This is the place where fics that have not been updated in the past three months will be moved until the author asks a mod to move them back to an active board.
Thanks to TikiDoll, magikhands, Detzer, beeeyaaatch, CharmedDestiny, VeronicaB, Tuber1089, and xsuper_novaX. You guys are the best!
T. ~ Welcome back yourself. Haven't seen ya around these parts in a while. *grabs at OB fruit dangling in front of T's screen* More coming soon. *crosses fingers* I swear!!
Tuesday ~ Thanks for sticking around. I think you're one of my most faithful. Hope you keep enjoying!
It's a little short, I'm sorry. But at least it's something, right?
Ok, here ya go.................
<center>Chapter Eleven</center>
The rest of the day went by pretty quickly, and Dylan was thankful that Zan had made sure that she didn’t have any more run-ins with Rath. Ava hadn’t even spoken to her since early that morning, and she seemed too interested in whatever she and Rath kept whispering about to know that Dylan was even alive. Dylan made a mental note to ask Loni if she had used any of her alien magic to eavesdrop.
It was getting late, so Dylan and Loni decided to go to bed. Zan announced that he was turning in too, followed closely by Rath. Ava said she was going dancing, and that she’d “see ya when I see ya.”
As usual, Dylan was freezing, on her pallet across the concrete floor at the foot of Loni and Ava's bed. She tossed and turned trying to get warm and comfy.....finally exhaustion won out. Soon, she was sleeping fitfully.
<center>____ ____ ____ ____ ____</center> She was standing in front of a floor to ceiling window that had to be at least fifteen feet high. What she saw before her was amazing, like nothing she'd ever seen before. It was evening outside, but the sky wasn't a normal black with the scattering of stars that she was used to. It was a deep plum color, and the stars seemed a hundred times brighter than usual, causing the night to be dimly lit rather than completely dark. She stood there, mesmerized by it, for what seemed like hours.
Then she felt someone walk up behind her, and then felt strong arms wrap around her waist. For some reason, it wasn't odd to her that this man was touching her like this. She leaned back into him, closed her eyes, and let out a contented sigh. "It’s a beautiful night." Dylan was seeing and feeling everything, but she had no control over her actions or words.
"I hadn't noticed." Wait. She knew that voice. Was that-? "You ok?" It was!
She was still looking at the sky, "Zan, we both know that this is best. You have to be the king your people need you to be. The decisions you make affect the entire five star system. I can't be selfish about something like that. I'm fine. We're dong the right thing." She emphasized her last sentence with a curt nod.
"I can't not look at you. Touch you. Be with you. You're everything to me." His voice sounded pleading, like he was begging her to change her mind. “Seeing you on a regular basis and not being able to do those things is gonna kill me!”
"Please don't do that. It's hard enough to stay strong without your feelings getting jumbled with my own." They had been strongly connected since the day he saved her life. They could feel each other's strong emotions.
He turned her around to face him. She was immediately lost in his eyes. "Liz, I can tell my mother 'no'. It's not too late for you to change your mind. You know that I don't want this, right?"
She moved away from him, "Have you forgotten that we're connected? Of course I know. But, Zan, this has to be done. We have to keep the peace. Don't let your father's death be in vain."
Zan looked down at the floor silently for a moment. "Tomorrow will be the end of it then. We'll be married following the evening meal."He looked up and met her eyes with unshed tears shining in his own, "You'll always be my heart though, my angel." He took two steps and she was in his arms.
"Always." she whispered just before they met in a kiss that made her entire body feel like it was on fire.
<center>____ ____ ____ ____ ____</center>
Dylan sat straight up with wide eyes. She was sweating like crazy, but she couldn't figure out why since it felt like it was close to 30 degrees down in the subways. 'WHAT was that!?!' Now she was dreaming about being with Zan? 'But he called me Liz.This just keeps getting better. If I find out he's been in my head again, I swear to g*d, I'll kick his alien ass. King or no!!'
For the longest time, she just laid there trying to figure out what it could mean. She got up quietly, so she wouldn't disturb Loni. She just stood there for a second as she ran her hands through her damp hair. That's when she heard the strange sounds coming from somewhere out in the tunnels.
to be continued..................
