I just want to thank all of you guys for reading this fanfic. I'm glad that you're willing to read it, even if your couples don't necessarily get together...
I also appreciate the reviews that are left. It helps with the development of the story.
** So now here is the next update
Chapter Twelve
***
The heart already knows
What the mind can only dream of.
Trust your heart.
- Jamil Hindi
***
Isabel awoke to the sound of her alarm clock. 6 a.m. She and Michael would watch over Max as Liz got ready for work. Normally they’d both be at school, but a recent break in the school’s water main, allowed the teenagers a respite from their studies. It was a relief to Liz, Michael and Maria because it had been stressful to work within the two priorities, each which needed attention. Isabel stretched her arms out and above her head and pulled on a pair of jeans and a tank top. She quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face. Then using her powers, Isabel put on her make up.
Last night had been an enlightening time. Things were coming together for their coordinated effort to save Max. But last night also brought news of anxiety. Jesse had called last night to reveal that he would be able to get away from the office for the next couple of weeks. He’d be there to support her and help her get through this. Isabel wasn’t sure what to make of the ‘good news’.
As she walked into the kitchen, Isabel’s mother was in her pajamas and making breakfast for the trio. Isabel kissed her mother good morning and poured herself a bowl of cereal. “Is Dad up yet?”
Mrs. Evans shook her head. Isabel studied her mother’s worn face as she found her seat at the kitchen table. Her mother had bags under her eyes and her hair was disheveled and it wasn’t morning hair either. “How are you guys holding up?” Isabel asked worriedly. She wished she could tell her mother what had happened to Max, but she knew Michael would disapprove and it would likely set up more questions than ever about Max and bring up more questions.
Her mother smiled warmly at Isabel. “We’re getting through Isabel. I think I should be the one asking if you’re all right? Especially after Michael practically had to carry you in last night,” fretted Mrs. Evans. Then she seemed to change her line of thought midsentence. Isabel thought she looked happy for a moment. “Your father has even been hinting that he might know where Max is.”
Isabel gulped down a spoonful of cereal. “Really?” She scooped another portion of Cocoa Puffs into her mouth. Isabel began to become antsy. Her father seemed to have involved many important people to find Max before and it worried her, what he might find out if she didn’t stop the dangerous liaisons.
Isabel’s fears had subsided since Max’s return into their parent’s good graces; healing the rift between their Dad and Max, helped quell her father’s inquiries. The investigation stopped after that. But it seemed the disappearance would put Isabel and Max’s secret in jeopardy again.
Mrs. Evans left the kitchen just as Mr. Evans was entering. The couple exchanged kisses before going their respective ways. It reminded Isabel of the distance that had developed between her and Jesse, and last night reminded Isabel of the pull she felt towards Michael. “Good morning Dad!” chirped Isabel, as she tried to hide her anxious thoughts from her father.
The patriarch of the Evans family greeted her with a kiss and sat down with a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon. Mr. Evans began his morning ritual of eating his breakfast while reading the newspaper. Isabel finished the last bite of her sugary cocoa breakfast that would have her going the rest of the day. Suddenly Isabel heard the snap of the newspaper and turned to see her father looking at her overtop of his reading glasses. “What did Jesse phone about last night? I almost forgot.”
Isabel swallowed. “He’s coming home Daddy,” smiled Isabel. “He got some time off and will be here in 3 days.” She glanced at the clock and realized if she didn’t leave right now, she’d be late meeting Michael. Isabel bit her lip as she tried to casually exit. “I’m, uh, going to go for a walk. It’s beautiful out today,” Isabel thought out loud, hoping her father wouldn’t ask any questions.
“Say, what did you do all yesterday?” Her father eyed her as she raced to think up an excuse for her disappearance yesterday. “Uh, I…was looking for Max. I thought that maybe I could think of the places we wouldn’t have thought to look,” lied Isabel. She hated doing it, but she didn’t have much of a choice. “Mom said you might have an idea of where he might be.”
Mr. Evans seemed to hesitate before giving her an answer. “I do,” he said slowly. “Have an idea. But the investigators I’ve hired are still looking into it. I’m going to see them today.” Isabel felt like he was waiting to see what kind of a reaction she would have, mentioning how close they might be to Max’s location.”
Isabel just smiled pretended she was happy and that it was just one less worry. She tucked her hair behind her ear and excused herself. “I’m going to head out now Dad.” Isabel moved slowly, her actions almost jerky. Finally when she was out of her father’s line of sight, Isabel quickly grabbed her jacket and purse and headed out the door.
~~~
Michael waited impatiently for Isabel. He didn’t know how much longer he could wait. Michael had tossed and turned all night, waiting for the day to break. He didn’t know how much longer Max had and the sooner they found a way to help him, the sooner Michael wouldn’t feel this helplessness.
“Michael?” Isabel called. “Are you here?”
Michael rushed up to the entrance of the cave. “Where have you been?” asked Michael through clenched teeth.
Isabel looked at him with wide eyes. “Are you okay? You seemed more stressed out than usual?”
In truth, Michael had been actually thinking about Isabel and Jesse. More specifically, what they were talking about when he’d left the Evans’ house. He’d imagined Isabel whispering sweet nothings into the receiver. Michael sighed. “Nothing. Sorry, I’m just a little antsy. I just need to know what that…that thing, told you.”
Isabel nodded. “Just let me look in on Max, okay?” Michael nodded and waited outside the cave’s entrance.
Finally Isabel returned and sat down. “You might as well sit because it’s going to be a long story.” He shook his head. Michael knew if he sat close to her, he might let slip something that shouldn’t be revealed. Not yet. Isabel seemed to be able to get past his defenses.
As Isabel walked him through the events of the dream, Michael had felt reaffirmed in his theory about Tess, with each detail of the story -- of the dreamwalk. “It was weird Michael. I had this horrible pain every time I saw something human in her. I mean, like when I saw the blue eyes. It was like a knife was stabbing me. Like it was some punishment for seeing her,” Isabel explained, a pained look on her face as if she were reliving it again.
Licking his lips, Michael sat down beside her and rested his arms in front of him, on his knees, which were propped against a rock. “Do you have any guesses on what that vision meant?” asked Michael, knowingly. He’d had a hypothesis, but Michael couldn’t say anything without Isabel hating him for it.
Isabel shook her head. “I think I might know who the one figure is, the golden one? I think she might be Liz. But I’m not sure about the pale one.”
Michael swallowed. “Could it have been Tess?” Michael shrunk back, just in case Isabel’s temper flared at him. Nothing. There seemed to be an odd serene look on her face. Nothing at all like the last time he’d mentioned Max’s alien counterpart’s name. “I take that since you’re not screaming at me, you sort of thought the same thing?”
Isabel ran her fingers through her hair. “I don’t scream,” Isabel protested quietly. Then after a moment of silence, Isabel spoke. “You could be right,” admitted Isabel, seemingly very difficultly. “But I still don’t see what that has to do with anything!” Her emotions finally getting the better of her as she stood up and looked to the east, where the sun was beating down on them.
Michael joined her, dusting off his jeans. “I mean, Tess has something to do with this…puzzle. What were you talking about last night? Just before your parents came in? You had mentioned something about us?”
Isabel turned around, her eyes widened. “Yeah. I almost forgot. She talked about me being injured and then about you bringing me back.” Her voice trailed off into a whisper. Michael swallowed. He was so close to her. If he reached out his hand, he could have touched her beautiful face. Michael shook his head and cleared his throat, pushing those thoughts aside.
“Maybe she was referring to us and how we were connected, and that Max needs that same connection to heal him,” Michael surmised.
Isabel smiled. “And maybe Liz is that person!” exclaimed Isabel. Michael’s heart sunk. He’d really hoped she’d come to the conclusion on her own. Michael put his hands on Isabel’s shoulders to calm her excitement. He shook his head and licked his lips. “No, Isabel. I’m talking about Tess!”
~~~
Zander was sleeping. Tess had been wary of returning to Nicholas’ house, but she knew that if she didn’t her cover would be up. Lately, Tess had been trying to find out tidbits of information about how to return to Earth. The more she listened in on Khivar and his conversations with Nicholas about Max, the more Tess knew that she would most likely need to return. There also had been some unsettling conversations about Zander. Tess had been unable to find out anything on Zander’s ability to communicate with her. She almost chalked it up to a mother’s connection with her child, but for some reason, Tess had a sneaking suspicion that Khivar knew and that he too, had been conversing with her child. “Ava!” Nicholas laughed eerily. “Did you have a nice walk today?”
Tess licked her lips as she poured a glass of water from the crystal pitcher. “It was nice.” She kept her responses to Khivar and Nicholas short and curt. Tess hoped that this would prolong her charade of an angry and spurned lover. She’d decided that she would hate all men. It was easier that way, and it kept the hounds at bay. Apparently even by Antarian standards, hybrid aliens were still attractive, if not more still.
Nicholas smirked. “So you’ve been listening in on our conversations have you?”
The question came out of nowhere and left Tess nervous, although she was quick to recover and look oblivious to what Nicholas was referring to. “I don’t know what drug you’re on, but why would I want to know what you’re talking about? I’m just biding my time, until I can take Zander and get us out of here. Why would I risk the time spent for good behavior, listening to your conversations. Unless there’s something interesting to hear about,” Tess sneered.
Nicholas seemed taken off balance. He seemed to debate whether she was quick to recover or she was telling the truth. Tess was glad that he wasn’t as observant as Khivar seemed to be in these things. “Nothing for you to worry about.” Nicholas paced the room. He seemed to be deciding what course to take next.
Now that Tess was on her toes about the whole matter, she knew what to watch for. She wouldn’t be taken off guard again. “Do you think we could leave this house soon?” asked Tess. It seemed the best bet. “I think Zander and I should get our own home. We can’t live here forever!”
Nicholas frowned. “And why not? It’s not like you do anything except sleep, feed and clothe the baby and take walks. What do you need a house for?”
Tess walked over to Nicholas, slyly. “But Nicholas, I don’t have much privacy with the baby next door. And a woman likes to feel like she has a home, not just a room to sleep in. Mother’s need to nest.” She prayed that this would work. If she could just put a little space between herself, her son, and Khivar and Nicholas, she might have a chance to help Max. The only disadvantage would be the fact that she would no longer have access to the private conversations that Khivar and Nicholas held -- and maybe even a cure for his illness.
He seemed to ponder this for a moment before shaking his head. “I don’t think Khivar would like this idea.” Tess knew the next move. “What do you mean?” Tess cried out indignantly. “I have kept Max and those other hybrids from challenging the throne, and I can’t have one measly house? This is not what I signed up for!”
Nicholas seemed to hedge, not quite sure what his authority was over the royal former queen. And Tess began to play on that emotion. “I was queen here once! I think that Max’s followers are probably right now talking about how Khivar is treating the rightful Queen of Antar!” She pulled herself up, pressing upon Nicholas’ mind the air of regalness and beauty. It seemed to work because Nicholas almost began to cower.
Suddenly when Tess thought she’d just grasped the upper hand on the pathetic alien, Khivar stormed in with a smirk on his face. “So you want a place for yourself do you? Oh Queen of Antar!” He bowed to Tess from his waist down.
Tess was stunned. She hadn’t seen Khivar around all that afternoon and assumed he’d left for the day. But there he was and he had an evil gleam in his eye. “Yes I do!” declared Tess. She couldn’t let him see through her façade.
Khivar grasped her arm and pulled her towards the hallway. “Where do you think you’re taking me?” demanded Tess.
Khivar smirked. “Only a place befitting a Queen! Only a place befitting a Queen.”
Loving Destiny: (UC/CC, TEEN) - Ch 67 A/N 09/24/04 [WIP]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
Chapter Thirteen
***
The winds and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.
- Edward Gibbon
***
“What is this?” Tess demanded.
Khivar had dragged Tess kicking and screaming from Nicholas’ house. The people of Antar quietly observed as a couple of Khivar’s men forced her into the unusual vehicle. It was a silver oblong shape with windows on either side. Where the glass would have been though, only what seemed to be air replaced it. The opening which didn’t seem to have a barrier was deceiving. Without a moment’s thought, the opening, which Tess would have been able to look out of, suddenly turned opaque and solid. They arrived at a deserted mansion with pillars and gold trim accenting the stark white paint. There was a balcony on the second floor and an assortment of diverse Antarian flowers surrounding the structure. Green and white ivy climbed the classic mansion walls.
Khivar led her into a dark foyer, and with a snap of his fingers, the whole building lit up. It was fully furnished and extravagantly decorated. Tess had felt the grip of her captors loosen and walked into the vast entranceway of the house. “My dear Queen,” he spoke in a syrypy sweet tone. “This is your home.”
Tess frowned. It had to be a trick. “You’re just going to let me have this house?” she asked suspiciously. Khivar nodded. “What? Do you have spies or cameras or bugs hidden in this place?”
Khivar laughed ingenuously. “No I will stay out of your way. You seem to have behaved accordingly. And you don’t seem to be causing too much trouble. You should have your own home. I have even given you the privilege of hiring your own staff. You have access to your own funds, which your former self had acquired.” He paused. “Yes. In essence you are free to live the way you desire.”
Tess shook her head. There was some catch. She could feel it. Tess could read it in Khivar’s eyes. “Fine. I’ll move in with Zander tomorrow,” she stated. Tess knew she couldn’t let this opportunity go. And though, it may come with a price, Tess was willing to pay it to get Zander away from Nicholas and Khivar.
Suddenly Khivar pursed his lips and clapped his hands together. “I’m sorry, but that’s not possible,” drawled Khivar. “You see, Zander’s within my care and I am unable to release him into this type of atmosphere.”
Tess felt her heart race and the blood begin to rush to her face. But she managed to keep a controlled voice. “What do you mean? Zander stays with me.”
Khivar shook his head. “No,” he stated. “I understand that you don’t much about our planet yet, and the harmful effects certain areas of our atmosphere can have on a young developing child, but he cannot stay here with you.” He stared at her, expressionless.
She swallowed hard. “You are playing games Khivar. And I promise you, you do not want to play games with me and my child,” threatened Tess. She walked up to the tall gangly man and poked his chest. “Now take me back to Zander.” With that, Tess walked out of the mansion with her back towards a grinning Khivar.
~~~
“What do you mean Tess?” exclaimed Isabel, who was not only in shock, but dismay. “There is no connection between Max and Tess. That was over the day she killed Alex and covered her tracks.”
Michael took a deep breath before attempting to explain his theory to Isabel. “Look Isabel, just let me say this before you start freaking out. Okay?” Michael watched Isabel bite back a reply as she sat down. She tilted her head and smiled politely. “Go ahead Michael. I’m listening.”
He didn’t know where to begin, so Michael started with them. “Look, we’ve never talked about this, but when you were almost at death’s door, and we all thought you might die.” He paused for a moment. “Well, it was a surprise to all of us when you were healed by me. I mean, I didn’t think that I could ever do anything but kill.” Michael sat down on a nearby rock. Isabel’s face had softened. “And when I healed you somehow, I don’t know, it was like a wake up call. I mean, I’ve never been able to connect with that kind of power before. You know the good kind.”
Isabel nodded. “I know Michael, but…”
Michael shook his head. “Just listen please.” Isabel licked her lips and motioned for him to go on. “I don’t think it was just a coincidence that I was able to heal you Isabel. I believe it was because we were meant to be.” As the last of his words trickled out, Isabel tensed again and her eyes clouded. She opened her mouth to say something, but Michael interrupted. “No. I don’t mean that. I mean genetically. Maybe it had to do with being life partners, soul mates in our past. Maybe it might have something to do with our alien biology, but Max couldn’t heal you and I could.”
Michael exhaled and looked up at the stars. “Do you know how many times I’ve wondered about us? About our lives back on Antar?” he asked thoughtfully. “I think we’re missing a lot about ourselves and we don’t even know it. I know we’ve chosen to live our lives here. Fine. But I can’t help but think about what part of ourselves we’ve thrown away.”
Isabel stood up and walked over to him. Michael looked up at Isabel as she stood in front of him. “Michael, what does this have to do with Max and Tess? What does this have to do with saving Max?”
Michael reached out and took her hands in his. “As much as we deny it Isabel, we need each other. And so does Max and Tess.” Isabel began to protest, but Michael interrupted her once more with his words. “I don’t mean, well, I don’t mean together,” mumbled Michael. Although, Michael knew he said those exact words for her. He stood up and walked over to the cave entrance. “Just as I healed you. Max needs Tess to heal him.”
The sun had set and Isabel remained in front of the rock he’d just left, eerily quiet. Michael’s gaze fell upon a tossing Max. He felt ill just looking at the once formidable friend. A shell of what he once had been. Finally Michael tore his gaze from the depressing scene and looked back at Isabel. She was staring out at the darkening night sky.
Michael made his way toward her, finding a place beside her on the cliff peak. “What are you thinking?” he asked worriedly. Michael prayed that he’d made sense, made Isabel understand.
Isabel tilted her head and looked at Michael. The moon was making its entrance onto the dark blue curtain above and the first star appeared in the night sky. She swallowed and bit her lip. “I know what you’re saying Michael. And maybe you’re right. Maybe there’s more connecting each of us together than just our past lives.” Isabel sighed as she ran her fingers through her reddish hair. “But I still don’t see how we can even consider the possibility of bringing her here. We don’t even have the capability to do that with the Granolith gone. I don’t know why we’re even thinking about it at all.”
Michael grasped her hands and turned her body parallel to his. Looking straight into her eyes, Michael felt a confidence he hadn’t before. “I know Isabel. But from what you’ve said, we don’t need to figure out a way to bring her here. We just need to send her a message to get her to come here.”
Isabel pulled away. “Michael, what makes you think she even cares?”
Michael grabbed her left arm and stopped her from walking away. “Because she loves Max. That’s the one sure thing we can count on. Tess loved Max. She was the only one who truly understood what we were here for. Why we are the way we are. She didn’t walk away from who and what we were. Tess didn’t hide.”
The words tasted bitter in Michael’s mouth. He hated saying these good things about the woman who’d killed Alex, but they were the truth. And Michael wouldn’t paint her to be either good or evil. He’d seen people do that way too often, to himself and to what they didn’t know.
Isabel looked at him in confusion. “I don’t know where this is coming from Michael, but I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Are you the same man who stood with me as we all decided her fate, only to have Max decide to send her back to Antar? She was the person she was supposed to be? We were cop outs?” exclaimed Isabel. “It’s like I don’t know you Michael.”
He swallowed as Isabel seemed to look right through him. “I know I sound like some kind of traitor or something, but I’m not excusing any of it. But would all this have happened if we’d been with Nasedo? Would we be in this mess if we hadn’t broken out of our pods earlier than Tess? Would we have fallen in love with humans rather than each other?”
The last question seemed to stop time for a moment. Michael studied Isabel as she remained speechless. It seemed like an eternity before either one of them moved or spoke. Finally Michael broke the silence. “We need Tess. If I wasn’t sure of it before, I’m sure of it now,” he said quietly. Isabel continued to study Michael. “I don’t like it Isabel. If I could, I would find a cure for Maxwell without having to bring her back. Without having to hurt you.”
Isabel looked into the walked into the cave, into the Granolith chamber. As Michael followed her, he couldn’t help feel a bit relieved. He’d wanted to say that for a long time now, as vague as it was said, Michael felt Isabel had an inkling of what he felt for her. “Well, what are you proposing then?” Isabel pouted.
“Well, it seems we can contact her by linking our thoughts. I think it’s time you do some of the talking, and contact her. We can’t just wait for her to contact us,” Michael explained. “We need to find out exactly how to help Max and how to get her here.”
Isabel nodded quietly. “Fine,” she agreed, looking up at Michael. “But we have to tell Liz and Maria. I don’t want them in the dark about this.”
Michael nodded. “Yeah. They have to know Tess is coming back.”
~~~
Isabel was dealing with a continuum of emotions. She didn’t know exactly what to think or to say anymore. The thought of Tess coming back seemed surreal. She didn’t even know that she could contact her, as Michael seemed confident they should. And on top of everything, Isabel couldn’t help but wonder what to do about Jesse.
He was coming back in 3 days and she didn’t know his frame of mind, concerning Maxwell and his sickness. Isabel certainly knew that he wouldn’t like the fact that she was using her powers, but she thought it might be more understandable since Max was at death’s door. Looking up from Max, Isabel studied Michael who again was leaning against the cave entrance. She didn’t know what to make of the things that were said tonight. Isabel had always felt close to him, and she knew he didn’t get a long with Jesse, not since the fish hit the ceiling.
Michael had a lot on his mind and Isabel wasn’t sure she should tell him that Jesse was coming back. She wasn’t sure he’d like the prospect that Jesse was going to help. At least that’s what he’d implied on the phone last night. In a way, Isabel couldn’t deny the fact that life was simpler when she didn’t have to worry about what Maria, Liz, or Jesse would think. But a part of her knew that she wouldn’t be the woman she was without them. They taught her to open up. They taught her that she could trust.
Isabel sat down beside Max, ready to hunker down for the night, but Michael scrambled from the cave entrance to the Granolith chamber. “Isabel!” he cried. “There’s people out there.” Isabel’s eyes widened. Who could possibly be out in the desert at this time of night?
“It could be some of the high school crowd fooling around,” Isabel offered nervously. Michael shook his head. “Only if the kids at school found a large search light and are combing the desert, like they were tracking something.”
She bit her lip and wiped Max’s warm brow with a cool cloth. “I don’t know then Michael. Who would be looking for something in the desert at this time of night?”
Michael walked over to the cliff’s peak for a moment and then came back in. “I don’t know, but they’re making their way to the cave. We need to get them away from here, before they find us. I don’t know if they’re looking for us or Max, but we can’t take that chance.”
Isabel nodded. “I can try to mind warp them? I’ve never done it, and it was always Tess’ gift…” She felt uneasy about the situation. It was like something bad was about to happen, but there was nothing they could do about it.
Michael peeked out the entrance again. “Their lights are making there way towards the cave. Can you make it seem like there’s no entrance here? It would probably be the simplest solution I can think of for now. “
Isabel nodded. “I can try.” She closed her eyes and formed an image of the entranceway. Isabel formed a barrier in front of the entrance, merging the slab with the rest of the cave walls. She could feel a wave of energy pulsing within her. Voices rang in the back of her mind, almost making her falter and drop the illusion. Isabel frowned and concentrated harder. She knew the people who were out there, had made their way up to the cliff’s entrance. The voices became louder, but that made Isabel focus even more. All she could see was a dusty cavernous wall in front of her. It seemed to overwhelm her.
Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder, which snapped her out of the trance-like state. “Isabel?” Michael whispered. Isabel gasped loudly with a sharp intake of air. She felt herself lean back, but Michael supported her from behind. “Are you okay?”
Isabel smiled briefly, holding her head. “Yeah,” she said breathily. “I’ll be fine. Just a little wiped.”
Michael looked at her unconvinced. “Are you sure?” he said worriedly.
Isabel patted him on his knee. “Yeah.” She plastered a wide smile on her face. Isabel felt nauseous. Leaning back against Michael, Isabel closed her eyes for a moment, letting a wave of light-headedness pass over her. Finally regaining her composure, Isabel sat up slowly and turned to Michael. “Did they suspect anything? Did they find the entrance?”
Michael shook his head. “No,” he smiled. “You did a great job.” Isabel smiled at the compliment and chuckled. “Of course. What did you expect?”
Michael laughed and shook his head. Isabel leaned back against him once more, a sudden bout of dizziness over taking her. She felt comforted by the warmth of his body and the strength of his arms. Isabel closed her eyes as she felt a Michael place a butterfly kiss upon the top of her head.
She did a great job.
***
The winds and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.
- Edward Gibbon
***
“What is this?” Tess demanded.
Khivar had dragged Tess kicking and screaming from Nicholas’ house. The people of Antar quietly observed as a couple of Khivar’s men forced her into the unusual vehicle. It was a silver oblong shape with windows on either side. Where the glass would have been though, only what seemed to be air replaced it. The opening which didn’t seem to have a barrier was deceiving. Without a moment’s thought, the opening, which Tess would have been able to look out of, suddenly turned opaque and solid. They arrived at a deserted mansion with pillars and gold trim accenting the stark white paint. There was a balcony on the second floor and an assortment of diverse Antarian flowers surrounding the structure. Green and white ivy climbed the classic mansion walls.
Khivar led her into a dark foyer, and with a snap of his fingers, the whole building lit up. It was fully furnished and extravagantly decorated. Tess had felt the grip of her captors loosen and walked into the vast entranceway of the house. “My dear Queen,” he spoke in a syrypy sweet tone. “This is your home.”
Tess frowned. It had to be a trick. “You’re just going to let me have this house?” she asked suspiciously. Khivar nodded. “What? Do you have spies or cameras or bugs hidden in this place?”
Khivar laughed ingenuously. “No I will stay out of your way. You seem to have behaved accordingly. And you don’t seem to be causing too much trouble. You should have your own home. I have even given you the privilege of hiring your own staff. You have access to your own funds, which your former self had acquired.” He paused. “Yes. In essence you are free to live the way you desire.”
Tess shook her head. There was some catch. She could feel it. Tess could read it in Khivar’s eyes. “Fine. I’ll move in with Zander tomorrow,” she stated. Tess knew she couldn’t let this opportunity go. And though, it may come with a price, Tess was willing to pay it to get Zander away from Nicholas and Khivar.
Suddenly Khivar pursed his lips and clapped his hands together. “I’m sorry, but that’s not possible,” drawled Khivar. “You see, Zander’s within my care and I am unable to release him into this type of atmosphere.”
Tess felt her heart race and the blood begin to rush to her face. But she managed to keep a controlled voice. “What do you mean? Zander stays with me.”
Khivar shook his head. “No,” he stated. “I understand that you don’t much about our planet yet, and the harmful effects certain areas of our atmosphere can have on a young developing child, but he cannot stay here with you.” He stared at her, expressionless.
She swallowed hard. “You are playing games Khivar. And I promise you, you do not want to play games with me and my child,” threatened Tess. She walked up to the tall gangly man and poked his chest. “Now take me back to Zander.” With that, Tess walked out of the mansion with her back towards a grinning Khivar.
~~~
“What do you mean Tess?” exclaimed Isabel, who was not only in shock, but dismay. “There is no connection between Max and Tess. That was over the day she killed Alex and covered her tracks.”
Michael took a deep breath before attempting to explain his theory to Isabel. “Look Isabel, just let me say this before you start freaking out. Okay?” Michael watched Isabel bite back a reply as she sat down. She tilted her head and smiled politely. “Go ahead Michael. I’m listening.”
He didn’t know where to begin, so Michael started with them. “Look, we’ve never talked about this, but when you were almost at death’s door, and we all thought you might die.” He paused for a moment. “Well, it was a surprise to all of us when you were healed by me. I mean, I didn’t think that I could ever do anything but kill.” Michael sat down on a nearby rock. Isabel’s face had softened. “And when I healed you somehow, I don’t know, it was like a wake up call. I mean, I’ve never been able to connect with that kind of power before. You know the good kind.”
Isabel nodded. “I know Michael, but…”
Michael shook his head. “Just listen please.” Isabel licked her lips and motioned for him to go on. “I don’t think it was just a coincidence that I was able to heal you Isabel. I believe it was because we were meant to be.” As the last of his words trickled out, Isabel tensed again and her eyes clouded. She opened her mouth to say something, but Michael interrupted. “No. I don’t mean that. I mean genetically. Maybe it had to do with being life partners, soul mates in our past. Maybe it might have something to do with our alien biology, but Max couldn’t heal you and I could.”
Michael exhaled and looked up at the stars. “Do you know how many times I’ve wondered about us? About our lives back on Antar?” he asked thoughtfully. “I think we’re missing a lot about ourselves and we don’t even know it. I know we’ve chosen to live our lives here. Fine. But I can’t help but think about what part of ourselves we’ve thrown away.”
Isabel stood up and walked over to him. Michael looked up at Isabel as she stood in front of him. “Michael, what does this have to do with Max and Tess? What does this have to do with saving Max?”
Michael reached out and took her hands in his. “As much as we deny it Isabel, we need each other. And so does Max and Tess.” Isabel began to protest, but Michael interrupted her once more with his words. “I don’t mean, well, I don’t mean together,” mumbled Michael. Although, Michael knew he said those exact words for her. He stood up and walked over to the cave entrance. “Just as I healed you. Max needs Tess to heal him.”
The sun had set and Isabel remained in front of the rock he’d just left, eerily quiet. Michael’s gaze fell upon a tossing Max. He felt ill just looking at the once formidable friend. A shell of what he once had been. Finally Michael tore his gaze from the depressing scene and looked back at Isabel. She was staring out at the darkening night sky.
Michael made his way toward her, finding a place beside her on the cliff peak. “What are you thinking?” he asked worriedly. Michael prayed that he’d made sense, made Isabel understand.
Isabel tilted her head and looked at Michael. The moon was making its entrance onto the dark blue curtain above and the first star appeared in the night sky. She swallowed and bit her lip. “I know what you’re saying Michael. And maybe you’re right. Maybe there’s more connecting each of us together than just our past lives.” Isabel sighed as she ran her fingers through her reddish hair. “But I still don’t see how we can even consider the possibility of bringing her here. We don’t even have the capability to do that with the Granolith gone. I don’t know why we’re even thinking about it at all.”
Michael grasped her hands and turned her body parallel to his. Looking straight into her eyes, Michael felt a confidence he hadn’t before. “I know Isabel. But from what you’ve said, we don’t need to figure out a way to bring her here. We just need to send her a message to get her to come here.”
Isabel pulled away. “Michael, what makes you think she even cares?”
Michael grabbed her left arm and stopped her from walking away. “Because she loves Max. That’s the one sure thing we can count on. Tess loved Max. She was the only one who truly understood what we were here for. Why we are the way we are. She didn’t walk away from who and what we were. Tess didn’t hide.”
The words tasted bitter in Michael’s mouth. He hated saying these good things about the woman who’d killed Alex, but they were the truth. And Michael wouldn’t paint her to be either good or evil. He’d seen people do that way too often, to himself and to what they didn’t know.
Isabel looked at him in confusion. “I don’t know where this is coming from Michael, but I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Are you the same man who stood with me as we all decided her fate, only to have Max decide to send her back to Antar? She was the person she was supposed to be? We were cop outs?” exclaimed Isabel. “It’s like I don’t know you Michael.”
He swallowed as Isabel seemed to look right through him. “I know I sound like some kind of traitor or something, but I’m not excusing any of it. But would all this have happened if we’d been with Nasedo? Would we be in this mess if we hadn’t broken out of our pods earlier than Tess? Would we have fallen in love with humans rather than each other?”
The last question seemed to stop time for a moment. Michael studied Isabel as she remained speechless. It seemed like an eternity before either one of them moved or spoke. Finally Michael broke the silence. “We need Tess. If I wasn’t sure of it before, I’m sure of it now,” he said quietly. Isabel continued to study Michael. “I don’t like it Isabel. If I could, I would find a cure for Maxwell without having to bring her back. Without having to hurt you.”
Isabel looked into the walked into the cave, into the Granolith chamber. As Michael followed her, he couldn’t help feel a bit relieved. He’d wanted to say that for a long time now, as vague as it was said, Michael felt Isabel had an inkling of what he felt for her. “Well, what are you proposing then?” Isabel pouted.
“Well, it seems we can contact her by linking our thoughts. I think it’s time you do some of the talking, and contact her. We can’t just wait for her to contact us,” Michael explained. “We need to find out exactly how to help Max and how to get her here.”
Isabel nodded quietly. “Fine,” she agreed, looking up at Michael. “But we have to tell Liz and Maria. I don’t want them in the dark about this.”
Michael nodded. “Yeah. They have to know Tess is coming back.”
~~~
Isabel was dealing with a continuum of emotions. She didn’t know exactly what to think or to say anymore. The thought of Tess coming back seemed surreal. She didn’t even know that she could contact her, as Michael seemed confident they should. And on top of everything, Isabel couldn’t help but wonder what to do about Jesse.
He was coming back in 3 days and she didn’t know his frame of mind, concerning Maxwell and his sickness. Isabel certainly knew that he wouldn’t like the fact that she was using her powers, but she thought it might be more understandable since Max was at death’s door. Looking up from Max, Isabel studied Michael who again was leaning against the cave entrance. She didn’t know what to make of the things that were said tonight. Isabel had always felt close to him, and she knew he didn’t get a long with Jesse, not since the fish hit the ceiling.
Michael had a lot on his mind and Isabel wasn’t sure she should tell him that Jesse was coming back. She wasn’t sure he’d like the prospect that Jesse was going to help. At least that’s what he’d implied on the phone last night. In a way, Isabel couldn’t deny the fact that life was simpler when she didn’t have to worry about what Maria, Liz, or Jesse would think. But a part of her knew that she wouldn’t be the woman she was without them. They taught her to open up. They taught her that she could trust.
Isabel sat down beside Max, ready to hunker down for the night, but Michael scrambled from the cave entrance to the Granolith chamber. “Isabel!” he cried. “There’s people out there.” Isabel’s eyes widened. Who could possibly be out in the desert at this time of night?
“It could be some of the high school crowd fooling around,” Isabel offered nervously. Michael shook his head. “Only if the kids at school found a large search light and are combing the desert, like they were tracking something.”
She bit her lip and wiped Max’s warm brow with a cool cloth. “I don’t know then Michael. Who would be looking for something in the desert at this time of night?”
Michael walked over to the cliff’s peak for a moment and then came back in. “I don’t know, but they’re making their way to the cave. We need to get them away from here, before they find us. I don’t know if they’re looking for us or Max, but we can’t take that chance.”
Isabel nodded. “I can try to mind warp them? I’ve never done it, and it was always Tess’ gift…” She felt uneasy about the situation. It was like something bad was about to happen, but there was nothing they could do about it.
Michael peeked out the entrance again. “Their lights are making there way towards the cave. Can you make it seem like there’s no entrance here? It would probably be the simplest solution I can think of for now. “
Isabel nodded. “I can try.” She closed her eyes and formed an image of the entranceway. Isabel formed a barrier in front of the entrance, merging the slab with the rest of the cave walls. She could feel a wave of energy pulsing within her. Voices rang in the back of her mind, almost making her falter and drop the illusion. Isabel frowned and concentrated harder. She knew the people who were out there, had made their way up to the cliff’s entrance. The voices became louder, but that made Isabel focus even more. All she could see was a dusty cavernous wall in front of her. It seemed to overwhelm her.
Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder, which snapped her out of the trance-like state. “Isabel?” Michael whispered. Isabel gasped loudly with a sharp intake of air. She felt herself lean back, but Michael supported her from behind. “Are you okay?”
Isabel smiled briefly, holding her head. “Yeah,” she said breathily. “I’ll be fine. Just a little wiped.”
Michael looked at her unconvinced. “Are you sure?” he said worriedly.
Isabel patted him on his knee. “Yeah.” She plastered a wide smile on her face. Isabel felt nauseous. Leaning back against Michael, Isabel closed her eyes for a moment, letting a wave of light-headedness pass over her. Finally regaining her composure, Isabel sat up slowly and turned to Michael. “Did they suspect anything? Did they find the entrance?”
Michael shook his head. “No,” he smiled. “You did a great job.” Isabel smiled at the compliment and chuckled. “Of course. What did you expect?”
Michael laughed and shook his head. Isabel leaned back against him once more, a sudden bout of dizziness over taking her. She felt comforted by the warmth of his body and the strength of his arms. Isabel closed her eyes as she felt a Michael place a butterfly kiss upon the top of her head.
She did a great job.
The Queen of Torture
Well another chapter and another update to read! I hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I am writing it for you!
***
Chapter Fourteen
***
Reason has taught him nothing –
All that he knows has been given to him,
Revealed to him by the heart.
- Leo Tolstoy
***
Isabel sat down in the hard jagged surface of rock and minerals. Taking deep breaths, she readied herself to attempt to make contact with Tess. In the back of her mind, Isabel doubted she could do it, but knew that she had to try. At this point, it was the only thing that the two could think of, that would possibly save Maxwell.
Darkness surrounded her, as she closed her eyes. Isabel felt like she was drifting aimlessly in nothingness. Suddenly a blur of images flashed before her. It sent a shock to her system, and Isabel gasped in response. Then suddenly nothing but darkness was before her.
“Isabel,” Michael’s voice echoed in the darkness. “Maybe if you think of Tess specifically, instead of trying to reach out to her.” The suggestion made sense. Isabel nodded slowly and swallowed hard.
Another blur of images appeared before her, but this time it was tinged with blue. Isabel slowly figured out a way to slow down the images that flashed before her. She exhaled loudly, after realizing that she had been holding her breath. As the pictures slowed, Isabel could see a bright light appearing before her. Bringing her arm above her eyes, Isabel shielded herself from the glare of the hovering figure. “Tess?” she called.
The figure’s bright rays intensified as it heard the name called. Isabel didn’t know what to do. “I know it’s you. Max needs you. We think that you can heal him.”
The figure floated towards Isabel. It spoke slowly and surely. “Do not try to contact me again. I will help Maxwell, but do not try to contact Tess.”
Isabel awakened from the meeting and felt drained. “I told her,” whispered Isabel to Michael. “I don’t know if that was really Tess, but I think it was.”
Michael studied her, and smiled warmly. “Did she say anything?”
Isabel nodded. “She said she didn’t want me to contact her again and that she would help. Whatever that means!”
~~~
As Liz and Maria made their way towards the top of the ridge, the pair both couldn’t help but wonder what was being done for Max. All that they seemed to be doing was sitting around, waiting for something worse to come over him. They entered the darkened cave, into the smooth white chamber, hidden behind one of the dark caves, a stark contrast to the earthen matter that surrounded it. Liz knew something was up, as her eyes fell upon Michael and Isabel.
Isabel was propped up against the white wall, and Michael was hovering over her. “Is something up guys?” Liz asked curiously.
Both Isabel and Michael seemed startled at the presence of the two girls. “Liz!” Michael smiled uncomfortably. “Uh, no. Nothing’s up.”
Liz noticed a look pass between the two alien hybrids. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but they were going to tell her. Now. Just as Liz was about to demand an explanation, Isabel broke in. “Liz, Maria, there’s something we need to tell you.”
Maria peered over at Liz and whispered in her ear. “It must be something bad. I can tell by the look on Michael’s face, it’s something he doesn’t want to let us know.”
Liz walked over and found a place to sit down beside the two. She had a quick glance at a still Max, who seemed to be in some sort of coma. Liz prayed that they had found something to help him.
Maria anxiously followed Liz and made her way beside her best friend. “So what’s up guys?” Maria chirped.
Isabel and Michael again, looked at each other. Finally Isabel took a deep breath and said, “I don’t want you guys to get upset, but we think we’ve found a way to heal Max. We’ve been working on a theory about how to help him.”
Liz grinned and clapped her hands together. “Guys! That’s great news! I mean, amazing!” She stood up and started pacing in the small chamber. “You had me and Maria worried. I thought it might be bad news or something.”
She’d never been so relieved in her life. Maxwell would be safe. He would be hers again.
“Uh,” sighed Michael. “That’s not all of it.”
Liz looked down at both Isabel and Michael. They both seemed quite wary. “Well, what is it? It can’t be that bad!”
Maria tugged on Liz’s jeans and motioned with her eyes to sit down. “Well, spit it out,” Maria groaned. “Are we going to have to break into a highly secure building or something?”
Isabel swallowed. “We think that Tess is the key.”
Liz closed her eyes and shook her head. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “No. No!” Liz repeated out loud to herself.
“It’s like when Isabel was injured. And I healed her,” stated Michael. “If there was any…”
Maria interrupted. “That was a fluke! We don’t know why you were able to heal Isabel.” The blonde glared at Michael. “Like you said, it’s just a theory! Right?”
The two traitors seemed speechless. Liz couldn’t believe they could betray Alex in this way. “I don’t get it. What does you saving Isabel have to do with Tess saving Max?” Her mind was whirling and she didn’t know how to make it stop.
Michael pushed himself back and rested against the white wall, beside Isabel. “We think that this has to do with us being mates. That since we were genetically created to be each other’s partners, there is some connection between us. This connection allows us to share a bond that connects us on another level. And because of this, our powers somehow are enhanced when one of us is sick or dying. I don’t know how, but I was able to heal Isabel. A power I never had before.”
Suddenly Maria stood up and screamed. “You’ve got to be kidding?” Liz watched as Maria walked towards the entrance to the Granolith chamber. “This doesn’t make sense. Just because you are aliens and some wacko parents put you in a test tube pod, doesn’t mean you are connected in some interstellar way. What proof do you have that because you two were genetically made and, a lifetime ago engaged, that you heal each other. Maybe Isabel just happened to get healed by you, because that power decided to manifest itself then?”
Liz didn’t know what to make of it. As she studied Michael and Isabel, Liz knew that they truly believed that this was the case of the matter, that this was the only way to help Max. She felt torn. Liz knew that if she ever saw Tess again, she would tear her from limb to limb, a pleasure Max had denied the witch.
Michael sighed loudly. “Look, I know it doesn’t make sense in human terms, but we’re not human.”
With that statement, Maria stopped in her tracks and folded her arms against her chest. “And?” continued Maria. “What are we supposed to say to that?”
The fight wasn’t even about the return of Tess. Liz knew that Maria felt threatened by Isabel. Always in the back of their minds, Liz and Maria knew that Isabel and Tess had been created with the sole intention of being Michael and Max’s wives. They knew that their mission was to return to Antar. And Maxwell would have, if she hadn’t discovered Tess’s secret. He would have returned with Tess, if Liz believed in the party line, that Alex’s death was an accident.
“Look,” Isabel said calmly, running her hand through her hair. “I know it’s hard to believe, and that if there was any other possible way to save Max, we’d find it. But we don’t know what else to do. We haven’t had any leads on a possible cure, or even what’s wrong with him. We just know from what the figure told me.”
Liz frowned. “What figure?”
“Uh, did we forget to mention that?” asked Michael grimly.
Maria cocked her eyebrow and pursed her lips. “Uh, yeah.”
Isabel went on to explain the dreamscape encounters and the possibility that this figure was Tess. “Well, then, what more can you say?” Maria growled. “Obviously Tess is lying to you. She’s just trying to get back to earth and make nice with you guys.”
Michael shook his head. “I would agree with you except that she wasn’t the one who told us about needing her to heal Max.”
Liz bit her bottom lip. “Well, maybe this shiny figure isn’t even Tess. What if it’s Khivar or one of his plans to get rid of Max. We know that that is his plan.”
Isabel sighed. “I don’t think so. I mean, she felt familiar. The images I get seem to verify that she is Tess.”
Maria sat down, with one knee up against her chest. “But you don’t know for sure? Right? Besides, even if it is Tess, she could be working with Khivar. Oh, let me restate that. She could still be working with Khivar.”
Liz hated this. She felt like she was being torn in two directions. On the one hand, Liz wanted to believe that this was another trick that Tess was plotting, but then on the other hand, part of her knew that this might be the only possibility of saving Max. “Is there anyway of knowing for sure what her motives are?”
Isabel and Michael looked at each other and both shook their heads. Liz swallowed. Then looking over at Max, Liz closed her eyes and prayed that she was making the right decision. “All right. Do whatever you have to do, I’ll go along with it. I’ll do whatever I can to help you with Tess.”
Maria’s jaw dropped. “Liz, you don’t mean it. You can’t allow them to do this.”
Michael and Isabel looked at her strangely. “We don’t need either of your permission to do this,” Isabel stated as she looked over at Max. She reached out and caressed his forehead. “Michael and I will do anything to save Max. Whether either of you like it or not.”
Liz studied Isabel. She knew the both of them were under a lot of stress, but to talk like she or Maria wouldn’t do the same? “Isabel, we’re on the same team right?” asked Liz pointedly. “Maria and I are just being cautious about the possible consequences of bringing Tess back. You have to think about this. You can’t just trust that Tess is being honest to you, all of the sudden.”
Isabel sighed. “Look, I’m sorry. I just feel like this is our only hope. It’s the first lead we’ve had since I’ve gotten here. I don’t want to throw it away, just because I hate Tess and everything she’s done to us.”
Liz and Isabel locked eyes. Both knew what they’d lost when Alex died. Liz shook her head. “I know.”
Isabel licked her lips. “Look, I’ve talked this out with Michael and we think this is the best option.”
Liz peered over at Maria. From the sour look on Maria’s face, Liz knew she hated it. Liz leaned over and whispered into her ear. “We all know that Tess is a witch, and we hate her for it, but maybe we can at least use her for one good thing.” Liz motioned looked over at Max and Maria’s gaze followed.
Maria stood up, and the other three followed suit. She stared at them intensely. “Fine. I’ll go along with this, but let me tell you something. If she even so much blinks in my direction. I will give her exactly what she deserves.” Maria paused a moment, wiping a tear that was forming in the corner of her eye. “She killed Alex and no matter how many people she saves, I will never forget that.”
Liz watched Maria stalk out of the chamber. She looked at Michael and Isabel who seemed unshaken by what Maria said. “She’s right you know,” Liz said softly. “We don’t even know if this will work. If you need a partner, why not use me? I’ve started to control the powers that I’ve gained Michael.”
Michael swallowed hard. “I’m sorry Liz. I just don’t think it would work. We don’t even know if they are temporary, or some manifestation of some genetic fluke. Besides, it could make Maxwell worse.”
Liz nodded, though she disagreed. If they were talking about someone who was destined to be with Max, it was her. Liz fought the temptation to state her case. Michael and Isabel had already made up their minds. She smiled half-heartedly and pointed to the entrance. “I’d better go see if Maria’s all right.”
As Liz left, she began figuring out, just how she could gain enough control of her powers. Liz was going to heal Max. She was sure that that was the reason for the manifestation of her powers. She’d only begin seeing a definite change in her after their night in Las Vegas. Liz was Max’s soul mate. She was.
~~~
Max had been in different transitioning states since his illness left him an invalid. He’d found everything blurring together, much to the point that Max didn’t know sometimes whether something was actually happening or if it was a dream. Since Isabel’s visit, Max’s reality had been much of that dreamscape. He hadn’t been able to wake from the unconscious reality, and the sickness or disease seemed to have left him almost paralyzed. But now, in the dreamscape, Maxwell was able to move around, in full use of his appendages.
There were times of nothingness, fading into several different landscapes. Sometimes it would be a warm almost vermilion landscape, with a red sea and jagged cliffs. Other times, Max would find himself in a place, very much like earth, with rolling green hills and a blue sky that went on forever. Each place seemed foreign to Max, but yet, familiar. He couldn’t quite pin it down.
In the beginning when he’d just found this type of dreamscape reality, Max saw it change at will. Most of the time, he’d be in darkness, but there were moments. Several times, he’d had a shimmering figure visit him. In those moments, Max seemed to find himself thinking more clearly than he’d been in what seemed like forever, but those visits had become infrequent and left him wanting for that bright light. His only true lucid moments happened when she arrived. But each time she appeared he felt himself strengthened by her presence.
But lately, Max found himself observing scenes, like that of a movie or a play. He could never make out the figures but knew that he knew them. Then one day or night, Max couldn’t tell what it was, something changed. He’d been sitting in darkness again, when the scenery changed to rolling hills and shore near the ocean. It was a familiar scene by now, nothing that surprised Max. Until suddenly, he realized he stood right beside an older version of himself. A blonde haired woman came running towards them. It was Tess. She had longer hair, but it was definitely Tess.
“Zan! I have been looking all over for you!” she laughed, kissing him on the lips.
Max laughed, rubbing his beard. “But you found me Ava, like I knew you would.”
Max watched as the two ran down the grassy knoll, and made their way down a sandy hill. Zan led Ava down the sand bluff. Zan lifted her down a steep incline, when he lost his footing and both went tumbling down the hill. Max moved closer and looked down the bluff. Tess was laughing hard and crawled over to a serious Zan. Both laughed and joyously kissed.
The scene faded and Max was left to ponder that moment, whether it was a lost memory or just a dream. The blackness then revealed a red horizon. It was a large desert landscape, with several large rocks jutting out of the sand. It looked hot, though Max couldn’t feel the temperature. There were swirls of dust rising out of the flat ground that seemed to pass through him, or not affect him. It was a strange feeling of non-existence in this plane.
Unexpectedly the landscape changed. It became bright, with a brilliant blue sky, a beach that went on miles. Rolling green bluffs that he’d just seen with rocks scattered few and in between. Max stood on the sand surveying the familiar, but modified landscape. As he turned around to look at the rolling hills, the shimmering figure appeared at the top of the bluff. Suddenly the shimmering light that draped the figure turned into a flowing white robe. Where there was no face, but a bright light, human features formed and revealed a fair woman’s face. Tess.
***
Chapter Fourteen
***
Reason has taught him nothing –
All that he knows has been given to him,
Revealed to him by the heart.
- Leo Tolstoy
***
Isabel sat down in the hard jagged surface of rock and minerals. Taking deep breaths, she readied herself to attempt to make contact with Tess. In the back of her mind, Isabel doubted she could do it, but knew that she had to try. At this point, it was the only thing that the two could think of, that would possibly save Maxwell.
Darkness surrounded her, as she closed her eyes. Isabel felt like she was drifting aimlessly in nothingness. Suddenly a blur of images flashed before her. It sent a shock to her system, and Isabel gasped in response. Then suddenly nothing but darkness was before her.
“Isabel,” Michael’s voice echoed in the darkness. “Maybe if you think of Tess specifically, instead of trying to reach out to her.” The suggestion made sense. Isabel nodded slowly and swallowed hard.
Another blur of images appeared before her, but this time it was tinged with blue. Isabel slowly figured out a way to slow down the images that flashed before her. She exhaled loudly, after realizing that she had been holding her breath. As the pictures slowed, Isabel could see a bright light appearing before her. Bringing her arm above her eyes, Isabel shielded herself from the glare of the hovering figure. “Tess?” she called.
The figure’s bright rays intensified as it heard the name called. Isabel didn’t know what to do. “I know it’s you. Max needs you. We think that you can heal him.”
The figure floated towards Isabel. It spoke slowly and surely. “Do not try to contact me again. I will help Maxwell, but do not try to contact Tess.”
Isabel awakened from the meeting and felt drained. “I told her,” whispered Isabel to Michael. “I don’t know if that was really Tess, but I think it was.”
Michael studied her, and smiled warmly. “Did she say anything?”
Isabel nodded. “She said she didn’t want me to contact her again and that she would help. Whatever that means!”
~~~
As Liz and Maria made their way towards the top of the ridge, the pair both couldn’t help but wonder what was being done for Max. All that they seemed to be doing was sitting around, waiting for something worse to come over him. They entered the darkened cave, into the smooth white chamber, hidden behind one of the dark caves, a stark contrast to the earthen matter that surrounded it. Liz knew something was up, as her eyes fell upon Michael and Isabel.
Isabel was propped up against the white wall, and Michael was hovering over her. “Is something up guys?” Liz asked curiously.
Both Isabel and Michael seemed startled at the presence of the two girls. “Liz!” Michael smiled uncomfortably. “Uh, no. Nothing’s up.”
Liz noticed a look pass between the two alien hybrids. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but they were going to tell her. Now. Just as Liz was about to demand an explanation, Isabel broke in. “Liz, Maria, there’s something we need to tell you.”
Maria peered over at Liz and whispered in her ear. “It must be something bad. I can tell by the look on Michael’s face, it’s something he doesn’t want to let us know.”
Liz walked over and found a place to sit down beside the two. She had a quick glance at a still Max, who seemed to be in some sort of coma. Liz prayed that they had found something to help him.
Maria anxiously followed Liz and made her way beside her best friend. “So what’s up guys?” Maria chirped.
Isabel and Michael again, looked at each other. Finally Isabel took a deep breath and said, “I don’t want you guys to get upset, but we think we’ve found a way to heal Max. We’ve been working on a theory about how to help him.”
Liz grinned and clapped her hands together. “Guys! That’s great news! I mean, amazing!” She stood up and started pacing in the small chamber. “You had me and Maria worried. I thought it might be bad news or something.”
She’d never been so relieved in her life. Maxwell would be safe. He would be hers again.
“Uh,” sighed Michael. “That’s not all of it.”
Liz looked down at both Isabel and Michael. They both seemed quite wary. “Well, what is it? It can’t be that bad!”
Maria tugged on Liz’s jeans and motioned with her eyes to sit down. “Well, spit it out,” Maria groaned. “Are we going to have to break into a highly secure building or something?”
Isabel swallowed. “We think that Tess is the key.”
Liz closed her eyes and shook her head. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “No. No!” Liz repeated out loud to herself.
“It’s like when Isabel was injured. And I healed her,” stated Michael. “If there was any…”
Maria interrupted. “That was a fluke! We don’t know why you were able to heal Isabel.” The blonde glared at Michael. “Like you said, it’s just a theory! Right?”
The two traitors seemed speechless. Liz couldn’t believe they could betray Alex in this way. “I don’t get it. What does you saving Isabel have to do with Tess saving Max?” Her mind was whirling and she didn’t know how to make it stop.
Michael pushed himself back and rested against the white wall, beside Isabel. “We think that this has to do with us being mates. That since we were genetically created to be each other’s partners, there is some connection between us. This connection allows us to share a bond that connects us on another level. And because of this, our powers somehow are enhanced when one of us is sick or dying. I don’t know how, but I was able to heal Isabel. A power I never had before.”
Suddenly Maria stood up and screamed. “You’ve got to be kidding?” Liz watched as Maria walked towards the entrance to the Granolith chamber. “This doesn’t make sense. Just because you are aliens and some wacko parents put you in a test tube pod, doesn’t mean you are connected in some interstellar way. What proof do you have that because you two were genetically made and, a lifetime ago engaged, that you heal each other. Maybe Isabel just happened to get healed by you, because that power decided to manifest itself then?”
Liz didn’t know what to make of it. As she studied Michael and Isabel, Liz knew that they truly believed that this was the case of the matter, that this was the only way to help Max. She felt torn. Liz knew that if she ever saw Tess again, she would tear her from limb to limb, a pleasure Max had denied the witch.
Michael sighed loudly. “Look, I know it doesn’t make sense in human terms, but we’re not human.”
With that statement, Maria stopped in her tracks and folded her arms against her chest. “And?” continued Maria. “What are we supposed to say to that?”
The fight wasn’t even about the return of Tess. Liz knew that Maria felt threatened by Isabel. Always in the back of their minds, Liz and Maria knew that Isabel and Tess had been created with the sole intention of being Michael and Max’s wives. They knew that their mission was to return to Antar. And Maxwell would have, if she hadn’t discovered Tess’s secret. He would have returned with Tess, if Liz believed in the party line, that Alex’s death was an accident.
“Look,” Isabel said calmly, running her hand through her hair. “I know it’s hard to believe, and that if there was any other possible way to save Max, we’d find it. But we don’t know what else to do. We haven’t had any leads on a possible cure, or even what’s wrong with him. We just know from what the figure told me.”
Liz frowned. “What figure?”
“Uh, did we forget to mention that?” asked Michael grimly.
Maria cocked her eyebrow and pursed her lips. “Uh, yeah.”
Isabel went on to explain the dreamscape encounters and the possibility that this figure was Tess. “Well, then, what more can you say?” Maria growled. “Obviously Tess is lying to you. She’s just trying to get back to earth and make nice with you guys.”
Michael shook his head. “I would agree with you except that she wasn’t the one who told us about needing her to heal Max.”
Liz bit her bottom lip. “Well, maybe this shiny figure isn’t even Tess. What if it’s Khivar or one of his plans to get rid of Max. We know that that is his plan.”
Isabel sighed. “I don’t think so. I mean, she felt familiar. The images I get seem to verify that she is Tess.”
Maria sat down, with one knee up against her chest. “But you don’t know for sure? Right? Besides, even if it is Tess, she could be working with Khivar. Oh, let me restate that. She could still be working with Khivar.”
Liz hated this. She felt like she was being torn in two directions. On the one hand, Liz wanted to believe that this was another trick that Tess was plotting, but then on the other hand, part of her knew that this might be the only possibility of saving Max. “Is there anyway of knowing for sure what her motives are?”
Isabel and Michael looked at each other and both shook their heads. Liz swallowed. Then looking over at Max, Liz closed her eyes and prayed that she was making the right decision. “All right. Do whatever you have to do, I’ll go along with it. I’ll do whatever I can to help you with Tess.”
Maria’s jaw dropped. “Liz, you don’t mean it. You can’t allow them to do this.”
Michael and Isabel looked at her strangely. “We don’t need either of your permission to do this,” Isabel stated as she looked over at Max. She reached out and caressed his forehead. “Michael and I will do anything to save Max. Whether either of you like it or not.”
Liz studied Isabel. She knew the both of them were under a lot of stress, but to talk like she or Maria wouldn’t do the same? “Isabel, we’re on the same team right?” asked Liz pointedly. “Maria and I are just being cautious about the possible consequences of bringing Tess back. You have to think about this. You can’t just trust that Tess is being honest to you, all of the sudden.”
Isabel sighed. “Look, I’m sorry. I just feel like this is our only hope. It’s the first lead we’ve had since I’ve gotten here. I don’t want to throw it away, just because I hate Tess and everything she’s done to us.”
Liz and Isabel locked eyes. Both knew what they’d lost when Alex died. Liz shook her head. “I know.”
Isabel licked her lips. “Look, I’ve talked this out with Michael and we think this is the best option.”
Liz peered over at Maria. From the sour look on Maria’s face, Liz knew she hated it. Liz leaned over and whispered into her ear. “We all know that Tess is a witch, and we hate her for it, but maybe we can at least use her for one good thing.” Liz motioned looked over at Max and Maria’s gaze followed.
Maria stood up, and the other three followed suit. She stared at them intensely. “Fine. I’ll go along with this, but let me tell you something. If she even so much blinks in my direction. I will give her exactly what she deserves.” Maria paused a moment, wiping a tear that was forming in the corner of her eye. “She killed Alex and no matter how many people she saves, I will never forget that.”
Liz watched Maria stalk out of the chamber. She looked at Michael and Isabel who seemed unshaken by what Maria said. “She’s right you know,” Liz said softly. “We don’t even know if this will work. If you need a partner, why not use me? I’ve started to control the powers that I’ve gained Michael.”
Michael swallowed hard. “I’m sorry Liz. I just don’t think it would work. We don’t even know if they are temporary, or some manifestation of some genetic fluke. Besides, it could make Maxwell worse.”
Liz nodded, though she disagreed. If they were talking about someone who was destined to be with Max, it was her. Liz fought the temptation to state her case. Michael and Isabel had already made up their minds. She smiled half-heartedly and pointed to the entrance. “I’d better go see if Maria’s all right.”
As Liz left, she began figuring out, just how she could gain enough control of her powers. Liz was going to heal Max. She was sure that that was the reason for the manifestation of her powers. She’d only begin seeing a definite change in her after their night in Las Vegas. Liz was Max’s soul mate. She was.
~~~
Max had been in different transitioning states since his illness left him an invalid. He’d found everything blurring together, much to the point that Max didn’t know sometimes whether something was actually happening or if it was a dream. Since Isabel’s visit, Max’s reality had been much of that dreamscape. He hadn’t been able to wake from the unconscious reality, and the sickness or disease seemed to have left him almost paralyzed. But now, in the dreamscape, Maxwell was able to move around, in full use of his appendages.
There were times of nothingness, fading into several different landscapes. Sometimes it would be a warm almost vermilion landscape, with a red sea and jagged cliffs. Other times, Max would find himself in a place, very much like earth, with rolling green hills and a blue sky that went on forever. Each place seemed foreign to Max, but yet, familiar. He couldn’t quite pin it down.
In the beginning when he’d just found this type of dreamscape reality, Max saw it change at will. Most of the time, he’d be in darkness, but there were moments. Several times, he’d had a shimmering figure visit him. In those moments, Max seemed to find himself thinking more clearly than he’d been in what seemed like forever, but those visits had become infrequent and left him wanting for that bright light. His only true lucid moments happened when she arrived. But each time she appeared he felt himself strengthened by her presence.
But lately, Max found himself observing scenes, like that of a movie or a play. He could never make out the figures but knew that he knew them. Then one day or night, Max couldn’t tell what it was, something changed. He’d been sitting in darkness again, when the scenery changed to rolling hills and shore near the ocean. It was a familiar scene by now, nothing that surprised Max. Until suddenly, he realized he stood right beside an older version of himself. A blonde haired woman came running towards them. It was Tess. She had longer hair, but it was definitely Tess.
“Zan! I have been looking all over for you!” she laughed, kissing him on the lips.
Max laughed, rubbing his beard. “But you found me Ava, like I knew you would.”
Max watched as the two ran down the grassy knoll, and made their way down a sandy hill. Zan led Ava down the sand bluff. Zan lifted her down a steep incline, when he lost his footing and both went tumbling down the hill. Max moved closer and looked down the bluff. Tess was laughing hard and crawled over to a serious Zan. Both laughed and joyously kissed.
The scene faded and Max was left to ponder that moment, whether it was a lost memory or just a dream. The blackness then revealed a red horizon. It was a large desert landscape, with several large rocks jutting out of the sand. It looked hot, though Max couldn’t feel the temperature. There were swirls of dust rising out of the flat ground that seemed to pass through him, or not affect him. It was a strange feeling of non-existence in this plane.
Unexpectedly the landscape changed. It became bright, with a brilliant blue sky, a beach that went on miles. Rolling green bluffs that he’d just seen with rocks scattered few and in between. Max stood on the sand surveying the familiar, but modified landscape. As he turned around to look at the rolling hills, the shimmering figure appeared at the top of the bluff. Suddenly the shimmering light that draped the figure turned into a flowing white robe. Where there was no face, but a bright light, human features formed and revealed a fair woman’s face. Tess.
The Queen of Torture
Chapter Fifteen
***
And I asked myself about the present:
how wide it was,
how deep it was,
how much was mine to keep.
- Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
***
Tess was wracking her brain all night over the proposition Khivar had made about giving her a home. Her plan had gone a bit awry once Khivar had shown up, interrupting her conversation with Nicholas. Now she feared that it was too late, and she’d fallen right into Khivar’s trap. Tess hadn’t really known that his true intentions were not toward her, but her son Zander.
Zander moved restlessly in his crib. As he slept, Tess could hear him suck on an imaginary bottle, like all children did. In the vehicle, Khivar talked as if this was a done deal. Tess would live at Tel Edrei, which was apparently the name of the house. She just had to figure a way out of this mess. Softly walking over to the crib, Tess lowered the side paneling of the crib so she could place a gentle kiss on her son’s smooth creamy forehead. He smelled of baby powder.
“I won’t leave you Zander. Mommy will find a way to get us out of here.”
~ * ~
The next morning Khivar entered the stark white room, littered with small toys. “So Ava, have you given it more thought? Are you ready to move out of this prison?” asked Khivar, confidently.
Tess adjusted Zander in her arms, rocking him softly. She ran her long slender fingers through the thin layer of chestnut hair that had grown over the past few weeks. Zander giggled as Tess pretended to bite his tiny fist. Swallowing hard, Tess revealed the decision she’d made regarding this whole situation. “Yes. I will move, but I will also visit my son everyday.”
A large self-satisfied grin sprawled upon his face. Khivar was pleased. “Of course my dear girl. You will have access to your son. He is your child.” He paused for a moment, seemingly pondering a whether to say another word, for fear she would change her mind. Khivar took a deep breath, smiled and clapped his hands together, as if some decision had been made. “I have decided to move Zander into my home.”
Tess felt like someone had kicked her in the stomach. An overwhelming sense of panic set in. She pulled Zander close to her as he began to fuss loudly. “What? This was not in the plan!” gritted Tess.
Khivar nodded his head and looked at her sympathetically. “I know Ava, but I was thinking this over last night, and I thought to myself, that Zander wouldn’t be safe in Nicholas’ care.”
Tess swallowed. “He is fine. If you thought so, why did you send us here in the first place?”
Khivar walked towards the balcony. “Yes, well, I didn’t have a problem because you were here to look after the child.” He sighed and motioned towards Tess. “But now you are leaving him and I don’t think that it would be safe for Zander to remain here with only the nurse and Nicholas. Besides, Zander will have plenty of people in the palace to keep him company. And I promise I’ll be sure to watch over him like a father.”
Calling himself a father-figure made Tess cringe. She knew he was up to something, but Tess never figured Khivar would enable himself to have full access to Zander. Now Tess knew that there was something specific he wanted with Zander, whether it was to hurt him or something more diabolical. “No. I’m sorry. If that’s the case then I have to decline the offer of the house. I can’t do that to him.”
She watched as his body stiffened. “Are you saying you don’t trust Uncle Khivar with Zander?” he drawled slowly, turning around and walking toward the mother and child.
Tess had to be careful of what she would say. Khivar seemed to have a certain eerie gleam in his eye. She shook her head hesitantly. “No, of course not!” Tess smiled casually.
Khivar rubbed his hands together and smiled, the gleam gone from his eye and focused on Zander. “Good, then you won’t mind if Zander comes to stay with his Uncle Khivar!” he laughed, speaking in a tone suitable to babies.
Tess reluctantly handed Zander over to the dark foreboding man. She cleared her throat, an idea quickly hatching in her mind. “Then I would like to pick a nurse for Zander myself,” Tess stated loudly, watching Khivar make faces at her wide-eyed son. “Just so I can sleep at night, knowing I can trust the woman who looks after my child with my life.”
Khivar kissed Zander on the cheek and then turned to Tess, as if he was just realizing she was talking to him. “What? Nurse?” He laughed. “No, that is not necessary. I’ve got round the clock care prepared for his arrival.”
Tess took a step forward. “I’m sorry. This is not a request,” declared Tess, slipping her hands around her son’s waist and removing him from the vile man’s grasp.
“Isn’t that right Zander,” cooed Tess, swinging her son up into the air as he giggled at the exhilarating ride.
Khivar nodded grimly. “Fine. You may have your nurse,” he growled. “But you only have until end of tomorrow to find her. After that, if you have not found a suitable nurse, mine will have to do.”
Tess stared at Khivar. “That’s fine. I don’t think I will have a problem. If you would please send out a message to the whole of Kel Abara, I’ll start interviewing nurses tomorrow.”
Khivar pursed his lips and nodded. “I will do just that, Ava.”
Tess rocked Zander in her arms and waited for the door to close behind Khivar before sinking into a nearby chair. She never believed in a Higher Power, but at this point, Tess was praying to God, or whoever was listening, that she would be able to find someone she could trust among a people who cowered under Khivar’s rule.
~~~
Isabel was plagued by dreams and visions all night. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of them, it was like an unending dream she couldn’t awake from. Finally when she forced herself awake, Isabel found herself, not in her bedroom.
As she surveyed the area in which she had awaken in, Isabel realized that she was somewhere in the middle of the desert. Rubbing her eyes and running her hands through her hair, Isabel looked around her and saw Max’s jeep a few feet away. She didn’t even remember getting up and driving out here. Isabel looked down at herself. She was fully clothed.
It was eerie.
Isabel looked around for landmarks but she didn’t find anything she recognized. There was an impression of tire marks that apparently the jeep had left. She could probably follow those until she came to a place she recognized and return home. Isabel made her way back to the jeep, but when she was only a few metres away, Isabel saw a flash of images playing over and over in her mind.
Stopping in her tracks, Isabel took a deep breath and regained her composure. They were just dreams. She continued to walk towards the jeep when it happened again. This time she remembered the images from her dreams.
A young boy was running and playing. His features were pale, although he had dark eyes and dark brown hair like Max’s. The boy was building a sand castle near the water, except this water was purple. He beckoned Isabel to join him. His eyes twinkled with laughter as she approached.
Suddenly a darkness began looming over him, in the form of a shadow. The boy’s face changed from that of innocence and joy to fear and despair. He was screaming as the shadow seemed to overtake him and envelop him. No sound came out of his mouth, but his eyes were pleading with her to help him. He reached out his arms as the shadow seemed to lift him from the sand and pull him away.
Isabel shook her head. “What was that?” she asked out loud. Finally when the visions seemed to pass, Isabel hopped back into the jeep. She hoped she wasn’t so far from home that her parents would realize she was missing. Isabel didn’t want this to be another burden on their minds.
