-Karen-“Aaron!” Robert’s voice shouted from the right.“Papa…” Aaron croaked. We watched as Robert’s soul slipped pass all the others who crowded around us. As soon as he reached us, he changed from a ball into a mostly human form and hugged Aaron tightly while he started crying again. “I’m so sorry Papa! I- I-” Robert… You were always such a great man and a devoted father. Even after death, you’re still amazing.“It’s not your fault, Aaron. I chose to come back knowing I could be killed.” Robert explained, hugging Aaron tightly. “My son, I’m so proud of you and I know Olivia would be too. You’ve grown into a fine young man. I’m sorry we are seeing each other under these circumstances.” Robert smiled ruefully. “It’s good to see you again even if it’s the last time.”Aaron sobbed harder as Arthur and I watched sadly. The last time… I bit my lip trying not to cry again. “Papa… I couldn’t protect you… I’m so sorry! I failed…” Aaron croaked through his sobs. He sobbed so hard I could hea
-Karen-Since we were trying not to have another baby right now, we agreed that we would keep our intimacy limited until we won or died in this war. We made out for several minutes while we felt each other up. I started kissing his neck and nipped every so often. I snapped my fingers and felt that seal take hold instantly. I pulled his tunic off and started kissing his chest, making sure to kiss his lips after every so often. He pulled my dress off and dropped it on top of his tunic. He sucked on my breasts as I kissed his neck some more. He flipped me over leaving a trail of kisses from my neck down to my belly as he took his pants off. Conor left me for a moment to blow out the lantern and came back to me. He grabbed my ankles and went to work on me. After ten minutes of getting pounded on, I pulled him down to me and clung to him as we made love. We made out some more as he rolled us over. We were working each other down until we got to the finale. Many kisses and whispers were tr
-Karen-I woke up and felt like I was finally well rested. Wow… I feel great. How long was I out this time? I sat up and stretched in bed looking around. It’s daytime- And something smells wonderful! I must be crazy to think I smell blackberries… Wait- What season is it? It’s winter still? A moment later Joanne appeared in the tent carrying a bowl and spoon.“Afternoon sleepy head.” Joanne chirped happily. “I brought you lunch. Well… Breakfast.” She sat down next to me and handed me the bowl.“Oh! Berry porridge?” I felt my mouth water immediately I took a big bite and savored it. I gave her an ecstatic look as I took a second bite.“Conor and I went foraging this morning. We found a big bush of black berries and we thought you might like this.” Joanne replied happily. “It’s delicious! Thank you!” I exclaimed between bites. Oh, this is so good! Just enough sweetness to balance with the oats.“I told you she would love it.” Conor added from the opening of the tent. I finished the porr
-Karen-The three of us walked out of the tent where all the Mages were waiting for us. I could hear Alexander start squealing as we walked over to Joanne and Bart. He was squirming in Joanne’s arms reaching out his tiny hands for us. Conor took my bowl while I picked up Alexander. As soon as he was in my arms I felt a happy peace descend over me. My sweet baby. You are what we fight for. I’ll always fight to protect you. Aaron jumped on the log holding a sword in the air. Where did he get that sword? Conor and I immediately looked up at him anxiously while he smirked down at us. “Listen up Mages-” I felt the atmosphere change in a second from bubbly to tense and it was making me apprehensive. “As the most powerful Advanced Mage and the Mighty Mage Lord’s favorite Uncle-”“No Aaron! We talked about this. We agreed that I was his favorite-” Arthur snapped as he climbed up on the log in front of him. “I only said that so you would agree with my plan!” Aaron replied rolling his eyes. C
-Karen-The next morning, I woke up before Conor did and Alexander slept through the whole night which made me both proud and somewhat sad. I gently woke Alex up and let him nurse to his little heart’s content. He suckled and made all sorts of grunting noises as he ate. My little pumpkin… After Alexander finished his breakfast, I changed his diaper and outfit into something a little less heavy. Gray is so your color… Brings out the gray flecks in your eyes. Papa looks great in gray too.I left the tent with Alexander on my hip. Joanne and Bart were working on making breakfast with Josh and Benjamin’s help. “Morning everyone!” I exclaimed as Alexander cooed at Joanne.“Morning, Kay!” Joanne said as she got up quickly. “Ah! My favorite nephew!” She took him from me, and he cooed and then squealed. She cradled Alex in her arms but rested him just over her growing belly. “I’ll make sure to take good care of my favorite cutie pie!” Joanne kissed his cheek as he cooed again. He grabbed onto
-Karen-In three hours, I managed to shatter the jewel six times. Nathan and Conor were trying to persuade me to call it a day, but I refused. Not a chance. I’m not leaving here unless it’s ‘cause I died for the final time. I wanted to beat this once and for all. I have to show that I can do this. I don’t care how tired I get or how much it hurts. No matter what it costs! I will make it happen today! Especially for all those who have died.On the seventh try, I was beyond frustrated and getting angrier with myself by the second. Go! I have to do this! I let my anger well up and shove every ounce of it right towards the barrier. The large jewel burst into hundreds of shards. I fell like a stone to the ground refusing to die this time. “No… I c-can’t…” Why is this so damn hard? What am I not doing right? Everything stopped around me.I woke up on the ground looking up at Eldon. I felt my depression and self-doubt starting to eat me alive even worse than before. What the hell is wrong wi
-Conor-Conor, Nathan and Arthur waited nervously in the clearing for Eldon and Karen to emerge. It had been at least six hours since they had left the Lake when Nathan and Arthur gasped at the same time. At the same moment, Alexander started to whimper. I don’t like the looks on their faces“I hope- I hope that was a mistake.” Arthur stammered nervously. He and Nathan exchanged uneasy glances. They gasped again and Alexander started bawling the most terrible cries. That makes me even more nervous. Joanne and Aaron tried to get Alexander to calm down, but he cried louder and harder.“What did you sense?” Conor asked as Nathan shut his eyes and shook his head. “Death magic… It was the Midnight spell too.” Nathan groaned as he rubbed his face. Midnight Execution… The spell of bones… “I told Eldon not to do anything that would send her over the edge… He said he wouldn’t but as you said he’s not exactly trustworthy.”“Can Death magic even affect Eldon?” Conor asked curiously. I hope so.
-Conor-“This one is really good. I’m almost impressed compared to the last ones that I watched die while bound up.” Karen hissed quietly. She grabbed Conor’s left arm and in a quick movement, she squeezed down on the bones snapping them. Fuck! Damn! Ugh!“Gah! Kay! Please- I’m real! I swear I am!!” Conor retorted through clenched teeth. Damn that hurts! How did she do that?“That’s what Eldon wants me to believe-” She started to say until Conor snapped. Man Eldon… I hope you die.“Karen! Snap the hell out of it! I’m real! I’m standing in front of you. For Alex’s sake- Don’t turn away from me or our baby!” Conor yelled becoming angrier. “You’re not like Monica! You’re better than that!”“No. You’re the one who’s wrong. I’m just like her.” Karen whispered as she looked down. “I just keep making mistakes because I am one. I keep taking things for granted and then I get them back telling myself, I won't do it again and I do- Because I don’t learn. She was right- She was absolutely right…
-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