After a couple of minutes remaining in an embrace, Sarah broke the hug. She held Kai’s face in between her hands and smiled, “we’re going to be okay.” She assured him again for the umpteenth time. If there was something Sarah was good at, it was comforting you until all your worries seemed small and insignificant. Kai had almost forgotten why he was upset.“I do have a question, though. Am I free to speak?” She asked him and he said in response, “always, baby. I’m eager to know where your head is at. What’s on your mind?”“Are we moving? I mean, I can understand you wanting to go back home but all the talk of war and fighting…” Kai chuckled, she really was too good to be true.“I don’t miss it Sarah, I’ll be honest with you.” He admitted for the first time out loud, “I don’t…I no longer have a family there.”Her heart sank. She wanted to ask more but she felt as though it wasn’t the right time. She appreciated him enough already for sharing something that clearly was still a fresh wou
“You have that kind of money?” Sarah asked and Kai full on laughed this time around, “yes.” Was all he said as he got up. Kai adjusted his pants before reaching a hand out to Sarah.“We’ve had a long day, let’s go to bed.”“A long, unpredictable and eventful day.” She added as she took his hand. Everything about them was different now but their relationship remained the way Sarah loved, unbreakable and lighthearted. That was just how strong their bond was.The next day, Kai woke up from his night’s sleep uninterrupted by aggressive nightmares. He was getting used to it. He sat up and headed to the bathroom for his morning ritual, to splash some cold water on his face and brush his teeth. Sarah was not beside him when he woke up which only meant that she was making breakfast. As he brushed his teeth, Kai could not help but smile. Even though they had both come to the conclusion that he was the better cook, Sarah often went out of her way to wake up earlier and get a head start on maki
“Charge forward!” Kai screamed as he stretched his arm outwards. An army of a million men rushed past him as he sat on his horse. It was the third battle that month alone and they would probably see at least one more, Kai thought to himself.“My Lord, you don’t have to be on the battlefield. Myself and my men are enough to deal with these small fry.” Zalek Brackenbury, Kai’s colonel, urged his General.“If this is the third battle in less than two weeks, I’m needed on the battlefield. How are the healers doing? What is the casualty?” Kai asked, ignoring his subordinates' request.“About a hundred, not nearly as bad as the enemy camp. All the bodies we can see belong to them.” Zalek gleamed. “A hundred of my men fell at the hands of barbarians and you tell me to lay back while more die?” Kai asked Zalek in a cool tone. The fact that he was calm sent shivers down his spine. Immediately, Zalek fell to his knees, “I’m sorry, General. I don’t know what came over me. The life of even one so
Kymani Everard was one of Kai’s high ranking officers. She belonged to the Everard house, a house that had supported the Rylan’s for centuries with their healing powers and their magic that allowed them to foresee what was to come. Kymani was the current head of her family and unlike the previous heads, she much preferred to take a backseat and she spent all her free time running what the other officers called a charity clinic.One of the many skills Kymani possessed was hypnosis and on this day, she was tending to the many injured men. She cursed under her breath before yelling, “would you please keep still?! I don’t have time for this.” The man winced again and Kyman groaned, “How do you take so many lives and yet you’re scared of a little pain?”“Men are such babies.” Was the last thing she muttered before hearing a horse neigh in distress, “Bringing your horse all the way will not make me heal all these people faster, Zalek.” She said before lifting up her head.“Kymani!” His voic
“What did you say?” Kymani asked Astrophel. She crouched down on her knees as her arms grew tired from holding him up. “You’re able to delete memories. Wipe the General’s memories before he wakes up.” Astrophel repeated.“Why the hell would I do that? That can be classified as treason!” Kymani yelled at Kai’s godfather.“It isn’t treason if he can’t remember any of it.” Astrophel paused, “think about it. You’re in danger too for knocking him unconscious.”“I did not nothing wrong. He was going to kill us all and you asked me to.” Kymani defended.“You’re right, I did. Now finish your good work and wipe his memory. Only heaven knows what will become of us should he wake up and remember the horror that awaits.”“Do this for Nexarath, Kymani Everard. You have a duty to your people. Should the General become conscious with his memory intact, we will be back where we started and with even more people dead.” Kymani hesitated. Astrophel had a point.“Do you think he will be happy with you? Y
Kai had a nightmare that night, same as all the nights before and for as long as he could remember. He was screaming on top of his voice, “put your lives on the line!”, “show no mercy!”, “bring me their heads!”, “stake his head for his subordinates to see.” And other cruel and gruesome commands he could hardly imagine himself voicing out.“What sort of life did I lead before now?” He asked himself as he startled back to reality, shocking his wife, Sarah, as well.“The nightmares again?” She asked as she sat up, rubbing her eyes.“Yes. I’m sorry.” Kai apologized, sitting up as well. “It’s okay. Should I get you some water? Advil?” She asked as she rubbed his shoulders. “No, thanks. I’ll just get ready for work.” He replied as he pulled himself out of bed, heading for the bathroom.In the bathroom, he splashed ice cold water on his face and he stared at his reflection in the mirror. He had sunken eyes from his sleep constantly being cut short by ridiculous, otherworldly nightmares. He h
“What? Did I tell any lies?” Stephanie turned to Kai, “what use are you to us? You don’t work, you don’t contribute to the bills, you get free food. The least you could do is drive me around. Right, dad?” She turned to Orion.Orion ignored the ruckus, eating silently. “Calm down, my love. Remember what the doctor said about your blood pressure.” Her father said.“Sarah, baby. Your mother said she would pay. What is the issue?”“Leave that dumb child. Rather than marry a man that would take her on trips away from the capital, she brings home a man with no recollection of who he is. For all we know he could be a spy!” Stephanie touched the sensitive area. She and her husband were always suspicious of Kai and did not buy his story that he lost his memories.“I’ll be glad to drive you, Stephanie. Let me grab my jacket quickly.” Kai said, breaking the awkward silence, as he got up and headed to his room. “You know what, never mind! Gerald will take me.” Stephanie said as Kai emerged out of
“What?” Kai turned to look at Sarah who was still sobbing uncontrollably. “I’m so sorry, Kai. My granddad found the test results on our bed. I wanted to surprise you at dinner later tonight.” Sarah apologized.“Is that why you’re all ganging up on her? A married woman getting pregnant? Is that a crime?!” Kai demanded, getting up on his feet and aiding Sarah as well.“I will not take questions from you despicable being!” Orion started.“I gave you a roof over your head, despite being a nobody with no name. I endured the jabs from my business partners and associates, taunting me for giving up my only grandchild and future heir to a man with no past.”“And how do you two ingrates repay me? You poison my line with pauper blood!” Orion turned to Sarah, “Sarah Pierce, you will sign these divorce papers this instant and I will consider letting you raise your bastard child in my home. Else, I want you two out of my sight.”“Dad!” Stephanie yelled, he was being too harsh in her opinion.“Shut