Last edited by ZansLove on Tue May 25, 2004 8:05 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Thank you for all the kind words VeronicB, xsuper_novax, beeeyaaatch, Detzer, TikiDoll, CharmedDestiny, magikhands, and blndie2272.
You know I live off of that stuff.
Tuesday ~ This part's for you, girl. 'Cause you so sweet to me. btw, I'm pm'n you back soon as I get this posted. Go look. :flasingsmile:
Alright, here ya go. . . .
Previously on Awakening Abduction. . . .
Dylan sat straight up with wide eyes. She was sweating like crazy, but she couldn't figure out why since it felt like it was close to 30 degrees down in the subways. 'WHAT was that!?!' Now she was dreaming about being with Zan? 'But he called me Liz.This just keeps getting better. If I find out he's been in my head again, I swear to g*d, I'll kick his alien ass. King or no!!'
For the longest time, she just laid there trying to figure out what it could mean. She got up quietly, so she wouldn't disturb Loni. She just stood there for a second as she ran her hands through her damp hair. That's when she heard the strange sounds coming from somewhere out in the tunnels.
<center>Chapter Twelve</center>
There were loud thuds and what sounded like chains rattling, accompanied by what seemed to be grunts. She crept out of the room and looked around the front area - nothing but darkness. She walked further out into the tunnels toward the sounds. 'Zan's gonna kill me if he finds out I been out here alone.' A slow smile covered her lips as she kept moving away from the lair and closer to the sound. If he only knew how easy it would be for her to leave if she really wanted to. She had to admit though, that she was slowly getting sucked into this strange world of theirs. It was interesting. Then again she was pretty much just worried about what they would do if they ever caught her after escaping, than if she just stayed.
Dylan peeked around the corner to where she figured the sounds were coming from. What she saw surprised her, and she had to hold back her gasp. It was Zan, and he was beating the hell out of an old, worn out punching bag that was hanging in a tunnel opening. He had his shirt off and white tape wrapped around his hands and wrists. To top it all off, there was sweat glistening off of his very defined upper body. She felt her knees go weak for a split second. 'Holy sh*t, he's beautiful!' She wrapped her arms around herself, and just stood there watching him for a good half-hour, until..........
"Ya just gonna stand there gawkin at me all night?" He never lost the rhythm he had going with the bag.
Dylan straightened up. 'How does he do that?' She walked out from the shadows and said, "Couldn't sleep. I thought I'd come find out what all the racket was. I didn't mean to bother you."
"I look like you's botherin me, yo?" He huffed out between blows.
She ignored the question, "How can you be sweating? It feels like it's below freezing down here!" She seemed to think of something and added, "Do you do this every night?"
"You's full a questions, ain'cha?" He stopped his movements and looked at her. He noticed her trying not to look at his heaving chest. He decided to distract himself by answering one of her questions, "I come out here when I need ta think or can't sleep or, in this case, both." He shrugged. That dream he had earlier was really screwing with his mind. It made him look at her differently. That was something he didn't need right now.
She just nodded, looked at her frozen, sock covered feet, and said, "Well, I'll leave you alo-"
He cut her off, "Stay." She looked up at him. "I don't want you wanderin 'round this place alone, in the dark. It’s not safe." He picked up his t-shirt and pulled it over his head.
She gave him a sarcastic smile, "Since when did you care about my safety?"
He looked her straight in the eyes and said, "Since I saved ya life." His tone was low, and deadly serious.
A strange chill ran through her at the thought of her dream, and the knowledge that he had saved her life - or this person, Liz's, life - in it. 'What is he talking about?' Her throat was strangely dry as she spoke, "What are you talking about?" Then it hit her, "Oh. You mean Rath."
He was shaking his head, "Whateva you say, angel." He was unwrapping the tape now.
Her head spun around to face him, "What did you just call me?"
He finished with the tape, and started walking into the tunnel towards the lair, "Nuthin. Fa'get it." Without looking back at her, he put in, "Le's go."
She silently followed him, her mind wrealing with everything that was happening. It was just all too strange. She couldn't quite wrap her mind around what it could mean.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the question that seemed to come out of nowhere, "So, why you think we should keep the Granolith from Rath and Ava?"
