Tag: SSS

9.16.12 #sixsunday: When Darkness Falls

Melissa MacKinnon15 Comments

Welcome back, and thank you for coming to visit and comment week after week as we continue Morrigan’s journey together.   We last left little Morrigan stuck in a hidden alcove watching helplessly as her mother falls to the floor…dead.

A pair of glowing green eyes bore down on her, following the shadow of her movements.

 Wolf.

Morrigan kicked back from the grate, crashing into the stone behind her. A noise caught the wolf’s attention and the beast strayed from the grate, its thick fur brushing against the metal bars as it turned. It rose to full height—on human legs—and retreated from sight. No wolf, but a man; a clever disguise, indeed.

9.9.12 #sixsunday: When Darkness Falls

Melissa MacKinnon40 Comments

Welcome back, and thank you for coming to visit and comment week after week as we continue Morrigan’s journey together.

*picture note:  Although this amazing photo of Amy Lee captures the sadness and emptiness Morrigan feels at the time of this excerpt, Morrigan is, in fact, only nine at the time.

 

“Women are terrible liars.”

            Morrigan heard the shuffling of feet on the rushes, the thumping of a fist connecting to skin—a sound she knew well—then the unsheathing of a blade.

            The sickening smell of blood filled her nostrils and her lip began to quiver. Scooting closer to the grate, Morrigan pressed her cheek against the iron patchwork. Her mother’s blank face stared back at her, a pool of red flooding the floor.

   Momma was dead.

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9.2.12 #sixsunday: When Darkness Falls

Melissa MacKinnon23 Comments

Welcome back, and thank you for coming to visit and comment week after week as we continue Morrigan’s journey together.  I do have to apologize for not being around for several weeks – we’ve been travelling the country and doing as many family things as possible before school starts. (it started!)  I hope to get back to you all Monday morning when peace has been restored.  *wink*

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“Where is the blood moon child?” A man’s voice overpowered the room.

“I know naught of whom you speak!” Lucia cried.

“Tell me and I will not prolong your death,” replied the man. “Tell me.”

7.15.2012 Six Sentence Sunday: When Darkness Falls

Melissa MacKinnon12 Comments

Morrigan must live – she has a prophecy to fulfill.  We last left off with Morrigan’s mother tell her she cannot fight like the boys–she must fight like a girl.

If you would like to read Morrigan’s prophecy, you can read it here.

You can also read more of Morrigan’s story if you scroll back through the last few weeks. In this scene, Morrigan is still with her mother when the warning horn blows.

The darkness is coming.

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In the distance, a warning horn blew, the tail end of the blast ending in an abrupt silence. “Momma, did you hear the horn?”

Lucia rose, calmly striding to the window to peek through it.

Morrigan hopped at her heels, still too short to see without a stool.

“Morrigan, round up your brothers and return to your chambers. I am sure it is nothing, but I must check with your father, just to be sure.”

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Thank you for reading and taking the time to leave your comment.  You time and opinion is truly appreciated!

7.08.12 Six Sentence Sunday: When Darkness Falls

Melissa MacKinnon14 Comments

Welcome, back!  This week we continue the conversation between Morrigan and her mother.  If you missed last week, read the first part here!

Hair as black as night
Lips as red as blood, and
Eyes the color of sea ice.

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“You have a very important task ahead of you, Morrigan, more so than anyone else in the realm. There will come a time when we shall not be able to guide you. You must use your eyes and your ears. Watch how the women bring a man to his knees. Use your wiles to draw a man in close enough to pierce his belly with a dagger. Your greatest weapon will be a man’s weaknesses—beauty and seduction.”

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Thank you so much for visiting and leaving me a comment with your thoughts and suggestions.  I truly appreciate all of you!

7.01.12 Six Sentence Sunday: When Darkness Falls

Melissa MacKinnon12 Comments

Welcome back, fellow Sixers!  I’m so glad you’ve come back to follow Morrigan and her journey to conquer the darkness.  We last left Morrigan with her mother, discussing the behavior of boys and how firing the maidservant was inappropriate.  *wink*  This conversation is between Morrigan and her mother, Lucia.

