-Karen-“Thank you very much for that reprieve, Charles.” Conor responded as I nodded in agreement. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Charles insisted as he bit into an apple. “But now that you’re both back, there are some snacks for you in the basket on the dresser to your left. I looked around and saw Bart and Joanne were gone. “Oh! Conor, I meant to ask you a while ago… But when I had woken up after being asleep for the hibernation period, Joanne and Bart were dancing and you had something in your hands… What was that thing?” I asked as he nodded vigorously.“I’ll go get it.” He replied going back through the door. I heard the main door open and close quickly as Joanne and Bart returned.“Alright. I need to go tend to the king, Princess. It was a pleasure as always.” Charles murmured, kissing my right hand. “You’re catching on quickly and I will make sure to speak highly of your progress. Very good job today.” “Thank you Charles.” I replied happily. He left the room as J
-Karen-“What do you want? Why don’t you just leave us alone?!” I growled trying to fight the pain in my back. “Haven’t you done enough already?!” Just get the hell away from me! And stay away!She laughed. “Don’t be stupid, girl! I plan to kill you eventually. I just am going to play with you for a bit first.” Monica replied as she walked over to the other three with Michael. He pulled out the metal rings and slipped them on his right hand.“Put her down, Monica!” Conor yelled angrily. “And you! What do you think you’re doing Michael?”“Just putting a plan into motion, brother.” Michael answered rolling his shoulder a few times. “I wanted to remind you all about the brass knuckles I have. And to remind you of some other things.“Or else what, Prince Conor? You’re going to kill me?” She mocked walking up to him. “Please! I’m not afraid of you. The only person that could have a chance at saving you right now is a bit chained up…” She looked back at me and waved her hand once and I coul
-Karen-When I woke up, I could see I was in a closed dungeon cell on top of a sparse pile of hay. I felt like I had been beaten severely and my head hurt from a terrible migraine. I went to touch my head and saw I was in shackles. Shackles? Why? And why am I here? I managed to roll on my right side just enough to push myself into a sitting position with my legs crossed under the dress I had been wearing when I was in the armoire room with Conor, Bart and Joanne. I looked down and I was covered in a dark crimson colored substance that was flaking off from my skin. Is this- their blood on me? What happened to them!? It was all over me. It reminded me of the attack when she hurt Conor while we were on the Cliffs of Typher. Michael and Monica must have hurt them all so terribly! What the hell happened after I blacked out?The door slammed open making me jump. The king walked in holding a folder with one of the generals. The door shut and they walked over to me in an intimidating fashion.
-Karen-I left my thoughts drift to Conor, Bart and Joanne. I hope they are going to be okay. I hope they don’t believe I would hurt them… Not after all we have suffered through together. I felt my left foot start to curl down where the toes were being pushed under towards my heel. I heard popping and snapping noises as an unbelievable amount of pain shot through my leg. The same process was done to my right foot and the pain ricocheted throughout my lower body. Breathe Kay! Even if it’s shallow.“Not bad... Hearing your bones and tendons snap is music to my ears. I kinda regret that paralytic but I don’t want people hearing you scream. We are trying to keep this hushed up. Cause, you know, you are a Princess, well… Until I kill you at least. Then you’ll just be another name on the very long list of people I’ve killed.” Michael explained as he blocked the light for a moment. He had a shatter stick in his hands. Not that thing again.Over a progression of several hours, he slowly broke
-Conor-“Hey Conor! Wake up.” Joanne prodded impatiently. “Wake up! Come on sleepy head!” She shook his shoulder gently and he opened his right eye and looked over at her. “Yes! Your Majesty! Conor’s waking up!” Ugh… What the hell happened? I remember being stabbed several times again… But after that?Zachary bolted into the room and was next to Conor’s side in an instant. Conor slowly stretched and flexed his fingers as he held them up a few inches from his face. Damn… I feel like I got ran over by a truck. Or hit by a train. A couple trains. “Can you hear me, son?” Zachary asked seriously. Conor nodded with a wince. Though I don’t want to... “You’ve been unconscious for about a week now… Whatever that girl injected into almost killed you.” That girl? “Roger said there were eight different poisons in that syringe. It’s taken him five days to start to reverse its effects… Your liver failed and then your heart but thankfully we were able to replace those… Your kidneys are on the verge
-Conor-“When they got back from the Cliffs, Karen was covered in his blood then too but it’s because Monica said she wants Karen to feel responsible if Conor dies. I would bet everything that this is just a scheme on Monica’s part to try and get Karen out of the picture. Karen would do anything to protect Conor. Anything!” Joanne exclaimed after she calmed down a little bit. Anything and I know she wouldn’t question dying for me either. Don’t die on me love. I need you. “Michael and Monica did say that this was a ploy to get me out of the way and for her to die in the process. I was fully conscious when Michael said that.” Conor added quickly.“So… That means Augustus probably lied to me on two counts… Augustus, Michael and Monica are the ones I need to hunt down… The three of you are not to leave this room.” Zachary commanded as he left the room. “Roger, go to the dungeon immediately and check on that girl. I want you to make sure she isn’t dead. That servant I sent about twenty mi
-Conor-There was a swift knock on the door behind them and the king entered the room. Everyone bowed as Zachary pursed his lips. He looked furious. “Lady Monica confessed to it all, Conor. She was rather proud of her attacks on you.” He stated plainly. “These latest attacks have been part of a scheme to get you and the rat out of the picture at the same time. The main goal was to put Michael on the throne by assassinating you… And to get rid of Karen by framing her for the crime.” Zachary paused. “I’m going to be sending Michael back to the ship for several days so I can figure out what to do with him. I will likely have Monica executed in the next day or two for her role in the plot, but she will also be going onto the ship to keep you both out of harm’s way.”“I told you so! Why don’t you ever listen?! And I want to be the one to kill her! After what she has done to Karen and to me, we should be allowed to take our revenge on her. Michael too!” Conor snapped tiredly. I’ll rip her f
-Karen-There was a faint but familiar beeping sound in the background that woke me up. I’m in the medical ward? Why? I was in the dungeon… What am I doing here? I woke up feeling a great deal of physical pain, but I felt the extreme depression come over me as I lie there thinking about Conor. He’s gone. I never got to say goodbye. I feel like my heart has shattered into a fine dust. Never to be fused back together. I felt my grief bubble up as I started to cry quietly. I slowly sat up on the table, but I had a hard time getting my bearings and I accidentally fell off. I felt a sharp pain in my right arm as I landed on the hard floor. Ugh… That hurt… I looked down and saw I ripped out my IV, but I didn’t care. This physical pain doesn’t even remotely compare to the emotional devastation I'm feeling right now. I just want to end this heartbreak.Michael’s words echoed in my mind over and over again on an endless loop of misery. First our baby boy and now, ‘Your fiance just died about t