As she was about to start the car, Isabel frowned. In the distance there was a strange glow coming from underneath a dark object. Isabel turned the key in the ignition and drove a short distance towards the glow. As she put the jeep in park, Isabel stood looking up at a large boulder. From underneath the boulder was the source of the glow. Isabel studied her surroundings speculated whether it would be safe enough for her to use her powers without anyone noticing.
The land was rugged, mostly flat terrain for miles, until it converged with small cliffs and rocks. Isabel swallowed. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and held out her hands, with her palms facing toward the exterior of the boulder. Isabel concentrated on the energy that was pulsing through her. Remembering what it was like when Whitaker had threatened both Tess and her life. She felt a burst of energy exert force, pushing her back.
Isabel took a deep breath, realizing she had been holding her breath since she arrived at this mysterious place. Opening her eyes, she also realized that the energy that she was exerting was not taking as much toll on her as it had the first time and that she was able to stand her ground, rather than be pushed back by the burst of energy. The boulder seemed unmoved and unchanged by the energy Isabel was pressing it with. Unexpectedly though, a small crack appeared on the surface in the middle of the rock. Isabel stopped. She was slightly tired, but not at all drained like she had been putting up that mirage at the cliffs. Isabel licked her lips as she walked towards the large boulder and fingered the five-inch crack she’d created.
Isabel frowned for a moment and then bent down to find a fair sized rock. After locating one, Isabel ran to the jeep, and pulled up a flap in the back of the vehicle. She picked up a tire iron and ran back to the boulder. With both the tire iron and rock in hand, Isabel shoved the iron into the crevice that she’d made and with a scientific amount of force, jammed the iron further into the boulder. Isabel stepped back a moment and looked at the boulder. Taking several large strides backward, Isabel hurled the rock at the boulder, precisely hitting the tire iron once more.
The boulder seemed to sit there for a moment, unmoved, but then there was a shifting and then a cracking sound. Finally the boulder crumbled into pieces. Isabel smiled to herself, admiring the handiwork she’d just done.
After a few minutes of digging through the rubble, Isabel located the source of the glowing. Isabel cautiously picked up the brown dusty metal object. It was made of a thick metal, but was light. Isabel took the sleeve of her shirt and wiped the dust away. In the center of the box was a circle, with a ring around it, the metal seemed to have been crafted by hand. Someone or thing had also embedded around the edge of the object writing. It seemed similar to the writing in the book that Tess had brought with her.
Isabel swallowed hard. She couldn’t believe that she’d found this. It was another link to their past, or maybe even to their future.
The sun had begun to rise, and Isabel’s eye was caught by the sparkle that decorated her finger. Involuntarily Isabel, then began to fiddle with her engagement ring, which she wore along with her wedding ring. Biting her lip, Isabel made her way to the jeep and followed her tracks until she made her way home. She hid the box under her mattress, and fell back into bed.
Isabel had a dreamless sleep the rest of that early morning.
~~~
Michael got off his shift at four that afternoon. He’d worked the evening shift the night before. As he entered his apartment, Michael was stunned to see Maria sitting on his couch watching television. He’d thought she’d be with Liz at the caves. “Maria? What are you doing here?” he asked.
Maria smiled widely and got up from the couch to greet Michael with a kiss. “I just thought we’d get to spend some time together alone,” she replied, slyly. She moved to kiss him on the lips, but Michael pushed her away gently.
“Aren’t you supposed to be with Liz?”
Maria pouted disappointedly. “Well if you don’t want me here Michael, you can just say so. You don’t have to pawn me off on the supposition of having to watch over a comatose Max.” Maria folded her arms across her chest and stalked over to the couch to grab her coat.
Michael shook his head. “That’s not it!” Michael denied. “I was just wondering.” As Maria was making her way to the door, he grabbed her arm and pulled her coat out of her hand. “Stay.”
Maria studied Michael’s face to see if he was sincere. She bit the corner of her lip and nodded. “Only if you want me to Michael,” Maria said slowly.
Michael swallowed. “Yeah,” he sighed. “Can you wait a couple of minutes, I want to get out of my uniform?” He motioned to the wrinkled slacks and cotton shirt.
Maria sat back down on the couch and nodded. “Yeah.”
After a few minutes, Michael walked out of his bedroom and made his way into the kitchen. “Can I get you anything?” he asked, peering over the refrigerator door.
Maria lifted her hand and in it was a bottle of Snapple. “I’m good.”
Michael reached in and grabbed a grape Snapple and kicked the door closed. Leaning on the kitchen counter he opened the bottle and took a swig of the sweet beverage. “So how are things going?”
Maria looked over at Michael. “You mean other than the stuff we’ve been worrying about for the past couple of weeks?” Maria deadpanned. “Oh, just dandy. How about you?”
Michael sighed and made his way over to the couch. “You want to talk about something Maria? It must be something specific for you to come over here.”
Maria pursed her lips and then sighed in frustration. “Michael,” Maria said sweetly. “Are you really going to go through with this Tess plan? Liz talked to me about her powers and how she suggested she try to heal Max, since Max was the one who healed her.”
Tilting his head up and closing his eyes, Michael sighed out loud. “No!” Michael cried. “It’s not going to work!”
Maria shook her head. “You’re just being stubborn. You and Isabel think that you have to save the day. Well let me tell you something buster, humans can do things too!” exclaimed Maria unhappily.
Michael rubbed his eyes, which were ready for sleep. “Maria, this has nothing to do with aliens and humans!” He paused a moment. “Well, sort of.”
Michael grabbed her shoulder and looked at her seriously. “We are not trying to be heroes! This is just something that only we can fix. It’s not like I fixed it so that you and Liz are feeling left out.” He felt for Liz and Maria. They had a hard time understanding why he and Isabel did not want Liz to touch Max. They hadn’t told the two girls that they thought Liz was the cause for the sickness.
Maria pulled away from Michael. “I don’t believe that. Isn’t it just so cozy that you and Isabel are the only ones who can figure out this mystery?”
He shook his head. Michael couldn’t believe where Maria was going with this. Sure he’d had problems with Liz , Maria, Alex, Kyle, Sheriff Valenti helping before, but that was a long time ago. And this wasn’t something involving the police or the FBI. This was Max fighting for his life. “What are you trying to say?” Michael growled.
“I’m saying that maybe you’re still into the idea that you were Max’s right hand guy and that maybe you want it to be about you, Isabel, Max and Tess!” accused Maria. “Maybe you want this illness to be an ‘alien’ thing. I think maybe you can use this to getting closer to Isabel! You don’t want me!”
Suddenly Maria put her hand over her mouth, like she’d said something she shouldn’t have. There was an awkward silence between them. Michael didn’t know what to say. It was the truth. He loved Isabel, not Maria. He’d been putting on this charade for too long. It was even evident to Maria that he had feelings for Isabel. “You’re right Maria,” Michael whispered.
Maria shook her head. “No Michael wait. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just I was so upset with you about the Tess thing. I don’t believe that you want that planned out life with Isabel. I know she’s married to Jesse. You guys chose to stay here.”
Michael got up from the couch and paced in the living room. “No, Maria! You’re right.” He wasn’t about to admit to loving Isabel, that was just hurting her needlessly, but Michael needed to tell her that this thing between them was over. “I think that I was right the first time. I think we should…”
Maria interrupted him. “Michael no. Things seem so up in the air right now. Let’s not make any rash decisions…”
He walked over to her and put his index finger on her lips. “It’s done Maria. We were done a while ago. I was just lying to the both of us.”
Maria’s eyes narrowed and she pulled away. “You’re just taking the easy way out Michael! A relationship is hard work and you’re just running scared at the first signs of trouble.”
Michael tried to comfort her, but she pulled away, grabbing her jacket and putting distance between them. “I love you Michael and you do love me. You’re just too scared to admit it,” sobbed Maria. “We have something special.”
His tears were caught in his throat. Michael couldn’t believe he was hurting her again. He always managed to hurt people. “Maria, I’m sorry.”
Maria shook her head. “Don’t be sorry Michael. Grow up and realize that you’re just a boy pretending to know what love is and what a real relationship is like. You can chase dreams and a past that already was, but let me tell you this Michael Guerrin, remember how that turned out the last time!”
With that, Michael watched Maria storm out of his apartment. He could hear her sobbing as she ran down the hallway.
~~~
The woman prayed that it arrived, explaining every a little about what they knew.
Continue or not to continue to post this here?
***
And I asked myself about the present:
how wide it was,
how deep it was,
how much was mine to keep.
- Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
***
Tess was wracking her brain all night over the proposition Khivar had made about giving her a home. Her plan had gone a bit awry once Khivar had shown up, interrupting her conversation with Nicholas. Now she feared that it was too late, and she’d fallen right into Khivar’s trap. Tess hadn’t really known that his true intentions were not toward her, but her son Zander.
Zander moved restlessly in his crib. As he slept, Tess could hear him suck on an imaginary bottle, like all children did. In the vehicle, Khivar talked as if this was a done deal. Tess would live at Tel Edrei, which was apparently the name of the house. She just had to figure a way out of this mess. Softly walking over to the crib, Tess lowered the side paneling of the crib so she could place a gentle kiss on her son’s smooth creamy forehead. He smelled of baby powder.
“I won’t leave you Zander. Mommy will find a way to get us out of here.”
~ * ~
The next morning Khivar entered the stark white room, littered with small toys. “So Ava, have you given it more thought? Are you ready to move out of this prison?” asked Khivar, confidently.
Tess adjusted Zander in her arms, rocking him softly. She ran her long slender fingers through the thin layer of chestnut hair that had grown over the past few weeks. Zander giggled as Tess pretended to bite his tiny fist. Swallowing hard, Tess revealed the decision she’d made regarding this whole situation. “Yes. I will move, but I will also visit my son everyday.”
A large self-satisfied grin sprawled upon his face. Khivar was pleased. “Of course my dear girl. You will have access to your son. He is your child.” He paused for a moment, seemingly pondering a whether to say another word, for fear she would change her mind. Khivar took a deep breath, smiled and clapped his hands together, as if some decision had been made. “I have decided to move Zander into my home.”
Tess felt like someone had kicked her in the stomach. An overwhelming sense of panic set in. She pulled Zander close to her as he began to fuss loudly. “What? This was not in the plan!” gritted Tess.
Khivar nodded his head and looked at her sympathetically. “I know Ava, but I was thinking this over last night, and I thought to myself, that Zander wouldn’t be safe in Nicholas’ care.”
Tess swallowed. “He is fine. If you thought so, why did you send us here in the first place?”
Khivar walked towards the balcony. “Yes, well, I didn’t have a problem because you were here to look after the child.” He sighed and motioned towards Tess. “But now you are leaving him and I don’t think that it would be safe for Zander to remain here with only the nurse and Nicholas. Besides, Zander will have plenty of people in the palace to keep him company. And I promise I’ll be sure to watch over him like a father.”
Calling himself a father-figure made Tess cringe. She knew he was up to something, but Tess never figured Khivar would enable himself to have full access to Zander. Now Tess knew that there was something specific he wanted with Zander, whether it was to hurt him or something more diabolical. “No. I’m sorry. If that’s the case then I have to decline the offer of the house. I can’t do that to him.”
She watched as his body stiffened. “Are you saying you don’t trust Uncle Khivar with Zander?” he drawled slowly, turning around and walking toward the mother and child.
Tess had to be careful of what she would say. Khivar seemed to have a certain eerie gleam in his eye. She shook her head hesitantly. “No, of course not!” Tess smiled casually.
Khivar rubbed his hands together and smiled, the gleam gone from his eye and focused on Zander. “Good, then you won’t mind if Zander comes to stay with his Uncle Khivar!” he laughed, speaking in a tone suitable to babies.
Tess reluctantly handed Zander over to the dark foreboding man. She cleared her throat, an idea quickly hatching in her mind. “Then I would like to pick a nurse for Zander myself,” Tess stated loudly, watching Khivar make faces at her wide-eyed son. “Just so I can sleep at night, knowing I can trust the woman who looks after my child with my life.”
Khivar kissed Zander on the cheek and then turned to Tess, as if he was just realizing she was talking to him. “What? Nurse?” He laughed. “No, that is not necessary. I’ve got round the clock care prepared for his arrival.”
Tess took a step forward. “I’m sorry. This is not a request,” declared Tess, slipping her hands around her son’s waist and removing him from the vile man’s grasp.
“Isn’t that right Zander,” cooed Tess, swinging her son up into the air as he giggled at the exhilarating ride.
Khivar nodded grimly. “Fine. You may have your nurse,” he growled. “But you only have until end of tomorrow to find her. After that, if you have not found a suitable nurse, mine will have to do.”
Tess stared at Khivar. “That’s fine. I don’t think I will have a problem. If you would please send out a message to the whole of Kel Abara, I’ll start interviewing nurses tomorrow.”
Khivar pursed his lips and nodded. “I will do just that, Ava.”
Tess rocked Zander in her arms and waited for the door to close behind Khivar before sinking into a nearby chair. She never believed in a Higher Power, but at this point, Tess was praying to God, or whoever was listening, that she would be able to find someone she could trust among a people who cowered under Khivar’s rule.
~~~
Isabel was plagued by dreams and visions all night. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of them, it was like an unending dream she couldn’t awake from. Finally when she forced herself awake, Isabel found herself, not in her bedroom.
As she surveyed the area in which she had awaken in, Isabel realized that she was somewhere in the middle of the desert. Rubbing her eyes and running her hands through her hair, Isabel looked around her and saw Max’s jeep a few feet away. She didn’t even remember getting up and driving out here. Isabel looked down at herself. She was fully clothed.
It was eerie.
Isabel looked around for landmarks but she didn’t find anything she recognized. There was an impression of tire marks that apparently the jeep had left. She could probably follow those until she came to a place she recognized and return home. Isabel made her way back to the jeep, but when she was only a few metres away, Isabel saw a flash of images playing over and over in her mind.
Stopping in her tracks, Isabel took a deep breath and regained her composure. They were just dreams. She continued to walk towards the jeep when it happened again. This time she remembered the images from her dreams.
A young boy was running and playing. His features were pale, although he had dark eyes and dark brown hair like Max’s. The boy was building a sand castle near the water, except this water was purple. He beckoned Isabel to join him. His eyes twinkled with laughter as she approached.
Suddenly a darkness began looming over him, in the form of a shadow. The boy’s face changed from that of innocence and joy to fear and despair. He was screaming as the shadow seemed to overtake him and envelop him. No sound came out of his mouth, but his eyes were pleading with her to help him. He reached out his arms as the shadow seemed to lift him from the sand and pull him away.
Isabel shook her head. “What was that?” she asked out loud. Finally when the visions seemed to pass, Isabel hopped back into the jeep. She hoped she wasn’t so far from home that her parents would realize she was missing. Isabel didn’t want this to be another burden on their minds.
As she was about to start the car, Isabel frowned. In the distance there was a strange glow coming from underneath a dark object. Isabel turned the key in the ignition and drove a short distance towards the glow. As she put the jeep in park, Isabel stood looking up at a large boulder. From underneath the boulder was the source of the glow. Isabel studied her surroundings speculated whether it would be safe enough for her to use her powers without anyone noticing.
The land was rugged, mostly flat terrain for miles, until it converged with small cliffs and rocks. Isabel swallowed. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and held out her hands, with her palms facing toward the exterior of the boulder. Isabel concentrated on the energy that was pulsing through her. Remembering what it was like when Whitaker had threatened both Tess and her life. She felt a burst of energy exert force, pushing her back.
Isabel took a deep breath, realizing she had been holding her breath since she arrived at this mysterious place. Opening her eyes, she also realized that the energy that she was exerting was not taking as much toll on her as it had the first time and that she was able to stand her ground, rather than be pushed back by the burst of energy. The boulder seemed unmoved and unchanged by the energy Isabel was pressing it with. Unexpectedly though, a small crack appeared on the surface in the middle of the rock. Isabel stopped. She was slightly tired, but not at all drained like she had been putting up that mirage at the cliffs. Isabel licked her lips as she walked towards the large boulder and fingered the five-inch crack she’d created.
Isabel frowned for a moment and then bent down to find a fair sized rock. After locating one, Isabel ran to the jeep, and pulled up a flap in the back of the vehicle. She picked up a tire iron and ran back to the boulder. With both the tire iron and rock in hand, Isabel shoved the iron into the crevice that she’d made and with a scientific amount of force, jammed the iron further into the boulder. Isabel stepped back a moment and looked at the boulder. Taking several large strides backward, Isabel hurled the rock at the boulder, precisely hitting the tire iron once more.
The boulder seemed to sit there for a moment, unmoved, but then there was a shifting and then a cracking sound. Finally the boulder crumbled into pieces. Isabel smiled to herself, admiring the handiwork she’d just done.
After a few minutes of digging through the rubble, Isabel located the source of the glowing. Isabel cautiously picked up the brown dusty metal object. It was made of a thick metal, but was light. Isabel took the sleeve of her shirt and wiped the dust away. In the center of the box was a circle, with a ring around it, the metal seemed to have been crafted by hand. Someone or thing had also embedded around the edge of the object writing. It seemed similar to the writing in the book that Tess had brought with her.
Isabel swallowed hard. She couldn’t believe that she’d found this. It was another link to their past, or maybe even to their future.
The sun had begun to rise, and Isabel’s eye was caught by the sparkle that decorated her finger. Involuntarily Isabel, then began to fiddle with her engagement ring, which she wore along with her wedding ring. Biting her lip, Isabel made her way to the jeep and followed her tracks until she made her way home. She hid the box under her mattress, and fell back into bed.
Isabel had a dreamless sleep the rest of that early morning.
~~~
Michael got off his shift at four that afternoon. He’d worked the evening shift the night before. As he entered his apartment, Michael was stunned to see Maria sitting on his couch watching television. He’d thought she’d be with Liz at the caves. “Maria? What are you doing here?” he asked.
Maria smiled widely and got up from the couch to greet Michael with a kiss. “I just thought we’d get to spend some time together alone,” she replied, slyly. She moved to kiss him on the lips, but Michael pushed her away gently.
“Aren’t you supposed to be with Liz?”
Maria pouted disappointedly. “Well if you don’t want me here Michael, you can just say so. You don’t have to pawn me off on the supposition of having to watch over a comatose Max.” Maria folded her arms across her chest and stalked over to the couch to grab her coat.
Michael shook his head. “That’s not it!” Michael denied. “I was just wondering.” As Maria was making her way to the door, he grabbed her arm and pulled her coat out of her hand. “Stay.”
Maria studied Michael’s face to see if he was sincere. She bit the corner of her lip and nodded. “Only if you want me to Michael,” Maria said slowly.
Michael swallowed. “Yeah,” he sighed. “Can you wait a couple of minutes, I want to get out of my uniform?” He motioned to the wrinkled slacks and cotton shirt.
Maria sat back down on the couch and nodded. “Yeah.”
After a few minutes, Michael walked out of his bedroom and made his way into the kitchen. “Can I get you anything?” he asked, peering over the refrigerator door.
Maria lifted her hand and in it was a bottle of Snapple. “I’m good.”
Michael reached in and grabbed a grape Snapple and kicked the door closed. Leaning on the kitchen counter he opened the bottle and took a swig of the sweet beverage. “So how are things going?”
Maria looked over at Michael. “You mean other than the stuff we’ve been worrying about for the past couple of weeks?” Maria deadpanned. “Oh, just dandy. How about you?”
Michael sighed and made his way over to the couch. “You want to talk about something Maria? It must be something specific for you to come over here.”
Maria pursed her lips and then sighed in frustration. “Michael,” Maria said sweetly. “Are you really going to go through with this Tess plan? Liz talked to me about her powers and how she suggested she try to heal Max, since Max was the one who healed her.”
Tilting his head up and closing his eyes, Michael sighed out loud. “No!” Michael cried. “It’s not going to work!”
Maria shook her head. “You’re just being stubborn. You and Isabel think that you have to save the day. Well let me tell you something buster, humans can do things too!” exclaimed Maria unhappily.
Michael rubbed his eyes, which were ready for sleep. “Maria, this has nothing to do with aliens and humans!” He paused a moment. “Well, sort of.”
Michael grabbed her shoulder and looked at her seriously. “We are not trying to be heroes! This is just something that only we can fix. It’s not like I fixed it so that you and Liz are feeling left out.” He felt for Liz and Maria. They had a hard time understanding why he and Isabel did not want Liz to touch Max. They hadn’t told the two girls that they thought Liz was the cause for the sickness.
Maria pulled away from Michael. “I don’t believe that. Isn’t it just so cozy that you and Isabel are the only ones who can figure out this mystery?”
He shook his head. Michael couldn’t believe where Maria was going with this. Sure he’d had problems with Liz , Maria, Alex, Kyle, Sheriff Valenti helping before, but that was a long time ago. And this wasn’t something involving the police or the FBI. This was Max fighting for his life. “What are you trying to say?” Michael growled.
“I’m saying that maybe you’re still into the idea that you were Max’s right hand guy and that maybe you want it to be about you, Isabel, Max and Tess!” accused Maria. “Maybe you want this illness to be an ‘alien’ thing. I think maybe you can use this to getting closer to Isabel! You don’t want me!”
Suddenly Maria put her hand over her mouth, like she’d said something she shouldn’t have. There was an awkward silence between them. Michael didn’t know what to say. It was the truth. He loved Isabel, not Maria. He’d been putting on this charade for too long. It was even evident to Maria that he had feelings for Isabel. “You’re right Maria,” Michael whispered.
Maria shook her head. “No Michael wait. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just I was so upset with you about the Tess thing. I don’t believe that you want that planned out life with Isabel. I know she’s married to Jesse. You guys chose to stay here.”
Michael got up from the couch and paced in the living room. “No, Maria! You’re right.” He wasn’t about to admit to loving Isabel, that was just hurting her needlessly, but Michael needed to tell her that this thing between them was over. “I think that I was right the first time. I think we should…”
Maria interrupted him. “Michael no. Things seem so up in the air right now. Let’s not make any rash decisions…”
He walked over to her and put his index finger on her lips. “It’s done Maria. We were done a while ago. I was just lying to the both of us.”
Maria’s eyes narrowed and she pulled away. “You’re just taking the easy way out Michael! A relationship is hard work and you’re just running scared at the first signs of trouble.”
Michael tried to comfort her, but she pulled away, grabbing her jacket and putting distance between them. “I love you Michael and you do love me. You’re just too scared to admit it,” sobbed Maria. “We have something special.”
His tears were caught in his throat. Michael couldn’t believe he was hurting her again. He always managed to hurt people. “Maria, I’m sorry.”
Maria shook her head. “Don’t be sorry Michael. Grow up and realize that you’re just a boy pretending to know what love is and what a real relationship is like. You can chase dreams and a past that already was, but let me tell you this Michael Guerrin, remember how that turned out the last time!”
With that, Michael watched Maria storm out of his apartment. He could hear her sobbing as she ran down the hallway.
~~~
The woman prayed that it arrived, explaining every a little about what they knew.
Continue or not to continue to post this here?
The Queen of Torture
It's hard to know if you guys are reading this story on this site. It helps when you read feedback or something....otherwise I just think I'm posting for the *fun* of it!
Thanks newyday for letting me know. I'm glad you're enjoying it, even if there is Tess/Max in it!
Anyway...here's another chapter.
Chapter Sixteen
***
Love is soft and hard at the same time.
Like water, it is soothing and refreshing,
But who can withstand the raging flood.
- Lao Ma
***
Max waited for her to speak. Not expecting to see the shimmering figure, and startled by the resemblance to Tess, Max listened as she seemed about to speak, but suddenly she disappeared. The fleeting moment brought unexpected hope into Max as he saw her face. He wasn’t sure that it was Tess, but he was almost positive that it was.
After the long-standing hours and days, Max was beginning to become frustrated with the whole situation, and his physical state. Like frozen in a place in time – everything changed except for him. Just as Max began to rant out loud, since no one really was around to hear him, the figure appeared once more.
Wary of it’s appearance, human features and all - one Max did not leap to see – he moved cautiously forward toward the light. Once again the light faded and he was left with an unchanged Tess before him. Swallowing, Max reached out to his former lover, and mother of his child. “Is that you?” he said, detached.
Max stood a few feet way from the airy presence. She reached out tentatively and caressed his tired face. Tess nodded. “It’s me Max.”
He slowly pushed her soft hand away. “What do you want?” He backed away, wishing to put some distance from the familiar presence, yet guarded about the possible reasons she could be with him.
Tess stepped forward, trying to close the space in between them. “I’m here to help you Max.”
The simple explanation made Max frown. “How do I know you’re not the reason I’m here in the first place? For that matter, how do I know you’re Tess?”
She sighed. “Stop pushing me away! It’s hard enough to stay in this dream world without you pushing me out!”
He scoffed at the frustration in her voice. “Why shouldn’t I? You, or the person you’re posing as, killed Alex. Heck maybe now that you realize that I will be with Liz forever you’ve turned around and done this to me!”
The white aura that surrounded her body seemed to shimmer as Tess groaned in frustration. “Damn it Max! I’m just trying to save you! Whatever I’ve led you to believe in the past, I know you know I love you! I bore you a son!”
Suddenly Max softened, his heart skipped a beat at the mention of his child. He hadn’t even been there when he was born. Max studied the ‘murderer’ who stood before him. “A son. I have a son don’t I?” he whispered.
An unexplainable pride welled up within him. How he could have known, Max didn’t know, but he just knew it had been a boy. Tess grinned from ear to ear. “Yes. Zander.”
“Zander,” Max said to himself. “Zander Evans.” Max smiled
“I’m a dad.” Max looked up at Tess who glowed. She looked different. He hadn‘t noticed at first, but she seemed older, more mature. She was still the siren that had suddenly appeared in Roswell, bringing news of his destiny, but a hint of the maternal exuded from her now. As he cleared his throat, Max, once more became focused on the reason for her visits. “Why did you come in this mask of light?” he waved his hand towards the glow radiating from her.
Tess chose her words carefully. “Because…because I was and am being watched,” she whispered.
Max looked skeptical. “Well, why are you showing yourself now? I mean, if it’s so dangerous?”
The lids lowered on her crystal blue eyes. “Because I’m alone now. Before I had Nicholas watching every move I made! I had to contend with a bunch of people who were hired to spy on me. Checking on me, to make sure I wasn’t keeping in contact with you guys.”
Max shook his head. “I don’t buy it. Why bother if you were in cahoots with him in the first place? You had a deal with them Tess. Why wouldn’t they trust you? Why would they be spying on you?”
Tess opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out. She looked around her fearfully, as though not really looking at their surroundings, but beyond them – as if someone were listening. Max grew impatient. “What?” All he saw was open space.
“Max I have to leave soon!”
Max grabbed her arm. Though he disliked her and wished for anyone else’s presence, she had been the first person he’d had solid contact with since Isabel. He didn’t want her to go. “Wait!” He paused a moment, calming himself. “If you’re going to really help me out of this, then you’ve got to tell me what you know! How did I get sick?”
Tess looked around again. “Look Max, Isabel and Michael know. And you’ll believe it from them more than you’d believe it from me. But all I can say is that you need to keep Liz away.”
Max scowled. “I knew it! This is about keeping me away from Liz!”
Tess shook her head. “No! Look, just tell Isabel and Michael that Liz cannot use what powers…”
Unexpectedly Tess disappeared without another word. Max twirled around, searching for any sign of the blonde vision. He felt a sudden dread in the pit of his stomach. Suddenly the scenery began to fade and the last thing he saw was the blue horizon fade to black.
~~~
Liz hovered, her hands placed lightly on Max’s chest. She had practiced molecularly manipulating other inanimate objects and even managed to ambitiously heal a broken wing on a pigeon she’d found in the park. As she spoke softly into his ear, Liz moved a lock of hair out of hiding his face. “Max, I’m here.”
“You know what they are planning don’t you?” Liz said. “I still can’t believe they’re trying to find a way to bring her back. Tess.” The words tasted bitter in her mouth.
“I tried to tell them that she isn’t your soul mate. I tried to tell them that she couldn’t heal you.” She slipped her fingers between Max’s clammy limp fingers, entwining them together. “She’ll kill you, just like she killed Alex. She can’t have you, and…” Liz bit her lip lost in thought. “That’s probably her plan you know?”
“I tried to tell them I was your soul mate. We made our own destiny…right Maxwell?”
There was only silence. Liz studied Max’s sharp chiseled jaw and his regal face. He did look like a king. Noble and handsome.
He had saved her. Max. And now it was she who would have to save him.
~~~
Michael rubbed his eye as a loud persistent knocking interrupted his slumber. He groaned loudly before stumbling to the door. Michael blinked a few times before the un-welcomed guest came into focus.
“Michael!” Isabel exclaimed. “Why aren’t you up yet?” The former blonde began babbling excitedly as she kept waving a box in front of Michael.
“Because I’m tired and just got off work a few hours ago?” retorted Michael, as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
Finally he held up his hands and shook his head, unable to process Isabel’s jumble of words. “Hold it!” he moaned. “Hold it!”
Isabel frowned as she reluctantly obeyed.
Meanwhile Michael took this opportunity to shake himself awake and waken his still slumbering brain. “Okay. First of all, what is the box you’re holding? And secondly,” he paused. “Why couldn’t this have waited until tonight?”
Isabel glared. “Well if you hadn’t interrupted me, I would have been done by now,” Isabel growled. “Last night I woke up from this vision. There was a small boy who looked like Max and he was reaching out to me and was suddenly snatched away.”
Michael led her to the couch and then walked over to the fridge. “Snapple?” Isabel shook her head in distain.
“Are you listening Michael? I had a vision!”
Michael nodded. “I’m listening! I just need some sugar to wake up!”
She waited for him to sit down with the Snapple before beginning again. “So then I woke up.”
“And?”
“And I woke up in the middle of the desert!” Isabel stopped to let the words sink in. “I was about to go home, but there was a strange glow in the distance. It was under this huge rock. I had to use my powers to get through the boulder and find what was underneath it.” She paused dramatically. “Which brings me to this!”
Michael took the box, which sat in Isabel’s palm. It was made of a foreign metal, the likes of which he’d never seen. It had this sheen to it. Alien text decorated the cover, with a hand in the middle. “Did you open it?”
Isabel shook her head. “I rushed home so my parents couldn’t freak when they saw an empty bed. I hid the box and went back to sleep. The funny thing was Michael, after using my powers I wasn’t wiped like I usually am.”
Michael thought about it for a moment. It was strange, but Isabel had been using her powers more often than usual. “Maybe you’re just getting used to it and your body’s able to re-energize quicker?”
Isabel shrugged. “I don’t know.” She ran her hands though her hair. Suddenly her eyes lit, like she’d just remembered something. “On the way here, I tried opening the box, but it was locked. But there’s no keyhole.”
Michael inspected the box. She was right. There was no keyhole or opening of any sort. He examined it. He would have forced it open, but he didn’t want to damage what might be inside. “Well how are we supposed to open it?”
Then Isabel nodded excitedly. “I know! I was thinking the same thing when I noticed two dents on the front panel of the box.” Isabel rubbed her thumb over the oval fixtures in the side of the box. They had been made parallel to each other.
Michael frowned. “They look like the size of a fingerprint?” He peered closer at the oval shapes. Michael pressed his thumb in one of the oval indentations. A sudden green light glowed underneath this thumb and Michael felt a slight shock. He pulled his thumb away and sucked it. “Ow!”
Isabel’s eyes widened. “Maybe our fingerprints are the keys!”
Michael tried his other thumb on the other indentation, but the flow and shock that proceeded after the other lock did not occur. He scrunched his forehead. “Nothing’s happening!” Michael informed.
Isabel bit the inside of her cheek. “Let me see?” She looked at the lock and cautiously pressed her thumb into it. Isabel jumped and quickly stuck her thumb in her mouth. “That hurt!” she pouted.
Michael rolled his eyes, his thumb still in his mouth. “I told you!”
Unexpectedly the lid began to open and a light green glow was being emitted from the interior of the box. Isabel laid the box on her lap and waited for the lid to completely open. Michael reached inside and pulled out a piece of parchment paper.
”What’s it say?” Isabel asked curiously.
Michael unrolled the crème-colored paper and read it out loud. “His Royal Highness Zan, Princess Vilandra and Commander Rath.” Michael looked at Isabel astonishingly.
News of King Zan’s illness has reached Queen Ava. Preparations for her return to earth are being made. Our plans have been under the cloak and dagger since Queen Ava’s return. She has been kept in the dark about the plans until they are ready.
Your servants wish to inform you of great danger. Khivar’s forces are converging to dispose of any possible alliances and allegiances still loyal to the true King. Your long awaited return must be soon or Khivar will hunt those who are loyal and make examples of them. Even now, his army breathes down our necks. If Khivar succeeds, he will be destroying any chances of freedom from his iron fist.
All is being done to send help to your Highness. Preparation is being made for your imminent return to Antar. Forgive us our delay in sending any communications. Earth is being watched and so are we.
Still loyal, strong and true,
Servants of His Highness.
~~~
Isabel expected none of this. News from Antar? She knew that both she and Michael were unprepared for the surprising news. They still had loyal subjects? And after all of these years? Isabel breathed out slowly. She tried to process the news and declaration from Antar. Before it had been just a far off planet, but now the place was real and the people were crying out to them.
“Michael we need to see Max!” It was the first thing that popped into Isabel’s mind.
Michael seemed to take forever to speak. “Uh, yeah. Right.”
~ * ~
Isabel and Michael drove quickly to the cliffs. Liz should be there watching him this afternoon. Part of Isabel couldn’t help but smile. It was there first communications with beings of their kind. Isabel fingered the box in her lap as Michael drove. “Can you believe this Michael? We have people!”
The phrase sounded strange out of her mouth. It didn’t quite convey what she meant. Isabel turned to clarify what she meant, but Michael was nodded. “I know Izzy. There are people like us and they remember us.”
Isabel swallowed. This whole sickness was turning their whole world around. Her wedding band struck the box and resonated slightly. Jesse. In all the confusion and uncertainty of what the letter meant, Isabel couldn’t help but feel guilty.
She already had a home and a husband.
The sun was beating down on them as they drove down the long stretch of empty highway, into the desert. “Michael, what does this mean? I mean we’re still staying here right?”
Michael swallowed and looked at her expressionless. He licked his lips. “I don’t know Isabel. I mean I really don’t know how I feel about this all. What about you?”
