-Karen-I ran up the servant stairs to the second floor as fast I could. I’m so hungry but I have to save my sister! I can eat after. I summoned my Soul Jewel as I passed the King’s study. I continued running past servants and guards and came to a stop in front of Bart’s apartment door. I silently slipped back into Bart’s chambers as Conor and Bart were speaking quietly in the corner. They looked up as I walked over to the bed and laid out the ingredients next to the large book. I flipped the pages open to bookmarked page and started following the instructions for bundling the ingredients. “Where have you been Karen? We looked up to ask you a question and you were gone. We’ve been worried about you…” Conor frowned with a note of relief in his voice. “You’ve been gone for hours.”“Are you going to use magic on her?” Bart asked wearily. “Can her body even handle that?”It was a good question. Honestly, I don’t even know. “I’m going to try to save her. I don’t know that this will work b
-Karen-“Okay, Joanne… When you wake up, this will all have been a horrible, horrible nightmare. You will only remember losing the baby naturally. You will remember that you made a promise to Bartholomew that you would not give up being the woman he so desperately loves. Everything else will be part of your nightmare including what you remember about Karen and the grievous actions against her and Prince Conor. You will remember the marriage contract to Lord Justinian that your father arranged. Everything else is part of the dream.” Eldon stated as I struggled to sit up. I heard him say the same incantation as I had earlier. I sat up in time to see the shard shatter into dust above her. It just burst into sparkling dust… “Wake up Joanne.” Several minutes passed by and she was motionless. I’m too late… I dropped my head feeling terrible until I heard her start to stir as Eldon came back over to me and pulled me to my feet. We all watched with bated breath for Joanne to fully wake up. W
-Karen-First thing on my list was to check on Bart and Joanne. I still wanted to make sure they were going to be alright even after Eldon helped me suppress her memories yesterday. I knocked on the door and Bart answered the door. He glanced over at their bed and then stepped out into the hall shutting the door. Before I could say anything he hugged me tightly. “Thank you so much Karen. You saved the love of my life. I can never repay you for the pain you went through to help Joanne.” He proclaimed solemnly. “I really thought she was done after I found her hanging in the shower.”“I’m glad she is doing okay… But I know exactly what you can do to repay me.” I replied with a smirk. Take back that threat from months ago!“Name it! I’ll do just about anything you ask. I promise!” He retorted crossing his arms over his chest with a straight face.“You can promise to give me anesthesia before I have any procedures in the future, okay?” I answered with a chuckle. “I feel like we are even no
-Karen-I woke up hours later curled up to Conor in a comfy white nightgown. He dressed me. Such a sweet man. I love you so much, Conor. I haven’t given up because of you… Every night since I fell asleep with him on the cot in the medical ward, he held onto me protectively. That tragedy had pulled us even closer together and I trusted no one more than him. Ring or no ring, I trust you with everything Conor. I know you feel the same way… I quietly slipped out of his warm embrace and walked into my workroom shutting the doors of the armoire room and the workroom behind me. I carefully walked over to my worktable and turned on a light, fighting my tears the whole way.I sat down quietly and started sewing the larger quilt blocks together. I had only one thing on my mind right now and I figured it would be better if I cried alone. I don’t want to wake you Conor… Not after you’ve taken such good care of me. I sat there sewing absent mindedly thinking about our son. William… You rest right
-Karen-He pulled me closer and held my right hand to his lips. “You still want to be the mother to my children? You haven’t changed your mind?” He asked as he kissed my hand sweetly. Yes, though I don’t know that we should try for a child as long as Michael and Beatrice are alive. “Yes, of course I do. I told you before I did- I haven’t changed my mind if that’s what you are worried about. I might need extra pointers, but I still want to be a mama.” Conor shook his head and dropped his gaze again. “Why do you ask?” I had a bad feeling hit me when he didn’t reply. “What is it?” I asked sitting up next to him. He avoided my gaze. “Conor, why do ask that?” I have a really bad feeling about this now.Sorrow filled his face as he squeezed my hand. “Because of what was done to you, all doctors, and Bertha, the midwife- They don’t know if you’re going to be able to have another child.” I felt my heart stop mid-beat. No family…? “Roger was able to repair some of the damage that had been don
-Karen-I dried my face with side edge of my cloak and stood there for several minutes trying to clear my mind. I managed to calm down after a few minutes as I thought about my after-dinner plans with Conor. I hope this can help me stay relaxed… Star gazing and cuddles among other fun things. Besides, I don't want to waste the time I have with him.I walked back into the wine cupboard closing the portal behind me. I can do this. It’s going to be fine. Conor said it was going to work out. He even promised it would. I just need to take a deep breath and push those thoughts away for a bit. I sighed deeply and left the small room putting on a happy face to hide my deepening depression. I hate having to lie but I don’t want them to see me upset. It will just ruin the mood. Conor, Bart and Joanne were chatting excitedly among themselves. “Ready to go to the Cliffs?” I asked jubilantly as I walked over to them. I'm just gonna have to fake it. Fake the happiness just long enough to get throug
-Karen-I quickly stepped towards the attack that was flying towards us. It’s her! Why now though?! In that short amount of time, the Fire Nova was becoming brighter and larger. “Rock wall!” I snapped, raising my hands above my head. I could feel the heat of the Fire Nova from this side as it crashed against the thick rock. “I better not touch the wall! Just being close to it makes me think I will get burns from the immense heat.” The further it travels the hotter and brighter it gets! In correlation, more damage is done when it’s shot from far away.“Very good on your long-term defense! How about your short term?! Shadow Spike!” Monica shouted from behind me. I wasn’t quick enough to react as the black spike shot through me. I yelled from the pain. The wall of rock disappeared as I staggered back a step away from her. “Panacea.” I hissed as the pain disappeared. This is really bad. One wrong move could send us all to the bottom of the cliff. If that were to happen, I could only use
-Karen-“Shadow Chains!” Monica shouted, pointing at me. I felt the magic tendrils blast the through the barrier and destroy it as they wrapped tightly around me. How! My barrier was destroyed, and I can’t move at all! “To your knees wretched child!” She shouted as I was slammed to the ground. That hurts like hell! I tried to break away from the chains, but I was stuck tightly. I can’t see them at all but I sure can feel them. “You should stop fighting them, Karen. Nothing you can do magically or physically will break those chains I have placed on you.” She whispered something and motioned her finger in a line. I tried to say something to her, but I was no longer able to open my mouth. What the hell?! It was as if someone glued my lips shut. “Olivia taught me that silencing spell when I was just a girl. I used it on anyone I found to be annoying including my own parents. You can make noises all you want but you won't talk again until I take it off of you.”Monica turned her attention