Escaped Daughter (Morrigan University Book 1)

by Erin R. Flynn

“I bet this is one of those times you truly wish warlocks were allowed to use mind control or force their family to do their will to get around that pesky law of consent. It won’t happen otherwise, Father. I won’t marry him or anyone else you order me to. Ever.” My mother slapped me across the face in a flash. I was used to that as well.

Oh, that was simply a woman disciplining her daughter to behave in an appropriate manner. Obedient. Silent. Submissive. Things like that and no, I didn’t see the difference in a female parent slapping a child simply because of their sex. Both were child abuse even if I was now eighteen.

If I’d shown I had any magic, what they’d planned for me was far, far worse than an arranged marriage that benefitted them. I met his gaze without fear. “Oh, it’s for me and not your business?”

Grammy, but I know better.” It was hard not to smirk when she flinched at the term. She loathed it, but even she knew better than to strike a family member for using a loving term in front of servants. I only did it because I loathed her, so it seemed fair.

so do not push me to the point of disowning you, Bevin,” Father threatened. “Please do,” I challenged, shocking the three of them into silence for once. Even the staff around us couldn’t hide their surprise.

I wanted nothing more than for him to disown me and had been carefully plotting for years for this moment and the chance I pushed him to this point. He kept his face calm, but I saw the amusement dance in his eyes that he only had when he thought he won and had an unbeatable ace up his sleeve.

“So you’re suggesting I register under grandfather’s name or something? Start school as Bevin Millen, a normal freshman?” His lips twitched, liking the idea as if it was his own. “Yes, exactly that. You complete the semester without running home for help, using the Shaw name or wealth, and I’ll disown you.”

There was almost a hint of humanity in my father’s eyes, but it was gone in a flash, instead replaced with the greed of the chance to get more on his investment. I knew it would never come to my losing—as I’d rather die than give in to marrying any man he’d select for me—but I also wouldn’t show my hand by giving in so easily. He would figure out how badly I wanted this instead of assuming it was on a bratty whim as he currently did.

“Deal,” he agreed, extending his hand to me. “You have no problem with a magically binding one, yes?” “Not at all,” I answered, shocking them again. “I might not have the magic you wished of me, but I have my own integrity.” I extended my hand and placed it in my father’s, touching him repulsing me given how much I hated him. I felt his magic flash over me as we locked in our deal. I couldn’t hide my smile then.

“I’m simply happy it has to be fair now.” Oh, I bet they all swallowed flinches then. None of them were known for being fair. I didn’t think any of them knew the meaning of the word which was why my comment about integrity was actually a dig. No one in the Shaw family had any.

Father never understood how easy it was to manipulate him because of his narcissism and pride. He looked down on everyone and it made him completely vulnerable to being taken advantage of. The only reason he wasn’t more often was he was scary powerful… And simply scary.

it was how no one ever screwed over the Shaw family. I hadn’t though. He would fully believe it was his idea and I was a bratty woman who he had no respect for. His ego and delusions had given me both things I’d wanted most. A chance to be disowned. And to not start school with the Shaw name.

it was how no one ever screwed over the Shaw family. I hadn’t though. He would fully believe it was his idea and I was a bratty woman who he had no respect for. His ego and delusions had given me both things I’d wanted most. A chance to be disowned. And to not start school with the Shaw name.

the respectable last name of my grandfather who had married into the Shaw family. He’d done it to save them, but from what he’d told me, my great-grandparents had still led them to their demise. He had never said more than that, and with my family that could mean anything. But something in his tone always made me believe his family hadn’t been without fault either. Almost as if they’d made the deal with the devil knowing exactly what it was and had gotten bitten in the end. That was what he’d always tried to warn me of most. Or so I’d thought. He’d died when I was thirteen and there was a lot I missed from his teachings.

Clarence, one of my only and oldest friends. “I’ll figure a way to bring you with and—” He hopped closer and nuzzled my hand. “I have lived much longer than any normal frog, Bevin. It will be my time soon and we both know this. I believe it was the gods’ plan that I make it to this point to see you safe. Now it’s time for you to be free and for me to move on to what comes next.” I swallowed my feelings as I rubbed my fingers over his small body. “I would be dead if not for you.

Clarence the wise old frog/best friend/savior

Saving me. He’d always said saving me from my parents was his purpose in life.

Being able to hear animals talk was incredibly rare even in the magical community. I’d been five when I first heard a bird do more than chirp, or so I’d thought. Luckily, I’d been smart enough not to tell my parents and kept it to myself. Right before my seventh birthday was when I finally knew for sure and heard something clearly.