She followed him into the lair and sat on a chair as he lay down on the sofa. "I dunno. With Rath, it's just a feeling. I don't trust 'im. He seems kinda….shady." She paused, looked up and met his eyes, "With Ava....honestly?....I just don't like 'er." She looked away from him with a small smile. In a sarcastic tone, she added, "I guess I just tend to not trust people who threaten my life repeatedly."
Zan sat up and said, "Ava been threatenin you?"
Dylan shook her head, "Just the one time. Ya know, when she was callin me on 'talkin sh*t' about you. I think you heard that conversation."
He nodded as he remembered, then he thought of something, "You don't trust me either, do you?"
She curled her feet up under her, in her seat, to try and get warm. She avoided his gaze as she moved around, "I trust you more than those two."
"Yeah, but I threatened ya life when you tried ta leave. You still think I'm gonna hurt you?"
"No. I don't know why, but I know you don't wanna hurt me." She was getting uncomfortable with this conversation, "You did keep Rath from killin me. I have to admit though, I'm not sure why. Then I woulda been out of your way."
"No reason ta kill ya. I don't like blood on our hands unless our lives are being threatened." He smirked at her. "I don't need ta feel threatened by you, do I?"
She smiled, "Not unless I develop some a those super alien powers you guys got, so I can blast my way outa here."
He turned serious again,"We gotta keep ya here - at least till our meetin next week. I need to find out what Deluca had planned for ya....which reminds me....you sure he neva showed you anything wit that symbol from the orb on it? I don't see how you would know it otherwise." He had learned about the tattoo Dylan had from Loni, and later found out that Loni had told Dylan what it was one night when they were going to bed. Dylan seemed shocked and couldn't understand why she would have come up with something like that on her own. The only explanation that seemed remotely possible was that Deluca had somehow planted the image in her mind. He just couldn't figure how he did it, since Sean didn't have the ability to go into people's minds like he, Loni and Ava could.
Dylan was somewhat surprised at how civil he was being with her. It made her want to help out as much as possible. She shook her head, "I don't remember anything. From what you guys have told me about him though, couldn't he have like put it in my head somehow? And how do you guys do that anyway.......get into my head, I mean?"
Zan looked thoughtful, "He doesn't have that ability, but I don't see why he would even if he did. From what we learned from Kal -our protecta- it's an Antarian symbol, not one that the Skins use." He looked up, met her gaze, and put in, "Gettin into people's head is just somethin we can do. I can't explain it. I don't do it much though."
"So, you guys can just read people's thoughts whenever you want?"
"No! We can go in and alter what people see, kinda like placing images or whateva in there. We don't do that much either, 'cause too much can cause probs in ya head. Me and Ava's the only ones that can do it. Loni can only see ya dreams." Then he added, "Some Skins can do what we refer to as a 'mind rape'. They can go in and take anything out of your mind, but that's a painful process. They screw witcha brain."
"I don't understand. I thought you said that you saw in my head and that's how you knew that I told Ronnie about Sean's alien status?" She was confused. Either he was lying to her, or she just wasn't understanding all of this very well.
"Oh, that." His simple answer was, "I knew that 'cause we connected when I healed ya."
"We what?.......Healed me?" Then she remembered, "Oh, the headache. When you healed that, you read my mind?"
He just looked at her strange, then said, "It's not exactly readin ya mind. I just got these flash-type things of images from your life. Feelins too."
Her eyes widened, "You mean you saw other thi-"
Loni interrupted their conversation."YO, you two gonna go ta sleep any time soon? I'm tryin ta get ma beauty rest!"
Zan quickly stood. He was not interested in answering the question that Dylan was trying to ask. Not now at least. "Yeah, I'm wore out." He looked at Dylan as she stood. "See ya in the mornin."
Dylan got up too and said, "Yeah." Then she stared him down, "We're not done though." She was so cold, and her headache was making itself very apparent again, but she wanted to finish this conversation. She had too many questions still unanswered.
Zan noticed her shaking as he turned to nod at her. He scowled, trying to hide his concern, and asked, "Wha's wrong?"
Dylan looked up, confused by his question, then she realized that she was trembling, "Nothin, I'm just a little cold. I'll be fine."
