Warrior Nun: Margo

Prologue- Exodus 23:20

Margo clutched the engraved gold-plated talisman around her neck, it was all she had left. She stood at the entry of the apartment and through blurry eyes watched the enraged fire swallow all her belongings. The apartment wasn't anything special, but it was the only place where she could remember both her parents vibrant and happy. Her father was a strong and proud man, never forgetting his roots and through hardships would hold steadfast to his faith; something he tried to instill in her, but she never took to it. Neither did her mother and maybe that is what caused their separation. Her mother was a gentle soul, always smiling and always loving but was free-spirited and didn't believe in being controlled by religious practices. The memories of who they used to be wilted and cracked under the ferocious flames, turning to ash and dust.

"Ma'am...MA'AM! the firefighter exclaimed, "you shouldn't be in here. Is there anyone else inside?"

Margo paused as the question echoed in her memory. She placed her arms on the cool steel table and stared at the case worker across from her.

"And then what happens?"

"And then.... I usually wake up."

"So...your dream just stops," Dr. Sheffield stared blankly at her, "And you're sure you don't remember anything else?"

"No," Margo replied hastily, "After the firefighters pulled me out, I guess I passed out."

"And your mother? What about your mother Margo?"

"I don't know," she replied softly holding back her tears, "I guess she's dead."

"Well we don't know that for sure, there were no remains found in the apartment," Dr. Sheffield said looking over the paperwork.

"She has to be. I've been in this facility for almost 4 months and she hasn't come and looked for me," she said as her eyes welded with tears, "she always does."

"Margo," Dr. Sheffield paused, "has your mother done this before?"

"It was an accident," Margo sighed deeply, "A couple years ago our apartment burned down...but she was using then. She's been clean for a year now," Margo said lowering her head.

"Well...she could be healing just like you...in another facility perhaps," Dr. Sheffield replied trying to sound hopeful.

"Well why won't anyone tell me anything?!" she shrieked, "I'm not a child anymore, either my mother was in that fire or she wasn't!"

"Margo, all we want to do is to see you recover and reconnect you with your mom. We appreciate your maturity for your age, but the situation is a little more complicated than that."

"Complicated? How?" Margo questioned raising her brow.

"You have dual citizenship in Spain. Unfortunately, if we are unable to locate your mother, I am afraid that you will have to live with a... Cristóbal Pena," she said fumbling through the paperwork.

"My father," she whispered.

"Oh," Dr. Sheffield sat back in her chair, "Tell me about your father."

"Well," Margo sighed, "the truth is, I don't remember much about him. He left when I was seven. Prison," she mumbled, "This is the only thing I have left of him," she continued clutching the talisman around her neck.

"Archangel," Dr. Sheffield mumbled looking over Margo's case file.

"Huh?"

"Oh nothing. I was just commenting that it's a symbol for Michael the Archangel."

"Oh," she replied in a low tone.

"Are you catholic too?"

"It's my father's faith," she replied firmly.

"And your mother?" Dr. Sheffield continued looking through her file, "What was she?

"My mother is a free-spirit."

"I see," she said with a half-smile, "Well, Margo...until we can locate your mother, I'm afraid that you will be placed in the care of your father in Spain."

"I can't move to Spain!"

"You have no choice Margo."

"But I don't even know my father."

"It says here that your father returned to Spain after he was released from prison and is now a part of the order."

"Order?" she said raising a brow.

"He is a brother," she said reassuringly flashing a symbol marked on her wrist.

"What is that?" Margo said leaning in.

"It is the mark of a sister."

"You're catholic?" Margo questioned.

"Yes, and I can assure you, if your father has taken vows to devote himself to the cause of the order, he will take very good care of you."

"But that still doesn't change the fact that I don't know him," she said leaning back in her chair, "and I have no interest in getting involved with any of his religious practices."

"Unfortunately, at this time, there is nothing I can do," Dr. Sheffield sighed, "You have to go with a living parent. You're still a minor."

"Please," Margo urged, "I know my mother is out there. Please keep looking," she continued with tears in her eyes.

"We'll keep looking," Dr. Sheffield replied firmly rising from her chair, "We'll keep looking."