-Karen-He took my hand within his. “A soul mate is someone who inspires you to live your life to the fullest- They can be your best friend and even the love of your life. They’re someone who loves you for you. That person typically complements your personality and makes you stronger in ways you never thought possible. They’re there for you when you need someone most- They carry your deepest secrets and take care of you when you fall apart. They can be a pillar of strength when you feel like you’re about to shatter.” Conor explained. “I’ve been told that a soul mate is someone you absolutely cannot be without. I’ve also heard it’s supposed to be an amazing feeling when you finally find them. Some people, who believe in such a thing, spend their entire lives trying to find their other half…” I guess it must be pretty special…To spend your life doing that.“Oh… I wouldn’t know anything about that then… I’ve not been close to anyone but Lizette or Novo and even they were at arm’s length.
-Karen-I rolled over and searched for something to cling to while I tried to go back to sleep afraid to think of where I was. After searching for a few minutes, I found a pillow and squeezed it to my chest. I sighed into the pillow and laid there still as death. Please don’t be a dream… I could hear two voices speaking quietly from what appeared to be in one of the next rooms. I sat up sleepily as a pair of arms wrapped around my shoulders. “Morning Karen!” Joanne whispered in my left ear. Joanne! What a relief!“Morning…” I sleepily replied after I yawned and stretched. “It’s not a dream.” I felt a happy peace and an extreme feeling of relief descend over me at that moment. Those kisses were real… I want more of those amazing kisses. “The boys are talking and told me to keep an eye on you. How are you feeling today? Conor said he carried you to bed last night. Are you feeling well? Are you hungry?” She asked with a concerned look on her face. I smiled warmly. “I’m alright… It was
-Karen-While she was doing that, I realized she was wearing something other than a uniform. She wore a strapless green dress that fell to her knees. She had a pretty necklace in the shape of a ‘J’ set in dark green stones in silver metal that rested a few inches above her bust. “I like your necklace. It’s really pretty.”“Thanks! Bart gave it to me last month just because he thought I would like it. I try to get him things, but he can be hard to buy for. I usually try to surprise him with imported things when I can. He likes gadgets and anything medical-related… Like I said, I love him so much!” She said beaming with pride as she caressed the necklace. “Let me go show you off now.” She said pulling me behind her into the main room. As soon as we came in the room, Bart and Conor stood up to greet us. “Look at your beauty! I did her up really good today!” Joanne said pushing me out into the middle of the room. His beauty… I like how that sounds.I felt my cheeks tinge as Conor approac
-Karen-“You didn’t do anything wrong, Kay. We just got worried that you were going to get hurt in your state of panic.” Conor explained walking over to me. He stopped in front of me and hugged me. Knowing my luck, I would have fallen down the stairs. I slipped my arms around him as he rubbed my back to soothe me. That helped me calm down a bit. I’m a wreck. What the hell is wrong with me and these emotions? This isn’t like me at all.My stomach growled and I remembered something about eating. “We haven’t eaten yet…” I felt even worse having made a scene over the garden and making them wait longer to eat. “I’m sorry for only adding to this.” I’m not a wreck- I’m a damn disaster!“Do you two know what you want?” Conor asked wrapping his arm around my waist. “What would you like for lunch, my flower?” I blushed at being called a flower after crying like a small child. I pictured myself closer to a rain drenched spiked bush rather than a pretty flower at this moment. “You don’t have to a
-Karen-“Please, Jo- I introduced you two because I thought you might like to make friends with someone away from our father’s group. It just happened to work out perfectly for you.” Conor quipped, sipping his wine. Joanne scoffed and rolled her eyes at him while Bart and I chuckled. “My turn for a story.” He said finishing the glass and setting it down. A servant came over and filled up both our glasses. I sipped the cool wine while he started to tell the story. Our meals were brought out to us as he spoke. “This is when Bart first came on a mission with me a few years back. I was almost sixteen, I think? I was leading three groups into what we later found out to be an ambush. Almost all the men were killed except for Bart, me and six other soldiers. This resistance group had captured a soldier from a previous mission, and he gave them all the details on the mission I was running. So, of course, we walked right into a trap. They tried to torture me a couple times. It didn’t bother m
-Karen-He kissed my lips and pulled away from me. “Stay here.” He ordered, leaving me on the bed alone. I felt confused and worried as I waited for him to come back. I hope I didn’t hurt him. He returned five minutes later but his shirt was gone. He sat down next to me as I took in all his toned muscles. Look at all those muscles… “Sorry. I had to leave or… I was going to make you pay for that moan.” Make me pay? Do I want to even know?I felt my face get hot at that comment and looked away from him. This is getting interesting. I felt him turn towards me and slowly pull the hair clips out of my hair. I could hear him drop them on the floor. He likes my hair down… I felt my hair cascade down my back as he moved towards me and started kissing me again. Slowly, he moved down to my neck. Don’t moan. Kay for all that you’re worth don’t push him over the edge. I fought to restrain the noises I wanted to make. Oh, but it feels so good! He started sucking on my neck until I felt a stinging
-Karen-I stared at the K in my hand and shook my head again. Bart came back twenty minutes later and carried me to a different room in the medical ward. It was closed off with a door and had a chair on either side of the bed. He sat me on the edge, helped me into a patient gown and then tucked me into the comfortable bed. A bowl of tomato soup, crackers and some grapes were brought to me. I devoured it without mercy not realizing how truly hungry I had become. I rolled over on my right side, curling up into a ball and started to drift to sleep. I think I will leave… He got what he wanted. No point in staying now. I’ll need to gather provisions once I leave the medical ward. The question is: do I stay here? Or where should I go? I could go to Ralio. Or Dareme. I’ll think about it more tomorrow… I’m tired now.“He needs to see her Bart.” Joanne exclaimed urgently from beyond the door. “Yes! Don’t argue with me over this.” Don’t make me laugh!“Joanne, I’m the doctor and I’m saying no.
-Karen-I felt much better the next day despite the slight ache every now and then if I moved too quickly. Lucky for me, I had so much practice pushing my emotions and bad memories away that I did the same thing with this situation. After a final checkup, Bart allowed me to leave. Before I was officially released, he asked me what I wanted to do now that this had happened. To be honest, I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to do or what I could do. Technically, I was still his servant. I told him I would think about it over the next hour.Joanne escorted me back to Conor’s apartments in silence. We arrived at the double doors of the apartments. I stood at the doors looking at the handles of the elegant looking doorknob. After a moment, I opened the right door and we walked in quietly. We found him asleep on the bed surrounded by three medium sized bottles of whiskey. I walked over to the bed and picked up the bottles and handed them to Joanne. He must have gotten drunk after he left las
-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