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Lucia pushed a matted lock of black hair behind Morrigan’s ear, attempting to smooth it to no avail. “Morrigan, tears are not the only weapon a woman has. Men fight with swords and strength, but you are no man. Soon you will grow into a beautiful woman. You must learn to fight like one.”

“But how?”

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6.24.12 Six Sentence Sunday: When Darkness Falls

Melissa MacKinnon16 Comments

Welcome everyone!  Guess what?  It’s my birthday, and I’m so excited to be giving y’all a present!  Here is the next installment of Morrigan’s tale, from “When Darkness Falls”.   If this is your first time visiting, please feel free to look at the last two weeks to learn more about my spirited sprite, Morrigan!

We left off last week with Morrigan showing up late to dinner, covered in filth.  Morrigan has joined her mother in her bed chamber after dinner to talk about boys.

(conversation between Morrigan and her mother, Lucia.)

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“Just as I expected—dirt…everywhere. Your maidservant needs reprimanding if this is what she deems clean.”

“I fired her,” Morrigan replied, swiping her mother’s hand away, “days ago. She insisted I could not complete the task myself.”

Lucia let out a chuckle. “Well, you must apologize and hire her back—she has four children to feed.”

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6.17.12 Six Sentence Sunday: When Darkness Falls

Melissa MacKinnon13 Comments

Last week you met and fell in love with Morrigan, my spirited dark-haired beauty, who is all of nine years old at the moment.  Last week she was bested in swords, and, of course, being the spoiled brat she is, stomped off in a drama-filled rage.  Continuing on….  😉

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Having eluded her training without being caught, victory was hers at last.  Slicing through the canopy with the ease of water flowing over rock, Morrigan planted her boots to the ground with record speed.  Pausing only to bathe herself in dirt, mixing it with the accumulated sweat on her brow, she barreled through the fields, over fences, and down the gatehouse drive just as the evening horn sounded end-of-day.

Bits of mud crumbled in her wake as she skipped through the polished stone hallways to the dining hall.  Her family was already seated and served when Morrigan crashed through the archway.  “Sorry I am late, Father.” 

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6.10.12 Six Sentence Sunday: When Darkness Falls

Melissa MacKinnon15 Comments

I am so pleased to be offering you a brand *spankin’* new six this sunday!  Last week I started a new novel.  This one has been begging to be written for years now, and I have been putting it off.  Well, I decided I needed a change of pace – a change of scenery.  Ladies and Gents, I give you the beginning (very rough version)  of WHEN DARKNESS FALLS.

If you would like to check out a small excerpt on this – “The Prophecy” will give you a bit more info.  You can read it here.

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     Morrigan Sabriel, all of nine years, brushed the dirt from her backside, a frown arching her lower lip.  “You’ll be sorry, Dax Teron…just you wait ‘til I tell my father!”  Strands of midnight hair hung loose around her face, matching the blotchy smears of mud just above her right cheek.  She swiped at the tresses in annoyance, stomping to where Dax deprived her of the practice sword

      “Tell him what?  That I bested you and that little twig you call a sword to the ground?”

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Thank you for visiting and for your comments!  I appreciate every visit!  Please be sure to check out the other amazing authors here!

6.03.12 Six Sentence Sunday: Return to Me

Melissa MacKinnon24 Comments

Welcome back!

I’m taking you back to the beginning this week, when Marek and Brynn first meet.  In this scene, someone hidden in shadows has pushed Brynn down a staircase.  Unbeknownst to her, Marek had followed Brynn.  He saves her, which ultimately lands them both in a very bad predicament.

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His heart raced beneath her ear.  A familiar woodsy scent clung to the thin tunic acting as a barrier between them.  Marek.  Her head moved with the rise and fall of his lungs as he sucked in as many breaths as his battered body would allow.  She was afraid every bone in her body was broken into a thousand pieces.  She stirred, attempting to roll from his body.

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