-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
-Karen-“Hey, do you have that juice I told you to bring?” Michael asked as I felt the hooks dig in and be ripped out again. I felt sick to my stomach from the continuing pain. Another lash that ripped away flesh. I fought to push away the nausea. Beatrice left my line of sight as the hooks continued to dig out the flesh in my back. “Yes, that’s the one! Bring it over here and we will pour it on her back. That should wake her up a bit!”Beatrice walked past me with a smug smirk as I struggled to breathe. Michael took a break from flogging me as Beatrice reached behind me. As soon as the liquid touched my open wounds it felt like I was being set on fire. I shrieked and screamed from the pain as she doused me with more juice. “Come on! Scream louder bitch! I came two weeks from home for this!” Beatrice yelled as I screamed as loud as I could from the mind crushing agony. I ended up vomiting from the pain I was being put through. “Gross!” She yelled, gagging in response.“Have some more
-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