Castles & Curses

Chapter 2: Roses

CHAPTER TWO

ROSES

ARABELLA POV

I wake up with my hand on my belly and voices speaking around me. I keep my eyes closed as Duncan's deep gravelly voice fills the room. 

"What is going on Mary? She smells human. She looks human. If she's anything other than a human witch you know what it means." I hear a shuffle then Mary speaks. 

"I donna know Master but I do know the lass is pregnant." I feeel something shift inside of me and I realize it is my baby moving as Duncan speaks. 

"I know and I don't care. Mary I don't know if she can handle this if she's the one. She's so fragile. Maybe I should find a way for her to leave." My eyes open and I immediately look for Duncan as I sit up. He whirls from his spot by the foot of the bed as I speak. 

"I can leave sir. I can take care of myself. I was going to leave anyway just let me sleep a few more hours first." Before he can say anything I lay back down and go back to sleep. I am going to need all the rest I can get.

................

When I wake up my stomach isn't hurting anymore. I sit up and push the covers away. Throwing my feet over the side of the bed I walk to the bathroom as I let my powers wash over me. I smile as I feel my child respond and move within me. She is okay. After using the bathroom I turn off the light. And exit only to be interrupted by someone moving in the chair by my bed. I freeze as my powers wash over me. The light by the bed comes on and I release my power when I see its Duncan. 

"Won't he find you faster if you use your powers?" I stiffen and look him in the eye. 

"I'm leaving so it doesn't really matter." His face contorts into an angry expression as he leaps to his feet. 

"YOU'RE NOT LEAVING ME!" I raise my chin and meet his eyes. 

"I'm not a human witch, Duncan. And it won't be only him coming after me but my King and Queen as well." He freezes on his way over to me and I watch as his shoulders slump. 

"Will your Queen and King protect you?" I laugh sadly as I stare past him to the red and black curtains. 

"They'll probably fight Lash over who gets the killing blow. I told you I'm a monster Duncan. I never expected to live any longer than the birth of my baby." My shoulders slump at the truth of this. He doesn't speak. Doesn't ask what I really am but he doesn't ask me to stay either. And some part of me wishes he would order me to stay. But it has always been only me for thousands of years now. And nothing is going to change that. Without looking at him I reach below the bed to grab the pack I'd had with me in the woods. I am still wearing the dress but it's better than being naked. I shrug and head to the door as I shoulder the pack. 

"It was nice meeting you Duncan. Try to be happy." That said I walk out the bedroom door and down the hallway.

WOODS

It isn't till I enter the woods outside the gate that I realize I'm barefoot. Sighing I hike the pack on the shoulder and take one last look at the castle. Even in the moonlight I can see the large looming gates surrounding it. I pray to the Goddess he finds someone worthy to love him one day. It is too bad it can't be me.

I trip over a log cursing my own stupidity only to run into a wall. Scowling I look up to see Duncan glaring down at me. My eyes widen as I peer behind him to see the gate. How could I have walked in a circle? I've been walking for hours. Letting free some of my magic I narrow my eyes at the woods surrounding us to see the faint traces of someone else's magic in the trees. Son of a bitch a 'circle me spell'. Duncan is cursed and apparently so am I. I look back up to him when he grasps my arm in a vise-like grip.