Round 2 Nano Oct 11

Mercy Returns

Saturday, Oct. 11

Required: Contest Round 2: Antagonist Background Story ▼



Write a story about your antagonist that takes place outside of your novel. The object of the contest is to make your judges understand and empathize with the antagonist's motivations. If your antagonist is a situation rather than a person, write a background story about that. Add the background story to your character database (if applicable.)



*Submit your BITEM or ENTRY link by 1200 noon WDC time on Sunday, Oct. 12 to compete. If you miss this deadline or choose not to compete, you may still post your assignment completion for the grand prize, per the standard Prep guidelines.



           “Grandmother,” Mercy greets Sarah.

         “Mercy,” Sarah returns the greeting. “How long has it been?”

         Sarah didn’t need an answer. She remembered the tears she shed as the twins hugged her goodbye to leave her and all that she believed behind. She would never forget how Mercy had to be pulled from her grandmother’s arms. The last time she had seen Mary and Mercy was from the back windshield of Matilda’s Station Wagon as the automobile drove down the dirt road taking her family away to a new life. “You probably don’t remember your old grandma.” Sarah replied throwing her arms around her prodigal granddaughter.

         “Grandmother, you have not changed at all since I last laid my eyes on your charming face. Mercy wasn’t exaggerating. Sarah was still a tiny red head with flawless skin. There were no signs of age past the age of twenty, and her grandmother’s smile was as bright as when she once sat on her lap listening to Sarah tell her stories. No, Sarah had learned how to stay young using her craft.

         “Amazing how much Mary resembles Grandmother.” Mercy thought. She quickly pushed such a statement to the back of her mind. The thought brought back the only feeling of insecurity that she had ever felt. Mercy could charm everyone to do or get anything that she wanted with the exception of her grandmother. There was always a bond between her twin and Sarah. Mercy always tried to gain her grandmother’s favor, but Mary was the apple of Sarah’s eyes. Worst of all at the age of three, Sarah was already teaching Mary from her spell book. This would not happen again.

         Sarah and Mercy walked into the little cabin. After dinner and before saying goodnight to her grandmother, Mercy leaves the little abode. She makes her way to the place between the birch trees where she and Mary were born. She lights the fire. The flames cast shadows over the ground resembling dancing witches of a full mood. Next she creates a circle with the ash.  She then lay out candles upon the alter. Then she chants.

         “Mary, Mary, twin o’ mine

         This ribbon you entwine

         What was yours in now mine

         Set one foot upon this place

         All will see you as disgraced”

         

         Mercy tears a photo of the two sisters separating Mercy and Mary. Taking the red ribbon, she winds it around the picture of Mary until there is no image to be seen. Then she lays it on the ground by the alter, pours wax from the candle over it, places a rock over it, and continues.

         “Far away you must abide

         For now I am the Witches’ pride”



         When the two women wake up the next morning, Mercy smells cinnamon pancakes. It was such a welcomed fragrance to awaken her. She remember that was the breakfast that Sarah used to cook for them, but not because Mercy like it. It was because cinnamon pancakes was Mary’s favorite dish.

         

         Mercy sits at the table. In front of her was a stack of pancakes of twenty or so. “Eat, my daughter.” Sarah smiles. Then she seals Mercy’s spell. “I remembered that this was your favorite morning meal.”

         Mercy whispers, “Now I will learn all that Grandmother has to teach.”

         “Did you say something, Dear?”

         “Just how happy that I am to be here.” Mercy answers knowing she would soon be the Mistress of the coven.