Loni decided to put her twenty cents in, "Yeah, imagine that. She's cold." She gave Zan a look that only an admonishing sister could give, "I wonder why. You only got 'er sleepin on the concrete ground." Her tone wasn't as sarcastic as she'd wanted it to be.
Zan thought it was more sarcastic than necessary, "Loni, you know she can't sleep out here. It's not safe." He looked at Dylan, "We'll get ya some more blankets tomorrow. I'm sorry."
Loni was almost gaping at Zan. He was always apologizing to Dylan. He was never sorry for sh*t. What had gotten into him? She offered a solution before she got too lost in thought, "She'll sleep in the bed. Ava's never around at night anyway. She'll just havta crash out here."
Dylan just stood silent watching the two. It was amusing.
"Fine." Came the only answer from Zan. He turned toward his room and mumbled, "Lata."
to be continued......................
Last edited by ZansLove on Tue May 25, 2004 8:04 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Thank you so much everyone. You've all rock. I hope this part is ok. Let me know!
<center>Chapter Thirteen</center>
It had been a week and a half since Dylan was brought to, what she now commonly referred to as, their 'lair'. She hadn't seen sunlight since she got here. She was feeling miserable. They hadn't even let her go anywhere to take a shower. Sure, Loni had done her little alien, waving her hand thing every day, and said that she was good as new, but she needed clean water and soap to convince her. Zan was not helping either. He was the one insisting that she couldn't go anywhere, and had to have a babysitter at all times. They argued about it every day. At one point she told him, "What do you think I'm gonna do? Huh? I'm sure everyone would believe me if I just started screamin in the street that the people I'm hangin with are aliens. That'd get me dragged away and locked up before it would you!" To which he just responded, "You's not goin anywhere till I say, so get comfy!" He was so infuriating!
After that argument, Loni commented, "If I didn't know better, I'd think you two had known each other your whole lives, and wished you didn't." She laughed when Dylan grumbled, "You got the last part right at least."
Zan just pretended to ignore them. He secretly felt guilty though. Dylan was a good person and had a lot going for her, and they were ruining her life because of what they were. Rath had bugged him many times about getting rid of her, because she was just a pain who knew too much, but Zan couldn't bring himself to do it. The mere thought of Rath touching her, made him want to kill somebody, namely Rath. Sometimes he was so attracted to her it hurt. There were times when they would lock eyes from across the room, and he'd get this strangely familiar feeling, but he couldn't figure out why. He'd never openly admit it, but he was falling hard for her, and the only way he knew how to deal, was to not get close. Which meant arguing with everything she said, trying to make everyone around him as miserable as he was.
He knew, by this point, that she wasn't gonna tell anyone about them, but he wanted to find out what her role in all the alien sh*t was. Preferably before they went to the summit at the end of the week. He still couldn't shake that 'feeling' he had when they first found her. He was starting to wonder more and more about the dream he’d had last week too. It wasn’t helping much in the clarification department. He knew without a doubt that it was Dylan in the dream with him, but he had called her “Liz.” He needed answers, and he decided he was gonna get some before the summit meeting.
Zan and Loni had made an agreement never to leave Dylan alone with Rath or Ava. Rath still leered at her, and it made Zan uneasy. Over time they all figured that Ava got over her problem with Dylan. There hadn't been any more incidents, and she seemed to at least be civil to Dylan. When she was around at least. She made herself scarce most of the time now. Loni knew it was because she saw the way Zan looked at Dylan. She saw the same thing Loni did and she didn't like it. Loni knew that Zan was into Dylan, and that's why he was so cold to her sometimes. He wasn't used to the new feelings he had. She also had a pretty strong suspicion that Dylan felt the same, but she couldn’t be sure just yet. She figured she'd find out soon enough. Zan was so damned protective of the girl, that it made Loni feel like they had a new family member, and she actually liked it.
<center>~*~ ~*~ ~*~</center>
It was early-morning on a Tuesday, and Zan was sitting on the sofa watching TV while Loni and Dylan were in the bedroom talking. Loni had talked Dylan into asking Zan when she could get out and see daylight. She walked out into the front room toward the sofa, and stopped abruptly. She mumbled, "Oh, sorry." She turned around; angry tears filled her eyes, and walked back to the bedroom.
