Day of Sacrifice (Day of Sacrifice #1) by S.W. Benefiel Read Free Book Online Page B

took one look at her and ran into the wilderness. When the other two didn’t get the hint though, she lost her compassion. Both men cocked their guns. Flora put her palms out flat in front of her, creating a wall of fire. She charged at them, melting the gun metal in their hands. They fell to their knees, screaming, writhing in pain. The grass all around them caught, encasing them in a cage of fire. A flash of panic erupted in Flora’s chest. They were going to burn alive. She spotted the first man’s gun on the ground. She retracted the fire in her hands and drew the gun up. Sucking in a deep breath, she prayed that the safety was off and shot into the bonfire overtaking the two men. There screams went silent. She tossed the gun into the fire and turned to see how Julian was faring.
    He was squatting against the building next to an unconscious Daniel, his right wing torn to shreds and bleeding heavily. The three men he’d fought were piled on top of one another, a handprint shaped bruise across the front of each of their broken necks.
    She went to Julian, kneeling beside him.
    “More will be coming,” he said. “We have to get you out of here.”
    “Can you transport?” She gently touched his wing.
    He flinched. “No.”
    She studied his expression. He was putting on a brave face, but he was in immense pain. His eyes looked ancient.
    “I heal quickly, but in the meantime, you’ll be vulnerable to attack.” He snorted. “Well, slightly more vulnerable than I’ve already made you. Help me up, there’s a back way to my house.”
    Flora wrapped her arm around Julian’s waist, pulling him to stand. They set off across the field in the direction of the house, careful not to stumble over the carnage they were leaving behind.
     
     
     
    Julian sat at the kitchen table disgusted with himself, with the whole situation. He’d never felt weaker. The time had come. He had to tell her about the prophecy.
    Flora dropped the wash cloth into a basin of water. She’d managed to clean most of the blood from his battered wing by moving her hand over it, but used the cloth to finish the job.
    He retracted his wings, gritting his teeth through the pain. “I have to tell you something.”
    “Okay.” Flora sat down opposite him.
    Julian stared at her. Everyone in her life had betrayed her, failed her, not given her any choices and he was just as bad.
    “We’re kinda under a time restraint here, Julian, spit it out.” Flora’s expression had gone from confused to annoyed.
    He looked her directly in the eye. She deserved the truth. She deserved to have a choice. “You are not your family’s Sacrifice.”
    “What the fuck are you talking about?” Flora sat completely still, her fists clenched in her lap.
    “Have you ever attended a Naming Ceremony?” Julian asked. “Do you know what happens at one?”
    “No, I haven’t. My father never let me,” she said, seething.
    “Have I mentioned that I hate your father?” He sighed and then began explaining. “The family’s Crone places her hands on the mother’s abdomen and tells the parents what their child’s or children’s names will be. She also reveals other important information about the child, like what element they will use. Very rarely, she sees farther into the future.”
    “And?”
    “I was at your Naming Ceremony. The whole thing proceeded in the usual fashion. And then, just as the Crone was taking her hands from your mother’s body, she went into a trance and delivered a prophecy to the room. She said, “Your second born daughter, Flora, is going to be a powerful witch. On her twenty-first birthday, she will join with another fire user. Together they will possess enough strong magic to lead a rebellion against the Gods and end the practice of sacrificing the firstborn child.” After some discussion amongst the heads of the family, your father suggested that you become the Sacrifice instead of your sister. He expected you to never amount to