Isabel lowered her eyes and began playing with her wedding band. “I should have probably told you this earlier Michael,” Isabel said distractedly. “But Jesse’s coming home tonight.”
There was silence where Isabel would have expected a loud outburst. Isabel peered over at Michael whose hands were white from wringing the steering wheel. “What do you mean he’s coming home? When did you find this out?”
Isabel swallowed. “He told me the night you brought me home.”
Michael just stared ahead. He didn’t make any contact with Isabel, who was staring at him. She was imploring him with her eyes to say something. Finally Isabel broke the silence once more. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I…I just didn’t know how to say it!”
Michael grimaced. “Why would you be sorry? It’s not like I have any claim on you, right?”
“Right,” Isabel whispered, regretfully.
“And as long as he stays out of our way and our business, then we won’t have a problem,” Michael stated mechanically. “He could even run interference for us with your parents!”
Isabel didn’t know about that. Jesse wouldn’t be too happy at the state of everything. Isabel slumped into the back of the seat, closing her eyes and letting the warm desert wind caress her face.
He couldn’t be upset over all of this. It was out of their control and in the hands of something else.
Thanks newyday for letting me know. I'm glad you're enjoying it, even if there is Tess/Max in it!
Anyway...here's another chapter.
Chapter Sixteen
***
Love is soft and hard at the same time.
Like water, it is soothing and refreshing,
But who can withstand the raging flood.
- Lao Ma
***
Max waited for her to speak. Not expecting to see the shimmering figure, and startled by the resemblance to Tess, Max listened as she seemed about to speak, but suddenly she disappeared. The fleeting moment brought unexpected hope into Max as he saw her face. He wasn’t sure that it was Tess, but he was almost positive that it was.
After the long-standing hours and days, Max was beginning to become frustrated with the whole situation, and his physical state. Like frozen in a place in time – everything changed except for him. Just as Max began to rant out loud, since no one really was around to hear him, the figure appeared once more.
Wary of it’s appearance, human features and all - one Max did not leap to see – he moved cautiously forward toward the light. Once again the light faded and he was left with an unchanged Tess before him. Swallowing, Max reached out to his former lover, and mother of his child. “Is that you?” he said, detached.
Max stood a few feet way from the airy presence. She reached out tentatively and caressed his tired face. Tess nodded. “It’s me Max.”
He slowly pushed her soft hand away. “What do you want?” He backed away, wishing to put some distance from the familiar presence, yet guarded about the possible reasons she could be with him.
Tess stepped forward, trying to close the space in between them. “I’m here to help you Max.”
The simple explanation made Max frown. “How do I know you’re not the reason I’m here in the first place? For that matter, how do I know you’re Tess?”
She sighed. “Stop pushing me away! It’s hard enough to stay in this dream world without you pushing me out!”
He scoffed at the frustration in her voice. “Why shouldn’t I? You, or the person you’re posing as, killed Alex. Heck maybe now that you realize that I will be with Liz forever you’ve turned around and done this to me!”
The white aura that surrounded her body seemed to shimmer as Tess groaned in frustration. “Damn it Max! I’m just trying to save you! Whatever I’ve led you to believe in the past, I know you know I love you! I bore you a son!”
Suddenly Max softened, his heart skipped a beat at the mention of his child. He hadn’t even been there when he was born. Max studied the ‘murderer’ who stood before him. “A son. I have a son don’t I?” he whispered.
An unexplainable pride welled up within him. How he could have known, Max didn’t know, but he just knew it had been a boy. Tess grinned from ear to ear. “Yes. Zander.”
“Zander,” Max said to himself. “Zander Evans.” Max smiled
“I’m a dad.” Max looked up at Tess who glowed. She looked different. He hadn‘t noticed at first, but she seemed older, more mature. She was still the siren that had suddenly appeared in Roswell, bringing news of his destiny, but a hint of the maternal exuded from her now. As he cleared his throat, Max, once more became focused on the reason for her visits. “Why did you come in this mask of light?” he waved his hand towards the glow radiating from her.
Tess chose her words carefully. “Because…because I was and am being watched,” she whispered.
Max looked skeptical. “Well, why are you showing yourself now? I mean, if it’s so dangerous?”
The lids lowered on her crystal blue eyes. “Because I’m alone now. Before I had Nicholas watching every move I made! I had to contend with a bunch of people who were hired to spy on me. Checking on me, to make sure I wasn’t keeping in contact with you guys.”
Max shook his head. “I don’t buy it. Why bother if you were in cahoots with him in the first place? You had a deal with them Tess. Why wouldn’t they trust you? Why would they be spying on you?”
Tess opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out. She looked around her fearfully, as though not really looking at their surroundings, but beyond them – as if someone were listening. Max grew impatient. “What?” All he saw was open space.
“Max I have to leave soon!”
Max grabbed her arm. Though he disliked her and wished for anyone else’s presence, she had been the first person he’d had solid contact with since Isabel. He didn’t want her to go. “Wait!” He paused a moment, calming himself. “If you’re going to really help me out of this, then you’ve got to tell me what you know! How did I get sick?”
Tess looked around again. “Look Max, Isabel and Michael know. And you’ll believe it from them more than you’d believe it from me. But all I can say is that you need to keep Liz away.”
Max scowled. “I knew it! This is about keeping me away from Liz!”
Tess shook her head. “No! Look, just tell Isabel and Michael that Liz cannot use what powers…”
Unexpectedly Tess disappeared without another word. Max twirled around, searching for any sign of the blonde vision. He felt a sudden dread in the pit of his stomach. Suddenly the scenery began to fade and the last thing he saw was the blue horizon fade to black.
~~~
Liz hovered, her hands placed lightly on Max’s chest. She had practiced molecularly manipulating other inanimate objects and even managed to ambitiously heal a broken wing on a pigeon she’d found in the park. As she spoke softly into his ear, Liz moved a lock of hair out of hiding his face. “Max, I’m here.”
“You know what they are planning don’t you?” Liz said. “I still can’t believe they’re trying to find a way to bring her back. Tess.” The words tasted bitter in her mouth.
“I tried to tell them that she isn’t your soul mate. I tried to tell them that she couldn’t heal you.” She slipped her fingers between Max’s clammy limp fingers, entwining them together. “She’ll kill you, just like she killed Alex. She can’t have you, and…” Liz bit her lip lost in thought. “That’s probably her plan you know?”
“I tried to tell them I was your soul mate. We made our own destiny…right Maxwell?”
There was only silence. Liz studied Max’s sharp chiseled jaw and his regal face. He did look like a king. Noble and handsome.
He had saved her. Max. And now it was she who would have to save him.
~~~
Michael rubbed his eye as a loud persistent knocking interrupted his slumber. He groaned loudly before stumbling to the door. Michael blinked a few times before the un-welcomed guest came into focus.
“Michael!” Isabel exclaimed. “Why aren’t you up yet?” The former blonde began babbling excitedly as she kept waving a box in front of Michael.
“Because I’m tired and just got off work a few hours ago?” retorted Michael, as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
Finally he held up his hands and shook his head, unable to process Isabel’s jumble of words. “Hold it!” he moaned. “Hold it!”
Isabel frowned as she reluctantly obeyed.
Meanwhile Michael took this opportunity to shake himself awake and waken his still slumbering brain. “Okay. First of all, what is the box you’re holding? And secondly,” he paused. “Why couldn’t this have waited until tonight?”
Isabel glared. “Well if you hadn’t interrupted me, I would have been done by now,” Isabel growled. “Last night I woke up from this vision. There was a small boy who looked like Max and he was reaching out to me and was suddenly snatched away.”
Michael led her to the couch and then walked over to the fridge. “Snapple?” Isabel shook her head in distain.
“Are you listening Michael? I had a vision!”
Michael nodded. “I’m listening! I just need some sugar to wake up!”
She waited for him to sit down with the Snapple before beginning again. “So then I woke up.”
“And?”
“And I woke up in the middle of the desert!” Isabel stopped to let the words sink in. “I was about to go home, but there was a strange glow in the distance. It was under this huge rock. I had to use my powers to get through the boulder and find what was underneath it.” She paused dramatically. “Which brings me to this!”
Michael took the box, which sat in Isabel’s palm. It was made of a foreign metal, the likes of which he’d never seen. It had this sheen to it. Alien text decorated the cover, with a hand in the middle. “Did you open it?”
Isabel shook her head. “I rushed home so my parents couldn’t freak when they saw an empty bed. I hid the box and went back to sleep. The funny thing was Michael, after using my powers I wasn’t wiped like I usually am.”
Michael thought about it for a moment. It was strange, but Isabel had been using her powers more often than usual. “Maybe you’re just getting used to it and your body’s able to re-energize quicker?”
Isabel shrugged. “I don’t know.” She ran her hands though her hair. Suddenly her eyes lit, like she’d just remembered something. “On the way here, I tried opening the box, but it was locked. But there’s no keyhole.”
Michael inspected the box. She was right. There was no keyhole or opening of any sort. He examined it. He would have forced it open, but he didn’t want to damage what might be inside. “Well how are we supposed to open it?”
Then Isabel nodded excitedly. “I know! I was thinking the same thing when I noticed two dents on the front panel of the box.” Isabel rubbed her thumb over the oval fixtures in the side of the box. They had been made parallel to each other.
Michael frowned. “They look like the size of a fingerprint?” He peered closer at the oval shapes. Michael pressed his thumb in one of the oval indentations. A sudden green light glowed underneath this thumb and Michael felt a slight shock. He pulled his thumb away and sucked it. “Ow!”
Isabel’s eyes widened. “Maybe our fingerprints are the keys!”
Michael tried his other thumb on the other indentation, but the flow and shock that proceeded after the other lock did not occur. He scrunched his forehead. “Nothing’s happening!” Michael informed.
Isabel bit the inside of her cheek. “Let me see?” She looked at the lock and cautiously pressed her thumb into it. Isabel jumped and quickly stuck her thumb in her mouth. “That hurt!” she pouted.
Michael rolled his eyes, his thumb still in his mouth. “I told you!”
Unexpectedly the lid began to open and a light green glow was being emitted from the interior of the box. Isabel laid the box on her lap and waited for the lid to completely open. Michael reached inside and pulled out a piece of parchment paper.
”What’s it say?” Isabel asked curiously.
Michael unrolled the crème-colored paper and read it out loud. “His Royal Highness Zan, Princess Vilandra and Commander Rath.” Michael looked at Isabel astonishingly.
News of King Zan’s illness has reached Queen Ava. Preparations for her return to earth are being made. Our plans have been under the cloak and dagger since Queen Ava’s return. She has been kept in the dark about the plans until they are ready.
Your servants wish to inform you of great danger. Khivar’s forces are converging to dispose of any possible alliances and allegiances still loyal to the true King. Your long awaited return must be soon or Khivar will hunt those who are loyal and make examples of them. Even now, his army breathes down our necks. If Khivar succeeds, he will be destroying any chances of freedom from his iron fist.
All is being done to send help to your Highness. Preparation is being made for your imminent return to Antar. Forgive us our delay in sending any communications. Earth is being watched and so are we.
Still loyal, strong and true,
Servants of His Highness.
~~~
Isabel expected none of this. News from Antar? She knew that both she and Michael were unprepared for the surprising news. They still had loyal subjects? And after all of these years? Isabel breathed out slowly. She tried to process the news and declaration from Antar. Before it had been just a far off planet, but now the place was real and the people were crying out to them.
“Michael we need to see Max!” It was the first thing that popped into Isabel’s mind.
Michael seemed to take forever to speak. “Uh, yeah. Right.”
~ * ~
Isabel and Michael drove quickly to the cliffs. Liz should be there watching him this afternoon. Part of Isabel couldn’t help but smile. It was there first communications with beings of their kind. Isabel fingered the box in her lap as Michael drove. “Can you believe this Michael? We have people!”
The phrase sounded strange out of her mouth. It didn’t quite convey what she meant. Isabel turned to clarify what she meant, but Michael was nodded. “I know Izzy. There are people like us and they remember us.”
Isabel swallowed. This whole sickness was turning their whole world around. Her wedding band struck the box and resonated slightly. Jesse. In all the confusion and uncertainty of what the letter meant, Isabel couldn’t help but feel guilty.
She already had a home and a husband.
The sun was beating down on them as they drove down the long stretch of empty highway, into the desert. “Michael, what does this mean? I mean we’re still staying here right?”
Michael swallowed and looked at her expressionless. He licked his lips. “I don’t know Isabel. I mean I really don’t know how I feel about this all. What about you?”
Isabel lowered her eyes and began playing with her wedding band. “I should have probably told you this earlier Michael,” Isabel said distractedly. “But Jesse’s coming home tonight.”
There was silence where Isabel would have expected a loud outburst. Isabel peered over at Michael whose hands were white from wringing the steering wheel. “What do you mean he’s coming home? When did you find this out?”
Isabel swallowed. “He told me the night you brought me home.”
Michael just stared ahead. He didn’t make any contact with Isabel, who was staring at him. She was imploring him with her eyes to say something. Finally Isabel broke the silence once more. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I…I just didn’t know how to say it!”
Michael grimaced. “Why would you be sorry? It’s not like I have any claim on you, right?”
“Right,” Isabel whispered, regretfully.
“And as long as he stays out of our way and our business, then we won’t have a problem,” Michael stated mechanically. “He could even run interference for us with your parents!”
Isabel didn’t know about that. Jesse wouldn’t be too happy at the state of everything. Isabel slumped into the back of the seat, closing her eyes and letting the warm desert wind caress her face.
He couldn’t be upset over all of this. It was out of their control and in the hands of something else.
The Queen of Torture
I'm glad all of you are enjoying it. There is a lot more to come. But I hope this will tide you over until I can post again.
Chapter Seventeen
***
Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.
- Friedrich Nietzcshe
***
She had been preparing and preparing, waiting for that day when they would make contact. Of course it didn’t hurt to speed things up just a tad. She had to, apparently the Royal Four, who had messed things up the first time around, intended to do it again.
She peered up at the white mansion. First contact. The woman lifted up the circular medal that rested against her throat and touched it to her sun-chapped lips. The plan must work. Please let it work.
She took a deep breath and ambled up the long stone walkway to the overwhelmingly large double doors. Lifting her hand across to her right, she pressed the silver translucent dome that was set against the white exterior wall of the house. The smooth dome gave way slightly and the woman could hear the airy chime echo throughout the house.
The double doors opened and a tall skeleton-like frame stood before her. He was an older man, dressed in black and white uniform. “How may I help you?”
~~~
Tess had been through the first page of the long list of names Khivar had compiled. The nurses seemed quite nice on the surface, but something inside of her just told her to wait. Someone was coming.
Khivar had arrived early that morning, just a bit after Tess had been driven to the house. He delivered the list of names, which was about 4 pages long. “The more qualified and experienced nurses are listed on the top. They are coming for the interviews in that specific order,” he had explained. “I’ve set it all up for you. You don’t have to worry your pretty little head about anything. All you need to do is to choose one.”
Tess didn’t know what to say. She knew that many of the people he had put on the list were bound to be on his payroll. And as the interviews rolled along, Tess was growing all the more weary that if she did not chose one, she would have to resort to allowing Khivar choose the nurse.
“Your Highness, Ava, another interviewee has arrived, although,” her butler interrupted her thoughts. “She doesn’t seem quite prepared. Should I send her away?”
Tess furrowed her brow in thought. Khivar’s list of nurses had all come immaculately dressed and groomed. She looked up at the stiff, almost corpse-like figure, standing before her, awaiting her command. Tess shook her head. “No. Send her in.”
Unexpectedly, she felt her stomach flip-flop as she waited for the next interviewee. “Why should you get excited?” she chided herself. “It’s probably just another one of Khivar’s traps.”
Tess’s head jerked upwards when she heard the butler leading the woman into the living room. She stood up to greet her. Tess held out her hand to the woman as she stood evaluating the possibilities that she was a spy. Unconsciously, Tess squinted her eyes as she studied the nurse.
She was an older woman; older than forgotten faces of past nurses. There was something familiar about her though. It was almost as if Tess recognized her for a moment in time. She motioned for the woman to sit down on the couch behind her. Tess tucked her skirt neatly behind her as she sat down across from the woman in a comfortable plush leather chair.
“My name is Ava,” Tess announced slowly. She always had to remember to address herself as Ava. It was a slip she couldn’t afford. “And this is a picture of my son Zander whom you will be taking care of.” Tess slid a picture of her precious son across the white coffee table.
The older woman blinked slowly, as she seemed to take the image of Tess’s son to be the most precious thing in the world. Her mouth opened slightly and she gasped for breath, her hand resting against her chest. She swallowed slightly and then pressed the hand that had been against her chest to her mouth. “I never thought,” she seemed to whisper to herself.
Tess frowned. It was an odd reaction to the picture of her son. “Is there something wrong?”
The woman seemed startled out of her reverie. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and shook her head. “No,” she croaked softly. Taking a deep breath she smiled. “I’m sorry, I just…well, he reminds me of someone dear to me.”
Tess softened and nodded her head. She looked down at the paper in her hand. “You are,” Tess scanned down the list of names to her last interviewee, “Ms. Shrefi?” said Tess finally.
The older woman shook her head. “No I am not Ms. Shrefi. Just Maia,” she explained.
“Okay, so you’d rather just be called Maia, instead of Ms. Shrefi?” Tess clarified.
“No, no. I am not Ms. Shrefi. I am Maia. Just Maia.”
Tess ran down the names on the list. The interviewees had come in on time, in the order of the list like clockwork. She didn’t quite understand. “So where are you on this list?” asked Tess, showing her the papers.
Maia smiled softly. “I am not on the list.”
She didn’t know what to make of the situation. Tess didn’t know how she could have heard about the interviews. She suspected Khivar had lined up a contingent of his staff and army to deluge her in lies. Tess sat there for a moment, studying the woman. Her face was filled with laugh lines and her dark brown eyes were filled with some sort of knowing. Her hair was pinned up in a bun with dark tendrils framing her face. “Have you been a nurse before?” Tess asked curiously.
“I’ve raised four children in my lifetime,” Maia whispered. “And I know that they are fine men and women. They have always done me proud, no matter what others think of them.”
There seemed to a lament in her voice, a heavy sadness about her. Tess didn’t know what to think of the woman. She thought that she might be able to trust her more because she hadn’t been on the list, but Tess felt some hesitation in hiring this strange woman.
Tess shook her head slightly, smiled and stood up. She bridged the gap between herself and Maia, who had followed suit and stood up. Tess reached out her hand and grasped the woman’s frail hand, which had been stretched out to meet hers. As she was about to thank her for coming, Tess felt a sudden weakness overcome her.
The older woman smiled graciously and helped Tess onto the couch, Maia’s petite stature and frail appearance seemingly masked a hidden strength. “Thank you,” Tess whispered as she held her forehead. “I don’t know what came over me.”
Maia sat down beside Tess, gently stroking her hair. “You have to eat my child,” the older woman chided, clucking her tongue as she squeezed Tess’s narrow arms. “You need to keep up your strength.” Her gaze locked with Tess’s, seemingly trying to convey some sort of message.
Tess felt herself drawn into the dark pools and felt like she was falling helplessly into darkness. Maia grasped her shoulders and shook her gently. “Time is precious my girl. And so is that boy of yours. I will take good care of him,” she stated, her voice dropping low, that it also seemed to hide a certain strength in it.
Tess took a deep breath and smiled. She stood up and watched the woman slowly push herself up from the white couch. “Thank you. I will let you know who I have chosen tomorrow morning.”
Maia looked up at her knowingly. “I will be at Khivar’s tomorrow morning.” She seemed to spit at the name. The older woman chuckled to herself as she made her way towards the door. She turned as she stepped up into the foyer and gazed at Tess. “You will need me more than you did Aziza.”
Tess felt a shiver run up her spine as the older woman spoke that name. She couldn’t seem to put her finger on it, but the woman seemed to know her well. And Tess didn’t know if that was a good thing, or something to be worried about.
~~~
Michael and Isabel had been silent the rest of the ride up to the cliffs. A word hadn’t passed between them since Isabel had informed Michael that Jesse was arriving home that night. Isabel swallowed as she followed Michael up the path to the caves. And just as they had almost reached the top, Michael stopped. He turned and looked at Isabel alarmingly.
Isabel frowned. What could be wrong? As she took a couple steps further, Isabel felt it too. Suddenly felt an overwhelming bout of nausea. They quietly made their way up the cliff to the entrance. Michael looked at Isabel and took her hand. He led them into the darkened cave. Both were ready for anything, and definitely ready to hurt whatever might be in there.
Isabel licked her lips and tried to mask their presence from whatever lurked in the shadows. When they had reached the Granolith chamber, which held Maxwell, both were stunned and shocked at what they saw.
“No!” Isabel cried out.
~~~
Liz thought she’d understood her purpose. As she began the process of concentrating her powers on Max, Liz could help but feel pleased with the pulsing energy that throbbed with in her. It was just as Max had described, when Liz had once asked him what it felt like to heal someone.
She knew it was working because she’d actually seen some change within Max. He’d almost become lucid before he felt back into the deep sleep he’d been in for the past month. “I’m here Max. It’s just the two of us,” she whispered as she began to focus more intensely on the energy she was transferring into Max.
When things were looking up - Max was moving slightly and mumbling – Liz poured the last ounce of energy that she had into his body, leaving herself drained. Liz licked her lips and gazed up at Max, as she lay down beside him. She brushed a lock of hair away with her shaking hand. Liz waited as she lay there, thinking about how normal their life would be after he woke up.
The last thing she remembered was kissing Max on the cheek as she felt herself slip into a deep sleep.
~~~
Michael didn’t know what to make of the scene before him. Liz was laying beside Max, as pale and ashen as he’d ever seen her. The few blankets that Liz and Maria had scrounged up had been neatly folded at Max’s feet and his shirt was lifted up.
“No!” Isabel cried out.
Michael watched as she ran to the unconscious Max and Liz. Her hands ran over Max’s stomach and she peered over at Michael. “Michael, look!”
He frowned as he made his way over to Max. Max looked like he had more colour, but there was something not right about the picture. Michael’s gaze followed Isabel’s down to Max’s chest and stomach, which were exposed. There, imprinted on Max’s chest and stomach, were two golden handprints.
Michael felt his heart catch in his throat. “What did she do?” Michael exclaimed.
He kneeled down beside Isabel, with Max in front of them. Gently pushing Isabel behind him, he leaned over Max’s face and slapped his cheek softly. “Max? Are you okay?”
Michael could hear Isabel mumbling to herself, pacing back and forth over top of their two unconscious friends. Michael sat back on his heels and then turned to Liz. He rolled her onto her back and slapped her face gently. “Liz?” he called worriedly. “Are you okay?”
She seemed cold and limp in his arms. Michael lowered his head to her mouth and listened for sounds of breath. He closed his eyes as he thanked God that she was still alive and breathing. Michael peered up at Isabel who seemed a wreck. “She’s alive.”
Isabel let out a muffled gasp. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, trying to stifle the sobs that shook her body. “We have to do something Michael!”
Just as the words left Isabel’s mouth, Michael felt movement underneath him. As he glanced down Michael heard coughing coming from Liz. “Liz!” he cried happily.
Liz’s whole body curled up in a ball as she began to have a coughing fit. Isabel kneeled beside the pale figure and began to rub her back, hoping that it would calm her cough.
Michael swallowed and wiped his brow. Maybe now they would have some answers to what happened here.
As both he and Isabel helped Liz sit up, they looked at each other warily. “Liz,” Isabel said soothingly. “What happened?”
Liz began to rub her temples. “I’m so dizzy.” She leaned against the strength of Michael and Isabel’s arms that were propping her up. “What happened?
Michael sighed impatiently. He straddled Liz’s legs and held her shoulders in both of his hands, making her look squarely into his eyes. She seemed disoriented. Her head lolled like a rag doll. “Liz!” Michael commanded. “Look at me.”
Liz seemed to hear him and obeyed. Tiredly, Liz’s eyes drooped as she tried to gaze up at the dark chiseled face. She frowned. “Max?”
Michael shook her a little, trying to awake her from this stupor. “What have you done to Max?” hissed Michael.
Liz looked up at him curiously, eyes hooded. But suddenly Liz’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “Max!” The brunette turned to her right and gazed upon Max’s still figure. Liz leaned over on her side and touched Max’s face. “He’s not awake yet?”
Michael stood up and let go of the disoriented Liz. He walked over to Isabel and whispered, “Do you think she made those marks?” Both Isabel and Michael studied Liz as she was whispering into Max’s ear.
Suddenly Michael heard a squeal. Liz looked up excitedly at Isabel and Michael and pointed at the handprints. “I told you! I told you that it would work!”
Isabel stepped forward, to a more lucid Liz. “What would work Liz? What did you do to Max?”
Liz pushed her long hair out of her face and swallowed. “I used the powers that Max gave me to heal him.”
Michael watched as Isabel’s head drooped and her body slumped down to the ground. He shook his head in disbelief. “Even after we told you that we were handling it?”
Liz rolled her eyes. “Look at the handprints! I did heal him.” She frowned as if trying to remember something, and then her furrowed brow relaxed and she smiled. “Yes! I saw him moving. He was even talking!” protested Liz.
Michael couldn’t believe what she’d done. “How could you do this?” Michael exploded. “There’s no way you could heal him! For all we know you might have just killed him!”
Liz stood up tentatively and pointed at Michael angrily. “Look Michael, I had the powers Max gave me. And it can heal him. Look at the handprints!”
Michael couldn’t look at her. “Liz, you shouldn’t have done this!” He turned his back on her, but Liz persisted in trying to convince him that she was doing the right thing.
“Look, I got these powers after we made love. And he happened to get sick just when my powers showed up. How can you deny the fact that I am supposed to use them to help him!”
Michael shook with frustration. He didn’t know how to talk to her when he was this upset. He didn’t want to yell at her because it really wasn’t her fault. She believed that she could heal him. Michael opened his mouth to say something, although he wasn’t sure what. “Liz…”
Then Isabel’s voice interrupted. “Liz, we didn’t want to tell you, but we know it wasn’t a coincidence that you had those powers right after Max got sick.”
Liz turned around to look at Isabel. “Then why are you fighting me on this?” cried Liz. She looked at both of them with uncertainty. “What is it that you haven’t told me?”
Michael held Isabel’s gaze and nodded. They had to tell her. Isabel swallowed and let out a single breath. “Liz, let me say it in a different way.” She paused a moment to push the hair out of her eyes.
Liz narrowed her eyes at Isabel. “What?”
“It wasn’t a coincidence that you had gotten your powers, after you and Max had sex,” Isabel said slowly.
Liz shook her head. “I still don’t get it,” Liz sighed exasperatedly.
“And it wasn’t a coincidence that Max got sick after he had sex with you.”
There was a huge lull of silence. Liz shook her head. “T-t-that’s not true,” whispered Liz.
As she stood between the two, Michael watched her look at Isabel and then him. And then back at Isabel. Liz was silent, trying to find the words to tear apart this horrible lie.
Michael walked towards her as Liz’s knees buckled. He moved to hold her up, but Liz pushed him away. “Don’t! You guys are lying! I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but it’s all lies!” cried Liz as she walked over to Max.
Liz kneeled before Max and pressed her cheek against his. Tears began to run down her face. “Max, wake up. Come on. Show them that they’re wrong,” choked Liz, as her body began to shake.
Michael closed his eyes. He couldn’t bear to watch Liz. He knew that it would break her, if she knew that she was the cause of this. Or should he say, their making love.
Michael turned and hit his fist against the wall. This was all such a mess. What were they going to do now?
He had hoped to heal Max and then they would have never had to know. Michael pressed his forehead against the wall. Who was he kidding? They eventually would have had to tell them. It probably would happen every time they went to make love. In the beginning, Michael had known falling for a human would only cause pain and turmoil.
Michael turned and looked down at Max and Liz. And he had been right. Or at least in Max’s case.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. “Michael,” Isabel whispered. “Are you okay?”
Michael peered into Isabel’s beautiful eyes. They were big and round and worried about him. He reached out and touched her face. She was so beautiful. Michael opened his mouth to put his thoughts to words when Liz ran over and dragged Michael over to Max.
“Michael do something!” cried a ragged Liz. “He’s not breathing!”
Michael fell to his knees and listened for any breath sounds. “Michael?” Isabel gasped. “Tell me what’s happening!” pleaded Isabel.
There were none.
As Michael was about to rise, he pressed his hand against Maxwell’s chest and oddly enough, felt a pulsing. Michael frowned as he looked at both Liz and Isabel. Both had expectant looks upon their faces. He lowered his ear to Max’s chest, in the area of where his heart lay.
Concentrating for any signs of life, Michael realized that Max’s heart was beating. Shaking his head, he grunted. “What?” Liz cried, pressing against Michael’s shoulder. “Is he alive?”
Michael looked over his shoulder at Liz and then Isabel. “His heart is still beating.” Both Liz and Isabel’s bodies relaxed, but still anxiously waited for more information.
“I don’t understand it, but he’s still alive,” Michael reported in confusion.
Liz wormed her way beside Max, leaving Michael out in the cold. She turned her head and smiled. “I told you he was all right,” sighed Liz.
Michael watched Liz disturbingly. She seemed in quite a daze. He didn’t think anything that had happened in the past hour or so was actually sinking in. Michael stood up and looked over at Isabel, who knew something was wrong. “What is it Michael?” Isabel asked fretfully.
“Isabel,” Michael said quietly, pulling her to the side where Liz couldn’t hear them. “He’s not breathing.”
Isabel stared at him in confusion. “W-w-what? What do you mean he’s not breathing?” she demanded, peering at Max over his shoulder.
“He’s not breathing, but his heart is still beating.”
Isabel pushed away from Michael and walked over to her brother, arms folded across her chest. “What do you mean? That doesn’t make any sense,” Isabel spat. “How can his heart still be beating if he’s not breathing?”
Liz looked up at Isabel and Michael. Suddenly the glaze over her eyes had dissipated and she seemed to have come back to reality. “What do you mean? I can feel his heart beating under my hand.” She looked down at her tanned hand that lay with her palm against his heart.
Michael shook his head. “I don’t know. He’s not breathing, you can tell. I didn’t hear anything coming from his mouth or nose and you can see that his chest is not moving.” He swallowed. He didn’t know anything about medicine or the human body. Could he be wrong about all of this? Could he be in some sort of danger and not know it?
The trio, which stood in the stark white chamber, averted their gaze from each other to Max. “Is there anything we can do to find out?” Liz whispered, stroking Max’s forehead. “We need a doctor, or something!”
Michael didn’t know what to do. Again this overwhelming feeling of helplessness kept him frozen. Finally Isabel walked over to the other side of Max, across from Liz, who hovered over him. “Maybe I can contact him. See if he’s alive?”
Michael swallowed and tried to say some encouraging words. “Yeah. Besides, we’d know it if he was dead, wouldn’t we?” The words didn’t come out as he had planned and he closed his eyes and kicked himself for even trying.
Isabel took a deep breath and closed her eyes. All eyes were on the tall voluptuous woman who was kneeled beside Max. She seemed to fall into a trance quickly and Michael moved in beside her, just in case she passed out, or became weary as she had done before.
It seemed like hours before Isabel awoke. Liz and Michael had said nothing, both seemingly holding their breath, as if one little noise would tip the scales of Max’s fate. Isabel came out slowly, and unscathed.
“Isabel?” Michael sighed, and relaxed a bit. He always felt anxious when she went into these trances.
“He’s still alive. But I think he’s fading fast Michael.”
****
Next time:
Khivar finds out just who Tess chose....
Michael and Isabel deal with Jesse's arrival....
Chapter Seventeen
***
Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.
- Friedrich Nietzcshe
***
She had been preparing and preparing, waiting for that day when they would make contact. Of course it didn’t hurt to speed things up just a tad. She had to, apparently the Royal Four, who had messed things up the first time around, intended to do it again.
She peered up at the white mansion. First contact. The woman lifted up the circular medal that rested against her throat and touched it to her sun-chapped lips. The plan must work. Please let it work.
She took a deep breath and ambled up the long stone walkway to the overwhelmingly large double doors. Lifting her hand across to her right, she pressed the silver translucent dome that was set against the white exterior wall of the house. The smooth dome gave way slightly and the woman could hear the airy chime echo throughout the house.
The double doors opened and a tall skeleton-like frame stood before her. He was an older man, dressed in black and white uniform. “How may I help you?”
~~~
Tess had been through the first page of the long list of names Khivar had compiled. The nurses seemed quite nice on the surface, but something inside of her just told her to wait. Someone was coming.
Khivar had arrived early that morning, just a bit after Tess had been driven to the house. He delivered the list of names, which was about 4 pages long. “The more qualified and experienced nurses are listed on the top. They are coming for the interviews in that specific order,” he had explained. “I’ve set it all up for you. You don’t have to worry your pretty little head about anything. All you need to do is to choose one.”
Tess didn’t know what to say. She knew that many of the people he had put on the list were bound to be on his payroll. And as the interviews rolled along, Tess was growing all the more weary that if she did not chose one, she would have to resort to allowing Khivar choose the nurse.
“Your Highness, Ava, another interviewee has arrived, although,” her butler interrupted her thoughts. “She doesn’t seem quite prepared. Should I send her away?”
Tess furrowed her brow in thought. Khivar’s list of nurses had all come immaculately dressed and groomed. She looked up at the stiff, almost corpse-like figure, standing before her, awaiting her command. Tess shook her head. “No. Send her in.”
Unexpectedly, she felt her stomach flip-flop as she waited for the next interviewee. “Why should you get excited?” she chided herself. “It’s probably just another one of Khivar’s traps.”
Tess’s head jerked upwards when she heard the butler leading the woman into the living room. She stood up to greet her. Tess held out her hand to the woman as she stood evaluating the possibilities that she was a spy. Unconsciously, Tess squinted her eyes as she studied the nurse.
She was an older woman; older than forgotten faces of past nurses. There was something familiar about her though. It was almost as if Tess recognized her for a moment in time. She motioned for the woman to sit down on the couch behind her. Tess tucked her skirt neatly behind her as she sat down across from the woman in a comfortable plush leather chair.
“My name is Ava,” Tess announced slowly. She always had to remember to address herself as Ava. It was a slip she couldn’t afford. “And this is a picture of my son Zander whom you will be taking care of.” Tess slid a picture of her precious son across the white coffee table.