When Dylan walked back through he doorway, Loni noticed she was upset. "He said no?" Loni couldn't believe Zan.
Dylan shook her head, and wiped stubbornly at her eyes. "He was busy." She looked away from Loni. She didn't want her to know that she was upset about seeing him making out with Ava. SHE didn't even understand why she was so upset.
Loni rolled her eyes, "Dylan, you can talk to him while he's watchin the tube."
Dylan still had her back to Loni when she clarified. Shaking her head, she whispered, "Busy with his queen."
If Loni was suspicious about Dylan harboring something for Zan before, now she was positive. Her thoughts shifted as what Dylan just said registered. "Ava? Tsk, tha's crazy. He'd neva-" She stopped mid-sentence at the pained expression on Dylan's face when she turned to face her. 'No way! This is not possible!'
"I guess they've been lyin to you then, 'cause they're together all the time when you and Rath aren't around." Dylan had no problem telling Loni this. She trusted her more than any of them, and she felt like she should know. Plus she was just too angry not to say anything.
Loni got up from her position in the desk-side chair, and walked through the doorway. What she saw was perplexing. Zan was sitting on the sofa watching TV - alone.
When she walked up to him, he asked, "Somethin wrong wit Dylan?"
Loni blinked, "Wha?......Why?"
He shrugged and said, "She just walked out here a sec ago, and mumbled somethin, then walked back in there. It was kinda strange."
"She sa-" Loni was cut off by Rath, and the subject was forgotten.
Rath came walking up at a brisk pace and yelled at Zan, "Yo, Duke! We got a problem!" Then he added, "I knew this b*tch was gonna cause us sh*t!"
Zan jumped up from the sofa he'd been lying on and got in Rath's face, "I know you don't think she should be here, but hold off on the names." Rath raised an eyebrow at him, and he seemed to back off a little. "Now what's got you buggin?"
Dylan had come back out of the bedroom. She and Loni had come over to see what was going on. By this point Rath's insults didn't affect Dylan, she had gotten used to his harshness. She was kind of surprised that Zan came to her defense though. He almost sounded like he cared. She mentally shook herself for even thinking such a thing. She knew he hated her. He made it very apparent on occasion. And where did Ava get to so quick?
Rath held up a piece of hot pink copy paper, and pointed to it as he spoke, "Somebody's lookin for 'er. Some blond, loud-mouthed b*tch shoved this in my face down on Lafayette, askin' if I seen her. Said she thinks Dylan's 'boyfriend' did somethin to 'er. Her description of Deluca was quite.....um," He sneered. "...accurate. Got the impression he wadn't her favorite person." Then he looked at Dylan and raised his eyebrows. Zan and Loni looked at her too.
"That would probably be Veronica Castaldi. She's my best friend and one of my roommates. She didn't like Sean too much. I guess I shoulda listened to her, huh?" She gave a small smile at her own foolishness as she flopped down in a chair and sighed. "Of course she would be looking for me. I haven't been home, and they haven't heard from me in over a week. That is a very, not me, thing to do." She looked at Zan, "She probably called the cops too." Then she dropped her head back and groaned. "That means you're really never gonna let me outa this sh*thole, doesn't it?"
Rath shook his head. "Uh-uh. I asked her what the cops was doin 'bout her missin friend." At Loni's, almost accusatory, questioning look, he said, "Hey, I can play nice....when I benefit from it. Anyways, she said she called 'em, but they wouldn't do anything since the boyfriend was missing too. They think the two ran off together. The blond says she 'knows her Dylan', and she wouldn't just run off with that guy without tellin 'er."
Dylan nodded, "She's right, I wouldn't.....Zan, I gotta call her. Tell her something. Otherwise, she's gonna keep lookin', and handin' out my picture on street corners." A sad look crossed her face, "I don't want her to worry about me anymore. It's not fair to her. She needs to know I'm ok."
"A'ight, you can call her, no funny sh*t though. I know you close and probly got little secret codes. I'm warning you, you betta make her think everything's good. And make it quick." Zan told her as he pulled out his cell and handed it to her.
