-Karen-“Wow. I’ve never seen her so freaked out before… She’s shaking really badly. She’s as pale as snow.” Another familiar voice said to me. Arthur cupped my cheek as I just stared at him. I blinked and felt more tears drip down my cheeks. “Karen? What was it that you saw?” He waved his hand in my face trying to get my attention.I couldn’t reply at all. How? How did he come back?! He wasn’t a Mage! It should be impossible for him to come back. I stood there shaking from the sheer terror at having experienced Lewis’s voice and laugh after such a long time. “Hey! What happened to her?!” Bart asked from a few feet away. “Can you either of you tell me?”“A Zargan?” Arthur asked Aaron quietly. “An ugly one.”“We shouldn’t talk to them Arthur.” Aaron replied in a low voice. “He’s an enemy… In fact, we should kill him quickly!”“Damn… Two more just arrived.” Arthur whispered quietly as I was still reeling. He pushed his glasses up a bit and then looked back at me with a frown. “Kay jus
-Conor-“This was a deliberate attack on her, Nathan!” Arthur snapped angrily. “Who the hell did that?!”“Agreed! Someone is trying to take her out and whoever it is needs to pay!” Aaron added just as angrily.“That’s really ironic coming from you, you damn bastard!” Conor snapped hatefully at Aaron. I mean really! “You cruelly burned her robes and then tried to murder her in front of me! And then you had the nerve to taunt her throughout the whole fight.” Aaron looked down narrowing his eyes at Conor. Fight me. I dare you! I’ll snap your fucking neck so fast!“Calm down, you two. Yes, I completely agree Arthur. That demon was summoned here to inflict the worst level of fear on her… I don’t know how or who did it though and I’ve never seen one until today…” Nathan frowned at Conor. “Seeing that she had to be sedated I say that it completely worked.” Nathan walked over to Conor. Karen was curled up to him and was still visibly shaking even though she was now knocked out. Even as she sl
-Conor-Twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Clay carried in a large platter that was set on the table. Out of a sack, he pulled five bottles of whiskey and set them down on the platter. Clay walked to the door, bowed, and then left the room quietly.“No- I am not fine at all. Joanne, please bring me one of those. A big one.” Conor requested, sitting up and shaking his head. I should eat first, but I need this so much right now. Joanne uncapped the first large bottle and handed it to him quickly. Conor took the bottle, tipped it back and guzzled the contents until the bottle was empty. “Another one please.” He ordered handing her the empty bottle.“No, Conor. That’s not-” Bart stopped at the look on Conor’s face. Stop. No doctor input right now.“This has just been way too much lately… I feel like I’m going to snap from all the pressure I’m constantly fucking under. I know it’s bad for me Bart, but I really need to let go for a bit.” Conor explained as Joanne brought h
-Karen-I had no idea what time or day it was when I came to. I could only remember being frightened to the point of a panic I had never experienced before. I decided that I didn’t want to know and would not ask anyone about it. I sat up slowly and looked around the room. Bart and Joanne were asleep on the chaise and Conor was watching me half asleep. He sat up and gave me a hard look. What’s that look for I wonder?He pulled me on top of him, cupped my face while pulling me down to him as we kissed. He tasted like alcohol as he kissed me again. Whiskey? He looked drunk which made me wonder what happened that made him get drunk without me. “Do you still want me, Kay?” He asked with a slight slur. He’s kidding right? I started to answer him when he continued. “I couldn’t protect you against that demon… I couldn’t even see the stupid thing…” He thought for a moment and then on the verge of tears, asked, “Are you going to leave me, Kay?” He looked utterly destroyed. What? Why! “Of cour
-Karen-“Oh no! Getting drunk with an energy shot is a recipe for a disaster…I only made that mistake once in my life when I was seventeen... Bart told me not to and I told him to let me make my mistakes. Boy, I should have listened. I was sick for three days!” I gawked while he laughed. “Yeah! It was horrible… I have all this energy just because I want you. I desire the hell out of you! And I will have you.” He whispered pulling me close to him. “I hope you can keep up with me once we get married. I plan to have you a minimum of four times a day.” I laughed nervously. Four times a day? Like after each meal and then a snack?He took me again on the sofa. He held me down as he pounded into me without mercy as I tried desperately to stay quiet. “No, I want to hear you! Fuck that stupid contract!” He hissed in my ear. “Let me hear my wife!” I gave in and moaned his name repeatedly as he was kissing my neck. “Much better!” His lips crashed into mine and I was not able to reply. He finishe
-Karen-As soon as I fell asleep, I entered a dream. I was walking along the main corridor to the Library. It was a bright day out beyond the palace windows, and I could see the Metaxas Ocean in the distance. I went into the Library and to my horror; Conor, Joanne and Bart were lying on the ground dead. Throats slashed and their hearts had been ripped out. Each heart had a dagger in it. I felt my soul shiver at the gory sight and to make it even worse, I could hear Lewis laughing and saying how proud he was to take their lives. ‘Now no one can save you!’ The laugh grew louder and louder until it turned into him screaming angrily, just like in that tiny room at the end of the servant tunnel.I woke up hearing Lewis’s voice screaming in my ears. I was drenched in a cold sweat and felt my heart pounding. I looked over and saw Conor was asleep with his mouth open slightly. I looked over and could see Joanne and Bart cuddled together. Everything is fine Kay. It’s just a nightmare… After a
-Karen-This nightmare was of when he followed me to my servant room and beat me with the whip for trying to call him out for being unfair to another servant in front of the kitchen staff. I felt every blow and relived the whipping, the punches and the many rapes that night brought. When I showed up to my next shift with a black eye, busted lip and a broken wrist, none of the other servants asked what happened except Novo. He took me to his office and summoned Robert. I told the truth about what happened. Nothing came of it because Lewis was over all of us and he sure the hell wasn’t going to punish himself when he thought he was doing nothing wrong. The next nightmare was just as bad only Lewis left me for dead all over again.The next time I woke up my heart was pounding. I was shivering trying not to scream from the overwhelming terror that plagued me. I hung my head and cried quietly as I balled up on the chaise. I don’t want to see these memories anymore! I was on the verge of sn
-Conor-“Do you think this will help her?” Joanne asked from the table. “I think she’s been up for at least three days.”“I hope so for her sake.” Bart said, watching her sleep for a few minutes. Me too. She’s been exhausted for the last few days. I know it’s been taking a toll on her. Especially after how she sat in the shower practically all day yesterday. I wonder if it has anything to with that contracted demon… They said that attack would end after it was purified.“What should we do in the meantime?” Conor asked softly. He kissed her lips again. “I mean, I could cuddle her, but I feel like she needs some really good rest.” Undisturbed sleep is the best thing for her right now.“Let’s play Onde! I’m gonna win Conor! You owe me from last time!” Joanne commented as she cleared off the table with the exception of Conor’s breakfast. “I can at least make back the money I lost before I have to see father tonight…” She went to her night bag and pulled out a deck of cards. I don’t owe yo