-Conor-Conor slowly stirred, rubbing his face and shaking his head. Ugh! My head is throbbing… My back is sore too but that was a lot of lashings I got dealt. “Brother! Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Elsie snapped angrily. Shut up. You’re going to make my migraine worse!“I guess I am… You here to beat me too Elsie?” Conor asked looking over at Elsie rather annoyed. I’m starting to hate every single person in my family. “You might as well jump on that train since Michael already got to me today. At least if you do, Bart is here to fix me up again.” Ugh… My head!“No. I came because I wanted to make sure you were okay. Bart did a great job fixing you up. You can barely tell that you were flogged…” Elsie paused as Conor shook his head. Thank you Bart… But what about Karen? “What? What’s wrong?” Elsie asked as Conor set his head back down. Kay, where is my sweet flower? I hope she and the baby are okay! Conor looked really depressed and nervous. “What have you heard about Karen? I
-Conor-“Are you serious? How do you know she wasn’t lying?” Conor asked narrowing his eyes at his father. She’s… A noble? My flower is a noble?! I mean, I love her no matter what but that’s so unexpected!Zachary handed him a small folded up paper scroll. “I am. I put it on the Empire. The woman even brought me this birth certificate showing her noble lineage is on her father’s side. I had the doctor Bart consults validate it. As it turns out, the father of Karen is the woman’s father-in-law. And I thought half of our noblewomen were whores…” Zachary explained with an amused laugh. So… What does this mean? “I told you, you could keep her as a servant, Conor. And I will admit I’ve been extremely furious with you for the last few months when I found out you started having feelings for her and then heard a few days ago that you got her pregnant.” Conor opened the scroll and it showed that ‘Lady Karen Anne Elizabeth of Mazifik was born on the third day of Marama at the Bashten House in t
-Karen-I woke immediately as I felt a jolt of lightning surge through me. I screamed from the pain. “Why did you do that?!” Ouch! That really hurt! I looked over and saw a black-haired woman with violet eyes, about my height, weight and body build, wearing a black dress and cloak. “Who are you?!” I snapped angrily as I pulled my hand away from her. What the hell?! The resemblance was uncanny. She could have been my twin easily.The woman scoffed. “Really? You have no idea?” She asked with a mean grin, looking down her nose at me. “You can’t be that stupid.” Is she my mother? “I know they gave you a basic education but I never thought anyone would be that dumb.”“No, I don’t! And I certainly don’t like how you chose to wake me up! You’re quite rude, you know!” I snapped angrily. I rubbed my belly and decided to stand up and face this woman. “Get out right now! You aren’t welcome here.” Is it really her?She stepped up to me without a bit of fear in eyes. Is she about to challenge me?
-Karen-I felt someone pulling me away from the chaise. Conor hugged me tightly to him. “Don’t listen to those empty angry words. She’s just a hateful bitch.” I will admit it’s a bit hard not to let her words hurt me.“You’re going to be an amazing mother! I just know it!” Joanne added joining in on the hug.“Agreed! But she needs to rest you two. Joanne, you should be resting too.” Bart instructed, prodding us. “Conor too. But all three of you are stubborn so I doubt any of you will listen.” I hadn’t realized I was shaking from being so angry until Conor was trying to steady me. “Can I get something to eat please? I haven’t eaten yet today…” I grumbled crawling into the bed. I curled up to a pillow and faced away from them crying out of anger. I’m so angry I could kill someone! I just want to punch the hell out of a wall!“I’ll get something brought up for us.” Bart answered, leaving quickly. “Stay laying down Karen.” I rolled my eyes in reply.Joanne and Conor were talking about so
-Karen-He chuckled again and left me waiting until I sweetly nipped his neck. “You’re getting your wish.” Conor answered softly. “We are having a boy.” He murmured as I giggled excitedly. A boy! I held him tightly. Our pumpkin is a boy! I couldn’t help but be so overwhelming happy. “I’m so excited! I get my boy after all!”“I want a daughter next. I want my Elizabeth! You better give me one!” He reached over to the desk, grabbed the bowl and held up a strawberry to my lips. “I know you have to be starving now.” I nodded and ate the berry he placed on my tongue. “Bertha told me the week before you woke up. I just hope he is as vivacious as you are with your tenacity.” He gave me a piece of cheese next.“I hope he looks just like you. Handsome and strong. And so kind!” I rubbed my belly sitting there in my own world for a moment as I soaked up the happy feelings this left me with. Conor held another strawberry to my lips. “How did I get so lucky?” I whispered. I ate the berry slowly,
-Karen-Several guards came in and surrounded me as I had rushed towards Michael and Conor. Stay calm Kay. There has to be a good explanation for this.“To Conor?” Michael huffed a laugh. “He stupidly marched into father’s apartments without permission and demanded that Joanne be released while we were in the middle of starting her interrogation.” Michael explained heaving Conor onto the bed haphazardly. Don’t hurt him you jerk! “Father said no and for him to leave immediately but Conor refused saying he wasn’t leaving without Joanne. So, he got punished! Twice in one day… He sure doesn’t learn does he? He’s a glutton for punishment. Always has been since we were kids. He really is an idiot.” Michael looked over to Bart and then to me. I don’t like that look on his face. “Well, well... Looks like there’s no one left to protect you now.” He started to approach me with a cruel smile. “Don’t let her get away men.”“Stay away from me!” I half-shrieked backing away from him. The guards tig
-Karen-When I awoke the next time, I was back in our apartment. I bolted up and looked around. I looked down and saw that my belly had grown a lot more since I remembered seeing it last as it protruded through nightgown. I was much smaller before Michael captured me. How far am I right now? I look like I could have this baby any day now… I felt my son moving around, most likely protesting my unwelcomed sudden movement. Sorry pumpkin. Please don’t be too angry at Mama! I had been lying on the chaise and slowly looked over to the bed.Three pale faced people lay a few feet apart from each other in the large bed. The door opened and closed quietly as I took a step towards the bed. I crossed the space and tried shaking Conor awake. “Wake up!” I rubbed his cheek and kissed his lips, but he didn’t stir. “Wake up Conor! Please!” I pleaded shaking his shoulders. I pressed my ear to his chest, and I could hear his heartbeat. The melodic rhythm I loved and had fallen asleep to many nights befo
-Karen-“Step aside, my sweet.” Michael instructed as he put rope around my wrists on me. I fought back as best I could, but I was overpowered quickly. He dragged me by the rope and hung it on a hook even though I begged and pleaded to be released. It eerily mirrored the room that Lewis had taken me to. “I promise we’re going to make you wish you were never even born.” He crooned as they smiled cruelly. He patted my right cheek then walked over to a table on the left wall. Beatrice pulled off the black sheet that had been covering the table and laid out perfectly was an entire collection of tools designed for torture. Some of them were familiar as Lewis had already used them on me but the rest were foreign. Look at all of those weapons… There must be at least thirty or more. I felt a lump form in my throat as I resigned myself to face this impending torture session. I’m going to die here, and I won’t have even had the chance to say I love you one last time… I fought hard against my e