Rath snorted as Dylan took the phone from Zan. Zan looked at him. "I don't think it's possible to have a quick conversation with that one."
Dylan smiled, "He's right, it isn't. I'll be as quick as I can, but try to be patient. Especially if you don't want her to get suspicious. If I rush her, she'll know something's wrong." Zan just nodded without another word.
She dialed Ronnie's cell and waited. "Dylan?" The voice on the other end sounded frantic.
Dylan smiled and answered, "Wow, that ESP's workin' great for ya. Been practicin'?"
There was a squeal on the other end of the line. "OH MY GOD! DYLAN!!! IS IT REALLY YOU?!?! I can't believe this! Where have you been? Are you ok? Please tell me you did NOT run off with that slimy Sean Deluca! Did he kidnap you? No, wait, he's an alien.......that means he ABDUCTED you! Is he there right now? Lemme talk to 'im! I swear to god, Dylan, if I knew where you were, I'd-"
Dylan cut her off, she didn't think there would be an end to this rant anytime soon, "Ronnie. RONNIE! I'm fine. I'm not with Sean. He's gone for good, ok?"
"What? Really? Where are you? And WHY haven't you called me? I've been goin outa my mind! Wait. What do you mean gone for good? Did you break up with him?"
Rath went to amuse himself, while Lonnie turned away snickering, and went to watch TV. Zan stayed right there and watched as Dylan took on a sad tone. "No, babe, I didn't break up with him. He ran out on me." Zan raised his pierced eyebrow at her. She just smirked at him.
"Ran out on you? Why that little-. Did he say why?"
"No. No explanations. He just disappeared. I'm sorry I didn't call you, but I just needed some time to deal with it - alone. I figured you'd understand. I didn't want to have to talk about it. I'll explain everything when I get home, but I'm still not sure when that's gonna be." Her eyes filled with tears, and her voice reflected the change, "Please try to understand, Ronnie. This is just really hard for me." She knew it was working, because Ronnie had gotten unusually quiet on the other end of the line.
"I understand, babe. I'm glad you called. You'll never guess what I was doin right when the phone rang!" She laughed at herself.
Dylan gave Zan a secret smile, that almost made his heart stop, as she said into the phone, "Oh yeah? What's that?"
"I was passin' out 'Missing Person' flyers with your picture on 'em. Can you believe it?" She rolled her eyes.
Dylan laughed, "Nuh-uh! Really? You are so crazy!"
Zan got her attention and said, "Wrap it up."
Ronnie heard a male voice on Dylan's end and said, "Who was that?" She narrowed her eyes. "I thought you said you were taking alone time?"
Dylan gave Zan a harsh look, and answered Ronnie, "I am. It's just this guy that's staying at the same place as me. I'm borrowing his cell phone, since I didn't bring mine."
Ronnie's tone sounded almost excited as she said, "This guy? Is 'this guy' hot? He is isn't he? Hey, why don't you have your phone? I've been trying to call it like every half hour for the past week."
Dylan covered the phone with her hand and said to Zan, "Do you mind?"
He smirked, "Not a bit." He didn't move.
Dylan got up from her seat, walked ever to the tunnel entrance, and spoke quietly into the phone. "I left my phone at Sean's. That's why I don't have it. And, as for this guy," She took on a nonchalant tone. "I guess you could call him hot. If you like the arrogant, power-tripped type."
"Oh my god! You like him!"
"Ronnie, no. Why would you even say that? I do NOT like him. He is so far from my type, that I don’t think he could be anyone's type." An image of Ava flashed in her mind, and she added, "Anyway, he's already got someone he was meant to be with. You could say they were 'made' for each other. I don't factor in to his destiny."
"But you still like him." Ronnie put in matter of factly.
Dylan rolled her eyes, "If you knew the situation, you'd see how so not true that is."
"Just as I suspected. Denial. So what's his name?" Dylan did not like how excited Ronnie sounded about this.
Zan walked up to Dylan, at this point, and said, "Yo, I needs the phone. You talked long enough."
"Damn, he even sounds hot. I can't wait to meet this one."