Being able to hear animals talk was incredibly rare even in the magical community. I’d been five when I first heard a bird do more than chirp, or so I’d thought. Luckily, I’d been smart enough not to tell my parents and kept it to myself. Right before my seventh birthday was when I finally knew for sure and heard something clearly.

Witches and warlocks were immune to most poisons in nature, and my mother thought it amusing to keep certain animals in the arboretum that would hurt humans… Like a poisonous frog. What she didn’t know was a lick from one and it could significantly mute our powers for testing. That was what had saved my life. Clarence had done that and hidden how powerful I was before I was tested—as per tradition—on my seventh birthday. What wasn’t part of tradition? I didn’t have a huge party befitting a Shaw. I didn’t know that was odd until later or that my siblings had had them. They had kept me completely secluded and hidden from our society because the Shaws had a secret

They had a tradition of sacrificing their youngest child to boost the power of their male heir. Insane, right? And yet I knew it to be the truth as it was how my father was so powerful. My grandmother had sacrificed her own youngest child to make him that way. I had heard it all with my own ears after doubting the talking frog as a child. My grandfather never knew the truth, thinking an accident had happened when he was away on business, and I’d never had the heart to tell him. He already knew my grandmother was the devil and evil to the core. No reason to confirm it again and torture him with a pain he couldn’t shoulder or that would destroy him with trying to take revenge.

By High Council law all children’s magical assessments had to be recorded within thirty days of turning seven. So that was the one chance to use me as a sacrifice to up the power of my eldest brother, Alex. Not that I trusted any of them for a second they wouldn’t still use me if they found out I was powerful, which was why I still hid it.

You have much to do before leaving for school. They think it will be in two weeks, but you signed up for that early seminar, yes?” I snorted, nodding. Anything to get out of this house early. I might not have had the magic they wanted to use me as a sacrifice, but I knew I was gorgeous by society standards and my parents preyed upon that. Or more, they played that up as a listing on my resume as if selling a mare. Also, how naïve I was, sheltered, well trained to be submissive… Everything a deplorable—but powerful—man would want.

So I’d been homeschooled my whole life, college the only time that it wasn’t allowed. In many ways, I was light-years ahead of others with my private tutors and such, but anything magical I was severely stunted as I’d hid my powers, and my tutors had always been on my parents’ side. Always. I’d learned that very, very early how fast they would report everything on me.

So the only time I didn’t disappoint my parents was when I ate up more and more books on magical theory and languages, studied histories of ancient civilizations long gone that our beliefs came from.

I knew they thought I was completely ignorant and would run home within a week. The funny thing about that was they were also ignorant on technology, deeming it a human toy and crass. Well, a lot could be learned through social media and the internet, so I wasn’t as ignorant as they hoped. Did I think I was prepared for real life and college? Fuck no. I wasn’t deluded. I knew I was naïve and chum in the water, but I knew that, and that was an advantage over those who lied to themselves. Plus, I had a lot of furry friends who told me tons about everything my parents kept from me.

a week later at breakfast.

I was never honest or snitched like that, but since it was my last day in this awful house, I wasn’t about to hold back.

He glanced at the two maids I hated who had treated me as dirt for years and years as my family did. “You are both demoted to first-level maids. I don’t care your orders, any Shaw is still your master and to be respected. See the head butler for your new assignments. Fail again and you will not only be fired, but blacklisted from any reputable house.”

“On the matter of your allowance, I feel half of normal given our deal is—” Father started, but I cut in. “I don’t think that’s needed,” I said easily, having been warned about this issue from my furry friends. He planned to use any monetary assistance as his fallback that I used the Shaw family resources. “Our deal starts today. The semester has already been paid for which includes classes, housing, meals, books, and all fees. I purchased everything else with my own means. I don’t really have a need for anything else.” “Oh? And how did you do this?” he asked incredulously.

The rest—my vehicle was a gift for my birthday. My electronics all generous gifts but already given.” “It seems you have it all covered,” he mocked. “I highly doubt that,” I countered. “And I think we would both agree any threat to my security if someone found out I am a Shaw is separate from our wager as that is of no fault of mine and a risk to our family.”

He gave me an assessing look as if wondering if he hadn’t appraised a possession with enough value. “You’re more astute than I would have thought.” I couldn’t hide my mirth. “Father, I’m more astute than you would think any female to be. It’s the burden of sexism.” His eyes flashed shock, but I ignored it when the head butler walked into the dining room,

he accepted without even checking with my parents. He was one of the few that treated me with any respect in the house. Him and one cook in the kitchen. Wasn’t that sad in a huge mansion that had a staff of over fifty? Then again, why would they when they witnessed how my family treated me?

