Sword in the stone.

Chapter 7: all so surreal

I turn to him and nod, "Can I ask how so?"
"... my ex-girlfriend who died... her name was Demetria... she... was killed by orcs."
"And that's why you hate them?"

He nods weakly, "yeah... they took one of the most important people of my life away from me... I hate them."
"I'm sorry I didn't know."

"I know but what's weird about it... the orc's eyes match her eyes."

"I think I'm asking the unspoken question for both of us... but how many orcs have those eyes?"

"Yeah... exactly."
"Maybe that means that your girlfriend didn't die... anyways who told you that she died?"
"...Carmine."
"Huh... okay."
"What's wrong?"
Would she lie to get with Connak? And if she did..., what did she do to Demetria to transform her into an orc? I hear something. I look up to see Connak snapping in front of my face. I look up, "sorry got distracted in my own headspace."
"You're okay... just got a bit worried."

"Okay... let's go meet up with Prissy and them."
"Right."

I pull him to his feet, "Can I ask something?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you gonna try to trust Demetria?"
"... I don't know... I can really only try right?"
"Right... I just wanted to see if you would try to trust her."
"... I--I don't know right now Jay."
"... Okay..."
"Sorry."
"It's okay I guess."
We make it back to the others.

Connak's POV

Jay's words have left me unsettled... I don't know how to feel about it... if she really is Demetria, what now? What am I gonna do? How would I save her? I force tears back and look at them.
"Hey, Alucard, you should drink... here," Prissy says as she holds out her arm. He recoils back.
"I could never, Princess... even the thought of it makes me cringe in pain," he retorts holding his head down. Jay sighs and holds his own arm out.
"Please tell me I'm a different story," Jay says softly.  Sir Alucard hesitates but eventually gives in. We help give the vampires blood to drink before being led into a house. I see a woman there. She looks pregnant but she seems to completely ignore me. Not that I mind. Sir Alucard's house is a nice two-story home with what looks like 6 bedrooms including the master and several bathrooms and a kitchen. I look over to Jay as he to me. He says, "Connak and I will take this room ladies you can pick amongst yourselves."
I snicker softly. Ladies? Yeah right: one badass princess, one depowered princess, and an orc girl. We walk into the room. I sigh and unpack my bag before just sprawling out into the bed.

Prissy's POV

"So~~~, what's your name?" I ask the orc girl.
"Demetria... and you two are?"
"Prissy and this is my sister Alaina."
"Nice to meet you."
"You as well," Alaina says. I nod tiredly. Demetria just sits down on the bed. She doesn't seem to have anything to her name just a necklace and some bracers. Or at least I think they're bracers.
"Um, so may I ask why you decided to help me?" She asks.
"Well, I like to help others so," I say.
"Plus we are trying to restore the kingdom," Alaina adds.
"Yeah... anyways, can I ask where you got those bracers?" I ask. She looks at her wrists.
"Um... well... they aren't bracers... they're chains," Demetria awkwardly replies.
"Chains?" I ask.
"Y--Yeah... I'm technically a slave... like almost all turned orcs."
"Turned orcs?"
"I can't elaborate because of the curse."
"Oh... you... were a slave?"
"Yeah... but a strange man rescued me."
"Oh... can you do magic?"
"... no... not anymore anyways..."
"Anymore?"
"Before I was turned."
"Oh... I--I'm sorry to hear that."
"No... blame the one who did this..."
"Right..."
I get up and walk to the door.

Alucard's POV

"Maltorn... Can she do magic?"
"Hm?"
"Can the Princess do magic?"
"Yes, she finally can."
"Okay... Does that boy remind you of someone?"
"... Avelision and Tirarnois?"
"How'd you guess?"
"I did not just guess... I just know too much."
"...So that means?"
"Yes."
"I thought--"
"In order to keep Tirarnois safe... she had to lie."
"... but he's not safe."
"She thought it would keep him safe, Alucard."
"...Plus being with child is a huge liability, isn't it?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"...all too surreal, isn't it?"
"... unfortunately... we should go check the perimeter and make sure that the kids get some sleep."
"Well, we can't exactly call them kids can we, Maltorn?"
He pauses then laughs, "you are right, Alucard... they are not just kids."
We leave the house as I grab my daggers. I still can't believe I lost my halberd and that he's really-- An enemy lunges at me sending me flying because I wasn't prepared. I spring back up with a hiss. Maltorn dodges a blast of dark magic before going for his own staff.
"May I ask where your sword is?"
"I lent it to Jay."
"Can he even lift it?"
"No but I felt as though they would need it more than I."
"Right, right," I say as I throw a dagger into the heart of the attacker that was on me. I pull it out and collect some of the blood to drink later. Maltorn looks at me and smiles.
"You know--"
"I know it would be better if we kept them alive, I didn't mean to kill him that was an accident."
"Okay-- Look out!"
I turn but not fast enough something hits me, but it goes down too. Maltorn is by my side after finishing it off. My vision is blurry. I look up, "I'm all right. We need to ensure there is no more."
"Right allow me to help you up first."
"Right," I say as I allow him to pull me up. I lean on him as we walk around the perimeter of my village. There doesn't seem to be anymore... I sigh, "Good no more."
He nods and helps me back to the house as Prissy leaves the bedroom. She rushes to me as she cries, "oh my gods are you okay?"
I nod, "Yes, Princess, I'm okay."
She looks me up and down despite my admission to being okay. I sigh but allow her to. After all she doesn't have many people who know her although she seems to have changed a lot since I last saw her. She finds some light gashes then proceeds to heal me.
"Princess, I was going to do that," Maltorn says softly.
"Well, you guys took care of me it's just my turn to pay you back."
"Thank you, Princess," I say softly as I hug her. My tall form towers over her smaller one. I look around at the others here. I add, "I shall go make food and Princess you should be resting."
"... I know..."
"... You can't sleep, can you?"
"No, I can't."
"Well... just try, okay?"
"Mkay."
She walks back to the bedroom, and we soon hear her drift off.
"Good she's asleep," I say.