Dylan rolled her eyes, "Well, you're gonna have to," She looked at Zan, "cause I don't see that introduction happenin' anytime soon. Look, babe, I gotta go. Can you do me a favor and call Dante? Tell him I had a family emergency or somethin, and that's why I haven't called? It would really help me out a lot. I'll call you again later, when I have a better idea of when I'm comin' home, k?"
"Ok, whatever you say. I'll call Dante and make sure you don't lose that job. You leave it to me. I love ya, babe. Be safe." Dante was the owner of the restaurant, with the same name, where Dylan worked as a chef. He always had a little thing for Ronnie, and she knew it.
Zan was still standing there, waiting for the phone, as she wrapped up her conversation, "I will. Thanks. Love you too. Bye." She handed him the phone and walked away without a word.
<center>~*~ ~*~ ~*~</center>
Zan finished his conversation with their protector, Kal, and walked over to speak to Rath. Dylan was sitting and watching TV with Loni. Ava walked by and headed to the bedroom. She had been lurking in the shadows, and heard the phone conversation between the two friends. Thanks to their acute alien hearing, she heard both ends of it. She was not happy about what she heard. Dylan was going to ruin everything if she didn't do something. None of them noticed she was back, or the look of mischief on her face. At least she didn't think they did. Zan saw her though, but didn't let anyone else know it.
Loni had heard the conversation too, and found it quite interesting that the person who knew Dylan best was saying that she liked Zan after such a brief reference to him. She decided she was gonna have to do some experimentation on this subject to see what she could find out. This could be good for Zan, and it could be fun!
Zan walked over to Rath and said, "I just spoke to Kal. The meeting's set for Saturday. I'm gonna see an emissary on Friday, to get checked out." His expression turned pensive. "I still don't like this. Somethin' about it don't feel right."
"Zan, this could be our only way home, and they got answers too. Anyway, why would Kal set us up? We gotta see what they want. We'll just be prepared for anything." Rath tried to reassure him.
"Yeah, you right. I really wanna find out more about Dylan before we go, so we need ta work extra hard this week. You an' me are gonna make a stop by her place sometime in the next couple a days. See if they's anything there that'll help us learn more." Zan quietly informed Rath. Rath only nodded.
Zan walked back over to where Loni and Dylan were watching TV, and called Ava out so he could talk to all of them. He had decided that it might be safer for Dylan if they were out in public. Ava was less likely to try anything if she had an audience. Looking between Loni and Ava, he said, "Me and Rath got some errands to run, so you two can go on your shoppin trip while we gone. You gotta take her witcha, though." He glared at Ava. "Is that a problem?"
She gave a brilliant smile, and said, "No, not at all. It'a be fun."
Loni narrowed her eyes. 'What is she up to?' She thought to herself.
Zan silently communicated to Loni in her head. <<You keep an eye on her today. Somethin ain't right with 'er. I can feel it.>> Loni gave him an almost imperceptible nod.
Dylan was so excited she could hardly stand it. She had a huge smile on her face as she casually walked up to Zan and said, "Thanks for this. I know you would rather keep me here under lock and key. I just want you to know how much I appreciate it. I won't make you regret it. I promise." He noticed her eyes sparkled when she was excited. "I'll be on my best behavior."
His eyes softened for only a split second, but Dylan saw it. Then they were cold as ice again as he said, "I know."
"UGH! YOU ARE IMPOSSIBLE!" She shouted as she stomped over to the girl's bedroom. Here she was trying to be nice to him and he was gettin all cocky, like she owed him her appreciation or something. "WHAT an ass!"
Zan went over and gave some money to Loni and told her how much they could spend each. She was taken aback when he put Dylan's name in there too. He was giving her money for shopping. And she was supposedly their 'prisoner'. She couldn't wait to see what Ava would say about that. She soon forgot about it as they were getting ready to go.
<center>~*~ ~*~ ~*~</center>
Loni joined Dylan in the bedroom to get ready and Ava walked off saying that she had stuff to do before they left. Loni informed Dylan that Zan had given them money to do their shopping while he and Rath went off to do their 'guy thing', and that they were all gonna meet up for lunch later.
Loni disappeared in the tiny bathroom and Dylan started changing her clothes.