“You show only joy at the prospect of leaving this family for good but cry over leaving the animals in there? You don’t even have a familiar. That bond I might understand but regular animals? It’s pathetic.” I couldn’t even hide my contempt for her. I shook my head as I gestured around the lavish mansion. “I understand them more than I ever will you, Mother.

I left it at that and wouldn’t ever confess that it was mostly how Clarence was having trouble breathing. He tried to hide it, but it was obvious as he said goodbye and licked me to keep me safe yet again. Clearly, he was right that his time was short and maybe the gods really did give him extra years to see me to their path.

I thanked them and was shocked when the head butler paused, glancing around. “I wish you all the best, Miss. May the gods bless you,” he said quietly before walking off briskly to follow the others. Huh. Maybe it was more than integrity that kept him respectful towards me and he actually cared about the bullied black sheep of the twisted family?

I thanked them and was shocked when the head butler paused, glancing around. “I wish you all the best, Miss. May the gods bless you,” he said quietly before walking off briskly to follow the others. Huh. Maybe it was more than integrity that kept him respectful towards me and he actually cared about the bullied black sheep of the twisted family?

Father clapped me on the shoulder and I felt his magic surge over me, checking mine as he narrowed his eyes at me. He gave a firm nod when he was satisfied at what he found. “Do well and don’t embarrass us since it will come out next semester you’re a Shaw.” Ass. Hole.

The magic pulled my breath from my lungs as I was transported hundreds of miles away in a flash. I blinked off the bright light of the circle and found myself outside the guard station of Morrigan University. Throwing the SUV into gear, I checked I was clear and pulled up to the booth.

Only a few people were aware of my being there under a different name and the guards would be in the loop as it was a safety concern. Or so the dean told me when I’d worked out getting my registration changed. It was fair.

“There was a change to your room assignment. You’re no longer in a normal double but a single. It’s noted here that it’s for security reasons.” I swallowed a sigh. I should have known Father would have called and tried to stack the deck in any way he could. To him, not having a roommate to share secrets with or have pillow fights with—whatever asinine ideas he had of what college-age females did—would be enough to send me running home. Hysterical given I’d grown up completely alone and never having a friend.

I was coming in a week before most freshmen so I could attend the seminar. And the freshmen came a week before the rest of the students for orientation, so I was actually two weeks before most of the student body would arrive. Classes wouldn’t start for two and a half weeks which gave me plenty of time to get acclimated to campus and get the layout.

I spent the day doing the normal college freshman settling in stuff. I hit the bookstore and got my supplies that my parents had already paid for per our deal. I cleaned up the room and unpacked. I walked around campus a bit and took in everything, even finding the small grocery store for students to stock up their rooms with. It was a closed campus, and from a security standpoint it made sense to have a store for us even if the nearest town was all witches and warlocks—no humans.

I spent the day doing the normal college freshman settling in stuff. I hit the bookstore and got my supplies that my parents had already paid for per our deal. I cleaned up the room and unpacked. I walked around campus a bit and took in everything, even finding the small grocery store for students to stock up their rooms with. It was a closed campus, and from a security standpoint it made sense to have a store for us even if the nearest town was all witches and warlocks—no humans.

it has to be someone’s familiar. I bet it’s someone powerful.’ No, regular owls come this size in Vermont, idiots. Try reading books before entering college or looking into what the area you’ll be living in for the next six years will be like.” “Try having amethyst eyes,” I replied even if she hadn’t been speaking to me.

Julie the owl

“When I was an owlet, I was injured and a student helped me. He named me and I kept it.” She flapped her wings and made another noise. “A lot of us are named here. It’s common around so many familiars. We learn.”

“They are pretty. Your eyes.” “Thank you.” They were actually a sensitive topic as they weren’t the color of the Shaw bloodline but my grandfather’s and the Millens which had been one of the most powerful magical families. “I’ve been told they are too big for my face and look funny.”

I’d feel bad for being demanding, but animals loved to talk, and finding someone who could hear them was like a miracle they didn’t even know they’d longed for. Sure enough, her eyes sparkled as she started rattling off every warning and piece of information on the school that a freshman like me could ever need to know.

By the time I had to head to the first day of my seminar, I was feeling better that I knew a bit more than the freshman arriving would. Or at least those without older siblings who had already attended. Well, nice ones. Mine hadn’t so much as called to wish me luck.

I was almost shocked Alex hadn’t shown up to give me one last hit somewhere he thought no one would notice or see.

The week of seminar was boring but definitely worth signing up for. It gave us all the inside contacts none of normal information said that we would need to survive the place and outlined way more than any underclassman would know. And it gave me a lead on a project I’d wanted to get started on since I was five and would give me course credit if I could find a faculty sponsor… Researching witches and warlocks who could talk to animals. Why them? What was the reason they were able to? Why was it so rare? Perfect for me, right?