The older woman blinked slowly, as she seemed to take the image of Tess’s son to be the most precious thing in the world. Her mouth opened slightly and she gasped for breath, her hand resting against her chest. She swallowed slightly and then pressed the hand that had been against her chest to her mouth. “I never thought,” she seemed to whisper to herself.
Tess frowned. It was an odd reaction to the picture of her son. “Is there something wrong?”
The woman seemed startled out of her reverie. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and shook her head. “No,” she croaked softly. Taking a deep breath she smiled. “I’m sorry, I just…well, he reminds me of someone dear to me.”
Tess softened and nodded her head. She looked down at the paper in her hand. “You are,” Tess scanned down the list of names to her last interviewee, “Ms. Shrefi?” said Tess finally.
The older woman shook her head. “No I am not Ms. Shrefi. Just Maia,” she explained.
“Okay, so you’d rather just be called Maia, instead of Ms. Shrefi?” Tess clarified.
“No, no. I am not Ms. Shrefi. I am Maia. Just Maia.”
Tess ran down the names on the list. The interviewees had come in on time, in the order of the list like clockwork. She didn’t quite understand. “So where are you on this list?” asked Tess, showing her the papers.
Maia smiled softly. “I am not on the list.”
She didn’t know what to make of the situation. Tess didn’t know how she could have heard about the interviews. She suspected Khivar had lined up a contingent of his staff and army to deluge her in lies. Tess sat there for a moment, studying the woman. Her face was filled with laugh lines and her dark brown eyes were filled with some sort of knowing. Her hair was pinned up in a bun with dark tendrils framing her face. “Have you been a nurse before?” Tess asked curiously.
“I’ve raised four children in my lifetime,” Maia whispered. “And I know that they are fine men and women. They have always done me proud, no matter what others think of them.”
There seemed to a lament in her voice, a heavy sadness about her. Tess didn’t know what to think of the woman. She thought that she might be able to trust her more because she hadn’t been on the list, but Tess felt some hesitation in hiring this strange woman.
Tess shook her head slightly, smiled and stood up. She bridged the gap between herself and Maia, who had followed suit and stood up. Tess reached out her hand and grasped the woman’s frail hand, which had been stretched out to meet hers. As she was about to thank her for coming, Tess felt a sudden weakness overcome her.
The older woman smiled graciously and helped Tess onto the couch, Maia’s petite stature and frail appearance seemingly masked a hidden strength. “Thank you,” Tess whispered as she held her forehead. “I don’t know what came over me.”
Maia sat down beside Tess, gently stroking her hair. “You have to eat my child,” the older woman chided, clucking her tongue as she squeezed Tess’s narrow arms. “You need to keep up your strength.” Her gaze locked with Tess’s, seemingly trying to convey some sort of message.
Tess felt herself drawn into the dark pools and felt like she was falling helplessly into darkness. Maia grasped her shoulders and shook her gently. “Time is precious my girl. And so is that boy of yours. I will take good care of him,” she stated, her voice dropping low, that it also seemed to hide a certain strength in it.
Tess took a deep breath and smiled. She stood up and watched the woman slowly push herself up from the white couch. “Thank you. I will let you know who I have chosen tomorrow morning.”
Maia looked up at her knowingly. “I will be at Khivar’s tomorrow morning.” She seemed to spit at the name. The older woman chuckled to herself as she made her way towards the door. She turned as she stepped up into the foyer and gazed at Tess. “You will need me more than you did Aziza.”
Tess felt a shiver run up her spine as the older woman spoke that name. She couldn’t seem to put her finger on it, but the woman seemed to know her well. And Tess didn’t know if that was a good thing, or something to be worried about.
~~~
Michael and Isabel had been silent the rest of the ride up to the cliffs. A word hadn’t passed between them since Isabel had informed Michael that Jesse was arriving home that night. Isabel swallowed as she followed Michael up the path to the caves. And just as they had almost reached the top, Michael stopped. He turned and looked at Isabel alarmingly.
Isabel frowned. What could be wrong? As she took a couple steps further, Isabel felt it too. Suddenly felt an overwhelming bout of nausea. They quietly made their way up the cliff to the entrance. Michael looked at Isabel and took her hand. He led them into the darkened cave. Both were ready for anything, and definitely ready to hurt whatever might be in there.
Isabel licked her lips and tried to mask their presence from whatever lurked in the shadows. When they had reached the Granolith chamber, which held Maxwell, both were stunned and shocked at what they saw.
“No!” Isabel cried out.
~~~
Liz thought she’d understood her purpose. As she began the process of concentrating her powers on Max, Liz could help but feel pleased with the pulsing energy that throbbed with in her. It was just as Max had described, when Liz had once asked him what it felt like to heal someone.
She knew it was working because she’d actually seen some change within Max. He’d almost become lucid before he felt back into the deep sleep he’d been in for the past month. “I’m here Max. It’s just the two of us,” she whispered as she began to focus more intensely on the energy she was transferring into Max.
When things were looking up - Max was moving slightly and mumbling – Liz poured the last ounce of energy that she had into his body, leaving herself drained. Liz licked her lips and gazed up at Max, as she lay down beside him. She brushed a lock of hair away with her shaking hand. Liz waited as she lay there, thinking about how normal their life would be after he woke up.
The last thing she remembered was kissing Max on the cheek as she felt herself slip into a deep sleep.
~~~
Michael didn’t know what to make of the scene before him. Liz was laying beside Max, as pale and ashen as he’d ever seen her. The few blankets that Liz and Maria had scrounged up had been neatly folded at Max’s feet and his shirt was lifted up.
“No!” Isabel cried out.
Michael watched as she ran to the unconscious Max and Liz. Her hands ran over Max’s stomach and she peered over at Michael. “Michael, look!”
He frowned as he made his way over to Max. Max looked like he had more colour, but there was something not right about the picture. Michael’s gaze followed Isabel’s down to Max’s chest and stomach, which were exposed. There, imprinted on Max’s chest and stomach, were two golden handprints.
Michael felt his heart catch in his throat. “What did she do?” Michael exclaimed.
He kneeled down beside Isabel, with Max in front of them. Gently pushing Isabel behind him, he leaned over Max’s face and slapped his cheek softly. “Max? Are you okay?”
Michael could hear Isabel mumbling to herself, pacing back and forth over top of their two unconscious friends. Michael sat back on his heels and then turned to Liz. He rolled her onto her back and slapped her face gently. “Liz?” he called worriedly. “Are you okay?”
She seemed cold and limp in his arms. Michael lowered his head to her mouth and listened for sounds of breath. He closed his eyes as he thanked God that she was still alive and breathing. Michael peered up at Isabel who seemed a wreck. “She’s alive.”
Isabel let out a muffled gasp. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, trying to stifle the sobs that shook her body. “We have to do something Michael!”
Just as the words left Isabel’s mouth, Michael felt movement underneath him. As he glanced down Michael heard coughing coming from Liz. “Liz!” he cried happily.
Liz’s whole body curled up in a ball as she began to have a coughing fit. Isabel kneeled beside the pale figure and began to rub her back, hoping that it would calm her cough.
Michael swallowed and wiped his brow. Maybe now they would have some answers to what happened here.
As both he and Isabel helped Liz sit up, they looked at each other warily. “Liz,” Isabel said soothingly. “What happened?”
Liz began to rub her temples. “I’m so dizzy.” She leaned against the strength of Michael and Isabel’s arms that were propping her up. “What happened?
Michael sighed impatiently. He straddled Liz’s legs and held her shoulders in both of his hands, making her look squarely into his eyes. She seemed disoriented. Her head lolled like a rag doll. “Liz!” Michael commanded. “Look at me.”
Liz seemed to hear him and obeyed. Tiredly, Liz’s eyes drooped as she tried to gaze up at the dark chiseled face. She frowned. “Max?”
Michael shook her a little, trying to awake her from this stupor. “What have you done to Max?” hissed Michael.
Liz looked up at him curiously, eyes hooded. But suddenly Liz’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “Max!” The brunette turned to her right and gazed upon Max’s still figure. Liz leaned over on her side and touched Max’s face. “He’s not awake yet?”
Michael stood up and let go of the disoriented Liz. He walked over to Isabel and whispered, “Do you think she made those marks?” Both Isabel and Michael studied Liz as she was whispering into Max’s ear.
Suddenly Michael heard a squeal. Liz looked up excitedly at Isabel and Michael and pointed at the handprints. “I told you! I told you that it would work!”
Isabel stepped forward, to a more lucid Liz. “What would work Liz? What did you do to Max?”
Liz pushed her long hair out of her face and swallowed. “I used the powers that Max gave me to heal him.”
Michael watched as Isabel’s head drooped and her body slumped down to the ground. He shook his head in disbelief. “Even after we told you that we were handling it?”
Liz rolled her eyes. “Look at the handprints! I did heal him.” She frowned as if trying to remember something, and then her furrowed brow relaxed and she smiled. “Yes! I saw him moving. He was even talking!” protested Liz.
Michael couldn’t believe what she’d done. “How could you do this?” Michael exploded. “There’s no way you could heal him! For all we know you might have just killed him!”
Liz stood up tentatively and pointed at Michael angrily. “Look Michael, I had the powers Max gave me. And it can heal him. Look at the handprints!”
Michael couldn’t look at her. “Liz, you shouldn’t have done this!” He turned his back on her, but Liz persisted in trying to convince him that she was doing the right thing.
“Look, I got these powers after we made love. And he happened to get sick just when my powers showed up. How can you deny the fact that I am supposed to use them to help him!”
Michael shook with frustration. He didn’t know how to talk to her when he was this upset. He didn’t want to yell at her because it really wasn’t her fault. She believed that she could heal him. Michael opened his mouth to say something, although he wasn’t sure what. “Liz…”
Then Isabel’s voice interrupted. “Liz, we didn’t want to tell you, but we know it wasn’t a coincidence that you had those powers right after Max got sick.”
Liz turned around to look at Isabel. “Then why are you fighting me on this?” cried Liz. She looked at both of them with uncertainty. “What is it that you haven’t told me?”
Michael held Isabel’s gaze and nodded. They had to tell her. Isabel swallowed and let out a single breath. “Liz, let me say it in a different way.” She paused a moment to push the hair out of her eyes.
Liz narrowed her eyes at Isabel. “What?”
“It wasn’t a coincidence that you had gotten your powers, after you and Max had sex,” Isabel said slowly.
Liz shook her head. “I still don’t get it,” Liz sighed exasperatedly.
“And it wasn’t a coincidence that Max got sick after he had sex with you.”
There was a huge lull of silence. Liz shook her head. “T-t-that’s not true,” whispered Liz.
As she stood between the two, Michael watched her look at Isabel and then him. And then back at Isabel. Liz was silent, trying to find the words to tear apart this horrible lie.
Michael walked towards her as Liz’s knees buckled. He moved to hold her up, but Liz pushed him away. “Don’t! You guys are lying! I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but it’s all lies!” cried Liz as she walked over to Max.
Liz kneeled before Max and pressed her cheek against his. Tears began to run down her face. “Max, wake up. Come on. Show them that they’re wrong,” choked Liz, as her body began to shake.
Michael closed his eyes. He couldn’t bear to watch Liz. He knew that it would break her, if she knew that she was the cause of this. Or should he say, their making love.
Michael turned and hit his fist against the wall. This was all such a mess. What were they going to do now?
He had hoped to heal Max and then they would have never had to know. Michael pressed his forehead against the wall. Who was he kidding? They eventually would have had to tell them. It probably would happen every time they went to make love. In the beginning, Michael had known falling for a human would only cause pain and turmoil.
Michael turned and looked down at Max and Liz. And he had been right. Or at least in Max’s case.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. “Michael,” Isabel whispered. “Are you okay?”
Michael peered into Isabel’s beautiful eyes. They were big and round and worried about him. He reached out and touched her face. She was so beautiful. Michael opened his mouth to put his thoughts to words when Liz ran over and dragged Michael over to Max.
“Michael do something!” cried a ragged Liz. “He’s not breathing!”
Michael fell to his knees and listened for any breath sounds. “Michael?” Isabel gasped. “Tell me what’s happening!” pleaded Isabel.
There were none.
As Michael was about to rise, he pressed his hand against Maxwell’s chest and oddly enough, felt a pulsing. Michael frowned as he looked at both Liz and Isabel. Both had expectant looks upon their faces. He lowered his ear to Max’s chest, in the area of where his heart lay.
Concentrating for any signs of life, Michael realized that Max’s heart was beating. Shaking his head, he grunted. “What?” Liz cried, pressing against Michael’s shoulder. “Is he alive?”
Michael looked over his shoulder at Liz and then Isabel. “His heart is still beating.” Both Liz and Isabel’s bodies relaxed, but still anxiously waited for more information.
“I don’t understand it, but he’s still alive,” Michael reported in confusion.
Liz wormed her way beside Max, leaving Michael out in the cold. She turned her head and smiled. “I told you he was all right,” sighed Liz.
Michael watched Liz disturbingly. She seemed in quite a daze. He didn’t think anything that had happened in the past hour or so was actually sinking in. Michael stood up and looked over at Isabel, who knew something was wrong. “What is it Michael?” Isabel asked fretfully.
“Isabel,” Michael said quietly, pulling her to the side where Liz couldn’t hear them. “He’s not breathing.”
Isabel stared at him in confusion. “W-w-what? What do you mean he’s not breathing?” she demanded, peering at Max over his shoulder.
“He’s not breathing, but his heart is still beating.”
Isabel pushed away from Michael and walked over to her brother, arms folded across her chest. “What do you mean? That doesn’t make any sense,” Isabel spat. “How can his heart still be beating if he’s not breathing?”
Liz looked up at Isabel and Michael. Suddenly the glaze over her eyes had dissipated and she seemed to have come back to reality. “What do you mean? I can feel his heart beating under my hand.” She looked down at her tanned hand that lay with her palm against his heart.
Michael shook his head. “I don’t know. He’s not breathing, you can tell. I didn’t hear anything coming from his mouth or nose and you can see that his chest is not moving.” He swallowed. He didn’t know anything about medicine or the human body. Could he be wrong about all of this? Could he be in some sort of danger and not know it?
The trio, which stood in the stark white chamber, averted their gaze from each other to Max. “Is there anything we can do to find out?” Liz whispered, stroking Max’s forehead. “We need a doctor, or something!”
Michael didn’t know what to do. Again this overwhelming feeling of helplessness kept him frozen. Finally Isabel walked over to the other side of Max, across from Liz, who hovered over him. “Maybe I can contact him. See if he’s alive?”
Michael swallowed and tried to say some encouraging words. “Yeah. Besides, we’d know it if he was dead, wouldn’t we?” The words didn’t come out as he had planned and he closed his eyes and kicked himself for even trying.
Isabel took a deep breath and closed her eyes. All eyes were on the tall voluptuous woman who was kneeled beside Max. She seemed to fall into a trance quickly and Michael moved in beside her, just in case she passed out, or became weary as she had done before.
It seemed like hours before Isabel awoke. Liz and Michael had said nothing, both seemingly holding their breath, as if one little noise would tip the scales of Max’s fate. Isabel came out slowly, and unscathed.
“Isabel?” Michael sighed, and relaxed a bit. He always felt anxious when she went into these trances.
“He’s still alive. But I think he’s fading fast Michael.”
****
Next time:
Khivar finds out just who Tess chose....
Michael and Isabel deal with Jesse's arrival....
The Queen of Torture
Sorry about the formatting...not at regular computer.
Chapter Eighteen
***
The road goes ever on and on down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone and I must follow if I can.
Pursuing it with weary feet until it joins some larger way,
where many paths and errands meet -and whither then, I cannot say.
- J. R. R. Tolkien
***
Tess arrived at Khivar’s house later that night. The plump maid showed Tess into the large, spacious dark study where Khivar apparently liked to brood. The plush leather chair behind the desk was turned from her, hiding the ruling king behind its girth.
“Ahem,” Tess cleared her throat.
The chair swiveled and revealed Khivar in a loose silk like shirt. His top three buttons were undone, revealing pale smooth skin. “So you’ve chosen a nurse?”
Tess threw the list of names onto his desk. “Yes,” she replied morosely.
“Well, who was it? Denar? Kepter?” Khivar smirked, his beady eyes narrowing in victory.
Tess shook her head. “Her name is Maia.”
Khivar’s body tensed. “What? I don’t believe she was on the list?”
Now it was Tess’ turn to gloat. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure she wasn’t either. But I hired her to take care of Zander for me.”
Khivar rose from his seat and walked over to Tess, who stood tall and defiant. “You chose a woman you know nothing about? She could be a killer for all you know!” he scoffed. “Are you sure you won’t reconsider?”
Tess bit the inside of her cheek. It was true she didn’t know her at all in fact, but the glaring logic, which put Maia in Tess’ favor, was Khivar hadn’t recommended the woman. Also the noticeable familiarity of the woman to Tess and her child, like she had been waiting for them, won Tess over.
“I’m sorry. She is my choice,” Tess declared. “Why? Do you know her?”
Khivar had a look on his face like he’d swallowed something bitter. “No. Not at all,” he replied sweetly. “But one thing I want to remind you of, people aren’t always as they seem on Antar.”
Tess smiled and rolled her eyes. Sometimes that could be a good thing, thought Tess.
~ * ~
Tess cautiously made her way towards Zander’s room. Khivar’s palace, if you could call it that, was brilliant with the light of the moon illuminating each room. The material that the palace was made of seemed to allow outside light in, but didn’t reveal the inner structure of the palace to onlookers. There were some strange materials and life forms here.
Finally Tess found Zander’s room. It was dark with an intense mirage of lights hovering over Zander’s crib. Tess didn’t know what to make of the illusion. As she reached out to touch it, the lighted floating mist, it seemed to cringe at her touch. Suddenly, as she pressed her hand forward, it dissipated like fog.
Zander awoke suddenly, as if aware his mother was near. Tess lifted the growing child into her arms and rocked him gently. His dark brown eyes peered up at her as if to ask her something. Tess lowered her lips to his forehead. “It’s all right Zander. Mommy’s taking care of everything.”
She looked around the room and found a rocking chair out on the balcony. The only good thing about the room was that it had a spectacular view. As Tess rested in the chair, Zander nestled comfortably in the crook of her arms, she allowed herself to drift off.
It was a restful sleep. Tess dreamed of Zander, a little older than he was now. He was playing in his room, building cities out of shining blocks. His dark eyes peered up at her as he had done before, but then a dark shadow was cast upon the city he’d built.
Tess began to toss fitfully. Zander was grown now - a young strapping man. Tess reached out to her son, feeling a pride well up in her. But Zander’s face seemed dark and foreboding and just as her fingers touched his face, he disappeared. In his place stood Khivar. His smug face smirked at Tess and began to laugh.
When she awoke, Tess realized that Zander was squirming in her arms. She looked down at her little boy and felt her body relax. He was safe.
But for how long, a voice inside asked warily.
“I don’t know,” Tess said aloud.
~ * ~
“Your new nurse is here!” Khivar exclaimed as he barged into Zander’s room.
Tess scowled. “Don’t you knock?”
Khivar chuckled. “Now why do I need to do that? It’s not as if I caught you in something inappropriate,” he motioned to her fully clothed body. “Apparently you didn’t even bother to change out of yesterday’s clothes.
Tess tossed her head allowing the long blonde curly locks to rest behind her shoulders. “So where is she?” she asked expectantly.
Khivar smiled pleasantly, his hands entwined together. “Oh, my men are just making a thorough check of her persons,” he explained gleefully. “Just for Zander’s safety of course.”
Tess stifled back a cutting comment, pasting a smile on her face. “Well you can go now. And send her up soon please?” Tess snipped at Khivar.
He rolled his eyes and bowed theatrically at her. Tess turned her back on his mocking demeanor and went back to the balcony. “As you wish Ava,” he laughed arrogantly.
After what seemed like several hours, in the span of maybe twenty minutes, Tess waited anxiously for the woman she’d just made caretaker of her son. As she stroked Zander’s smooth soft hair, Tess couldn’t shake the horrible feeling of last night’s dream. Looking down at her son who seemed quite content to stare out at the vast expanse before him, Tess whispered to her son, “I won’t let him have you Zander. I won’t.”
“And neither will I my Queen,” an elderly voice smiled. “I’m sorry it took so long. Khivar interrogated me thoroughly.”
Tess watched the older woman hobble over to the balcony. She seemed more fragile than she’d been the night before. Tess rose from the rocking chair and approached the older nurse. “I hope he didn’t hurt you,” apologized Tess.
Maia looked up at her with a twinkle in her eye. “That piece of scum? I’ve been dealing with ambitious power mongrels like him in the span of my lifetime,” she said dismissively.
Tess motioned her to have a seat on a near by couch. “I’m sure you have,” Tess laughed.
Maia’s eyes seemed to stare intently at Zander. “Is…is that Zander?” choked Maia.
Tess looked at her son, which she held tightly in her arms. She nodded. “Yes,” Tess replied in a child like voice. “This is my Zander!”
She placed a kiss on her son’s head and then allowed Maia’s extended arms to hold him. “He’s more beautiful than his picture,” she whispered, nuzzling her nose in the thin layer of hair.
Tess smiled. She thought she should have been uncomfortable with the familiarity the woman was having with her child, but Zander seemed to enjoy the attention and Tess felt at ease with her. “Why did you call me your Queen?” Tess asked curiously. In all the time she’d been back on Antar Tess had yet once to encounter someone who had referred to her as ‘Queen’.
Maia smiled gently at Tess. “I know you well Ava. You have nothing to fear from me. I watched you grow and become a strong and beautiful Queen.”
Tess frowned. “Did I know you before? I feel like I should know you.”
Maia swallowed and lowered her eyes down to the restless child. “I should probably find out what he likes and dislikes,” she whispered, changing the subject. “Does he have a schedule?”
Tess didn’t like the sadness evading from her. It was as if she’d hurt her feelings. Tess smiled and went along with the woman. “No,” she sighed. “He doesn’t have a set schedule. I’d like to spend as much time with him as possible. Khivar said that he couldn’t take the atmosphere I’m living in yet so he has to stay here.”
Maia nodded. “Unfortunately Khivar’s not lying about that. The area you’re living in is not suitable for infants and young children. Its’ atmosphere is dangerous since the last war,” explained Maia. “Our bodies are more equipped to handle the harsh pollutants that had been released.”
Tess smoothed the wrinkles in her black pants. “What can you tell me about the war?”
Maia adjusted Zander’s position in her lap and looked attentively at Tess. “I know you still don’t remember much about your life Ava, but you will. It will come back.”
Tess bit her lip. “Can you just tell me what happened? I mean I can’t spend my lifetime here on Antar without knowing? I remember a lot about my life with…Max…” Her voice trailed off at the memories she’d made with Max, or Zan…
Maia’s voice interrupted her reverie. “You and Zan were in love,” the older nurse nodded, reminiscently. “But I’m sure you hate him after what he’s done to you, right?”
The sudden change in her demeanor was startling. Tess frowned. “What?” She shook her head in confusion, then suddenly a knock came at the door.
Khivar poked his head in through a small crack in the door. “How is everyone getting along?”
Tess swallowed hard. “Fine,” she choked. Tess looked hard at the older woman. How did she know he was coming?
Khivar walked into the room and towards the two women. “I’ve had you checked out…Maia, isn’t it?” he sneered.
Tess watched Maia stare at Khivar glassily, as if looking through him. “Yes, Your Highness,” she smiled politely.
Khivar turned to Tess. “I don’t think you really want this woman caring for your child Ava,” he stated calmly.
Tess looked at him expressionless. “Why is that?” she asked.
“She’s not who she says she is. I found no recollection in our databases of any woman named Maia.”
Tess looked at Maia who remained calm, playing with Zander while the conversation ensued. “Well how do I know that? I’ve never seen anything remotely like a computer here on Antar. How am I supposed to check these nurses references.”
Khivar furrowed his brow in frustration. “That’s what my men and their resources are for. We are here to protect little Zander here.” The tall lanky man approached Zander, reaching out to touch him.
Maia growled and wrapped her arms securely around the child. “Well I think that Ava is a good judge of character and can make her own decisions, don’t you?” the older woman asked defiantly. “Or is she some toy you think you can make bend to your will?”
Tess didn’t know what to make of the situation. She didn’t trust Khivar as far as she could throw him, but she knew she couldn’t ignore his revelation. Part of her knew that he wasn’t lying about Maia, well at least off of it. Tess shook her head. “I think she’s fine. I haven’t felt any alarms going off in my head and Zander seems to like her.” Tess observed Zander playing with Maia’s lips and exploring her face. His giggles set her mind and hear at ease.
Khivar’s body seemed to tense and his hands clenched into fists. “I warn you, if anything happens to Zander, it will be on your head!” he warned menacingly. It was almost as if he was promising something would happen. He stalked out of the room and slammed the door.
Tess locked gazes with Maia. “I don’t believe your name is Maia as much as I believe Khivar is king,” Tess revealed. “Tell me who you are.”
Maia shook her head. “I can’t do that yet child. Not here in his house.”
Tess thought about how reasonable that excuse was. Khivar was bound to have eyes everywhere, listening to every conversation she had in his house. “Okay,” she drawled slowly. “Even if I believe that, why is Khivar adamant about getting you out of here?”
“He doesn’t know who I am,” Maia stated, “and that’s more dangerous than knowing who I am and having me take care of Zander.”
Tess sighed. She got up from the couch and looked out the balcony terrace. “I will trus…”
Before Tess could finish her sentence, she felt a horrible pain rush through her. She hadn’t been in contact with Max for a while, since she’d had to pull out when Khivar had walked into her home with the list of nurses. But now it felt like where he had been, there was nothing.
Tess fell to her knees in pain. “What’s happening?” she gasped in pain.
Suddenly she felt a warmth flow over her and a soothing voice melting away the throbbing darkness that consumed her. When she awoke, Tess found herself cradled in Maia’s arms and being gently rocked. Rubbing her head, Tess groggily regained consciousness. She sat up and looked curiously at Maia. “I’ve heard your voice before,” Tess accused.
Maia smiled and brushed a stray tendril from Tess’ face. “You’ll be fine.”
Tess slowly got up from the floor and looked around for Zander. “Where’s Zander?” she demanded.
Maia pushed herself up to standing position on a near by coffee table. “He’s in his play pen,” Maia replied. “Don’t you think you should sit down after that?”
Tess looked over at the older woman. She seemed less fragile and her frame seemed to have grown taller and straighter. “Who are you?”
Maia led Tess to the couch and sat her down. She disappeared behind a swinging door and came back with a glass of water. Tess accepted the glass of water and looked at her questioningly. “Who are you?” she repeated.
The nurse patted her on the hand and smiled. “I think you need to worry less about that and more about,” she looked around the room, leaned forward and whispered, “about Zan.”
Tess stood up quickly and shook her head. “No! You need to tell me how you know all of this stuff and what about Max?” she cried. Suddenly light-headedness overwhelmed her and Tess had to sit down.
Maia again began patting her hand. “All in good time my child. Now you have to worry about him. He’s losing touch my daughter and you have to hurry.”
Tess furrowed her brow when Maia called her ‘my daughter’, but could say anything before she faded into darkness.
~~~
Maria had arrived and was ready to take over for the evening. “What happened guys?” she frowned.
The trio looked at each other, eyes darting from one another. “Things have changed. Max isn’t breathing.”
Michael’s statement threw her. “You mean he’s dead? And you guys are just standing around like nothing’s happened?” Maria yelled, staring at them incredulously.
“He’s not dead. He’s alive, but just not breathing.” Michael shook his head as Maria looked on in confusion.
“You don’t need to know all the details, except if anything changes in his condition, call us,” Michael stated.
Maria rolled her eyes and walked over to Liz, hoping to get a straight answer from her. “Liz? What happened? You look horrible.”
Liz lowered her eyes and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Nothing,” she whispered. “Look, I gotta get some sleep before my shift starts this morning. Plus, my dad will kill me if I’m late again.”
Maria watched Michael, Isabel and Liz walk out the cave entrance. She felt like an outsider again and shouted in a non-verbal response. Then after counting to ten, Maria settled in for the early dawn and looked unhappily at the comatose Max.
~~~
When Isabel and Michael believed that Max had been stable for an hour or so, they felt like they could possibly leave for the night. Michael drove Isabel home in the quiet of the night. He felt like he’d been through an emotional roller coaster. It was almost a list of miracles that Max hadn’t died that night. He shook his head at the memory of feeling no breath come from Max’s mouth or nose, and the relief he felt when he’d discovered his heart still beating.
Michael walked Isabel to the door. He was on autopilot. He wasn’t thinking about what he was doing, he was just doing it.
“Isabel!” a man’s voice cried in alarm.
Both Isabel and Michael seemed startled out of their foggy reverie. “Jesse?” Isabel whispered.
Michael watched Isabel launch into Jesse’s arms, while he stood there motionless. He couldn’t believe they’d have to deal with him now, after tonight. Michael closed his eyes and turned to leave.
“Wait!” Isabel called softly.
Michael turned around to see Isabel reaching out to him. He’d dreamed of her doing that, but it was always marred by Jesse’s presence in the background, just as it was tonight. “What?” he barked.
“Don’t bark at her like that!” Jesse growled. Isabel held him back as he leaned forward menacingly.
Michael rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
Isabel looked at him pleadingly. “I just want to talk to you about something Michael.”
Michael raised his eyebrows and lifted his arms with impatience. “Yeah?”
Isabel turned quietly to Jesse who looked like he was ready to have at it with Michael. “I just need a second alone with him okay?”
Jesse looked incredulously at Isabel. “Are you kidding me? You’ve been with Michael for god knows how long and now you need a ‘second’ alone with him?” Jesse yelled.
Michael bit back a reply. He had no business sticking his nose in their relationship, he reminded himself. “I’ll be outside,” he stated stalking out the door, out of the ‘marital zone’.
It was a few minutes before she joined him out in the yard. He’d been stomping back the divets he’d made while waiting for Isabel. “What is it?” he sighed warily as he heard the door open.
Isabel walked towards him. “I’m sorry about that,” she apologized softly. “I just think he’s a bit tired from the plane.”
Michael shook his head and looked at her skeptically. “If you ask me he’s just a jerk and the plane ride just made it more apparent!” he retorted.
Isabel threw up her hands. “Can you not do that Michael? Please?” she cried. “I can’t take this!”
Michael looked up from the patch of grass he’d just kicked, and sighed. Isabel had dark rings under her eyes and her hair was disheveled; a completely different person than he remembered. Michael nodded. “I’m sorry,” he whispered as he pulled her against him.
He felt Isabel’s limp arms slowly return his embrace. Michael pulled away slightly and stroked her short red hair. “I’ll try,” he promised.
Isabel looked up with her big brown eyes and smiled half-heartedly. “That’s all I’m asking Michael.”
Michael nodded. She mouthed a ‘thank you’ and breathed a sigh of relief. With that, Michael dropped his hands from her shoulders and waved good night. He watched her in the rear view mirror, standing in the driveway as he drove away.
Chapter Eighteen
***
The road goes ever on and on down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone and I must follow if I can.
Pursuing it with weary feet until it joins some larger way,
where many paths and errands meet -and whither then, I cannot say.
- J. R. R. Tolkien
***
Tess arrived at Khivar’s house later that night. The plump maid showed Tess into the large, spacious dark study where Khivar apparently liked to brood. The plush leather chair behind the desk was turned from her, hiding the ruling king behind its girth.
“Ahem,” Tess cleared her throat.
The chair swiveled and revealed Khivar in a loose silk like shirt. His top three buttons were undone, revealing pale smooth skin. “So you’ve chosen a nurse?”
Tess threw the list of names onto his desk. “Yes,” she replied morosely.
“Well, who was it? Denar? Kepter?” Khivar smirked, his beady eyes narrowing in victory.
Tess shook her head. “Her name is Maia.”
Khivar’s body tensed. “What? I don’t believe she was on the list?”
Now it was Tess’ turn to gloat. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure she wasn’t either. But I hired her to take care of Zander for me.”
Khivar rose from his seat and walked over to Tess, who stood tall and defiant. “You chose a woman you know nothing about? She could be a killer for all you know!” he scoffed. “Are you sure you won’t reconsider?”
Tess bit the inside of her cheek. It was true she didn’t know her at all in fact, but the glaring logic, which put Maia in Tess’ favor, was Khivar hadn’t recommended the woman. Also the noticeable familiarity of the woman to Tess and her child, like she had been waiting for them, won Tess over.
“I’m sorry. She is my choice,” Tess declared. “Why? Do you know her?”
Khivar had a look on his face like he’d swallowed something bitter. “No. Not at all,” he replied sweetly. “But one thing I want to remind you of, people aren’t always as they seem on Antar.”
Tess smiled and rolled her eyes. Sometimes that could be a good thing, thought Tess.
~ * ~
Tess cautiously made her way towards Zander’s room. Khivar’s palace, if you could call it that, was brilliant with the light of the moon illuminating each room. The material that the palace was made of seemed to allow outside light in, but didn’t reveal the inner structure of the palace to onlookers. There were some strange materials and life forms here.
Finally Tess found Zander’s room. It was dark with an intense mirage of lights hovering over Zander’s crib. Tess didn’t know what to make of the illusion. As she reached out to touch it, the lighted floating mist, it seemed to cringe at her touch. Suddenly, as she pressed her hand forward, it dissipated like fog.
Zander awoke suddenly, as if aware his mother was near. Tess lifted the growing child into her arms and rocked him gently. His dark brown eyes peered up at her as if to ask her something. Tess lowered her lips to his forehead. “It’s all right Zander. Mommy’s taking care of everything.”
She looked around the room and found a rocking chair out on the balcony. The only good thing about the room was that it had a spectacular view. As Tess rested in the chair, Zander nestled comfortably in the crook of her arms, she allowed herself to drift off.
It was a restful sleep. Tess dreamed of Zander, a little older than he was now. He was playing in his room, building cities out of shining blocks. His dark eyes peered up at her as he had done before, but then a dark shadow was cast upon the city he’d built.
Tess began to toss fitfully. Zander was grown now - a young strapping man. Tess reached out to her son, feeling a pride well up in her. But Zander’s face seemed dark and foreboding and just as her fingers touched his face, he disappeared. In his place stood Khivar. His smug face smirked at Tess and began to laugh.
