Abandoned (Born From Shadows #2)

She paced from side to side of the empty throne room. Everyone was waiting for her outside, guards, Lords, Ladies and peasants alike. She took a deep breath, preparing her words. Sophia was doubting herself, going through all matters of indecisiveness. Her breathing was heavy and the butterflies swirled in her stomach. Their wings collided against the soft tissue, causing everything within her to twist.

“My Queen, they are ready,” said Lord Herrvila.

“Did my parents ever do this?” she asked, however, she suspected the answer.

“No, however, your grandparents did once when the crops were not growing and famen threatened to plague Haveenté.”

“Did it work? Did it help the crops?” she asked.

“Not immediately, but in a month’s time the wheat began to thrive once more,” he replied.

“So the gods do listen,” she replied.

“Do you not think it’s cruel?” Lady Madeline said walking towards her husband. “To sacrifice humans? Are our gods that horrific that they demand such an action?”

Sophia looked at her once handmaiden when she was a child. “We sacrifice people because there is nothing of higher value we can offer,” she replied. “Open the door,” she told the Lord and Lady beside her. They did as she asked.

The large double doors of the palace entrance opened to reveal a choir of people singing in cheers. Sophia smiled and walked out, waiting a moment for the crowd to quiet down. There were thousands before her, all waiting for the ceremony to begin.

She looked down at the terrified soul tied to a table carved with the markings of her ancestors in a long-forgotten language. The man she recognised to be one of the richer house owners of Avalla. Not a Lord, but he would do.

Her voice did not need to be carried through all the citizens’ ears, only the gods needed to listen. “Today I offer a gift. Blood for blood. Please help us further our kindness so we can further our servitude to you, the true rulers of our continent. Help us overthrow those who would rather usurp your power than believe in it.”

Sophia paused and looked at the man lying beside her, he was at least forty in age. He had had a life well filled. She leaned down whispering into his scared ear, “know that for your sacrifice your family will be safe and well provided for, I give them immunity.”

She turned to her new army commander, Trevor Lorcen who passed her a secespita, the rounded handle fitting comfortably into her hand. She ran her hand over its large edge.

“For Daynos I offer the eyes, our way to see your light,” she said and began to remove the man’s eyes, his restraints stopping him from acting on his survival instincts. For the greater good, she reminded herself whilst watching the blood trickle down her hands and onto the table. Then she carried on the ritual, removing each part that she named. She ignored his screams that ran into the crowd of cheers.

“To Ayvios, God of nature, I offer his hair. I offer Sive, God of sensuality, the heart and to his twin Sereline, I offer the mind.” With that the man’s thumping chest stilled and his skull cracked open. “To Lilyean I offer the hands so she can point the way to our destiny. To Nyra I offer the lungs in which his last breath is held.”

She pulled apart his rips, holding onto the organ hidden beneath. With all parts at arm’s reach, she burned them one by one in hope that Ayvios’s wind would carry its smoke to the city of the gods.

She was surprised to find herself not sick at the sight of blood. The idea of the sacrifice cleansed her mind of everything that she thought was horrific about death. She had just killed her first person. Not for greed or convenience or rage or jealousy. For the good of the people, something the murderous elves would never understand in their selfish minds.

With the gods on her side, who could stop her? She walked back into the palace after ordering the proper burial of the body. Blood coated her dress, but she expected as much.

“My Queen,” Lord Herrvila said whilst walking by her side.

“Go ahead,” she responded expecting him to say something.

“The second search party you sent to find the keys has returned,” he said.

“Bring everything they found to my chambers,” she replied hiding all excitement. Soon she would see what her parents had been hiding and nothing fueled a child more than defying her parent's commands.

“My Queen,” Lady Madeline said softly. “Is there no other way?”

“What?” Sophia immediately replied.

“This war we are heading for. Is it truly the path we must go on?”

Sophia looked directly at the woman who was now shying away under her gaze. “Do you want peace? Equality? Justice? Then this is the path. If it wasn’t then Lilyean would change it, yet she hasn’t. War is the answer, the only answer. Sometimes you have to take what you want, and you do want our race to strive, right?” she said.

“Of course my Queen, I am sorry for questioning your rule,” Lady Madeline replied.

“Now come help me get this blood off,” she said.

Sophia took a quick glance at the afternoon sun through a nearby window. She had time.