-Karen-"You left me alone," Conor called sleepily, dragging me back into the first room. Before I could say anything, he turned me to face him. He looked over the clothes I found and started laughing. "What are you wearing, Karen?" he asked as he twirled me around. "Are those my clothes?" he asked, laughing harder. Well, what was I supposed to wear? I felt my cheeks flush with heat as I looked down at my feet."You're quite clever. You know I like waking up to this type of surprise." He snickered as I silently watched him. "To be fair, I can understand why you put something on." He picked up a lock of my hair and pressed it to his lips. I felt my heart rate spike at the amused look in his eyes. I felt my face get even hotter. Eh? He took my clammy left hand and led me back into the second room I had been stopped in. He flipped the switch, and a soft light turned on above us. I saw a much larger armoire than the one in my servant's room. "This is where your clothes are, Karen." He exp
-Karen-"What question?" I had completely forgotten what he had asked me as I stared into his gray eyes. It's such a pretty gray. I think I'm gonna lose my sanity soon. I felt slightly nervous being this close to him, but I also wanted to get right up next to him again and fall asleep in his arms just like I had done. Why do I feel like this? Something is wrong with me. Don't get sucked in, idiot… But, on the other hand, then I want to get sucked in… I can't think straight.He chuckled, and then, unexpectedly, he kissed my forehead. I felt my entire face get hot at the gesture. "Don't you think you deserve something good in your life, even if it's something small?" Conor asked softly. He kissed my left palm while watching me with a smirk.I thought about his words momentarily. "No, I don't." I shook my head. "Servants aren't meant to have good lives. They are meant to serve their betters; if need be, they will be thrown away and replaced." I said firmly, "We are just some small cogs i
-Conor-We have to find her before she gets hurt by one of the soldiers! Conor and Bart hurriedly rounded the corner. They followed Lewis's cold laughter, which bounced down the corridor's walls. Lewis was laughing maniacally as he wiped the bloody dagger on Karen's blood-drenched nightgown. She was covered in blood. It was also dripping from her mouth. She didn't appear to be moving at all. Karen?! Lewis! What did you do to her?!Bart sprang into action, determined to save her again as they now assumed Lewis had attacked her previously a few weeks ago. Bart's sudden appearance in front of Karen caught Lewis off guard. "Where the hell did you come from?!" Bart started working on her as quickly as he could, first to resuscitate her and then to stabilize her. "I don't know why you're going to try and save that worthless wretch." Lewis hissed with a grunt. "She isn't worth your time. Or anyone's time, for that matter." How can you say that?"Lewis! You're the one who hurt her! I'd be wil
-Conor-Who the fuck are you?! "What are you doing?! Give her back to me!" Conor shouted, becoming enraged by this grievous act. Bart grabbed Conor's left arm as he advanced on the cloaked figure. How dare you touch her!"Me? I will bring her back, but I must fix her first." The figure answered, extending a bony hand into Karen's chest. Bring her back? "Ah ha! Gotcha brat. You've always been so damn stubborn, even as a little girl. Come out!" The figure tried pulling on something from within, but it was evident he was having trouble. "I said come out!"A wispy figure emerged from the body and instantly took a fighting stance. "Put me back, Eldon! I have already died and want to go on to the Forest! Please stop this never-ending cycle!" the wisp snapped angrily. Bart and Conor traded shocked looks. What the hell?!"You don't have that option right now, and you know it. I have to revive you as per Nathan's contract. I've told you these the last three times you've died." She's died befor
-Karen-I felt the sudden urge to breathe despite the momentary pain. I sensed my jewel and grabbed it quickly. I looked up angrily at the man before me. "Stop reviving me, Eldon!" I snapped as I coughed a few times. I don't want to keep doing this anymore!"Oh! Do you remember it this time? That's very unusual. You didn't remember all the other times I revived you. But… I suppose it makes sense since you died so upset and angry today. All the other times, you died scared or in surprise. That prince was the one that upset you, right? I could kill him if you want?" Eldon offered, looking over to my left. "You wanted to kill him before, remember?"I slowly managed to get to my feet, albeit shakily. I leaned against the wall for added support. Ugh… I'm drenched in blood. "No. I won't let him die at your hands. But he was right… I'm just a disappointment to everyone I meet. So, knowing this, why do you keep bringing me back? Are you stupid?!" I asked angrily as I fumbled for my jewel. You
-Karen-Conor and Bart silently walked past me as I stayed still, avoiding their gazes. "I told you that you need to grow. I mean it!" I could feel his depression as they walked away down the side corridor."Don't let a good thing pass you by. Chase him, idiot! I told you to allow yourself to experience your emotions and live. So, go after him!" Eldon hissed in my ear. I rolled my eyes and followed along silently. I deliberately dragged my feet so I would fall behind. "I don't think you're going to take me seriously. So how about this then? Do as I tell you, or I'll put you in a position that you'll hate me for." He paused a moment. "I can prove that you're starting like him despite your questionable feelings of animosity." I stopped and looked over at him suspiciously. "Tell me how you think he would react to a demon's poison. It would be something beyond the doctor's comprehension." He smiled evilly. I don't like that look on his face.Before I could reply, I sensed the ominous magi
