-Karen-"We aren't leaving," Conor firmly stated after a long silence. I slowly raised my head to look over at him. He looked frustrated. I shook my head as I started to doze off sitting up. I woke up a bit when he grabbed my right hand tightly. I didn't bother to pull away. I gave him a weary look as he moved to sit beside me. He slipped his left arm around me and pulled me to him. I was too tired to fight back as he positioned me to lean against him. You're lucky I'm so damn tired. "You're the most stubborn woman I have ever met," he whispered."Remind me to let you know when I give a damn about what you think," I quipped back with a laugh.He snorted as he laughed at my snarky reply. "You're so amusing- But I bet that's why you have all those scars on your back." I flinched at his words. "You don't listen to anything you're told. You've fought us since the moment you woke up. I'm starting to wonder if this was a mistake to keep you."My mind instantly went to the thoughts of the wh
-Karen-He looked like he was going to destroy me with his eyes. I slowly felt the fear seep in as he quietly watched me with a smirk. "Weren't expecting that answer, were you?" I shook my head silently as he pursed his lips at me. "Truce?""What is a truce?" I asked him nervously. It's probably a code word for rape."It means we agree to stop fighting for a while." He leaned towards me until he was only an inch away from me. "I apologize for losing my temper earlier. I don't want to hurt you, okay? So, please, stop fighting me, even if it's just for a little while."I didn't trust him at all. I felt like he was trying to play with me. "Go away," I murmured softly. I just want to be alone.""No," he said firmly. "I'm not leaving until you agree to a truce with me."I thought about it for a moment. "If it will get you to leave, I will agree to your truce. But don't come back." I ordered just as firmly, pulling back from him. Stop getting so close to me, too."You can't tell me what to
-Karen-A couple of voices woke me up a while later, talking about the events from last night. What day is it? "They got gutsy, that's for sure," Bart commented from the left. Ugh. I'm so tired."No kidding," Conor replied from right above me. I sleepily looked up at him, not realizing I was curled up to him, holding his shirt tightly. Karen! Why are you clinging to him like that? Additionally, he had me tucked right against his chest with his arm around me still. "Hey. Are you feeling okay?" I squinted at him while he and Bart chuckled. I need to wake up quickly and get away from him."I guess she isn't a morning person?" Bart asked as I slowly woke up. Wake up, Kay! Wake the hell up!"No, I'd say she was up most of the night guarding herself against me," Conor explained as I sat up. I yawned and stretched and felt a couple of joints pop. "Good morning, Karen." Are you trying to make small talk? Really! You just don't stop, do you?!"Get out..." I grumbled tiredly to them. I was exha
-Karen-"I have a question for you," I said as he returned and sat on the bed before me again."Oh! You have a question—it better not be 'why are you still here?'" he huffed sarcastically. As much as I would find that to be amusing, not this time. I shook my head in reply. "What's your question?" Conor asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He was watching me intently, and I felt a tinge of nervousness charge through me. The way he looks at me makes me uneasy."Why- Why did you pick me that day? You spared my life of all the people you must have run across in town. I'm sure that's only temporary, but I don't understand why. I didn't save you or even speak to you. I didn't do anything to warrant that gesture. Why would you save a total stranger?" I asked, meeting his gaze. I'm not sure, but I want to know the answer. But I am curious!"Why? Because you looked interesting. I still think you're interesting even if you're a bit psychotic and stubborn," he smirked while I pursed my lips.
-Karen-"You could call it a bribe or a present, depending on how you look at this situation. In this case, seeing as how stubborn and combative you've been, I would be inclined to call it a bribe," he said, picking up part of the broken apple slice and putting it to my lips. Eat it."I looked away defiantly. I heard Conor and Bart both sigh out of frustration. Before either of them could try to say anything, I laid down on my left side and curled up tightly into a ball. I just wanted to be alone. I didn't want bribes or presents. I didn't want food or advice. I wanted to die, and I wanted it to happen quickly. I was tired of this life, and I felt like I had no purpose now that the Queen had been killed. Who do I serve now that she is gone? I sure won't serve either of them- Especially the prince! I could hear the men talking and did my best to block out their voices. I closed my eyes as tightly as possible when I felt Conor's presence coming back towards me. I balled up tighter on i
-Conor-"Wake up!" Conor yelled at Karen, trying to wake her up. He set her down on the bed and tapped her cheek repeatedly in hopes that it would rouse her. Oh, my goodness. This woman! "You are so damn stubborn! You're going to drive me insane!" He snapped angrily. "I wish you would stop fighting me. Even if it were for half a day…" Conor grumbled as he pulled her to the pillow and covered her with the blanket. I need to see what I can do for her. Conor left the room, locking the door behind him. He rushed to Bart's office and burst through the doors, startling Bart and Joanne. "She passed out, Bart… Would it be a good idea to give her an IV now? I don't want her to regress." I mean, at this rate, she's going to kill herself by being a pain in my ass."Yes, I don't see what it would hurt. Jo, can you help him with that, please? I also want a vitamin bag added. It's going to be a Zargan one, so I don't know how much that will actually help, but let's see if that helps perk her up." B
-Karen-I woke up alone in the same servant quarters as before. The only difference is I was propped up on more pillows with a tube running into my right arm. Ugh… I felt weak and heavy. My hands had been placed over my stomach, and it took me an hour to realize that I was in a new nightgown. The fabric was soft against my skin as I stayed still, thinking about my last encounter with the prince. How dare he even comment on them? I thought about what he said regarding Delia and Lizette and how I acted. It enraged me.I'm not being ungrateful at all! I'm being belligerent and uncooperative with the enemy! He's just an arrogant jerk! He's a stupid, lusty Zargan. Another man that I will have to deal with somehow. The only option for him is to die as painfully and as slowly as possible. I have to find a way to make that happen! I tried not to doze off as I reaffirmed my thoughts. I felt sleepy from the heavy feeling of despair I was left with. I glanced over to the window to my right. It w
-Karen-"Tell me about yourself, Karen," Conor said, scooting the chair closer to the bed. I gave him an edgy glance as he gave me an expectant look.What? "There's nothing to tell." I shot back flatly. "I'm a servant. End of story." I mean…"Nope! You have to do better than that," he retorted quickly. "Come on. Really! I'm curious about you. Tell me anything."I watched him for a moment, and he watched me with a smirk. What do I say? "Well… I, uh. I'm a Mage, and I have a flower garden," I said plainly. He nodded for me to continue. “That's it. Really." I don't know what he is looking for in this."There has to be more than that," he said, frowning at me. “Who is Karen? What's your favorite color? Do you have any hobbies? Do you have a favorite food? What is your family like?" he asked rapidly. Who is Karen?—She's a servant with a garden like I just told you.Being put on the spot like this made me feel uneasy. "Well, uh- My favorite color is purple. And I have the garden that I have