The few reviews I got have made me smile like an idiot, so thank you! :) I'm really glad people are liking the story & it definitely gives me inspiration to write more. I'm currently on chapter 27 & plan to reach 30 before the weekend is over (hopefully). After tomorrow, it'll be a little difficult for me to post since I'm on vacation & I don't know if that place I'm going to tomorrow has wifi. I'll probobly post at least 3 chapters to keep you all occupied until I get back! This chapter really got to me while I was writing it & I hope it has the same effect on you. Remember, more reviews = more cyber love!


Chapter XI Mortal Wounds

Samaria placed a hand on the back of her head. She could feel it. The jagged edges reminded her of the stitches she had received the day after they were rescued. An overwhelming cloud of loneliness took hold of her until she felt a warm hand covering hers. The boy- no, the man- in front of her placed his palm against hers and removed it from her hidden scar. Her eyes brimmed with tears that threatened to fall and her entire body shook despite the warm sun.

"Hayden." She confirmed. He smiled and reached out for her, both openly in tears.

"You're alive." He whispered, still in shock. "Dear Spirits, you're alive!" He pressed her tighter against his muscled chest. Her tears stained her friend's shirt and his tears dropped onto her hair, but neither one of them seemed to notice. She closed her eyes and let herself be engulfed with happiness for the first time in eleven years.

"Samaria." A voice called from behind her. Reluctant to let go, she opened her eyes. The voice was Kahlan's and she didn't sound too pleased. As if dunked into a bucket of cold water, Samaria remembered what she was doing, where she was, and who was watching. She slowly untangled herself from Hayden's arms and turned to see one confused, one smiling, and one angry face staring at the pair. "Who is this boy?"

"He's my fr-" Samaria stopped herself. Confessor children, no matter where they were raised, were not supposed to have friends. Admitting to Kahlan that she had broken one of the most important rules, even as a child, wasn't something she wanted to do. Although, the display of affection and the tears that refused to stop gave Kahlan the answer she needed. She decided to go with, "We grew up together."

"You," Kahlan hesitated. "Grew up together?"

"Yes." Samaria felt Hayden hand close around hers, feeling the need to protect her. Although it wasn't necessary, the contact did help.

"Lord Rahl, I believe it's time we took our shopping elsewhere." Cara sensed the tension between the two Confessors. Hayden faltered.

"Lo- Lord Rahl?"

"Yes, Lord Rahl." Cara announced loudly. Kahlan rolled her eyes, for the crowd she had gotten rid of heard the announcement and eased away from the group in fear.

"Confusing company you keep, Aria." He joked and she giggled… like a child. Kahlan's eyes bore into her and she stopped.

"We need to talk." The Mother Confessor stated. "Now."

Hayden, clearly more shaken by the Confessor than by the Lord Rahl and Mord'Sith, let go of her hand and smiled at her.

"I'll wait here." He assured his friend. After a brief smile back, she raced after Kahlan, hoping her brain would come up with a good excuse before she got to her. The Mother Confessor stopped in alley and turned around, waiting for her charge. As Samaria approached, she started to feel something she had never felt before when encountering Kahlan. Fear. The Confessor was clearly angry, if not furious, and she definitely was not the type to hold it in.

"What in the name of the Spirits was that?" she nearly shouted. Samaria stood there, not knowing what to say. "Well?!"

"I told you, we grew up together." Samaria found her words. Kahlan scoffed.

"Don't play coy with me, Samaria Stone. What is that boy to you?" Kahlan fumed.

"He was my friend, alright?!" the young Confessor shouted. Kahlan's mouth hung open, startled to hear the girl say it aloud.

"Why would you do that?" the woman pinched her nose and shut her eyes. "I'm sure your mother explained to you that-"

"Yes, I know! I know what she said and I know what you're going to say but guess what?! I didn't ask for this! I never wanted to be a Confessor nor did I want to be Mord'Sith!" Fresh tears brimmed on the girl's eyes.

"You think any of us asked for this?!" Kahlan exploded. "You think they asked to hunted, raped, and murdered?! Do you think I like not being able to bear the child of the man I love for fear that it'll become a monster?! Do you think Cara asked to be abducted from her family and tortured, just like you were?! To watch her mother be tortured to death and murder her own father?!" Kahlan's eyes softened a little when she met Samaria's broken green ones. She took a breath, trying to calm herself and continued. "If we had a choice, I don't think anyone here would have chosen these paths… but we don't. We are who we are born to be" She tapped her own chest. "And what we are made to be." She signaled towards Cara who had taken the liberty of guarding the concealed alley and had undoubtedly heard the woman's outburst. She took a step towards her sister. Samaria backed away.