When she awoke, Tess realized that Zander was squirming in her arms. She looked down at her little boy and felt her body relax. He was safe.
But for how long, a voice inside asked warily.
“I don’t know,” Tess said aloud.
~ * ~
“Your new nurse is here!” Khivar exclaimed as he barged into Zander’s room.
Tess scowled. “Don’t you knock?”
Khivar chuckled. “Now why do I need to do that? It’s not as if I caught you in something inappropriate,” he motioned to her fully clothed body. “Apparently you didn’t even bother to change out of yesterday’s clothes.
Tess tossed her head allowing the long blonde curly locks to rest behind her shoulders. “So where is she?” she asked expectantly.
Khivar smiled pleasantly, his hands entwined together. “Oh, my men are just making a thorough check of her persons,” he explained gleefully. “Just for Zander’s safety of course.”
Tess stifled back a cutting comment, pasting a smile on her face. “Well you can go now. And send her up soon please?” Tess snipped at Khivar.
He rolled his eyes and bowed theatrically at her. Tess turned her back on his mocking demeanor and went back to the balcony. “As you wish Ava,” he laughed arrogantly.
After what seemed like several hours, in the span of maybe twenty minutes, Tess waited anxiously for the woman she’d just made caretaker of her son. As she stroked Zander’s smooth soft hair, Tess couldn’t shake the horrible feeling of last night’s dream. Looking down at her son who seemed quite content to stare out at the vast expanse before him, Tess whispered to her son, “I won’t let him have you Zander. I won’t.”
“And neither will I my Queen,” an elderly voice smiled. “I’m sorry it took so long. Khivar interrogated me thoroughly.”
Tess watched the older woman hobble over to the balcony. She seemed more fragile than she’d been the night before. Tess rose from the rocking chair and approached the older nurse. “I hope he didn’t hurt you,” apologized Tess.
Maia looked up at her with a twinkle in her eye. “That piece of scum? I’ve been dealing with ambitious power mongrels like him in the span of my lifetime,” she said dismissively.
Tess motioned her to have a seat on a near by couch. “I’m sure you have,” Tess laughed.
Maia’s eyes seemed to stare intently at Zander. “Is…is that Zander?” choked Maia.
Tess looked at her son, which she held tightly in her arms. She nodded. “Yes,” Tess replied in a child like voice. “This is my Zander!”
She placed a kiss on her son’s head and then allowed Maia’s extended arms to hold him. “He’s more beautiful than his picture,” she whispered, nuzzling her nose in the thin layer of hair.
Tess smiled. She thought she should have been uncomfortable with the familiarity the woman was having with her child, but Zander seemed to enjoy the attention and Tess felt at ease with her. “Why did you call me your Queen?” Tess asked curiously. In all the time she’d been back on Antar Tess had yet once to encounter someone who had referred to her as ‘Queen’.
Maia smiled gently at Tess. “I know you well Ava. You have nothing to fear from me. I watched you grow and become a strong and beautiful Queen.”
Tess frowned. “Did I know you before? I feel like I should know you.”
Maia swallowed and lowered her eyes down to the restless child. “I should probably find out what he likes and dislikes,” she whispered, changing the subject. “Does he have a schedule?”
Tess didn’t like the sadness evading from her. It was as if she’d hurt her feelings. Tess smiled and went along with the woman. “No,” she sighed. “He doesn’t have a set schedule. I’d like to spend as much time with him as possible. Khivar said that he couldn’t take the atmosphere I’m living in yet so he has to stay here.”
Maia nodded. “Unfortunately Khivar’s not lying about that. The area you’re living in is not suitable for infants and young children. Its’ atmosphere is dangerous since the last war,” explained Maia. “Our bodies are more equipped to handle the harsh pollutants that had been released.”
Tess smoothed the wrinkles in her black pants. “What can you tell me about the war?”
Maia adjusted Zander’s position in her lap and looked attentively at Tess. “I know you still don’t remember much about your life Ava, but you will. It will come back.”
Tess bit her lip. “Can you just tell me what happened? I mean I can’t spend my lifetime here on Antar without knowing? I remember a lot about my life with…Max…” Her voice trailed off at the memories she’d made with Max, or Zan…
Maia’s voice interrupted her reverie. “You and Zan were in love,” the older nurse nodded, reminiscently. “But I’m sure you hate him after what he’s done to you, right?”
The sudden change in her demeanor was startling. Tess frowned. “What?” She shook her head in confusion, then suddenly a knock came at the door.
Khivar poked his head in through a small crack in the door. “How is everyone getting along?”
Tess swallowed hard. “Fine,” she choked. Tess looked hard at the older woman. How did she know he was coming?
Khivar walked into the room and towards the two women. “I’ve had you checked out…Maia, isn’t it?” he sneered.
Tess watched Maia stare at Khivar glassily, as if looking through him. “Yes, Your Highness,” she smiled politely.
Khivar turned to Tess. “I don’t think you really want this woman caring for your child Ava,” he stated calmly.
Tess looked at him expressionless. “Why is that?” she asked.
“She’s not who she says she is. I found no recollection in our databases of any woman named Maia.”
Tess looked at Maia who remained calm, playing with Zander while the conversation ensued. “Well how do I know that? I’ve never seen anything remotely like a computer here on Antar. How am I supposed to check these nurses references.”
Khivar furrowed his brow in frustration. “That’s what my men and their resources are for. We are here to protect little Zander here.” The tall lanky man approached Zander, reaching out to touch him.
Maia growled and wrapped her arms securely around the child. “Well I think that Ava is a good judge of character and can make her own decisions, don’t you?” the older woman asked defiantly. “Or is she some toy you think you can make bend to your will?”
Tess didn’t know what to make of the situation. She didn’t trust Khivar as far as she could throw him, but she knew she couldn’t ignore his revelation. Part of her knew that he wasn’t lying about Maia, well at least off of it. Tess shook her head. “I think she’s fine. I haven’t felt any alarms going off in my head and Zander seems to like her.” Tess observed Zander playing with Maia’s lips and exploring her face. His giggles set her mind and hear at ease.
Khivar’s body seemed to tense and his hands clenched into fists. “I warn you, if anything happens to Zander, it will be on your head!” he warned menacingly. It was almost as if he was promising something would happen. He stalked out of the room and slammed the door.
Tess locked gazes with Maia. “I don’t believe your name is Maia as much as I believe Khivar is king,” Tess revealed. “Tell me who you are.”
Maia shook her head. “I can’t do that yet child. Not here in his house.”
Tess thought about how reasonable that excuse was. Khivar was bound to have eyes everywhere, listening to every conversation she had in his house. “Okay,” she drawled slowly. “Even if I believe that, why is Khivar adamant about getting you out of here?”
“He doesn’t know who I am,” Maia stated, “and that’s more dangerous than knowing who I am and having me take care of Zander.”
Tess sighed. She got up from the couch and looked out the balcony terrace. “I will trus…”
Before Tess could finish her sentence, she felt a horrible pain rush through her. She hadn’t been in contact with Max for a while, since she’d had to pull out when Khivar had walked into her home with the list of nurses. But now it felt like where he had been, there was nothing.
Tess fell to her knees in pain. “What’s happening?” she gasped in pain.
Suddenly she felt a warmth flow over her and a soothing voice melting away the throbbing darkness that consumed her. When she awoke, Tess found herself cradled in Maia’s arms and being gently rocked. Rubbing her head, Tess groggily regained consciousness. She sat up and looked curiously at Maia. “I’ve heard your voice before,” Tess accused.
Maia smiled and brushed a stray tendril from Tess’ face. “You’ll be fine.”
Tess slowly got up from the floor and looked around for Zander. “Where’s Zander?” she demanded.
Maia pushed herself up to standing position on a near by coffee table. “He’s in his play pen,” Maia replied. “Don’t you think you should sit down after that?”
Tess looked over at the older woman. She seemed less fragile and her frame seemed to have grown taller and straighter. “Who are you?”
Maia led Tess to the couch and sat her down. She disappeared behind a swinging door and came back with a glass of water. Tess accepted the glass of water and looked at her questioningly. “Who are you?” she repeated.
The nurse patted her on the hand and smiled. “I think you need to worry less about that and more about,” she looked around the room, leaned forward and whispered, “about Zan.”
Tess stood up quickly and shook her head. “No! You need to tell me how you know all of this stuff and what about Max?” she cried. Suddenly light-headedness overwhelmed her and Tess had to sit down.
Maia again began patting her hand. “All in good time my child. Now you have to worry about him. He’s losing touch my daughter and you have to hurry.”
Tess furrowed her brow when Maia called her ‘my daughter’, but could say anything before she faded into darkness.
~~~
Maria had arrived and was ready to take over for the evening. “What happened guys?” she frowned.
The trio looked at each other, eyes darting from one another. “Things have changed. Max isn’t breathing.”
Michael’s statement threw her. “You mean he’s dead? And you guys are just standing around like nothing’s happened?” Maria yelled, staring at them incredulously.
“He’s not dead. He’s alive, but just not breathing.” Michael shook his head as Maria looked on in confusion.
“You don’t need to know all the details, except if anything changes in his condition, call us,” Michael stated.
Maria rolled her eyes and walked over to Liz, hoping to get a straight answer from her. “Liz? What happened? You look horrible.”
Liz lowered her eyes and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Nothing,” she whispered. “Look, I gotta get some sleep before my shift starts this morning. Plus, my dad will kill me if I’m late again.”
Maria watched Michael, Isabel and Liz walk out the cave entrance. She felt like an outsider again and shouted in a non-verbal response. Then after counting to ten, Maria settled in for the early dawn and looked unhappily at the comatose Max.
~~~
When Isabel and Michael believed that Max had been stable for an hour or so, they felt like they could possibly leave for the night. Michael drove Isabel home in the quiet of the night. He felt like he’d been through an emotional roller coaster. It was almost a list of miracles that Max hadn’t died that night. He shook his head at the memory of feeling no breath come from Max’s mouth or nose, and the relief he felt when he’d discovered his heart still beating.
Michael walked Isabel to the door. He was on autopilot. He wasn’t thinking about what he was doing, he was just doing it.
“Isabel!” a man’s voice cried in alarm.
Both Isabel and Michael seemed startled out of their foggy reverie. “Jesse?” Isabel whispered.
Michael watched Isabel launch into Jesse’s arms, while he stood there motionless. He couldn’t believe they’d have to deal with him now, after tonight. Michael closed his eyes and turned to leave.
“Wait!” Isabel called softly.
Michael turned around to see Isabel reaching out to him. He’d dreamed of her doing that, but it was always marred by Jesse’s presence in the background, just as it was tonight. “What?” he barked.
“Don’t bark at her like that!” Jesse growled. Isabel held him back as he leaned forward menacingly.
Michael rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
Isabel looked at him pleadingly. “I just want to talk to you about something Michael.”
Michael raised his eyebrows and lifted his arms with impatience. “Yeah?”
Isabel turned quietly to Jesse who looked like he was ready to have at it with Michael. “I just need a second alone with him okay?”
Jesse looked incredulously at Isabel. “Are you kidding me? You’ve been with Michael for god knows how long and now you need a ‘second’ alone with him?” Jesse yelled.
Michael bit back a reply. He had no business sticking his nose in their relationship, he reminded himself. “I’ll be outside,” he stated stalking out the door, out of the ‘marital zone’.
It was a few minutes before she joined him out in the yard. He’d been stomping back the divets he’d made while waiting for Isabel. “What is it?” he sighed warily as he heard the door open.
Isabel walked towards him. “I’m sorry about that,” she apologized softly. “I just think he’s a bit tired from the plane.”
Michael shook his head and looked at her skeptically. “If you ask me he’s just a jerk and the plane ride just made it more apparent!” he retorted.
Isabel threw up her hands. “Can you not do that Michael? Please?” she cried. “I can’t take this!”
Michael looked up from the patch of grass he’d just kicked, and sighed. Isabel had dark rings under her eyes and her hair was disheveled; a completely different person than he remembered. Michael nodded. “I’m sorry,” he whispered as he pulled her against him.
He felt Isabel’s limp arms slowly return his embrace. Michael pulled away slightly and stroked her short red hair. “I’ll try,” he promised.
Isabel looked up with her big brown eyes and smiled half-heartedly. “That’s all I’m asking Michael.”
Michael nodded. She mouthed a ‘thank you’ and breathed a sigh of relief. With that, Michael dropped his hands from her shoulders and waved good night. He watched her in the rear view mirror, standing in the driveway as he drove away.
The Queen of Torture
Chapter Nineteen
***
What lies behind us,
And what lies before us
Are tiny matters compared to
What lies within us.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
***
Maia watched over Ava, her blonde hair straighter than she remembered, but her eyes still as blue as the sky. She never imagined how good it would feel to watch over her again, be a mother again. Maia felt like she would explode when Ava gently lifted Zander, her grandchild into her arms.
It was hard at first, knowing that Ava didn’t remember her, but she understood it. Maia didn’t look like this in true form; she’d taken on the image of an older woman to keep Khivar from suspecting that it was truly she, Andaria. Andaria thought it was clever to use the name Maia. It meant mother, but Khivar would never have thought about that.
~~~
“Uh,” Tess moaned. “What happened?”
Tess felt like someone had dropped an anvil on her head. She lightly rubbed her temple in hopes of pushing away the pain. The light caress of a woman’s hand startled her and Tess opened her eyes to see Maia hovering over her.
“Let me help you,” Maia whispered. The older woman pressed the palms of her hands against the sides of Tess’ head. “Just close your eyes and let the pain float away.”
Tess felt herself automatically close her eyes and let her mind go. There was warmth that flowed from the palms of Maia’s hands into her mind. It was like a salve to her hurting psyche.
When Tess felt Maia’s hands depart from her, it was like waking up from a refreshing sleep. Staring at the older woman, Tess furrowed her brow. She still hadn’t wrapped her mind around who the woman was.
Maia seemed to read her mind and smiled. “You’ll find out soon. But now, you must go to your new home. I will meet you there in an hour. All will be explained because time is running out,” she whispered conspiratorially.
Tess shook her head. “What about Zander? You said he couldn’t come to Tel Edrei?”
Maia nodded. “I have someone here that will look after him while I’m gone. Don’t worry. Everything’s been worked out my child.”
Tess felt unsettled. It was like she knew that everything had been planned out and that there was more to this woman than meets the eye. Tess swallowed hard and walked over to Zander. “Mommy will be back soon. I will come back for you,” she promised her son.
The 13-month old child looked up at her and smiled reassuringly. A peace emanated from him. Tess stroked his dark brown hair and gently placed a kiss on the crown of his head.
“He knows everything will be fine and wants you to be safe,” Maia said knowingly. “And I want you to know that he’s in good hands.”
Tess looked over her shoulder at Maia, who stared down lovingly at Zander. “How do you know that?” questioned Tess. “You’ve only just met my son.”
Maia stood up, straightening her posture until her eyes were square with Tess. “Your son is stronger than you know and more aware of his surroundings than anyone understands Ava.”
Tess debated whether she would press further in this line of questioning. She knew Zander had powers, like his father and mother, but what Tess didn’t know was whether they would be stronger, or different than Tess or Max’s. Tess felt Maia’s hand squeeze her shoulder gently. “You should be on your way. I must settle Zander in for the night before coming to you.”
Tess was about to protest when Zander stood up slowly in his playpen and reached up to Maia. It was as if he knew what Maia was saying and trusted her. Tess took this as a cue to leave. Though she still was hesitant at leaving her son, something she’d never done. “I’ll trust you Maia,” Tess said calmly. “But if anything happens to him, I will hunt you down.”
Maia stared at her seriously and then the corners of her eyes crinkled and her face broke into a smile. “Ava, I promise, if anything happens to him, I’ll hurt myself!”
Somehow that promise made her feel slightly more secure. Tess tried to peer into her mind, but there was a wall in between her and Maia’s secrets. Maia walked away to settle Zander in for the night, and if she knew Tess was trying to read her mind, she didn’t give that away.
~ * ~
Tess waited anxiously in her living room, pacing back and forth. She had developed a routine. She would pace back and forth ten times before looking out her window.
The household was not fully staffed. Tess had been so focused on her child’s caretaker that she hadn’t even thought about kitchen staff or maids. It wasn’t the lifestyle she’d grown accustomed to living on Earth.
“Would you like anything to sustain you, Your Highness?” The tall butler stood in the foyer, his face remained contorted as it had the first time she’d met him.
“No Medgio,” Tess dismissed, her gaze focused on the stone path leading up to her house.
“Is Your Highness expecting someone?” Medgio inquired.
Tess looked over at her butler. He wasn’t unfriendly, as much as he looked it, but Medgio couldn’t be trusted. Tess couldn’t take the chance he reported back to Khivar on her every move. “No,” she lied.
Medgio nodded once and turned on his heel and left the room.
~ * ~
It seemed like hours had passed and there was no sign of Maia. Tess was getting anxious and irritable. Medgio seemed to be checking up on her ever so often and it was getting on Tess’ nerves.
“Your Highness?” Medgio called.
Tess turned around and glared. “Would you stop checking up on me?” she yelled.
Medgio’s expression remained unchanged. He didn’t even flinch at Tess’ outburst. Tess closed her eyes and went back to staring out the window, praying that her point had been made.
“Your Highness?”
Tess clenched her teeth and smiled politely. “What is it?” growled Tess.
“It is getting late and you need to follow me,” he stated.
Tess turned around to dismiss him, but he had moved forward and was now only a few feet away from her. She thought it odd, but Tess hid her surprise. “I want to be alone!” demanded Tess.
“Please follow me,” Medgio stated, a little more forcefully.
Tess frowned as he turned on his heel and began to make his way into the foyer and down a hallway. She stood there in the living room for a moment, unsure that following him was the wisest idea, but Tess didn’t know what else to do. After a few minutes, Tess walked stepped up into the foyer and down the hallway she’d seen the older man disappear down. At the end of the hallway was a door, as she pushed it forward, it swung open to reveal a large kitchen. It had a sterile look to it. “Hello?” Tess called.
There were two doors, one to her left and one to her right. Just as Tess was about to enter the door to her left, Medgio suddenly appeared. Tess jumped a little, startled by his sudden presence. “What is it?” Tess demanded. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at the older man. “I’m not moving until you tell me exactly where you’re taking me.”
The corner of Medgio’s lip lifted a bit, into what seemed to be a smile. He turned his back to her and said, “This way, Your Highness.”
Medgio was walking towards a solid wall that had a few shelves of glassware and china sitting on it. Tess frowned. Where could they go?
Suddenly Medigo disappeared into the wall. Tess couldn’t believe her eyes. He’d just walked through the wall. As Tess approached the wall, she stretched out her arm and touched the surface of the wall. It was solid. Tess shook her head. Had she just imagined it?
Then unexpectedly, Medgio’s head appeared through the wall. “This way Your Highness,” he commanded. Then he disappeared again.
Tess stood pondering the situation. The wall seemed solid enough, and yet she had seen Medgio walk right through it. Tess took a deep breath and with her arms in front of her, walked forcefully towards the wall.
Surprisingly Tess didn’t find her face pressed against the wall. The solid mass in front of her seemed to phase out and allow her passage into a bright white cave. It almost reminded Tess of the Granolith chamber, except there were chairs and a few hints of color in the almost all white room. Charts of stars and constellations, galaxies she’d never seen before where hung on the wall.
Tess blinked a few times, trying to adjust her eyes to the stark intensity of the light. “What is this place?” she said out loud to herself.
“It’s a safe haven my daughter,” a familiar voice echoed.
Tess turned around and found an older version of herself, staring back at her. The fair-haired woman stood in a cream-colored gown, her hair swept up and hanging down in tendrils before her. Her eyes were as deep as the sea, with a brooding intensity within. Furrowing her brow, Tess tried to place her face. She’d seen this woman before. “Do I know you?” she whispered. Tess had this nagging feeling that she was close to this woman.
The mystery woman nodded slowly, long flowing arms outstretched before her. Tess was pulled to her, like metal to a magnet. She stopped inches away from the stranger. “Who are you?” Tess asked breathlessly.
The woman looked upon her with kind eyes that seemed filled with memories. “I’m Andaria,” she whispered, almost in tears. She reached out and captured a lock of hair in between two of her fingers. “You’re as beautiful as I remember.”
Her hand caressed her face and as Tess closed her eyes a flood of memories filled her mind. A woman dressed in pale silver walking behind a golden-haired woman dressed in white. The woman in white wore a crown and sat down on a red velvet chair. The woman in pale silver knelt before her. Suddenly the images changed. The woman in silver now walked along the sand, her blonde hair flowing in the wind. She was reaching for someone, calling someone. A little girl was swept up into the woman’s arms and swung around. They laughed mercilessly.
Tess swallowed. “Mom?”
~~~
Liz aimlessly stumbled into The Crashdown. Michael and Isabel made sure she’d gotten home. They kept asking her if she’d be okay. What kind of question was that?
Her head throbbed. She couldn’t believe how wrong everything was. Max was dying and she was the reason? It was something she couldn’t accept. They were wrong.
As Liz climbed up the stairs into the loft above the café, she thought of all the adventures, pains, and trials that she and Max had gone through to get to that point - that one perfect night.
They’d been in Las Vegas on a long weekend. Max had driven them to one of the most spectacular hotels in the city and made such a big deal over her. When they’d arrived, Max had had champagne, strawberries and chocolate waiting for them. She couldn’t have imagined anything more romantic. The room was lined with candles and there was a heart shaped Jacuzzi in the room.
As the memories filled her mind, Liz felt like she was drowning. She felt like she couldn’t breath. When she fell onto the floor, tucking her head between her knees, trying not to faint; Liz squeezed her eyes shut, thinking that maybe it would stop her from seeing Max’s face and feeling the touch of his lips on her body. It didn’t.
Oh God, why is this happening? Liz asked in desperation. What had she done so irreparably wrong to deserve such pain? All she had wanted was Max.
As the pain of reality sunk in, Liz choked out a loud laugh. This had the taste of a bad soap opera. “How pathetic!” she mumbled to herself.
“What’s pathetic?” a voice asked.
Liz jerked her head up and was startled to see Kyle standing at the top of the stairs. “What do you want?” she asked miserably, wiping the streams of salty tears from her cheeks.
She didn’t look up. Liz didn’t want to hear an, ‘I told you so’ from Kyle, especially from Kyle. “Can you just leave me alone?” she sobbed.
Liz heard him slide down beside her. She looked over at him, waiting to see a smug look on his face. “Nope. Can’t do that,” he said nonchalantly. “My dad told me never to leave a crying girl by herself. You might just get lucky.”
Liz looked at him disgustingly. “Your dad never said anything like that!”
He looked at her and shrugged. “You’re right, but it sounded good?”
Liz rolled her eyes and let out a strangled laugh. “You’re such a dork!”
Kyle smiled. “Well, that’s what friends are for, right?” He dug into his jacket pocket and pulled up a wrinkled tissue. “Hasn’t been used, I promise!”
Liz laughed and then remembered the events of the past two weeks. “Oh Kyle, everything’s so messed up!”
The light-brown haired boy looked empathetically at her. “What’s messed up Liz? You guys have been disappearing a lot lately and I didn’t know what was happening?”
Liz looked up at Kyle and thought about how to explain the horrible mess to him. As she opened her mouth to put thought to words, Liz felt herself choke on the well of tears that surged forward. Shaking her head, Liz buried her head into Kyle’s shoulder.
She felt his strong arm pull her into him and she welcomed the warm embrace.
~~~
Isabel walked into the Evans’ residence wearily. She didn’t want to even think about the argument that would ensue after forgetting to pick Jesse up. Before entering her parents’ house, Isabel took a deep breath and sighed. You can do this. You’ve been through worse right?
The pep talk she gave to herself didn’t quite do the trick. Isabel walked slowly into the Evans’ kitchen, waiting for the barrage of questions from her husband. But there were none. Instead the questions came from her parents.
“Isabel, where have you been? Jesse’s been worried sick!” Mrs. Evans chided, with her father standing intently behind her.
Isabel swallowed and ran her hand around her neck trying to massage it free of the tension. “I’ve been looking for Max,” Isabel lied. “He’s still out there you know!”
Isabel could feel Jesse’s gaze upon her, but she couldn’t handle it right now. Not while she had to continue to lie to her parents. Isabel imagined how much easier it would be if they knew, but she remembered the last time she felt compelled to tell her mother. Max wouldn’t allow it. But Max wasn’t there.
As she teased with the idea of telling her parents, Isabel was reminded of her father’s reaction to all the mystery and secrecy surrounding Max the last time. Though telling her mother might have been all right, she knew her father wasn’t the same story. And because of her father, Isabel reminded herself, it’s never going to work, telling Mom.
Isabel sighed. “I’m really tried Mom. Could we talk about this tomorrow?”
Mr. and Mrs. Evans’ looked at each other and shook their heads disdainfully. “We can,” Mr. Evans stated. “But I don’t think Jesse should have to.”
Isabel followed her parents as they walked out of the kitchen and back to their room. Turning back to Jesse, who hadn’t said a word since she’d come back into the kitchen, Isabel bit her lip and apologized, “I’m sorry Jesse. Max was really bad tonight and we weren’t sure if he was going to make it. I’m really sorry.”
Jesse stared right through her. “You know I thought that maybe you needed me here, to support you, ya know?” He shook his head. “Who knew you’d run to Michael the first chance you get!”
The accusation stung. There was some truth to his words, but what right did he have to judge her? She’d done the best she could under the circumstances. Max was sick and that was her main priority. Michael had nothing to do with it.
Isabel bit back her anger. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what you want me to say,” she sighed exasperatedly. “I am trying to save my brother here…”
The words seemed to choke in her throat. She couldn’t get them out. “I just am…trying to do the best I can,” she sobbed. “God, can’t you understand that! I don’t need you to be jealous right now! I need you to help me!” Isabel looked up at him, pleading for some understanding. She sank down into one of the kitchen chairs.
Jesse’s hardened face seemed to soften. He moved towards her, kneeling before her. “I know you’re having a hard time with this,” he whispered. “I just want you to let me in. I can help Isabel. For Pete’s sake, I’ve been trying to help you and love you since the day I met you.”
Isabel closed her eyes and thanked God that he didn’t hate her or hold any of this against her. It was her biggest fear: Would she have to choose between her brother and her husband? But Jesse put that fear to rest with his butterfly kisses. Isabel felt herself being led to her bedroom. She was so tired. She and Michael had so much to do and so little time to do it in.
~~~
Michael had fallen asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. His body was worn from the stress and the tension of the night’s events. First, with Max and Liz and then Jesse’s return.
He’d been ready for Jesse’s return when Isabel told him, but then Max’s close call and the high drama of the evening; it made Michael forget about Jesse. Michael had felt closer to Isabel than he’d ever felt before, but by evidence of tonight, it wasn’t exactly the same for Isabel. Or so he thought.
Michael never had dreams. He couldn’t recall having one dream when he grew up. Of course it could’ve been due to Hank and his drinking. Michael grew up sleeping with one eye open. That was until he had those dreams of destiny.
But that night, Michael felt himself drift and dream. The images he dreamt, Michael had seen before. It was of the desert and the alien symbols. But there was something different this time.
The dream seemed to blur as Isabel appeared. The desert turned into rocky crags and the sky was green. He stood in a blue armor, military medals pinned over his heart. Michael/Rath peered over some hillside where there were clouds of fire and flashes of light. He could hear screams from men dying as he turned his back on the images.
Behind him, Isabel/Vilandra stood, her hair was long and blonde again, but swept up in a crown of curls. She looked magnificent, regal and innocent. He smiled as she approached him.
“Vilandra,” he could hear himself speak. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Isabel/Vilandra wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. When she pulled away, there was a certain glint in her eye. “Rath darling,” she said breathlessly. “I have something to tell you.”
He frowned. “What is it?” he asked.
She pulled out of his arms and turned her back to him. “I’m in love with someone else.”
The words stung. His betrothed, his beloved – betrayed him? Michael already knew the story, but to see the images, the memories return, it filled his heart with anger and pain.
“To whom?” The play continued on as Michael struggled to awaken from the images.
“I'm sorry. He loves me. I know you’re only marrying me because you’re my brother’s second in command. His servant. You’re doing this because he told you to.”
Michael/Rath growled at the accusation. “You don’t know what you’re saying. This man, he doesn't love you Vilandra!”
Michael/Rath watched as Isabel/Vilandra ignored his testimony of truth. She was in the distance before he reached the end of his cry, to far to hear the truth. “I love you! I will always love you.”
Awaking with a start, Michael swallowed as his alarm clock sounded with a loud shrieking moan. He hit the top of the irritating machine and fell back into his pillow. What was he supposed to do now?
***
What lies behind us,
And what lies before us
Are tiny matters compared to
What lies within us.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
***
Maia watched over Ava, her blonde hair straighter than she remembered, but her eyes still as blue as the sky. She never imagined how good it would feel to watch over her again, be a mother again. Maia felt like she would explode when Ava gently lifted Zander, her grandchild into her arms.
It was hard at first, knowing that Ava didn’t remember her, but she understood it. Maia didn’t look like this in true form; she’d taken on the image of an older woman to keep Khivar from suspecting that it was truly she, Andaria. Andaria thought it was clever to use the name Maia. It meant mother, but Khivar would never have thought about that.
~~~
“Uh,” Tess moaned. “What happened?”
Tess felt like someone had dropped an anvil on her head. She lightly rubbed her temple in hopes of pushing away the pain. The light caress of a woman’s hand startled her and Tess opened her eyes to see Maia hovering over her.
“Let me help you,” Maia whispered. The older woman pressed the palms of her hands against the sides of Tess’ head. “Just close your eyes and let the pain float away.”
Tess felt herself automatically close her eyes and let her mind go. There was warmth that flowed from the palms of Maia’s hands into her mind. It was like a salve to her hurting psyche.
When Tess felt Maia’s hands depart from her, it was like waking up from a refreshing sleep. Staring at the older woman, Tess furrowed her brow. She still hadn’t wrapped her mind around who the woman was.
Maia seemed to read her mind and smiled. “You’ll find out soon. But now, you must go to your new home. I will meet you there in an hour. All will be explained because time is running out,” she whispered conspiratorially.
Tess shook her head. “What about Zander? You said he couldn’t come to Tel Edrei?”
Maia nodded. “I have someone here that will look after him while I’m gone. Don’t worry. Everything’s been worked out my child.”
Tess felt unsettled. It was like she knew that everything had been planned out and that there was more to this woman than meets the eye. Tess swallowed hard and walked over to Zander. “Mommy will be back soon. I will come back for you,” she promised her son.
The 13-month old child looked up at her and smiled reassuringly. A peace emanated from him. Tess stroked his dark brown hair and gently placed a kiss on the crown of his head.
“He knows everything will be fine and wants you to be safe,” Maia said knowingly. “And I want you to know that he’s in good hands.”
Tess looked over her shoulder at Maia, who stared down lovingly at Zander. “How do you know that?” questioned Tess. “You’ve only just met my son.”
Maia stood up, straightening her posture until her eyes were square with Tess. “Your son is stronger than you know and more aware of his surroundings than anyone understands Ava.”
Tess debated whether she would press further in this line of questioning. She knew Zander had powers, like his father and mother, but what Tess didn’t know was whether they would be stronger, or different than Tess or Max’s. Tess felt Maia’s hand squeeze her shoulder gently. “You should be on your way. I must settle Zander in for the night before coming to you.”
Tess was about to protest when Zander stood up slowly in his playpen and reached up to Maia. It was as if he knew what Maia was saying and trusted her. Tess took this as a cue to leave. Though she still was hesitant at leaving her son, something she’d never done. “I’ll trust you Maia,” Tess said calmly. “But if anything happens to him, I will hunt you down.”
Maia stared at her seriously and then the corners of her eyes crinkled and her face broke into a smile. “Ava, I promise, if anything happens to him, I’ll hurt myself!”
Somehow that promise made her feel slightly more secure. Tess tried to peer into her mind, but there was a wall in between her and Maia’s secrets. Maia walked away to settle Zander in for the night, and if she knew Tess was trying to read her mind, she didn’t give that away.
~ * ~
Tess waited anxiously in her living room, pacing back and forth. She had developed a routine. She would pace back and forth ten times before looking out her window.
The household was not fully staffed. Tess had been so focused on her child’s caretaker that she hadn’t even thought about kitchen staff or maids. It wasn’t the lifestyle she’d grown accustomed to living on Earth.
“Would you like anything to sustain you, Your Highness?” The tall butler stood in the foyer, his face remained contorted as it had the first time she’d met him.
“No Medgio,” Tess dismissed, her gaze focused on the stone path leading up to her house.
“Is Your Highness expecting someone?” Medgio inquired.
Tess looked over at her butler. He wasn’t unfriendly, as much as he looked it, but Medgio couldn’t be trusted. Tess couldn’t take the chance he reported back to Khivar on her every move. “No,” she lied.
Medgio nodded once and turned on his heel and left the room.
~ * ~
It seemed like hours had passed and there was no sign of Maia. Tess was getting anxious and irritable. Medgio seemed to be checking up on her ever so often and it was getting on Tess’ nerves.
“Your Highness?” Medgio called.
Tess turned around and glared. “Would you stop checking up on me?” she yelled.
Medgio’s expression remained unchanged. He didn’t even flinch at Tess’ outburst. Tess closed her eyes and went back to staring out the window, praying that her point had been made.
“Your Highness?”
Tess clenched her teeth and smiled politely. “What is it?” growled Tess.
“It is getting late and you need to follow me,” he stated.
Tess turned around to dismiss him, but he had moved forward and was now only a few feet away from her. She thought it odd, but Tess hid her surprise. “I want to be alone!” demanded Tess.
“Please follow me,” Medgio stated, a little more forcefully.
Tess frowned as he turned on his heel and began to make his way into the foyer and down a hallway. She stood there in the living room for a moment, unsure that following him was the wisest idea, but Tess didn’t know what else to do. After a few minutes, Tess walked stepped up into the foyer and down the hallway she’d seen the older man disappear down. At the end of the hallway was a door, as she pushed it forward, it swung open to reveal a large kitchen. It had a sterile look to it. “Hello?” Tess called.
