Page 2 of Blood Sacrifice

Death.

Blood soaked into the landscape, and death visited this place to receive the souls of the dead left in the wake of whatever was about to happen.

“We need to go.” I tugged my sister’s hand, but the row of women behind us prevented us from moving.

“Choose again,” Emperor Atahualpa said when he reached Balor.

“Not even our leader can circumvent the will of the gods,” Balor replied. “You wished for this ritual and chose this night. These are the stipulations of the gods.” Balor held his hands toward the heavens, creating a dramatic image.

“My heir will not be sacrificed.” The emperor’s jaw tightened, and his hand fisted at his side. “She is pledged in union.”

Balor flashed his predatory smile, and my stomach cramped in fear. “If the rightful chosen sacrifice is not given, then another must take their place.” Balor paused. “A family member must give their life.”

Every person assembled knew the emperor had lost his wife in childbirth two summers ago. The only person left to take her place was him. Balor had deliberately twisted the events to manipulate the downfall of the emperor.

Silence descended over everyone gathered, and it felt as if the moon herself held her breath. The emperor’s head rose and he stared at Balor while my pulse sounded in my ears. Bile burned a path up the back of my throat and I fought the urge to run. These were the two most powerful men in our lives, and they were about to start a war.

“I am the rightful ruler of these people,” Emperor Atahualpa almost growled in a low voice. “You are merely the priest appointed to act on my will.”

Balor placed his hands under his chin and bowed slightly. “I serve only the gods. A parent’s love is deep, but each of the chosen have parents who would willingly allow them to be sacrificed as per our laws.” Balor’s head came up and he glanced around those assembled. “Even a king must obey the law of the gods or face their wrath.”

Every word was a form of combat, and war had no winners.

“The gods have always favoured me,” Emperor Atahualp replied, his top lip lifting in a snarl.

“And yet only one of your children have survived, and your wife died,” Balor countered, twisting the narrative to suit his agenda. “Sacrifices have had to be made more frequently to appease the gods for your actions…” His words trailed off as he shrugged, the double-headed snake that was inked on his arm moving menacingly.

Muttering rippled around the group, the parents of the other offerings moving closer to their children to claim them back.

“Take my daughter back to our home,” Emperor Atahualpa snapped. “Leave a guard with her.”

Balor stepped in front of his daughter for a moment. “You are about to insult the gods,” he warned. “Nothing will appease them if you deny them their sacrifice.”

“Restrain him!” The emperor pointed at Balor as he spoke.

No one outside the temples ever saw the true power of magic. The people petitioned and prayed to the gods, but in the background, the magic users purified the water and made the earth fertile for the crops. The fire users calmed the fires inside Misti and prevented her eruptions. No sacrifices were required for these and yet tradition decreed that we should take a life.

Balor moved rapidly out of the guard’s way, a blade appearing in his hand from his belt. There was no time to prevent what he planned, no way to stop what he put in motion. He grabbed the emperor’s daughter, his blade cutting deep to start a war.

Time slowed, screams filling the air as Balor continued to slaughter everyone in his path, all the offerings within his reach.

“He is a soul eater,” a priestess to my right said. “I suspected it for years, but tonight has confirmed my fears.”

“We must all leave tonight,” another priestess whispered, trying to manoeuvre us away from the horror of what was happening. “They will never forgive any of us for his actions.”

Our mother priestess gathered us, pushing us toward our temple. “Every soul he takes makes Balor stronger,” she said when the doors closed behind us, meeting the eyes of the priestesses who had already spoken. “He can absorb our powers and use them against us. We must leave this place, and find somewhere to hide. Each of us holds a piece of our collective magic. Only when he kills all of us can he fully control our power.”

I wrapped my arms around my sister’s waist, terror bubbling inside me.

“We must all separate, and be as the winds to disperse in all directions,” she continued. “Do not return to your family, do not use your magic unless you have no option.”

Some of the lessons she had taught us finally made sense—she had been planning for this day. They had known what Balorwas and could do nothing until tonight. She retrieved packages from behind the altar, handing one to each of us.

“Remove your jewels and robes. There are plain clothes at the rear of the temple.” She placed a hand on the arm of one of the priestesses who had started to cry. “We foresaw this night a long time ago and made preparations.”

One at a time, each of us changed our clothing, placing our robes in the fire that always burned at the centre of our temple. I watched silently as each priestess walked away from the only life we knew, taking a piece of my heart with them.

“May the great goddess protect and watch over you.” Mother priestess pressed her forehead to mine. “Travel East, and follow your instincts. You have always had the sight; remember to look into the heart of those who come into your life.”

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