Martyr A Novel Novels & Stories

The rain had been falling for twenty days straight. From morning until night, it hammered against the roof, low and constant, pressing down on everything. I stood by the window and watched water stream off the eaves and splash onto the ground below. I thought about what I had seen in my past life. The riverbanks breaking. The territories flooding. Bodies everywhere. Those images would never leave me. According to the timeline I remembered, the elder would propose live sacrifice in less than ten days.

There was no way for such hurt to ever be forgotten. No one showed up on the day of Zachary's sentencing. It served as a kind of punishment for him as well. Later on, I heard from John that Zachary took his own life while in prison. With his dying breath, he continued to apologize to Marie, John, and me. Once I heard that he was dead, the last of my anger dissipated. I still resented him, of course. How could I not? I resented him for betraying me and our marriage, for not trusting me, and for indirectly causing Marie's death as well.

I can see her cheeks turn red. Embarrassment. I tried not to wrapped the bandage tightly, “All done, Leana. Thank you for being patient with me.” I smiled at her as I slowly stood up and unpacked the groceries. I prepared our meal and ate together. This is the first time I am helping a mortal and now a mortal animal. Would there be another mortal to join me in this ‘rollercoaster’ life in World War II. Nothing much happened except we were added by a new member , Dante the puppy.

"You said 'past life'? Are you reborn too?" "Yes. I've been reborn." Mikhail turned to face me, his eyes unwavering. "In the past life, Sophia killed herself not long after our marriage. The world believed I had abused her. But the truth is, she found my room filled with your photos and ended her life out of shame and rage. "I've loved you across two lifetimes, Emma. This time, I won't let the chance slip away." Outside the window, snow fell in soft sheets, blanketing Droskav in a white blanket.

The Martyr-me speaks for the first time, her voice thick with blood that perpetually pools in her throat. "You destroyed everything to save nothing. That's not victory—that's the ultimate failure." Golden ichor drips from her wrists where she's carved runes of sacrifice, each drop hissing against the crystal floor. "I chose a different path. I bleed myself dry feeding power to the others, making myself the eternal battery for humanity's survival. They live because I suffer, because I chose to bear the weight of their salvation until the end of time." The God-me tilts her head, star-fire spinning lazily in her orbital sockets. "And yet here you are, dying slowly in a realm between realms, pro

"Maybe I'm just tired of crying." "Or maybe," he leaned closer, "you're realizing that martyrdom doesn't suit you as well as you thought it did." The words stung because they were true. I wanted to look away, to retreat back into the safety of silence, but something in me refused. Something that had been slowly building since I watched my habit burn, since Margaret's betrayal, since I realized that six years of suffering had earned me nothing but more suffering. "At least I had a choice in my martyrdom," I said cynically. "You don't even have that luxury."

Mattie fell to the ground. I couldn't bear to look at her. I couldn't bear to look. My eyes shut tight, but the tears still poured forth. I fell down. Meanwhile, Patricia grabbed me, shouting in my ears. "Athena! We have to run!" But I couldn't move. He killed her. Styker Marsden killed my friend. Just like Marc and Ximena who died, Mattie had died, too. I was losing everyone I loved because I didn't have the power.

Thea stared at me, her mouth open, disbelief written plainly on her face. “That’s not possible,” she said weakly. I did not answer her. I could not. I was still trying to steady my breathing. Across the hall, I felt another presence shift. I turned and met Aleric’s eyes. He looked nothing like the man who had once stood beside me with confidence. His face was pale, his expression hollow, as if something he had refused to accept had finally crashed down on him. “So it was true,” he said quietly. “All of it. They really were martyrs.”

“I have been a tyrant to you for years and I realize now that I was wrong. I was not only wrong but I was cruel and heartless. I know it doesn't change anything and I don't deserve your forgiveness but I am so sorry. I spoke with my parents today and they cleared some things up that I completely thought wrong about. I thought all through high school you had been ratting me out to my parents every time I did anything and would get in trouble. I felt betrayed and I was so angry with you. I know it is not a good excuse but I thought you were trying to ruin my life.” Complete shock and I’m left speechless. Slowly sliding myself higher on the bed towards the headboard I sat up rubbing my eyes jus

she says, bitterly. I step forward and take her hand in mine, letting Ayla soothe this woman, yet another person betrayed by Sawyer and Althea. “I don’t know if this will make you feel better, but my sister, Althea, she killed her fated mate when he tried to get her away from the battle.” She sucks in air, her mouth dropping open. She looks between me and Roman as her hand comes up to her mouth. “Sawyer may not have cared about you, but he cared enough to leave you alive, which is more than Derrick got.”