There were two doors, one to her left and one to her right. Just as Tess was about to enter the door to her left, Medgio suddenly appeared. Tess jumped a little, startled by his sudden presence. “What is it?” Tess demanded. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at the older man. “I’m not moving until you tell me exactly where you’re taking me.”
The corner of Medgio’s lip lifted a bit, into what seemed to be a smile. He turned his back to her and said, “This way, Your Highness.”
Medgio was walking towards a solid wall that had a few shelves of glassware and china sitting on it. Tess frowned. Where could they go?
Suddenly Medigo disappeared into the wall. Tess couldn’t believe her eyes. He’d just walked through the wall. As Tess approached the wall, she stretched out her arm and touched the surface of the wall. It was solid. Tess shook her head. Had she just imagined it?
Then unexpectedly, Medgio’s head appeared through the wall. “This way Your Highness,” he commanded. Then he disappeared again.
Tess stood pondering the situation. The wall seemed solid enough, and yet she had seen Medgio walk right through it. Tess took a deep breath and with her arms in front of her, walked forcefully towards the wall.
Surprisingly Tess didn’t find her face pressed against the wall. The solid mass in front of her seemed to phase out and allow her passage into a bright white cave. It almost reminded Tess of the Granolith chamber, except there were chairs and a few hints of color in the almost all white room. Charts of stars and constellations, galaxies she’d never seen before where hung on the wall.
Tess blinked a few times, trying to adjust her eyes to the stark intensity of the light. “What is this place?” she said out loud to herself.
“It’s a safe haven my daughter,” a familiar voice echoed.
Tess turned around and found an older version of herself, staring back at her. The fair-haired woman stood in a cream-colored gown, her hair swept up and hanging down in tendrils before her. Her eyes were as deep as the sea, with a brooding intensity within. Furrowing her brow, Tess tried to place her face. She’d seen this woman before. “Do I know you?” she whispered. Tess had this nagging feeling that she was close to this woman.
The mystery woman nodded slowly, long flowing arms outstretched before her. Tess was pulled to her, like metal to a magnet. She stopped inches away from the stranger. “Who are you?” Tess asked breathlessly.
The woman looked upon her with kind eyes that seemed filled with memories. “I’m Andaria,” she whispered, almost in tears. She reached out and captured a lock of hair in between two of her fingers. “You’re as beautiful as I remember.”
Her hand caressed her face and as Tess closed her eyes a flood of memories filled her mind. A woman dressed in pale silver walking behind a golden-haired woman dressed in white. The woman in white wore a crown and sat down on a red velvet chair. The woman in pale silver knelt before her. Suddenly the images changed. The woman in silver now walked along the sand, her blonde hair flowing in the wind. She was reaching for someone, calling someone. A little girl was swept up into the woman’s arms and swung around. They laughed mercilessly.
Tess swallowed. “Mom?”
~~~
Liz aimlessly stumbled into The Crashdown. Michael and Isabel made sure she’d gotten home. They kept asking her if she’d be okay. What kind of question was that?
Her head throbbed. She couldn’t believe how wrong everything was. Max was dying and she was the reason? It was something she couldn’t accept. They were wrong.
As Liz climbed up the stairs into the loft above the café, she thought of all the adventures, pains, and trials that she and Max had gone through to get to that point - that one perfect night.
They’d been in Las Vegas on a long weekend. Max had driven them to one of the most spectacular hotels in the city and made such a big deal over her. When they’d arrived, Max had had champagne, strawberries and chocolate waiting for them. She couldn’t have imagined anything more romantic. The room was lined with candles and there was a heart shaped Jacuzzi in the room.
As the memories filled her mind, Liz felt like she was drowning. She felt like she couldn’t breath. When she fell onto the floor, tucking her head between her knees, trying not to faint; Liz squeezed her eyes shut, thinking that maybe it would stop her from seeing Max’s face and feeling the touch of his lips on her body. It didn’t.
Oh God, why is this happening? Liz asked in desperation. What had she done so irreparably wrong to deserve such pain? All she had wanted was Max.
As the pain of reality sunk in, Liz choked out a loud laugh. This had the taste of a bad soap opera. “How pathetic!” she mumbled to herself.
“What’s pathetic?” a voice asked.
Liz jerked her head up and was startled to see Kyle standing at the top of the stairs. “What do you want?” she asked miserably, wiping the streams of salty tears from her cheeks.
She didn’t look up. Liz didn’t want to hear an, ‘I told you so’ from Kyle, especially from Kyle. “Can you just leave me alone?” she sobbed.
Liz heard him slide down beside her. She looked over at him, waiting to see a smug look on his face. “Nope. Can’t do that,” he said nonchalantly. “My dad told me never to leave a crying girl by herself. You might just get lucky.”
Liz looked at him disgustingly. “Your dad never said anything like that!”
He looked at her and shrugged. “You’re right, but it sounded good?”
Liz rolled her eyes and let out a strangled laugh. “You’re such a dork!”
Kyle smiled. “Well, that’s what friends are for, right?” He dug into his jacket pocket and pulled up a wrinkled tissue. “Hasn’t been used, I promise!”
Liz laughed and then remembered the events of the past two weeks. “Oh Kyle, everything’s so messed up!”
The light-brown haired boy looked empathetically at her. “What’s messed up Liz? You guys have been disappearing a lot lately and I didn’t know what was happening?”
Liz looked up at Kyle and thought about how to explain the horrible mess to him. As she opened her mouth to put thought to words, Liz felt herself choke on the well of tears that surged forward. Shaking her head, Liz buried her head into Kyle’s shoulder.
She felt his strong arm pull her into him and she welcomed the warm embrace.
~~~
Isabel walked into the Evans’ residence wearily. She didn’t want to even think about the argument that would ensue after forgetting to pick Jesse up. Before entering her parents’ house, Isabel took a deep breath and sighed. You can do this. You’ve been through worse right?
The pep talk she gave to herself didn’t quite do the trick. Isabel walked slowly into the Evans’ kitchen, waiting for the barrage of questions from her husband. But there were none. Instead the questions came from her parents.
“Isabel, where have you been? Jesse’s been worried sick!” Mrs. Evans chided, with her father standing intently behind her.
Isabel swallowed and ran her hand around her neck trying to massage it free of the tension. “I’ve been looking for Max,” Isabel lied. “He’s still out there you know!”
Isabel could feel Jesse’s gaze upon her, but she couldn’t handle it right now. Not while she had to continue to lie to her parents. Isabel imagined how much easier it would be if they knew, but she remembered the last time she felt compelled to tell her mother. Max wouldn’t allow it. But Max wasn’t there.
As she teased with the idea of telling her parents, Isabel was reminded of her father’s reaction to all the mystery and secrecy surrounding Max the last time. Though telling her mother might have been all right, she knew her father wasn’t the same story. And because of her father, Isabel reminded herself, it’s never going to work, telling Mom.
Isabel sighed. “I’m really tried Mom. Could we talk about this tomorrow?”
Mr. and Mrs. Evans’ looked at each other and shook their heads disdainfully. “We can,” Mr. Evans stated. “But I don’t think Jesse should have to.”
Isabel followed her parents as they walked out of the kitchen and back to their room. Turning back to Jesse, who hadn’t said a word since she’d come back into the kitchen, Isabel bit her lip and apologized, “I’m sorry Jesse. Max was really bad tonight and we weren’t sure if he was going to make it. I’m really sorry.”
Jesse stared right through her. “You know I thought that maybe you needed me here, to support you, ya know?” He shook his head. “Who knew you’d run to Michael the first chance you get!”
The accusation stung. There was some truth to his words, but what right did he have to judge her? She’d done the best she could under the circumstances. Max was sick and that was her main priority. Michael had nothing to do with it.
Isabel bit back her anger. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what you want me to say,” she sighed exasperatedly. “I am trying to save my brother here…”
The words seemed to choke in her throat. She couldn’t get them out. “I just am…trying to do the best I can,” she sobbed. “God, can’t you understand that! I don’t need you to be jealous right now! I need you to help me!” Isabel looked up at him, pleading for some understanding. She sank down into one of the kitchen chairs.
Jesse’s hardened face seemed to soften. He moved towards her, kneeling before her. “I know you’re having a hard time with this,” he whispered. “I just want you to let me in. I can help Isabel. For Pete’s sake, I’ve been trying to help you and love you since the day I met you.”
Isabel closed her eyes and thanked God that he didn’t hate her or hold any of this against her. It was her biggest fear: Would she have to choose between her brother and her husband? But Jesse put that fear to rest with his butterfly kisses. Isabel felt herself being led to her bedroom. She was so tired. She and Michael had so much to do and so little time to do it in.
~~~
Michael had fallen asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. His body was worn from the stress and the tension of the night’s events. First, with Max and Liz and then Jesse’s return.
He’d been ready for Jesse’s return when Isabel told him, but then Max’s close call and the high drama of the evening; it made Michael forget about Jesse. Michael had felt closer to Isabel than he’d ever felt before, but by evidence of tonight, it wasn’t exactly the same for Isabel. Or so he thought.
Michael never had dreams. He couldn’t recall having one dream when he grew up. Of course it could’ve been due to Hank and his drinking. Michael grew up sleeping with one eye open. That was until he had those dreams of destiny.
But that night, Michael felt himself drift and dream. The images he dreamt, Michael had seen before. It was of the desert and the alien symbols. But there was something different this time.
The dream seemed to blur as Isabel appeared. The desert turned into rocky crags and the sky was green. He stood in a blue armor, military medals pinned over his heart. Michael/Rath peered over some hillside where there were clouds of fire and flashes of light. He could hear screams from men dying as he turned his back on the images.
Behind him, Isabel/Vilandra stood, her hair was long and blonde again, but swept up in a crown of curls. She looked magnificent, regal and innocent. He smiled as she approached him.
“Vilandra,” he could hear himself speak. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Isabel/Vilandra wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. When she pulled away, there was a certain glint in her eye. “Rath darling,” she said breathlessly. “I have something to tell you.”
He frowned. “What is it?” he asked.
She pulled out of his arms and turned her back to him. “I’m in love with someone else.”
The words stung. His betrothed, his beloved – betrayed him? Michael already knew the story, but to see the images, the memories return, it filled his heart with anger and pain.
“To whom?” The play continued on as Michael struggled to awaken from the images.
“I'm sorry. He loves me. I know you’re only marrying me because you’re my brother’s second in command. His servant. You’re doing this because he told you to.”
Michael/Rath growled at the accusation. “You don’t know what you’re saying. This man, he doesn't love you Vilandra!”
Michael/Rath watched as Isabel/Vilandra ignored his testimony of truth. She was in the distance before he reached the end of his cry, to far to hear the truth. “I love you! I will always love you.”
Awaking with a start, Michael swallowed as his alarm clock sounded with a loud shrieking moan. He hit the top of the irritating machine and fell back into his pillow. What was he supposed to do now?
The Queen of Torture
Once again, appreciating the feedback. It's really helpful.
So here I go again:
Chapter Twenty
***
Love, you know, seeks to make happy rather than to be happy.
- Ralph Connor
***
Liz awoke from her deep slumber, the ray of the morning sun peeping through the skylight. As she opened her eyes, she realized that she and Kyle had fallen asleep in the loft above the café. She panicked for a moment. Her parents would be frantic.
As she slowly pushed herself up from the horizontal position, Liz rubbed her face, which was still puffy from the torrent of tears that flowed from Michael and Isabel’s revelation. Liz looked over at Kyle, who was sleeping slouched on the couch. He would be sore when he woke up.
Liz slid off the couch and planned to get ready for her shift that morning, when she heard Kyle groan. “Ugh, remind me never to sleep with you again,” he joked, still groggy from the uncomfortable sleep.
“Well, I never told you to come here,” Liz retorted softly. “I did tell you to leave.”
Kyle stood up, stretching his arms above his head. “Yeah, and that would have been a good idea?” he threw a skeptical gaze at Liz. “After all the crying you did last night, my t-shirt’s shrunk to a medium from a large!”
Liz rolled her eyes at his pathetic joke. “Whatever Kyle, “ she chuckled.
It felt good to laugh again. Last night it felt like she’d shed whatever emotions she had through her tears. Liz didn’t think she could feel anything.
“Liz!” a man’s voice shouted frantically. “Are you here?”
Liz recognized her father’s voice. She glanced at Kyle who seemed occupied with the task of working out the knots in his neck. “What are we going to do?” she whispered anxiously.
Kyle looked over at Liz and frowned. “What’s there to worry about? It’s not like we did anything. Just tell him we fell asleep here.”
Liz ran her fingers through her hair. “Are you kidding me? Do you know my dad? He’ll freak!”
Kyle shook his head and walked towards the stairs. “Just watch. He can’t be as bad as you think,” chided Kyle.
~ * ~
“And you think that there’s nothing wrong with what you did?” yelled Mr. Parker. “You had your mother and I worried sick! And you young man?” Her father gave Kyle a withering stare.
Kyle looked over at Liz and gave her a frightened stare. Liz glared at him and mouthed, ‘I told you so’.
“How stupid and gullible do you think we are?” Mr. Parker asked
Kyle opened his mouth to make a loose comment, when Liz glared at him, warning him not to make the situation worse. “I’m sorry sir,” Kyle apologized, settling for something less controversial.
“But seriously, we didn’t do anything. Liz was having a bad night and I just found her at the Crashdown.”
“Dad, come on! You know that I wouldn’t do anything like that,” Liz pleaded. “I was having a tough time, with Max and all, and I came here to think.”
Her father’s face softened, and Liz thought she might have gotten through to him. “Dad, I’m sorry. I would have called, but I wasn’t planning on falling asleep here.”
Mr. Parker unclenched his teeth and relaxed his body. “All right. I believe you,” he sighed. “But you had us worried Liz. I know this has been tough for you, with Max missing and all, but if you would just come talk to us…”
Liz looked at the floor. “I…I just can’t Dad. It’s not something I can talk about.”
Finally after a few minutes, her father walked into the kitchen to start the grills, leaving Liz alone with Kyle. “Thanks for not making any jokes. I don’t think he would have appreciated them.”
Kyle’s eyes widened and scratched the back of his head. “Who knew the guy had a set of lungs in him like that?”
Liz laughed again. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thanks for following me up to the loft Kyle. I know I told you I wanted to be alone, but I think it would have been worse if I was.”
Kyle grinned. “I knew you’d miss me,” he teased.
Liz hit him playfully and motioned with her head that she would have to get going. “I have to go get changed before the breakfast crowd gets here.”
“Well, I think my dad is probably sending out the search party for my hide right about now too.”
Liz nodded. “Come by for lunch? It’s on the house,” she offered.
Kyle nodded. “Sure. Like I’m going to pass up a free meal from such a pretty gal like you?”
Liz smirked. “Another one of your dad’s pointers?” she teased.
Kyle winked and laughed. “You betcha!”
Liz sighed as she unlocked the deadbolt, allowing Kyle to leave. “Thanks again.”
Kyle shrugged and waved goodbye. “I’ll see you at 12 sharp.”
~~~
Andaria was Tess’ mother. Tess never expected that. And what’s more, Tess never expected to see her mother morph into Maia. “So you were pretending to be Maia?” Tess exclaimed.
“Yes, Ava.”
Tess never imagined seeing her mother let alone being in the same room with her. “I don’t remember everything. I remember Max…I mean Zan and my life together with him, but I don’t remember all of my life here on Antar. Everything’s so strange.”
Andaria nodded. “I know, Ava. Things are bound to be missing. But I’m here to help you remember.”
Tess felt her body tense. She’d been waiting for this moment from the time Nasedo had begun telling her stories about Antar, but now that she was on Antar it filled her with fear and anxiety. Ava and Zan had existed, but Tess didn’t want to lose that part of herself she’d found with Maxwell.
She knew that Zan and Ava had lived and had a life together, but Tess knew that Maxwell and she had made a connection other than through the past. Max had fallen in love with her, not because she was Ava, but because she was Tess. That was until Alex’s accidental death.
Tess felt Andaria’s long slender arms wrap around her shoulders. “I know what burden you carry, Ava. I know what you’ve sacrificed for Zan.”
She looked up at her mother and rested her head on her shoulder. “I’ve destroyed whatever chance I had with him Mom. He did love me. We were going to come back here and live our lives as a family,” she choked out. “Now Max is dying and it’s all because of me.”
Andaria stroked Tess’ silky hair. “It’s not your fault. You know that Zan’s convergence with that human is the cause of the state he’s in now,” she chided.
Tess shook her head and pulled away from her mother’s comforting arms. “But if I hadn’t pushed him away. If I hadn’t lied to him the way I did, none of this would be happening,” Tess cried out in frustration.
It was the first time she’d let out these doubts and fears. It was the first time Tess had been able to voice the anger she had for Nasedo, Khivar and the ‘stupid’ plan that took Maxwell away from her.
“But Ava,” her mother cooed. “You know he would have died. You would have been delivering Zan into Khivar’s hands.”
Tess fell into a nearby chair. “Mom, he would have killed Max.”
Her mother kneeled before Tess, her intense blue eyes gazing lovingly at her daughter. “You did what you had to do. Zan will understand once you explain to him what happened.”
“But how can I do that?” Tess asked wearily. “He’s still in the same position that he was the last time I was about to return to Antar with him. Khivar will kill him.”
Andaria smiled at her worried daughter. “Ava, plans have been made for your return. Had we known you were coming when you had, we could have saved you this heartache of being parted from your husband.”
Tess frowned. “What do you mean?”
“There is a contingent of Loyalists who remain true to the throne. We have been waiting for the time when our King would return home at last to free us from Khivar and his massacre and iron fist,” Andaria explained. “We’re ready now Ava. You will bring home the other three. The Royal Four will sit on the throne of Antar once more.”
Tess was stunned. She hadn’t expected any of this. From the time she’d arrived on Antar, Tess hadn’t seen hide or hair of any supporters of past King and court. “How can you be sure?” she asked worriedly.
Andaria understood her daughter’s uncertainty. “You have to trust us darling. Zan’s mother and I have arranged everything. The time has come. You have born an heir to the throne of Antar. He will bear the crest of Zan’s house, Kedra - born of royal blood.”
Tess was overwhelmed. How could this all happen? Khivar had hundreds of thousands of soldiers and minions behind him, while she had yet to convince Max, Isabel and Michael that it was their rightful place on Antar. She shook her head. She couldn’t do it. She wasn’t strong enough.
“I’m don’t know. Things aren’t as bad as Nasedo said,” Tess reasoned with her mother slowly. “I don’t see anyone suffering like you’re saying. Maybe Khivar isn’t as horrible as he seems. It seems like they’ll be more people hurt from us trying to regain the throne than from just leaving things as it is.”
Andaria stood up quickly and the warm clear blue eyes that had gazed lovingly up at her froze into cold ice. “Ava!” she cried aloud in anger. “I have not raised a daughter to shrink back from her destiny. What kind of Queen are you?”
Tess swallowed hard. “I’m not a Queen, Mom! My name is Tess and I was born on Earth. I’m not Ava! I wasn’t born into a royal family and a prince didn’t fall in love with me and make me his queen!” she yelled indignantly.
Andaria stood there for a moment, as if seeing her for the first time. “Well, I guess I don’t know you as well as I thought. I thought you were a strong woman who would do anything for the people she loved. That is the daughter I knew.”
Tess watched as Andaria turned her back on her. “I’m sorry Mom. I would like to help, but I’m not strong enough.”
Andaria turned on her heel and faced her whimpering daughter. “Nonsense. You feel sorry for yourself, a trait that you have taken from those humans you’ve lived with for so long,” she snapped, eyes blazing. “You are my daughter. You have my blood running through your veins. I know you are my daughter because of what I’ve seen you overcome.”
“Khivar and Nicholas have done everything to keep you at bay and placated, but you never once gave in to them. You have plotted and schemed for a way out of their grasp. And now you are here in this house.”
“You’ve always been smart Ava, and I’m not willing to watch you simper and accept that your place here on Antar is one of a menial servant. Or a kept woman of the reigning ‘king’.”
Tess never expected her mother to become so angry over her choice to stop fighting. It wasn’t something she wanted, but without the other three, how could she not give up? She was trapped, a kept woman.
“I’m not a coward,” protested Tess. “I’m just stuck. My hands are tied. Mother I would take this kingdom back with you and our people, but I don’t have any right. Max is the only one who can decide that, and he decided it wasn’t his choice a long time ago.”
Andaria furrowed her brow and pursed her lips. “But was it his choice? Or yours? Just as you said daughter, you lied to him and made that choice for him. You chose to lie to him about how that human, Alex, died. You chose to lie to him about why he died,” she exclaimed. “He was ready to come home with you Ava. He would have been king.”
Tess licked her lips, pondering the choices she’d made and how she was now using them as excuses. “But he would have died,” she whispered softly.
Andaria lifted Tess’ chin up so that she could look straight into her eyes. “That’s what you thought,” she replied. “But now Tess, you and Maxwell, are stronger than you know. And when you save him and bring him back home, you will see. You and Max will be King and Queen once more.”
“He is the man who loves you my dear daughter. I know he is.”
~~~
Isabel awoke in Jesse’s arms. It had been a while since she’d felt like she belonged there. It had been a while since Jesse had allowed her to feel like she’d belonged there. She hoped that this was the start to a new beginning for them. Isabel had missed him a lot.
Unconsciously her thoughts wandered to last night. There had been so many discoveries. The most important was that message from Antar, or they thought was from Antar. She didn’t know what to think. Isabel had been so preoccupied with Liz and Max that she hadn’t thought about how an entire world might actually be waiting for their King and Queen. They might be waiting for Michael and Isabel.
Jesse moved slowly underneath her and sighed. Isabel looked upon her husband’s serene face. All that would change if he knew that she was thinking about a return to Antar. Isabel frowned to herself. Was she even thinking about returning to Antar?
Isabel slowly untangled her arms and legs from Jesse’s and went to the bathroom to get ready for the new day. She stared at the image in the mirror before her. Was she Isabel, Jesse’s wife? Or was she Isabel/Vilandra, Princess of Antar?
Isabel picked up her toothbrush and began working away at the build up on her teeth. Silently she pondered her current situation. Max would be healed if Tess could get here in time. The thought of Tess returning didn’t even turn her stomach now as it once did. Could there even be a question about returning to Antar with Tess’ return to Earth?
She spit out the toothpaste and saliva mixture from her mouth and rinsed her mouth out with tap water. Isabel ran a brush through her hair a few times and quickly applied a minimal amount of make up to her face. With a quick adjustment to the tone of her lip-gloss, Isabel walked back into her bedroom.
“Isabel?” Jesse groaned. “What are you doing up so early?”
Isabel climbed beside her groggy husband. “I have to go see Max. Maria’s been watching him all night and now it’s my turn,” she whispered into his ear.
Jesse rubbed his eyes and studied her face. “Is Michael going to be there too?”
Without saying a word, Isabel nodded somewhat guiltily. She didn’t know why she felt guilty for meeting Michael there, but it felt like Jesse had caught her in some lie or affair, which wasn’t the case at all. Isabel had put those feelings away since the day they discovered that they were destined to be husband and wife.
“Isabel?”
“Yes. He’s going to be there,” she mumbled.
“Do your parents know where Max is? Cause from the sounds of it last night and the way you lied to them, it seems like you’re keeping them in the dark about this,” Jesse cross examined her. “Don’t you know what this is doing to them?”
Isabel closed her eyes and nodded again. She knew. She’d always known how much her lies were hurting her parents unbeknownst to them. “Look Jesse, they can’t know about this,” she stated firmly. “They wouldn’t understand. It would be too dangerous.”
She laughed to herself. Isabel never thought she’d be the ones uttering those words. Max was always the cautious pessimist.
“Too dangerous for who? You or them?”
Jesse’s gaze burrowed into her. As she met his gaze, Isabel swallowed and sighed out loud. “Both. Jesse you don’t know. It’s bad enough you know and you’re in danger of getting hurt because of us. I’m not going to put my parents in that position. It’s a decision Maxwell and I made a long time ago.”
“Did you? Or was it just Max?” he retorted. “Because the Isabel I know loves her mother and would want to share everything with her.”
Isabel pursed her lips and tried to figure a way out of this conversation. “Look, the decision has been made, no matter whether I wanted to tell my mother or not. It’s too late.”
Isabel rose from the bed and looked down at Jesse. “Now did you mean it when you said you wanted to help us?” she asked abruptly.
Jesse frowned and looked away. For a moment, Isabel thought he might go against her wishes and rush out of the room to tell her parents everything. But finally Jesse sighed and looked up at Isabel. “You know I do. I just don’t like the way you’re handling this Isabel. There are too many secrets.”
Isabel bit her lip and sat down on the bed again. “Listen Jesse, it won’t be for long. We’ve got to keep Max away from my parents long enough to heal him. Then my parents can know that it was us who took him.” She grabbed his hand. “We just can’t let them know that he’s not human.”
Jesse seemed quite reluctant at the plan, but after a few kisses and her puppy dog eyes staring up at him, he agreed. “Fine. I’ll keep your secret. But Isabel if this goes on too long, you have to know that the lies won’t keep them away. They’ll find out one way or another.”
Isabel frowned. “What do you mean?”
Jesse looked away and then unexpectedly slid out from under the sheets. “Nothing. I…I just think that people must be looking for Max…and there aren’t too many places for him to hide in Roswell,” he stuttered.
“Don’t you think people will think it’s strange that Max disappears and suddenly you reappear back in Roswell? Won’t that send up signals to those ‘evil’ people who want to hunt you down? I’m amazed your parents buy your line about ‘searching’ for Max.”
Isabel mulled over his words as he shuffled into the bathroom. She thought Jesse was trying to warn her, but Isabel didn’t understand about what. Those who knew about their ‘secret’ were allies. And those who had known and wanted them captured or dead were ten feet under. Who could hurt them when they were so well hidden - albeit in plain sight?
~~~
Michael arrived at the cave to relieve Maria, who was sound asleep when he checked in on the two. “Maria?” he whispered, shaking her gently. “Wake up.”
Maria’s body jerked, startled by her quiet visitor. “Michael?” she gasped, placing her hand over her heart. “You scared me!”
Michael shrugged. “Sorry. You fell asleep.”
Maria smoothed back long blonde hair and looked down at Maxwell. “He hasn’t woken up or moved since well, I don’t know,” she mumbled.
Michael sighed. “Yeah. Okay.”
There was an awkward silence. Michael didn’t quite know what to say. They hadn’t been alone since he broke up with her that night in his apartment.
“So where’s your sidekick Isabel?” Maria joked half-heartedly. “I expected her to show up with you this morning.”
Michael rolled his eyes. “It’s not like that Maria,” he sighed. “Besides Jesse’s came home last night.”
Maria’s eyes widened. “Wow!” she exclaimed. Her face then turned sardonic. “That must put a damper on your guys’ plans to hook up?”
Michael bit back a rude reply. He knew she was still hurting from the break up. Michael had only himself to blame for this. Deciding to change the subject, Michael felt for a pulse on Max. “You must be tired. I’m fine staying here with Max by myself. There’s some stuff I have to figure out anyway.”
Maria stood up and straightened her shirt. “That’s fine with me!” she replied irritably. “It’s not like my life revolves around sitting in a dark dank cave, swooning over a guy who doesn’t see a good thing when it’s right in front of his face.”
Michael turned on his heel and stood up, just as Maria was about to leave the cave. “Maria,” he called.
Maria turned around, a hint of a gleam in her eye. “Yes?” she smiled expectantly.
Michael stuffed his hands in his jean pockets. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for hurting you like I did Maria. I never meant to drag you into this and end up hurting you.”
Her pale face fell. Maria’s posture changed from tired to strong and agitated. “You know what Michael?” she spat. “I’m not hurting anymore. It’s been over for ages and I’ve just been blind enough not to notice. I should have realized that you weren’t what I wanted a long time ago. Then I wouldn’t have wasted my time and sympathy for you.”
Michael watched her stalk out of the cave. He swallowed hard. His stomach lurched at the thought of losing her like that. Michael prayed that it wouldn’t be like this forever. He prayed that Maria would someday forgive him for loving someone else.
So here I go again:
Chapter Twenty
***
Love, you know, seeks to make happy rather than to be happy.
- Ralph Connor
***
Liz awoke from her deep slumber, the ray of the morning sun peeping through the skylight. As she opened her eyes, she realized that she and Kyle had fallen asleep in the loft above the café. She panicked for a moment. Her parents would be frantic.
As she slowly pushed herself up from the horizontal position, Liz rubbed her face, which was still puffy from the torrent of tears that flowed from Michael and Isabel’s revelation. Liz looked over at Kyle, who was sleeping slouched on the couch. He would be sore when he woke up.
Liz slid off the couch and planned to get ready for her shift that morning, when she heard Kyle groan. “Ugh, remind me never to sleep with you again,” he joked, still groggy from the uncomfortable sleep.
“Well, I never told you to come here,” Liz retorted softly. “I did tell you to leave.”
Kyle stood up, stretching his arms above his head. “Yeah, and that would have been a good idea?” he threw a skeptical gaze at Liz. “After all the crying you did last night, my t-shirt’s shrunk to a medium from a large!”
Liz rolled her eyes at his pathetic joke. “Whatever Kyle, “ she chuckled.
It felt good to laugh again. Last night it felt like she’d shed whatever emotions she had through her tears. Liz didn’t think she could feel anything.
“Liz!” a man’s voice shouted frantically. “Are you here?”
Liz recognized her father’s voice. She glanced at Kyle who seemed occupied with the task of working out the knots in his neck. “What are we going to do?” she whispered anxiously.
Kyle looked over at Liz and frowned. “What’s there to worry about? It’s not like we did anything. Just tell him we fell asleep here.”
Liz ran her fingers through her hair. “Are you kidding me? Do you know my dad? He’ll freak!”
Kyle shook his head and walked towards the stairs. “Just watch. He can’t be as bad as you think,” chided Kyle.
~ * ~
“And you think that there’s nothing wrong with what you did?” yelled Mr. Parker. “You had your mother and I worried sick! And you young man?” Her father gave Kyle a withering stare.
Kyle looked over at Liz and gave her a frightened stare. Liz glared at him and mouthed, ‘I told you so’.
“How stupid and gullible do you think we are?” Mr. Parker asked
Kyle opened his mouth to make a loose comment, when Liz glared at him, warning him not to make the situation worse. “I’m sorry sir,” Kyle apologized, settling for something less controversial.
“But seriously, we didn’t do anything. Liz was having a bad night and I just found her at the Crashdown.”
“Dad, come on! You know that I wouldn’t do anything like that,” Liz pleaded. “I was having a tough time, with Max and all, and I came here to think.”
Her father’s face softened, and Liz thought she might have gotten through to him. “Dad, I’m sorry. I would have called, but I wasn’t planning on falling asleep here.”
Mr. Parker unclenched his teeth and relaxed his body. “All right. I believe you,” he sighed. “But you had us worried Liz. I know this has been tough for you, with Max missing and all, but if you would just come talk to us…”
Liz looked at the floor. “I…I just can’t Dad. It’s not something I can talk about.”
Finally after a few minutes, her father walked into the kitchen to start the grills, leaving Liz alone with Kyle. “Thanks for not making any jokes. I don’t think he would have appreciated them.”
Kyle’s eyes widened and scratched the back of his head. “Who knew the guy had a set of lungs in him like that?”
Liz laughed again. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thanks for following me up to the loft Kyle. I know I told you I wanted to be alone, but I think it would have been worse if I was.”
Kyle grinned. “I knew you’d miss me,” he teased.
Liz hit him playfully and motioned with her head that she would have to get going. “I have to go get changed before the breakfast crowd gets here.”
“Well, I think my dad is probably sending out the search party for my hide right about now too.”
Liz nodded. “Come by for lunch? It’s on the house,” she offered.
Kyle nodded. “Sure. Like I’m going to pass up a free meal from such a pretty gal like you?”
Liz smirked. “Another one of your dad’s pointers?” she teased.
Kyle winked and laughed. “You betcha!”
Liz sighed as she unlocked the deadbolt, allowing Kyle to leave. “Thanks again.”
Kyle shrugged and waved goodbye. “I’ll see you at 12 sharp.”
~~~
Andaria was Tess’ mother. Tess never expected that. And what’s more, Tess never expected to see her mother morph into Maia. “So you were pretending to be Maia?” Tess exclaimed.
“Yes, Ava.”
Tess never imagined seeing her mother let alone being in the same room with her. “I don’t remember everything. I remember Max…I mean Zan and my life together with him, but I don’t remember all of my life here on Antar. Everything’s so strange.”
Andaria nodded. “I know, Ava. Things are bound to be missing. But I’m here to help you remember.”
Tess felt her body tense. She’d been waiting for this moment from the time Nasedo had begun telling her stories about Antar, but now that she was on Antar it filled her with fear and anxiety. Ava and Zan had existed, but Tess didn’t want to lose that part of herself she’d found with Maxwell.
She knew that Zan and Ava had lived and had a life together, but Tess knew that Maxwell and she had made a connection other than through the past. Max had fallen in love with her, not because she was Ava, but because she was Tess. That was until Alex’s accidental death.
Tess felt Andaria’s long slender arms wrap around her shoulders. “I know what burden you carry, Ava. I know what you’ve sacrificed for Zan.”
She looked up at her mother and rested her head on her shoulder. “I’ve destroyed whatever chance I had with him Mom. He did love me. We were going to come back here and live our lives as a family,” she choked out. “Now Max is dying and it’s all because of me.”
Andaria stroked Tess’ silky hair. “It’s not your fault. You know that Zan’s convergence with that human is the cause of the state he’s in now,” she chided.
Tess shook her head and pulled away from her mother’s comforting arms. “But if I hadn’t pushed him away. If I hadn’t lied to him the way I did, none of this would be happening,” Tess cried out in frustration.
It was the first time she’d let out these doubts and fears. It was the first time Tess had been able to voice the anger she had for Nasedo, Khivar and the ‘stupid’ plan that took Maxwell away from her.
“But Ava,” her mother cooed. “You know he would have died. You would have been delivering Zan into Khivar’s hands.”
Tess fell into a nearby chair. “Mom, he would have killed Max.”
Her mother kneeled before Tess, her intense blue eyes gazing lovingly at her daughter. “You did what you had to do. Zan will understand once you explain to him what happened.”