-Karen-"Come on. I don't feel like walking back there. I'm a bit tired from that skirmish." I explained that I was walking through the portal and waiting for a few seconds. No one followed me. Uh? I walked back through, and the men fawned over the portal. Seriously?"This is remarkable! I want this technology!!" Bart squealed, becoming more excited by the moment. "How many lives could I save if I had this?!""This is marvelous! How the hell do we get this?" Conor asked me as he walked around the open portal.I giggled at them because it was so unexpected. "Well, you can't get this because it's not technology as you would likely think. Portals are done by the user creating a shortcut with their magic." I explained as I pushed Bart through the portal. I heard him get even more excited from inside the apartments. I grabbed Conor's right wrist and pulled him along behind me. Once we were all in the main room, I motioned up and closed the portal with my right index finger."I want that. I
-Karen-A loud shriek sent us both jumping a few feet apart. We quickly ran into the main room and saw Bart trying to calm a woman down. “I want one!” She cried excitedly, stomping her foot at him. Want one? “I want one! I want one! I want one!” She demanded jumping up and down in place excitedly. Conor and I chuckled at her reaction. She must be Joanne… She looks vaguely familiar. I wonder when I saw her?“I do too! But we can’t because it’s magic…” Bart answered with a frown. “We aren’t Mages.”Joanne looked directly over at me with an almost crazed look in her eyes. Uh- “Then we will just kidnap the Mage and hold her hostage!” Excuse me? “Conor, I’m taking your woman!” I felt my face get hot as she smirked deviously. His woman? When the hell did that happen?I decided that I might have some fun with her. I grinned evilly and walked up to her in a menacing fashion until I was less than a foot away from her. She returned the look and copied my posture. “Ladies, you both better behave
-Conor-“I have a terrible feeling about this Nathan. We need to go to her. As soon as possible.” Conor said pacing back and forth in front of all the Mages. “After she lost consciousness, Eldon came and took her away. All he said was that she was being summoned by a tree. That's when a portal was made for me to come back here.”Nathan's eyes got wide and he lost the coloring in his face. “The Tree summoned her?” A serious yet terrified look remained on his face. Alexander started screaming making everyone jump. A portal opened and everyone stood up while Joanne worked to calm him down. “Karen?” Conor asked feeling hopeful. Eldon walked through carrying her, but he was stoic. “She’s going to be okay, right?”Eldon gently placed her into his arms. He didn’t answer right away. “Not exactly.” The portal shut as all the Mages gathered around. “As you know, she won the war against your father with your help. However, she lost the fight.” He said quietly. “Senescence, has deemed that she i
“Soul Release.” I whispered quietly. I watched as the souls compressed into different color orbs and floated away on the breeze. Bombs started falling around me while breathing became harder. “Healing Serenity.” I’ve used a flurry of spells and I still have a small chunk of magic left. I can easily get two or three more Master spells… I think. I decided to change positions so I could get a better aim at the last large ship flying around. I still have those small ships too… I took a deep breath and sent a Blazing Hypernova up to the middle area of the small ships. They all exploded in a bright flash and the wreckage fell to the destroyed town. I looked around for the large ship, but a bullet ricocheted very close to where I stood. Suddenly, more soldiers appeared charging at me.“Frostfire Surge!” I shouted angrily. All the soldiers shouted in pain and collapsed dead around us in heaps. I pointed up at the sky as the ship tried to leave again. “Blazing Hypernova!” Due to the high level
-Karen-A blow to the back of the head put me on the ground faster than I ever thought possible. Blow after blow was delivered as I squirmed to get away, but Zachary pinned me under him and continued to land a barrage of punches. He yelled and screamed about what I had done to his family. I grabbed his ankle and let him have a taste of ‘Lightning Surge’. It bought me enough precious time to weakly get to my knees.“Recovery Salvo.” I shakily got to my feet and leaned against the wall, but he was no where to be seen. I looked around nervously, but nothing moved. I heard the bullets before I felt them. Hot metal burrowed its way into my right thigh followed by my abdomen, left arm and chest. I collapsed in heap trying to fight the massive amounts of pain I felt. “Healing Serenity!” I whispered under my breath. Damn, another healing spell… I whispered for a portal and fled to the shadows of a building across town. There were still so many ships in the air, and I was starting to feel the
-Karen-“We don’t have a choice anymore!” I snapped back frustratedly. “This is it, Conor- We fight or we die- I’m not about to let him claim victory. There is going to have to be a risk in order to win this fight. I plan on coming back, you know.”“But what if you don’t, Kay? What if Eldon doesn’t revive you?” Conor asked firmly. He cupped my face and stared me in the eyes. “What if you’re gone forever?” What if… Such a big 'what if' and its running through my mind too.I didn’t answer him right away. “I’m going to die someday. I’d rather die fighting for my family and the people I care about than to run and live in fear wondering if today will be the day. As long as I don’t exhaust my magic and turn into a demon, I should be fine.” I’ve used a small bit of my magic, but I still have more than plenty. As long as I can take them out in fifteen to twenty Master level attacks, it should be okay. Permitting this doesn’t drag out for very long.I could see he was very much not accepting o
-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
-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-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-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-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