands to a wound on my mother’s stomach, my heart lurches. Even with all her efforts, it does nothing to stop the constant flow of blood that is cascading down to the floor, coating Bernie’s feet.
Bile rises in my throat as I clench my hands into tight fists at my side, whilst tears pool in my eyes. I push on the door and step into the office, catching Bernie’s attention as her eyes turn to me. Her eyes fill with sympathy, and as my gaze flickers to my mom on the desk, her face pales and her eyes grow wide with fear. I walk toward her, and each step feels like a heavy weight at my feet.
“Mom,” I whimper, my voice wavering as my heart thunders in my chest.
Her eyes come to mine, and as she holds out her trembling hand that is covered in her own blood, I quickly place my hand in hers, holding on tight, afraid that at any moment I will lose her.
“Don’t stop fighting, and don’t stop protecting those who need it. Show no weakness,” she rasps, her breath ragged.
Tears stream down my cheeks. “Who did this?” I ask.
“He’s being dealt with,” Bernie states firmly.
“Where’s Kathy? She needs to help Mom,” I state, followed by a desperate sob ripping from my throat.
“Mori,” my mom chokes out. I look down at her, and she gives me a pained smile. “I love you, my brave warrior. Fight the wars no one else will fight. Show no mercy.” She coughs, blood splattering on her lips.
“Mom,” I cry. “Fight with me, Mom.” My heart feels like it’s splintering into a thousand pieces. “You and me, Mom. Please. Please,” I beg, my tears now endlessly falling.
Her eyes become heavy. “I love you,” she breathes. Her chest stops moving, and her head rolls to the side, her hand becoming limp in mine.
“No, no, no. Mom!” I cry, shaking her shoulder. “Mom!” I scream. “Wake up! Mom!” I rasp, my voice breaking.
“Shit,” I hear from behind me, and as I turn my head, I see Kathy standing there, her eyes wide in shock.
“Save her! Kathy, save her!” I demand, my heart raging in my chest. This moment doesn’t feel real. It can’t be real!
Kathy’s tear-filled eyes come to mine, sympathy and heartache staring back at me. “Morrigan. I—” she states.
“No,” I refuse, shaking my head.
Kathy swallows. “She’s gone. I’m sorry,” she states, her voice trembling.
I shake my head in complete denial. “Morrigan,” Bernie calls softly. I look at her, allowing the pain, heartbreak, and anger to shred me apart inside. “I’m sorry, she’s gone,” Bernie adds.
I storm out of the room and take off running to the basement, hearing voices coming from the room at the end of the hall. It’s the room I was never allowed in, the room where I had heard bigmen scream and cry like pathetic animals. I push through the door, and as my eyes land on a man tied to a chair in the centre of the room, I don’t slow, and I don’t hesitate as I set my sight on him. He’s her lover, the man she made the exception for, the one that held her heart.
“Morrigan, you’re not suppo—” Julie tries to tell me, but as the tears roll down my cheeks, as the pain and anger at losing my mom pumps through my veins, I swipe a blade off the table as I approach him.
“Mori, what’s a little thing like you going to d—” He doesn’t get a chance to finish his sentence. Fuck, he doesn’t deserve to finish that sentence. I slash the blade clean through his neck with all the anger and devastation he’s caused me. He chokes and lets out a gargling sound as he struggles to breathe through the blood that is filling his neck.
“Only she was allowed to call me that. Only her, and now she’s dead because of you,” I seethe, my throat raw with emotion as tears trickle down my cheeks. I hear the gasps of shock behind me, of people calling my name, trying to offer their support, but I don’t want it. I don’t move as I stare him down, watching as his life fades from his eyes.
Once I know he’s dead, I turn and allow the final tear to fall before I walk out of the room, not answering anyone. They all look at me in concern as I pass. I step outside and sit down on a bench in the crisp night air, vowing to myself and the stars above that I will kill any man that ever lays a hand on any woman, that has ever abused or raped a woman. I will continue to fight the fight my mother started. I will be brave, and I will be the warrior she wanted me to be. Protecting those who need it.
Most importantly, I vow to never make the same mistake my mother did. She was a fool for letting a man get close enough to her to not only manipulate her but also to take her life, therefore taking her away from me.
Love was for fools, and fools got themselves killed.
CHAPTER ONE
MORRIGAN
PRESENT DAY