“But how can I do that?” Tess asked wearily. “He’s still in the same position that he was the last time I was about to return to Antar with him. Khivar will kill him.”
Andaria smiled at her worried daughter. “Ava, plans have been made for your return. Had we known you were coming when you had, we could have saved you this heartache of being parted from your husband.”
Tess frowned. “What do you mean?”
“There is a contingent of Loyalists who remain true to the throne. We have been waiting for the time when our King would return home at last to free us from Khivar and his massacre and iron fist,” Andaria explained. “We’re ready now Ava. You will bring home the other three. The Royal Four will sit on the throne of Antar once more.”
Tess was stunned. She hadn’t expected any of this. From the time she’d arrived on Antar, Tess hadn’t seen hide or hair of any supporters of past King and court. “How can you be sure?” she asked worriedly.
Andaria understood her daughter’s uncertainty. “You have to trust us darling. Zan’s mother and I have arranged everything. The time has come. You have born an heir to the throne of Antar. He will bear the crest of Zan’s house, Kedra - born of royal blood.”
Tess was overwhelmed. How could this all happen? Khivar had hundreds of thousands of soldiers and minions behind him, while she had yet to convince Max, Isabel and Michael that it was their rightful place on Antar. She shook her head. She couldn’t do it. She wasn’t strong enough.
“I’m don’t know. Things aren’t as bad as Nasedo said,” Tess reasoned with her mother slowly. “I don’t see anyone suffering like you’re saying. Maybe Khivar isn’t as horrible as he seems. It seems like they’ll be more people hurt from us trying to regain the throne than from just leaving things as it is.”
Andaria stood up quickly and the warm clear blue eyes that had gazed lovingly up at her froze into cold ice. “Ava!” she cried aloud in anger. “I have not raised a daughter to shrink back from her destiny. What kind of Queen are you?”
Tess swallowed hard. “I’m not a Queen, Mom! My name is Tess and I was born on Earth. I’m not Ava! I wasn’t born into a royal family and a prince didn’t fall in love with me and make me his queen!” she yelled indignantly.
Andaria stood there for a moment, as if seeing her for the first time. “Well, I guess I don’t know you as well as I thought. I thought you were a strong woman who would do anything for the people she loved. That is the daughter I knew.”
Tess watched as Andaria turned her back on her. “I’m sorry Mom. I would like to help, but I’m not strong enough.”
Andaria turned on her heel and faced her whimpering daughter. “Nonsense. You feel sorry for yourself, a trait that you have taken from those humans you’ve lived with for so long,” she snapped, eyes blazing. “You are my daughter. You have my blood running through your veins. I know you are my daughter because of what I’ve seen you overcome.”
“Khivar and Nicholas have done everything to keep you at bay and placated, but you never once gave in to them. You have plotted and schemed for a way out of their grasp. And now you are here in this house.”
“You’ve always been smart Ava, and I’m not willing to watch you simper and accept that your place here on Antar is one of a menial servant. Or a kept woman of the reigning ‘king’.”
Tess never expected her mother to become so angry over her choice to stop fighting. It wasn’t something she wanted, but without the other three, how could she not give up? She was trapped, a kept woman.
“I’m not a coward,” protested Tess. “I’m just stuck. My hands are tied. Mother I would take this kingdom back with you and our people, but I don’t have any right. Max is the only one who can decide that, and he decided it wasn’t his choice a long time ago.”
Andaria furrowed her brow and pursed her lips. “But was it his choice? Or yours? Just as you said daughter, you lied to him and made that choice for him. You chose to lie to him about how that human, Alex, died. You chose to lie to him about why he died,” she exclaimed. “He was ready to come home with you Ava. He would have been king.”
Tess licked her lips, pondering the choices she’d made and how she was now using them as excuses. “But he would have died,” she whispered softly.
Andaria lifted Tess’ chin up so that she could look straight into her eyes. “That’s what you thought,” she replied. “But now Tess, you and Maxwell, are stronger than you know. And when you save him and bring him back home, you will see. You and Max will be King and Queen once more.”
“He is the man who loves you my dear daughter. I know he is.”
~~~
Isabel awoke in Jesse’s arms. It had been a while since she’d felt like she belonged there. It had been a while since Jesse had allowed her to feel like she’d belonged there. She hoped that this was the start to a new beginning for them. Isabel had missed him a lot.
Unconsciously her thoughts wandered to last night. There had been so many discoveries. The most important was that message from Antar, or they thought was from Antar. She didn’t know what to think. Isabel had been so preoccupied with Liz and Max that she hadn’t thought about how an entire world might actually be waiting for their King and Queen. They might be waiting for Michael and Isabel.
Jesse moved slowly underneath her and sighed. Isabel looked upon her husband’s serene face. All that would change if he knew that she was thinking about a return to Antar. Isabel frowned to herself. Was she even thinking about returning to Antar?
Isabel slowly untangled her arms and legs from Jesse’s and went to the bathroom to get ready for the new day. She stared at the image in the mirror before her. Was she Isabel, Jesse’s wife? Or was she Isabel/Vilandra, Princess of Antar?
Isabel picked up her toothbrush and began working away at the build up on her teeth. Silently she pondered her current situation. Max would be healed if Tess could get here in time. The thought of Tess returning didn’t even turn her stomach now as it once did. Could there even be a question about returning to Antar with Tess’ return to Earth?
She spit out the toothpaste and saliva mixture from her mouth and rinsed her mouth out with tap water. Isabel ran a brush through her hair a few times and quickly applied a minimal amount of make up to her face. With a quick adjustment to the tone of her lip-gloss, Isabel walked back into her bedroom.
“Isabel?” Jesse groaned. “What are you doing up so early?”
Isabel climbed beside her groggy husband. “I have to go see Max. Maria’s been watching him all night and now it’s my turn,” she whispered into his ear.
Jesse rubbed his eyes and studied her face. “Is Michael going to be there too?”
Without saying a word, Isabel nodded somewhat guiltily. She didn’t know why she felt guilty for meeting Michael there, but it felt like Jesse had caught her in some lie or affair, which wasn’t the case at all. Isabel had put those feelings away since the day they discovered that they were destined to be husband and wife.
“Isabel?”
“Yes. He’s going to be there,” she mumbled.
“Do your parents know where Max is? Cause from the sounds of it last night and the way you lied to them, it seems like you’re keeping them in the dark about this,” Jesse cross examined her. “Don’t you know what this is doing to them?”
Isabel closed her eyes and nodded again. She knew. She’d always known how much her lies were hurting her parents unbeknownst to them. “Look Jesse, they can’t know about this,” she stated firmly. “They wouldn’t understand. It would be too dangerous.”
She laughed to herself. Isabel never thought she’d be the ones uttering those words. Max was always the cautious pessimist.
“Too dangerous for who? You or them?”
Jesse’s gaze burrowed into her. As she met his gaze, Isabel swallowed and sighed out loud. “Both. Jesse you don’t know. It’s bad enough you know and you’re in danger of getting hurt because of us. I’m not going to put my parents in that position. It’s a decision Maxwell and I made a long time ago.”
“Did you? Or was it just Max?” he retorted. “Because the Isabel I know loves her mother and would want to share everything with her.”
Isabel pursed her lips and tried to figure a way out of this conversation. “Look, the decision has been made, no matter whether I wanted to tell my mother or not. It’s too late.”
Isabel rose from the bed and looked down at Jesse. “Now did you mean it when you said you wanted to help us?” she asked abruptly.
Jesse frowned and looked away. For a moment, Isabel thought he might go against her wishes and rush out of the room to tell her parents everything. But finally Jesse sighed and looked up at Isabel. “You know I do. I just don’t like the way you’re handling this Isabel. There are too many secrets.”
Isabel bit her lip and sat down on the bed again. “Listen Jesse, it won’t be for long. We’ve got to keep Max away from my parents long enough to heal him. Then my parents can know that it was us who took him.” She grabbed his hand. “We just can’t let them know that he’s not human.”
Jesse seemed quite reluctant at the plan, but after a few kisses and her puppy dog eyes staring up at him, he agreed. “Fine. I’ll keep your secret. But Isabel if this goes on too long, you have to know that the lies won’t keep them away. They’ll find out one way or another.”
Isabel frowned. “What do you mean?”
Jesse looked away and then unexpectedly slid out from under the sheets. “Nothing. I…I just think that people must be looking for Max…and there aren’t too many places for him to hide in Roswell,” he stuttered.
“Don’t you think people will think it’s strange that Max disappears and suddenly you reappear back in Roswell? Won’t that send up signals to those ‘evil’ people who want to hunt you down? I’m amazed your parents buy your line about ‘searching’ for Max.”
Isabel mulled over his words as he shuffled into the bathroom. She thought Jesse was trying to warn her, but Isabel didn’t understand about what. Those who knew about their ‘secret’ were allies. And those who had known and wanted them captured or dead were ten feet under. Who could hurt them when they were so well hidden - albeit in plain sight?
~~~
Michael arrived at the cave to relieve Maria, who was sound asleep when he checked in on the two. “Maria?” he whispered, shaking her gently. “Wake up.”
Maria’s body jerked, startled by her quiet visitor. “Michael?” she gasped, placing her hand over her heart. “You scared me!”
Michael shrugged. “Sorry. You fell asleep.”
Maria smoothed back long blonde hair and looked down at Maxwell. “He hasn’t woken up or moved since well, I don’t know,” she mumbled.
Michael sighed. “Yeah. Okay.”
There was an awkward silence. Michael didn’t quite know what to say. They hadn’t been alone since he broke up with her that night in his apartment.
“So where’s your sidekick Isabel?” Maria joked half-heartedly. “I expected her to show up with you this morning.”
Michael rolled his eyes. “It’s not like that Maria,” he sighed. “Besides Jesse’s came home last night.”
Maria’s eyes widened. “Wow!” she exclaimed. Her face then turned sardonic. “That must put a damper on your guys’ plans to hook up?”
Michael bit back a rude reply. He knew she was still hurting from the break up. Michael had only himself to blame for this. Deciding to change the subject, Michael felt for a pulse on Max. “You must be tired. I’m fine staying here with Max by myself. There’s some stuff I have to figure out anyway.”
Maria stood up and straightened her shirt. “That’s fine with me!” she replied irritably. “It’s not like my life revolves around sitting in a dark dank cave, swooning over a guy who doesn’t see a good thing when it’s right in front of his face.”
Michael turned on his heel and stood up, just as Maria was about to leave the cave. “Maria,” he called.
Maria turned around, a hint of a gleam in her eye. “Yes?” she smiled expectantly.
Michael stuffed his hands in his jean pockets. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for hurting you like I did Maria. I never meant to drag you into this and end up hurting you.”
Her pale face fell. Maria’s posture changed from tired to strong and agitated. “You know what Michael?” she spat. “I’m not hurting anymore. It’s been over for ages and I’ve just been blind enough not to notice. I should have realized that you weren’t what I wanted a long time ago. Then I wouldn’t have wasted my time and sympathy for you.”
Michael watched her stalk out of the cave. He swallowed hard. His stomach lurched at the thought of losing her like that. Michael prayed that it wouldn’t be like this forever. He prayed that Maria would someday forgive him for loving someone else.
Last edited by jayta on Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The Queen of Torture
Chapter Twenty One
***
Love is a haunting melody
That I have never mastered
And I fear I never will.
- William S. Burroughs
***
Max sat in the dark empty space, which filled his waking senses at every hour. What held him up or what he was supported by, he didn’t know. He felt like he’d slept and awakened in this darkness for days. Devoid of light, colors, images; Max felt like he’d fallen into a deep abyss.
He longed for someone to talk to. At first he’d talked to himself out loud, anything, to keep him from going mad. But it had gotten to the point of despair.
Liz. Images of her large round brown eyes stared at him in the blackness. He could hear her voice calling him. If only he could get back to her.
Suddenly a white ghostly image appeared before Max. In the beginning he thought it was Tess, for the curvaceous figure had long flowing blonde hair and a fair face. But this figure was older at a second glance and had an heir of regal-ness about her. It wasn’t Tess, though her face remained familiar.
“Zan,” she called.
His heart jumped. Was this a dream, something he’d conjured from his imagination? Max found himself unable to speak now when he’d so longed for company a few minutes earlier.
“Zan,” she called again, but more firmly.
Max cleared his throat and stood up in the formless night. “Maxwell,” he corrected.
The woman laughed. “Yes, I suppose that you are called that now,” she replied dryly. “Well Maxwell, do you know why you are here?”
Max shifted uncomfortably under the scrutinizing eyes of the pale figure. “I have an idea,” he cautiously answered the stranger. “But I still don’t know who you are?”
“You recognize my face don’t you Zan? After all, I did take care of you as a child. I loved you like a son,” she whispered.
Her answer brought a frown to Max’s face. “You did?” The reply was more of a question than an acknowledgement. This woman, who stood before him now, had raised him up as a child, and this had somewhat of a reality, within his past.
“You seem to be having a hard time remembering Maxwell,” the figure held out her pale arms toward him.
“Well it’s difficult with people popping in all the time trying to dissect you or kill you,” Max said sarcastically. Max paused a moment and stepped back from the figure, who seemed to close the distance, which he’d kept between them. “Why does it even matter?” he asked wearily.
Max was shaking. He felt tired all of the sudden. His body seemed to grow thin and he felt like he’d fade away. Then just as suddenly as it had come upon him, Max felt fine.
The woman stepped forward. “You must remember Maxwell, your people need you. They need their king.”
“Well at the moment I’m just a little occupied,” Max retorted, pointing to his surroundings, or lack there of.
The woman’s face hardened. “Well you wouldn’t be in this situation if you hadn’t chosen your human counterpart,” she spat out suddenly. Immediately her face softened and her eyes were filled with remorse.
Max was taken aback. He frowned and shook his head in disbelief. “Like you have any right to say anything about my choices and definitely any right to even speak about Liz,” he growled. “You know what? I don’t need to listen to your lectures or any of these guilt trips.”
He didn’t care anymore. Max was fed up. He’d had it up to his neck with the ‘duty’ and ‘responsibility’ logic, or excuse depending on how he looked at it. “No one told me I was a king. In fact no one even bothered to show up and explain to Michael, Isabel or me what and who we were and are!” Max yelled with abandon, letting all the frustration and anger from being locked away in some sort of spooky dimension he’d probably seen in an episode of The Twilight Zone. He’d allowed himself this as he stood in the never-ending corridors of nothingness.
The willowing figure seemed to sway to an invisible breeze. Her face softened at his child-like rudeness. Immediately Maxwell felt remorse at his words. “Look, I’m sorry. But I don’t know you and people seem to show up on a whim here and I have no control at all.”
The woman smiled sympathetically. “You have a lot more control and power over this situation than you know Max. The time is coming when you’ll remember your life and your people.”
Maxwell sighed. “Sure I do.” Running his hand through his hair, Max looked skeptically at the stranger. “I mean when you sit around here in the dark long enough, you can imagine anything – even a beautiful woman telling me not to give up.”
The woman reached out her slender fingers and touched his brow. “You’re not imagining me Maxwell,” she chuckled. “You know me as Andaria.”
His brow creased at the name. It did sound familiar. But no memories returned. “Andaria,” he whispered to himself.
“Yes, Andaria,” she repeated softly after him.
Max looked up at the woman before him and smirked sadly. “Doesn’t exactly ring any bells.” Max sat down and propped himself up with his hands.
Andaria kneeled down on one knee. “You will remember Max.” Once more, Andaria caressed his temple, but lingering slightly. He felt a warmth fill his mind, like a salve over a wound. “It seems like this situation will give you just the right amount of time to remember,” she replied knowingly.
With that, Andaria gracefully rose from the ground, which couldn’t be seen and the same invisible breeze, which swirled around her before, lifted the long pale tendrils off her fair complexion. She smiled ever so tenderly at him before disappearing before him, and he was again left in darkness to ponder what had just happened.
***
Michael paced within the confined room. Staying in the bright white room with Max’s body lying in the middle of the floor was not exactly his idea of fun. “So what are you trying to do to me, huh Max?” Michael huffed at his former leader and king. “You are going too far to prove a point!”
He’d done everything except make a pact with the devil, listing every possible way to cure his best friend. Maxwell had better get his butt off the floor because Michael wasn’t about to watch him lying at death’s door another day. Tess needed to show up pronto. Michael had images of dragging her to Earth by her platinum blonde locks.
Maybe he’d been wrong about Tess. Michael hadn’t exactly had any contact with the liar and traitor, maybe it had been a stall tactic so that when they finally did realize she was lying it would be too late to find any other help. He shook his head; he couldn’t start thinking that way, though his thoughts continued to drift to the unthinkable scenarios.
Michael began pacing again. When did Isabel plan on showing up? He looked at his watch. Michael then had a nauseous thought. She was probably with Jesse in bed. Where else would she be?
He closed his eyes and tried to erase the image from his mind. Michael clenched his first and slammed it against the wall. Too many things are happening at once and he couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
***
Isabel slipped into the cave under the setting sun. She felt harried after her argument with Jesse, which proceeded with her need to lie again to her parents about her destination.
“Again? Why don’t you let your father figure this out? He’ll find Max,” Mrs. Evans fretted over Isabel.
“I’m sorry Mom,” Isabel apologized. “But I can’t just sit here and wait.”
“Oh, but what about Jesse?” Mrs. Evans reminded her.
Isabel had felt the blood rush to her face. She’d forgotten about Jesse. Isabel had always just had to lie about her own whereabouts, but now she had to explain the growing rift between her and Jesse. “Uh, I…” Isabel stammered, trying to think of a plausible reason.
But there wasn’t a need. Jesse came to her rescue. “Um, Mom, I told her it was all right,” he lied. He threw Isabel a withering glare. “I still have a lot of paperwork to do.”
Isabel had left giving Jesse a grateful smile and a kiss. When everything at home seemed to be unraveling she entered the Granolith chamber and Isabel found Michael pacing back and forth, mumbling to himself. She watched as he seemed deep in thought and also upset.
“Michael,” she whispered as he slammed his fist against the wall.
Isabel hadn’t realized what a toll Max’s condition had on Michael. She hated watching his strong face creased with worry lines. As she walked into the chamber, Isabel let go of her preoccupation with her problems and concentrated on Michael and the best way to help him deal with the stress of the situation.
The hard soles of her heels clicked on the hard rock floor, announcing her presence. “Michael, are you okay?” Isabel asked worriedly.
Michael’s head cocked at the sound of her voice and his body seem to tense at her presence. He knew she was standing behind him, yet he didn’t turn around to face her. He spoke with his back to her. “Did you have problems getting away from Jesse?” Michael asked ignoring her anxiety. “I wasn’t sure if you if you could make it or not.”
Isabel was thrown off by his acerbic tone. “What is it? Michael, what is wrong?” she asked apprehensively.
Michael finally turned around to face her. There was a look of regret in his eyes. He sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bite your head off.”
Isabel’s body relaxed at his weary apology. “Michael he’s going to be all right,” she reassured. It was strange, just a week ago it was Michael who had been calming her down.
Michael looked at her hesitantly. “Isabel we’re relying on Tess…”
Isabel was surprised at the words of doubt leaving Michael’s lips. “What are you talking about?” She was completely confused. First he’d started in about Jesse and now he was voicing some doubt about Tess. The look on his face was one of fatigue and exhaustion. It was like he was too tired to put up the tough front that he’d worn from the very first day she’d met him.
“It was your idea Michael and you were completely sure about it!” Isabel frowned.
A spark seemed to flicker underneath his dark brooding eyes. Michael stuffed his hands into his jean pockets and turned his back to her again. “Well since when does anyone listen to me?” he retorted.
Isabel frowned at the way he was behaving this late afternoon. As she stalked over to the dirty blonde student, Isabel turned Michael around until he was facing her. “What has gotten into you?” she exclaimed. This time she wouldn’t allow him to change the subject.
Staring into his eyes Isabel searched for some answers to the turbulent emotional roller coaster Michael was on. She reached out to comfort him, but was rebuffed. Isabel was at an impasse. What could she do? Michael wouldn’t allow her to be there for him.
“I think I need to get some air,” he mumbled as he walked out of the Granolith chamber.
Isabel’s heart sunk as she watched him walk away. He was a part of her and when he was in pain and hurting she was also. She turned to Max who remained quiet and unconscious. Kneeling beside her brother, Isabel whispered her unanswerable question. “What am I going to do?”
Isabel stroked Max’s brow. She stifled the tears that had begun to form in the corners of her eyes, letting out a desperate sob. She needed Max now more than ever.
“Please wake up Max? Everything’s gone to hell since you’ve been sick. Could you please…just,” Isabel sighed, at a loss for words.
As she broke into tears, Isabel felt two strong hands squeeze her shoulders. Isabel turned around to find Michael kneeling behind her. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, as she leaned into his chest. “We’ll get through this. I promise.”
***
Liz placed two plates on the counter. “Here’s your burger,” she announced as she sat down beside Kyle.
“Don’t you have to work?” Kyle whispered, glancing worriedly at Liz’s father. “I don’t want to get you in trouble again.”
She shook her head. “Uh- uh. My dad only wanted me to work this morning to show the new girls where everything is. He just hired them Monday,” Liz explained, motioning to the blonde and brunette that were busily taking orders.
Kyle nodded in approval. “Great. Do they have boyfriends?” he asked inquisitively.
Liz rolled her eyes and flipped her shoulder length hair over her shoulder as she began to pick at her salad. “So,” she smiled, ignoring Kyle’s question. “What’s new?”
Liz didn’t quite know how to talk with Kyle anymore. She’d been swept up in Max and their plans for college and maybe even marriage that Liz almost forgot that there were other people in their lives. Liz had been in a wonderful bubble world, which had recently burst.
Suddenly she found Kyle waving his hand in her face. “Hello?”
Liz smiled briefly, embarrassed at her rudeness. “I’m sorry Kyle. I didn’t mean to zone out on you like that.”
Kyle raised his eyebrows skeptically and the corners of his mouth drooped. He tried to shrug it off, but Liz knew that she hadn’t been around lately for him or Maria. “Really. Kyle, I mean it. I’m sorry I’ve been so occupied in my stuff,” she apologized again.
Kyle smirked. “How hard was that to get out?” he joked.
Liz shook her head and looked at him seriously. “Kyle, don’t let me get off so easily.”
“I’m not,” he protested taking a bite out of the greasy French fry in his hand. “Hey, you’ve had some rough times. Am I supposed to blame you for being so self-involved? C’mon! Get real. My life has been peaches and cream compared to what’s been happening with you and Max. I mean I can’t complain!”
Liz smiled softly. She appreciated his understanding. Kyle really did get it. She leaned over and nudged him with her shoulder. “Thanks.”
Kyle shrugged. “No problem. Hey are you going to eat that tomato?”
***
Love is a haunting melody
That I have never mastered
And I fear I never will.
- William S. Burroughs
***
Max sat in the dark empty space, which filled his waking senses at every hour. What held him up or what he was supported by, he didn’t know. He felt like he’d slept and awakened in this darkness for days. Devoid of light, colors, images; Max felt like he’d fallen into a deep abyss.
He longed for someone to talk to. At first he’d talked to himself out loud, anything, to keep him from going mad. But it had gotten to the point of despair.
Liz. Images of her large round brown eyes stared at him in the blackness. He could hear her voice calling him. If only he could get back to her.
Suddenly a white ghostly image appeared before Max. In the beginning he thought it was Tess, for the curvaceous figure had long flowing blonde hair and a fair face. But this figure was older at a second glance and had an heir of regal-ness about her. It wasn’t Tess, though her face remained familiar.
“Zan,” she called.
His heart jumped. Was this a dream, something he’d conjured from his imagination? Max found himself unable to speak now when he’d so longed for company a few minutes earlier.
“Zan,” she called again, but more firmly.
Max cleared his throat and stood up in the formless night. “Maxwell,” he corrected.
The woman laughed. “Yes, I suppose that you are called that now,” she replied dryly. “Well Maxwell, do you know why you are here?”
Max shifted uncomfortably under the scrutinizing eyes of the pale figure. “I have an idea,” he cautiously answered the stranger. “But I still don’t know who you are?”
“You recognize my face don’t you Zan? After all, I did take care of you as a child. I loved you like a son,” she whispered.
Her answer brought a frown to Max’s face. “You did?” The reply was more of a question than an acknowledgement. This woman, who stood before him now, had raised him up as a child, and this had somewhat of a reality, within his past.
“You seem to be having a hard time remembering Maxwell,” the figure held out her pale arms toward him.
“Well it’s difficult with people popping in all the time trying to dissect you or kill you,” Max said sarcastically. Max paused a moment and stepped back from the figure, who seemed to close the distance, which he’d kept between them. “Why does it even matter?” he asked wearily.
Max was shaking. He felt tired all of the sudden. His body seemed to grow thin and he felt like he’d fade away. Then just as suddenly as it had come upon him, Max felt fine.
The woman stepped forward. “You must remember Maxwell, your people need you. They need their king.”
“Well at the moment I’m just a little occupied,” Max retorted, pointing to his surroundings, or lack there of.
The woman’s face hardened. “Well you wouldn’t be in this situation if you hadn’t chosen your human counterpart,” she spat out suddenly. Immediately her face softened and her eyes were filled with remorse.
Max was taken aback. He frowned and shook his head in disbelief. “Like you have any right to say anything about my choices and definitely any right to even speak about Liz,” he growled. “You know what? I don’t need to listen to your lectures or any of these guilt trips.”
He didn’t care anymore. Max was fed up. He’d had it up to his neck with the ‘duty’ and ‘responsibility’ logic, or excuse depending on how he looked at it. “No one told me I was a king. In fact no one even bothered to show up and explain to Michael, Isabel or me what and who we were and are!” Max yelled with abandon, letting all the frustration and anger from being locked away in some sort of spooky dimension he’d probably seen in an episode of The Twilight Zone. He’d allowed himself this as he stood in the never-ending corridors of nothingness.
The willowing figure seemed to sway to an invisible breeze. Her face softened at his child-like rudeness. Immediately Maxwell felt remorse at his words. “Look, I’m sorry. But I don’t know you and people seem to show up on a whim here and I have no control at all.”
The woman smiled sympathetically. “You have a lot more control and power over this situation than you know Max. The time is coming when you’ll remember your life and your people.”
Maxwell sighed. “Sure I do.” Running his hand through his hair, Max looked skeptically at the stranger. “I mean when you sit around here in the dark long enough, you can imagine anything – even a beautiful woman telling me not to give up.”
The woman reached out her slender fingers and touched his brow. “You’re not imagining me Maxwell,” she chuckled. “You know me as Andaria.”
His brow creased at the name. It did sound familiar. But no memories returned. “Andaria,” he whispered to himself.
“Yes, Andaria,” she repeated softly after him.
Max looked up at the woman before him and smirked sadly. “Doesn’t exactly ring any bells.” Max sat down and propped himself up with his hands.
Andaria kneeled down on one knee. “You will remember Max.” Once more, Andaria caressed his temple, but lingering slightly. He felt a warmth fill his mind, like a salve over a wound. “It seems like this situation will give you just the right amount of time to remember,” she replied knowingly.
With that, Andaria gracefully rose from the ground, which couldn’t be seen and the same invisible breeze, which swirled around her before, lifted the long pale tendrils off her fair complexion. She smiled ever so tenderly at him before disappearing before him, and he was again left in darkness to ponder what had just happened.
***
Michael paced within the confined room. Staying in the bright white room with Max’s body lying in the middle of the floor was not exactly his idea of fun. “So what are you trying to do to me, huh Max?” Michael huffed at his former leader and king. “You are going too far to prove a point!”
He’d done everything except make a pact with the devil, listing every possible way to cure his best friend. Maxwell had better get his butt off the floor because Michael wasn’t about to watch him lying at death’s door another day. Tess needed to show up pronto. Michael had images of dragging her to Earth by her platinum blonde locks.
Maybe he’d been wrong about Tess. Michael hadn’t exactly had any contact with the liar and traitor, maybe it had been a stall tactic so that when they finally did realize she was lying it would be too late to find any other help. He shook his head; he couldn’t start thinking that way, though his thoughts continued to drift to the unthinkable scenarios.
Michael began pacing again. When did Isabel plan on showing up? He looked at his watch. Michael then had a nauseous thought. She was probably with Jesse in bed. Where else would she be?
He closed his eyes and tried to erase the image from his mind. Michael clenched his first and slammed it against the wall. Too many things are happening at once and he couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
***
Isabel slipped into the cave under the setting sun. She felt harried after her argument with Jesse, which proceeded with her need to lie again to her parents about her destination.
“Again? Why don’t you let your father figure this out? He’ll find Max,” Mrs. Evans fretted over Isabel.
“I’m sorry Mom,” Isabel apologized. “But I can’t just sit here and wait.”
“Oh, but what about Jesse?” Mrs. Evans reminded her.
Isabel had felt the blood rush to her face. She’d forgotten about Jesse. Isabel had always just had to lie about her own whereabouts, but now she had to explain the growing rift between her and Jesse. “Uh, I…” Isabel stammered, trying to think of a plausible reason.
But there wasn’t a need. Jesse came to her rescue. “Um, Mom, I told her it was all right,” he lied. He threw Isabel a withering glare. “I still have a lot of paperwork to do.”
Isabel had left giving Jesse a grateful smile and a kiss. When everything at home seemed to be unraveling she entered the Granolith chamber and Isabel found Michael pacing back and forth, mumbling to himself. She watched as he seemed deep in thought and also upset.
“Michael,” she whispered as he slammed his fist against the wall.
Isabel hadn’t realized what a toll Max’s condition had on Michael. She hated watching his strong face creased with worry lines. As she walked into the chamber, Isabel let go of her preoccupation with her problems and concentrated on Michael and the best way to help him deal with the stress of the situation.
The hard soles of her heels clicked on the hard rock floor, announcing her presence. “Michael, are you okay?” Isabel asked worriedly.
Michael’s head cocked at the sound of her voice and his body seem to tense at her presence. He knew she was standing behind him, yet he didn’t turn around to face her. He spoke with his back to her. “Did you have problems getting away from Jesse?” Michael asked ignoring her anxiety. “I wasn’t sure if you if you could make it or not.”
Isabel was thrown off by his acerbic tone. “What is it? Michael, what is wrong?” she asked apprehensively.
Michael finally turned around to face her. There was a look of regret in his eyes. He sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bite your head off.”
Isabel’s body relaxed at his weary apology. “Michael he’s going to be all right,” she reassured. It was strange, just a week ago it was Michael who had been calming her down.
Michael looked at her hesitantly. “Isabel we’re relying on Tess…”
Isabel was surprised at the words of doubt leaving Michael’s lips. “What are you talking about?” She was completely confused. First he’d started in about Jesse and now he was voicing some doubt about Tess. The look on his face was one of fatigue and exhaustion. It was like he was too tired to put up the tough front that he’d worn from the very first day she’d met him.
“It was your idea Michael and you were completely sure about it!” Isabel frowned.
A spark seemed to flicker underneath his dark brooding eyes. Michael stuffed his hands into his jean pockets and turned his back to her again. “Well since when does anyone listen to me?” he retorted.
Isabel frowned at the way he was behaving this late afternoon. As she stalked over to the dirty blonde student, Isabel turned Michael around until he was facing her. “What has gotten into you?” she exclaimed. This time she wouldn’t allow him to change the subject.
Staring into his eyes Isabel searched for some answers to the turbulent emotional roller coaster Michael was on. She reached out to comfort him, but was rebuffed. Isabel was at an impasse. What could she do? Michael wouldn’t allow her to be there for him.
“I think I need to get some air,” he mumbled as he walked out of the Granolith chamber.
Isabel’s heart sunk as she watched him walk away. He was a part of her and when he was in pain and hurting she was also. She turned to Max who remained quiet and unconscious. Kneeling beside her brother, Isabel whispered her unanswerable question. “What am I going to do?”
Isabel stroked Max’s brow. She stifled the tears that had begun to form in the corners of her eyes, letting out a desperate sob. She needed Max now more than ever.
“Please wake up Max? Everything’s gone to hell since you’ve been sick. Could you please…just,” Isabel sighed, at a loss for words.
As she broke into tears, Isabel felt two strong hands squeeze her shoulders. Isabel turned around to find Michael kneeling behind her. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, as she leaned into his chest. “We’ll get through this. I promise.”
***
Liz placed two plates on the counter. “Here’s your burger,” she announced as she sat down beside Kyle.
“Don’t you have to work?” Kyle whispered, glancing worriedly at Liz’s father. “I don’t want to get you in trouble again.”
She shook her head. “Uh- uh. My dad only wanted me to work this morning to show the new girls where everything is. He just hired them Monday,” Liz explained, motioning to the blonde and brunette that were busily taking orders.
Kyle nodded in approval. “Great. Do they have boyfriends?” he asked inquisitively.
Liz rolled her eyes and flipped her shoulder length hair over her shoulder as she began to pick at her salad. “So,” she smiled, ignoring Kyle’s question. “What’s new?”
Liz didn’t quite know how to talk with Kyle anymore. She’d been swept up in Max and their plans for college and maybe even marriage that Liz almost forgot that there were other people in their lives. Liz had been in a wonderful bubble world, which had recently burst.
Suddenly she found Kyle waving his hand in her face. “Hello?”
Liz smiled briefly, embarrassed at her rudeness. “I’m sorry Kyle. I didn’t mean to zone out on you like that.”
Kyle raised his eyebrows skeptically and the corners of his mouth drooped. He tried to shrug it off, but Liz knew that she hadn’t been around lately for him or Maria. “Really. Kyle, I mean it. I’m sorry I’ve been so occupied in my stuff,” she apologized again.
Kyle smirked. “How hard was that to get out?” he joked.
Liz shook her head and looked at him seriously. “Kyle, don’t let me get off so easily.”
“I’m not,” he protested taking a bite out of the greasy French fry in his hand. “Hey, you’ve had some rough times. Am I supposed to blame you for being so self-involved? C’mon! Get real. My life has been peaches and cream compared to what’s been happening with you and Max. I mean I can’t complain!”
Liz smiled softly. She appreciated his understanding. Kyle really did get it. She leaned over and nudged him with her shoulder. “Thanks.”
Kyle shrugged. “No problem. Hey are you going to eat that tomato?”
The Queen of Torture