"Who are you, to tell me that I cannot have a friend?" she asked quietly. "Who are you, to order me or anyone else around like you're superior then all of us? Who are you, to be allowed to love a man while the rest of our kind suffer in silence?!" Kahlan took a sharp breath, hurt by the line of questioning. Samaria knew the answer she would receive and Kahlan did not disappoint.

"I am the Mother Confessor." Kahlan's expression turned to stone. "You will do as I say, young Confessor, or there will be consequences." Samaria's face gave away nothing. She was used to being threatened. "I know you care for this boy and that he cares for you. This cannot stand. Both of you should be wise enough to cease all future communications and go on with your lives."

"He doesn't even know." Samaria growled at the woman in front of her. Kahlan faltered, her expression changing to one of confusion.

"He what?" she asked silently.

"He doesn't know what I am." Samaria made it sound as if she had contracted some sort of plague.

"You're sure?"

"Why does it matter, Mother Confessor?" she spat. "I am to, what was it you said? 'Cease all future communications'." Samaria almost laughed as she turned her back to the woman.

"Samaria, listen to me," Kahlan tried to follow her but was stopped midway by a cloaked figure who appeared out of nowhere behind the girl. "Look out!" she tried to warn her sister, but the girl had already spun around, prepared for the attacker. Both had a knife in their hands and Kahlan winced as the attacker struck first with great force. Samaria parried and was about to switch to offense when she saw another figure appear behind Kahlan.

"Behind you!" she shouted. By now, Cara had heard the commotion and was already on her way to the end of the alley. Kahlan heard the familiar wine of Cara's agiels as she spun them into her hands with blinding speed. Samaria flinched at the sound, causing her attacker to take a slice out her arm. She acknowledged the pain but did not allow a sound to escape her lips. The young Confessor gripped her knife tighter and surveyed the scene quickly. Three more hooded figures had appeared out of the shadows. Kahlan was immersed in fighting one, while the new members had surrounded Cara. Strange, why weren't they interested in the Mother Confessor? Samaria pushed those thoughts away and focused on the task at hand. She had killed before and she would kill again if it meant protecting herself and the people she loved. She spun and stuck out her leg with dizzying speed, knocking the man down. Without hesitation, Samaria brought her knife to his throat and slit it open, causing a spray of hot liquid to hit her. She tasted his blood but didn't care. She moved on to assist Cara, who know had another two attackers trying to pin her down. She surprised the first, snapping his neck before he had a chance to blink. Cara smiled at her, clearly not concerned about the odds that faced the two sisters. Samaria fought the urge to roll her eyes at the woman's cockiness then reminded herself, it isn't cockiness if you're actually that good. Cara turned, putting her back to Samaria's. The two lethal women attack simultaneously and within moments, their remaining attackers were either dead or dying. Turning to find Kahlan, Samaria realized that there were more approaching from the rooftops. What was going on? Who were these men? What did they want? Quickly, the two women sprinted off towards the Mother Confessor and were at her side in less than a second.

"What's going on here?" Kahlan asked the pair, as if they had any idea.

"Who cares Mother Confessor, just kill them!" Cara shouted as another seven assailants approached. They each carried a different weapon making the two older women believe that they were part of a mercenary group. As battle commenced again, Samaria's belief seemed to be confirmed; they weren't after the Mother Confessor, they were after her and Cara. But why? It made no sense. They had no value. No one here even knew that Samaria was a Confessor and if they did, why not go after THE Confessor. Food for thought at a later time. Cara took down the first two swiftly and easily. Kahlan brought up the right and took down another. Samaria flanked Cara to the left, dodging an axe and a mace on the way to her sister's sides. When she reach the end of the alley and turned around, she couldn't believe what she saw. There were more! At least another ten more hooded figures leaped from the rooftops and charged at them. She glanced at the two other women, nodded, and raced towards their pursuers. Cara took down three with swift strikes from her Agiels. Their screams filled the abandoned streets. Night had fallen and it came to no surprise that no one was around this area. Samaria stepped in front of Kahlan, parrying a mortal blow from a long sword, as Kahlan stabbed the man twice in the chest. He went down hard, his face contorted in pain. Samaria ducked, taking Kahlan down with her as a spear whistled through the air. The spearhead narrowly missed the Confessors heads. Kahlan, annoyed that someone had gotten that close to killing her sister, threw one of her daggers and hit the man square in the forehead. She rushed to recover it as Samaria heard a loud 'thud'. She turned to see Cara on the floor, blood coming from the woman's head. The Mord'Sith faltered, struggling to get up and did not notice the knife that was inches away from her chest. Samaria moved faster than she thought she could. She dove for the knife, silently praying that she wasn't too slow, knowing that she would never make it.