Karen came to in her own bed, back at her house. She looked at her hand where the blood had been and saw it was clean thoroughly. She then saw Mary sleeping in a chair next her bed. Karen sat up slowly and inhaled sharply, Mary then woke up.
"Oh! Karen! You're ok! The Horseman carried you in here. He said you fainted and then I saw the blood on your hand. I then explained to him your fear of blood and how you've never been really fond of it." Mary exclaimed.
"Oh Mary you're talking too fast I can't understand you! You're making my head hurt kiddo." Karen croaked.
"Is it true that the magical stork put a baby inside of you?" Mary asked wide-eyed.
"OhmyGodMarywhothehecktoldyou?!?" Karen yelled.
"You're lover dummy." Mary said flatly.
"Do mom and dad know?" Karen gulped.
"No. Well are you going to have a baby?" Mary asked excitedly.
"I guess so?" Karen gave a small smile but then she cringed.
She remembered how Klaus had reacted. She furrowed her brows and bit her lip. Would he want her to have the baby? She remembered how she referred to it as a monster.
"Oh yay! I get to be an auntie!" Mary exclaimed.
"But Shhhh Mary! Don't tell anyone! Do you understand?" Karen said sternly.
"I promise not to tell a living soul. I'm going to go to my room now you come and get me if you need something." Mary said jumping up. She left the room with a skip in her step.
"What would I do without you sweet sister?" Karen whispered as she smiled.
Mary entered her room but stopped to find a strange woman cutting off the head of one of her dolls.
"Oh but dear child you can tell me what you've promised not to tell a living soul, for you see I am dead." The one said with an evil grin.
"W-who are you and what do you want?" Mary squeaked.
"I can be your best friend. If, you cooperate." The lady said now standing up.
"You stay away or I'll scream!" Mary threatened.
"Oh now we can't have that. Mute-ano!" The lady said pointing a bony finger at Mary's mouth. "Now I can make you tell me, but it won't be very pretty, or, clean." The lady chuckled as she pulled out a dagger. Mary's eyes went wide in shock. She opened her mouth to scream but not a single sound came out. The lady cackled and she then unzipped her mouth and Mary started to whimper.
"Now what is it the your sister told you? And don't you dare think about lying to me little girl!" The lady yelled.
"I won't tell!" Mary stamped her foot.
"Then I'll make that pretty mouth tell me." The woman grasped Mary by the shoulders and then gave Mary a small but deep cut on her cheek. Mary screamed out in pain but once again Mary had been put on mute. When the woman stopped she unzipped Mary's mouth again.
"Now tell me or I'll kill you." The woman sneered.
"My sister is going to be a mother! Now leave me alone!" Mary cried.
"Ha! Foolish child! Now this is what I want you to do. I want you to go out the backdoor and go running into the house through the front door. You'll then go up to your mother and explain that the cut was from a tree branch. Do you understand? Fail this and I'll give you a pretty little scar just like your big sister." The lady said sternly.
Mary nodded and ran of her room in tears and the lady vanished. Mary went out the back door and ran into the front of the house and cried to her mother who was busy making an apple pie.
"My goodness Mary! How did you get this!" her mother shrieked.
"It was a stupid tree branch." Mary said coldly as she hung her head low.
"Get dressed you fool!" Lady Van Tassel yelled at Gray. "We have rumors to spread." And Gray smiled wickedly.
"Hello Mrs. Baker." Gray said.
"Gray. What do you want?" Mrs. Baker said coldly.
"Did you know that Karen is with child? I couldn't believe it myself but that's what all of the town is talking about!" Gray exclaimed.
"My goodness! You don't say!" Mrs. Baker said with a hungry smile, for she loved gossip just as much as a good glass of brandy. "Do tell me more."
And so the two went about town spreading the wildest rumors about poor Karen, and it didn't even take them a day before it reached the mayor of the town, her father. When he overheard the news he rushed home red in the face and a thunderstorm of rage right at his heel. He got into the house and slammed the door and his wife came rushing out.
"Where's Karen!?!" He roared.
"I'm right here father." Karen said confused.
"You ignorant bastard of a child! You whore! You're with child!?!" Her father said as he came upon her hands balled into fist.
"Daddy! Wait I can explain! Please! No, wait!" Karen screamed but her mother jumped in front of her!
"George Bentley you will not harm MY daughter especially if she is with child!" Her mother yelled. "You should give her a chance to explain!"
"What lame excuse do you have to pull yourself out of this shit young lady?" He yelled still angry as Hell.
"Daddy please, let me explain." Mary said the cut hurting because of the tears that were rolling down her face.
"Yes let Mary explain to you like she explained it to me." Her mother said gently.
And so Mary told her father everything. About how Gray tried to run off with her and how the Karen had tried to save her but the Horseman's tree saved her. And how sleeping with Karen was the only way to save all of them from death.
"My God. So you're pregnant from a ghost? Is that even possible?" He said through his hands.
"Anything is possible with love father." Karen cried.
"And do you truly love this, er, man?" Her father asked.
"I do." She whispered.
"Then I must apologize to you. I had no clue you were fighting against a love spell and it was the only way to save us. Darling we are going to support and help you in anyway possible." Her father said standing up.
"Oh father!" Karen said as she rushed into his arms.
"But I'd like to meet this, what is his name again?" Her father asked.
"Klaus dear. His name is Klaus." Karen's mother said as she swept his bangs out of his eyes.
"You want to meet him?" Karen said shocked.
"Yes invite him over or something." Her father said as he waved his hand. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to bed." And with that her father left the room.
Karen doubled over in pain. Mary and her mother rushed over to her side.
"Dearest what is the matter?" her mother asked worried.
"I think she needs to be with Klaus right now." Mary said.
"Right you know where his tree is. You lead the way. Come on Karen up you go." Her mother said as she wrapped Karen's arm around her neck.
Mary ran to grab a flashlight and the three of them hurried off into the Western Woods. Mary stopped at a huge tree and she knocked on it. Karen's mother was puzzled but the she her eyes grew wide when she saw the tree open,
"Come on then. Let's get her inside. Horseman, I hope you're here. My sister is ill and she needs to stay with you!" Mary cried.
Mary stepped into the tree and her mother followed her in. The came into what seemed to be a small sitting room. Klaus walked in.
"And who is this?" He asked.
"My mother." Mary said coldly.
"You've been marked by the witch!" Klaus exclaimed.
"A witch what on Earth is he talking about. Oh! Nice to meet you by the way I'm Katrina Bentley. It's nice finally being able to meet you." Karen's mother said,
"A tree nicked my cheek." Mary said bitterly.
But Klaus did not believe her but he focused on his Karen. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her into his bedroom where he gently laid her down on the bed. He then walked back into the sitting room.
"Please have a seat you two." He said gesturing to one of the seats.
"Oh no we need to get going back. But thank you. Good night!" Karen's mother said quickly. She did not like being in his presence at all.
"Keep safe Mary." Klaus said. Mary stopped in her tracks but then walked out leaving the room colder and stranger yet, Klaus's fire went out.