<center>~*~ ~*~ ~*~</center>
Rath walked through the doorway to Loni's bedroom looking for her, and the sight that greeted him shocked him. He stood there stone still for a second with an almost evil looking smile on his face. He licked his lips suggestively as he locked his eyes on the defiant ones of the person standing there half dressed.
Dylan stopped mid stride with her arms crossed over her bare chest when Rath strolled nonchalantly into the bedroom as if he owned it. She glared at him when he just stopped and openly leered at her. She turned to grab a shirt, and suddenly felt a vice-like grip on her arm whirling her around to face him. He smirked, and she found it revolting, unlike the way Zan's smirk made her feel all hot from the inside out. She briefly wondered about that, but was distracted as Rath began to speak.
"Well, look what I found. Wha'cha gonna do now?" He looked her up and down for effect, and added, "I'm likin what I see. Think I might have a taste." He chuckled.
Her eyes flashed, "Yeah!?! Well, so does your king, but he seems to be able to keep his hands to hims-" She stopped as Rath's expression seemed to go blank and his grip on her arm tightened ever so slightly. It was obvious that he wasn't hearing anything that she was saying.
Something inside of Rath clicked when she spoke those words. Like he was having deja vu. Suddenly he was hit with a memory that he wasn't aware that he had........
~~**Flash**~~ He had news for his friend, and soon to be king. He had just heard that Zan's mother, the queen, was making plans with one of the neighboring ruling families to have Zan wed to the eldest daughter, for political purposes. Zan would not be happy. He had told his friend numerous times that giving his heart away at such an early age was foolish. Zan was never one to listen to reason when his heart was involved though.
He approached Zan's chamber doors and knocked. After a minute or so, there was nothing. He figured his friend was still sleeping since it was pretty early. He tried the knob, and sure enough, it was unlocked. Great security for a future king. Rath cursed as he entered. He walked over to the bedchamber door and walked in to wake the slumbering ruler.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he was greeted with, not a sleeping Zan, but an awake, very not-dressed woman. Not just any woman, but one he had grown up with, and did NOT like seeing naked in his best friend's bed - any man's bed for that matter. She was half propped up on pillows with a tray of food sitting next to her. His gaze moved up the one exposed leg that was hanging out of the cover, then up to her hip, which was also exposed. This left him very little to the imagination and he grew even more uncomfortable. He noticed the Antarian royal seal on her hip, and snapped his eyes to hers. This was NOT good.
She was looking at him with an amused twinkle in her eyes, then she spoke. "Surprise!"
He gulped hard.
She laughed nervously.
"What? Don't like what ya see?" He could feel his anger growing. 'Just turn around and walk away.' He thought to himself, but he couldn't seem to get his legs to obey. "Yeah, well, your king does," Her face grew serious, "so I suggest you turn around and walk out of here before he comes out of there." she gestured to the doorway to her left.
He glanced in the direction that she was indicating, and she saw that her warning was too late. Zan was standing in the doorway of the attached bathroom looking nervously at him. Rath glared at Zan. Without taking his eyes from his friend's, he spoke to his sister, "We'll talk later. I suggest you be dressed by the time I come back in here!" Then to Zan, he spoke frighteningly calm, "I've got some news -
~~****~~
The memory was cut off as Dylan yanked her arm free of his grip, while he seemed to be distracted. He was acting weird. He was freaking her out more than he usually did. She shoved a shirt over her head, and turned to say something when he looked at her with glazed eyes, and whispered, "Liz." She froze wide-eyed. He turned and walked out of the room mumbling something, leaving a stunned Dylan in his wake.
Loni walked out of the small toilet stall in the corner, in time to witness the look of shock on Dylan's face as she slowly sat on the bed. She also caught a glimpse of Rath's back as he left.
Loni frowned. "What's goin on?"
Dylan was shaking.
Loni ran over to her. "What did he do to you!?!"
Dylan answered her, still a little dazed. "No-nothing. He, um, he just called me Liz."
" He what?" She scowled. "Why would he do that? We don't know anybody named 'Liz'." Loni was utterly confused now.
Dylan snapped out of her stupor, and got up. "Never mind. I'm sure it was nothing. He didn't hurt me, so don't worry about it." She walked out of the room to end the conversation.
to be continued......................
Last edited by ZansLove on Wed Apr 21, 2004 1:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
