-Karen-The sudden screaming had me woken up to the most unnerving sight I could have ever imagined myself in. I had a hold of Nathan’s soul, with his body on the ground at my feet, Joanne pale as she clutched Alexander to her chest, and several Mages, Bart and Conor were tied down with several vines. I felt the color leave my face as Nathan’s soul gave me a serious look. I replaced the soul back in his body and took several steps away from them, dispelling the vines. Arthur ran to Nathan and helped him to his feet as he sighed. I wasn’t sure if it was out of relief or disappointment. I was going to make that dream a reality… I kept my eyes to the ground as I tried to quell the screaming thoughts.“Karen- That was beyond terrifying.” Nathan said quietly. I shook my head unsure of what to say or how to act. “What were you going to do to Alexander and Joanne?”Eldon appeared next to me a second later and grabbed me by my throat. I could hear Conor start to object when Nathan grabbed his
-Conor-“I’ll be back tomorrow. Don’t look for her.” Eldon replied and then left without saying anything else further. Eventually, Alexander did calm down when Joanne started singing to him. He was very fussy despite everyone’s attempts to soothe him. Conor and Nathan went back into the large tent talking about what could be done to help Karen.“I don’t care- I’ll do whatever I have to in order to help her. You know that Nathan.” Conor said as he sat on the bed rubbing his face. “This is going to be a long day.” Way too long.“No kidding. I’ve never seen her look like that. That really scared me! And she has all that power and the Death magic- She’s dangerous.” Nathan stated grimly. Conor gave him a pained look. “I know- I hate saying it but it’s the truth. And if Monica gave her a curse that was meant to kill all of us, she’s more than capable of making it happen.” Nathan continued solemnly. “Did she tell you about any of this? Anything at all?”“Yes. She woke up this morning from a
-Karen-“Is it over?” I whispered aloud. I opened my eyes and saw gray teary eyes staring back. “Is the curse gone?” I asked Conor. I had a horrible headache and I felt so heavy.“Yes, Karen. The curse is gone.” Eldon said softly. I closed my eyes feeling relieved. I feel… Terrible.I weakly lifted my hand to Conor’s tear drenched face and cupped his left cheek. He placed his hand over mine and leaned into my palm. “Conor, I love you even though I only keep hurting you. How much are you willing to really take? How much pain and torment-” He shut me up with slow kiss.“I failed you. I’m so ashamed.” He whispered as he pulled me tightly to him. I tried to hug him back, but I couldn’t move.“No, you didn’t. The only way to break a curse is for the cursed to die at their own hand. Monica deliberately cursed Karen in hopes that she would take out the Resistance and the dynasty in one shot.” Eldon explained firmly. “She had to kill herself. There was no way she could come back to camp witho
-Karen-Sweet kisses on my lips woke me up though it took me several minutes to realize I was in bed next to Conor. As soon as I did, I tried to move away from him. “Ah ah ah!” He captured me quickly and pulled me back to him. No. Please don’t!I completely avoided his gazes and wouldn’t let him kiss me at all. “Karen- You won’t even look at me.” I could hear the disappointment in his voice. “Alexander cried all night after you left. Will you at least hug him?” I shook my head. “He says Mama now.” I don’t care. I can’t be here anymore! I only hurt you. I can’t continue to be a danger to you and everyone else here.I took advantage of the situation and pulled away from him. “Karen! Wait!” I left the tent as quickly as I could hearing him following me. “Please just listen to me!”All eyes were on me and it shot me right back to the memory of charging at Joanne. I dashed to the clearing and left the camp as fast as I could. I raced back to the Royal Crypt, crying the whole way. The guilt
-Karen-Conor groaned while rubbing his face and then looked up at me. He rubbed his eyes again. “Is that really you, Kay? You’re not an illusion, right?” He whispered sitting up quickly and grabbing my left hand pressing my palm to his lips. “You know I’m not upset with you- Don’t you?” I dropped my gaze feeling so much shame as I stood before him. “I-”“You may not be upset but I am.” I interrupted quietly. “I just see myself punching you and then charging at Joanne and then the nightmares I had. I may not be cursed anymore but the weight of my guilt is so heavy. I feel like I should just die and end everything once and for all. But that wouldn’t be fair to you or to Alex.” I closed the gap between us and hugged him tightly. “I love you Conor. I love you and I hate that I only hurt you… I feel like I do nothing but that.”He was silent but he held me tightly to him after he pulled me onto his lap. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to get this again.” Conor kissed my cheek and nuzzled my
-Karen-I woke up enveloped in warmth, but I was extremely sore. I really felt like I hit every tree branch coming down from that fall. So sweet- He changed my dress. The orchid under dress. I looked over to my right and saw Conor and Alexander cuddled up next to me both sleeping with their mouths open. Ha- My loves. “Conor!” I whispered softly. I tried to roll over and found out that was a mistake. Ah! I’m still busted up pretty badly… I grabbed his hand that was cupping my left cheek and gently squeezed it. Wake up!Without opening his eyes, “You’re the most recklessly insane person I know, Karen Anne Elizabeth. That was awe-inspiring, terrifying and thrilling all at once, but I don’t want to repeat that any time soon.” Conor said rubbing my cheek with his index finger. Mm. So warm… “We’ve only lost two ships in two separate incidents before but that was insane!” He opened an eye and leaned into me. “You have a lot of injuries still. You broke lots of bones. Bet you’re sore?”“Very!
-Karen-At the snap of my fingers, my brother’s arms were torn from his body. Screams of agony echoed around me while the soldiers took aim at me. A soldier was yelling, but I paid him no mind. I heard the same soldier call my brother’s name, Marcus, telling him to hold on. I giggled softly enjoying this scary side of myself and met Marcus’s now terrified yet agonized gaze. “Marcus… I’m going to annihilate you and as I do, I will make sure that your soul quivers in unimaginable terror.” He some how lost more coloring in is face at my calm words“Ground Spears!” I shouted angrily punching up into the air. The soldiers that surrounded us were now high up on the points of the spears with blood gushing and dripping down the jagged rocks, more groans and moans of pain filling the air which was tainted with the scent of blood. “Soul Snatch!” I ripped the wispy soul out of the body, and he looked terrified. “Soul’s Doom!” Just like before, a white demon charged right at him and shredded his
-Karen-“Your sudden jerking movements re-opened a wound I repaired.” Bart explained as I lay still looking up at the ceiling of the empty crypt bed. “I stitched it closed but you can't be doing those type of movements yet.” I sighed feeling useless as another bomb shook the ground.“Let me put some salve on her stitches, doctor.” Valerie murmured rubbing in a sweet smelling cream. “This should help numb the stitches so they won't hurt if you do have to move.”“Thank you both.” I replied, slowly sitting up. “Those bombs have been falling for the last three days now. How much more punishment can the main floor of the Crypts take?” I asked Nathan, feeling uneasy about our situation.I could see that Nathan was very reluctant to answer. “It probably won't be much longer, honestly. We have to make some hard choices now. The only other place we can go is the Forest and that has its own set of challenges and hazards as you know.” He heaved a heavy sigh, rubbing his face from the growing pre