A Match Made In Hell(AU,CC, UC TEEN)COMPLETE-4/26

[TaylayaTirand]

Title: A Match Made In Hell

Couples/Category: AU, Ari/Les/Kharnak (This is an Ari/Les story with some Kharnak thrown into the mix as well.)
Ratings: TEEN

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Roswell, all rights belong to the creator.

Summary: There are three more aliens. Erin is Michael's and Rath's sister and she was the Royal Consort on Antar. Tony is Larek's brother and he was the Head of the King's Guard. Leslie (Les) is Ava's and Tess's sister and she was the Queen of Varan. They all live in Roswell together, except Tess and Larek. Tess because she betrayed them and Larek because he is head of the resistance. In this story Ari and Les have pretty much not been together...but Ari is head over heels for Les and she wants no part of it. But if you have read A Powerless Power you know how far her act goes. Also there is Kharnak and he and Les were in love on Antar at one point, but there is also Lee, who Les needs to get over...so yeah.

Author's notes: There are a few things that will seem strange to the readers. One is that a few characters are off. One Max Evans is Zan Evans and Zan of the Dupes is alive and is named Ari Daniels. Ok, this is the sequel to A Powerless Power. If you haven't read it then you don't know who Ari and Les are. Basically what happened in the first season happened...and I think the second season...I'd have to get back to you on that one. Well the time here is just after Graduation (but it's different from the show). You should also know Les is the Vampire Slayer. If you have any questions feel free to ask. But I should just refer you to A Powerless Power since it explains most of it. If you still have questions I will answer them. So enjoy!


Part 1
Erin danced around the kitchen getting breakfast ready and yelling at everyone to get up. She heard Michael’s annoyed and grumpy voice from the hall. “Ah, come on, sis, it’s summer!”
“It’s also Saturday!” She sang back.
Apparently a few people had forgotten this little detail because she had a few screams and someone trying to get out through their window. “Tony! Don’t even try it!” Michael yelled. “If I have to help so do you!”
Tony let out a curse and Erin stuck her head into the hall. “Antonio Archais!”
“Uh-oh.” Tony muttered.
“Since you have broken rule #2 you have to wake up Les.” Erin said going back into the kitchen.
“WHAT!” The reaction was instantaneous. “No, Erin, please! I beg you! I’ll paint the walls! I’ll mop the floors with a toothbrush! Just don’t make me wake up, Les!” He was by now on the floor in the kitchen making quite a display. “I’ll clean out the closets! I’ll change Jacob’s diaper for a month! I’ll even give him baths for a month! I’ll do all of it just please don’t make me go in there!”
Erin had to raise an eyebrow at this. “Tony, you know my word stands. I told you that you had to wake Les for your punishment, so that’s what you do.”
Zan came in then with a fully clothed Jacob. “C’mon, Tony, you know the rules…”
“I know, I know.” Tony said with his face in his hands. “Rule #1: No sex in the living room. Rule #2: No swearing. Rule #3: No lying. Rule #4: No using your powers in fighting situations with each other. Rule #5: No tracking dirt on Erin’s clean carpets. Rule #6: Go to school, work and volunteer times, no excuses. Rule #7: No walking around naked-”
“Well, if it wasn’t for Michael, that rule wouldn’t be in there.” Zan snorted as he warmed up Jacob’s bottle. “And if it weren’t for Rath and Lonnie Rule #1 wouldn’t be in effect. Though why it’s the #1 rule is beyond me.”
“You’re not the one that walked in on them.” Erin said putting the French toast on a plate.
“Rule #8,” Tony continued, having since sat down at the table. “Always let Erin know where you are. By the way why is that a rule?”
“You try finding someone who is in danger without knowing where they were last.” Erin said as she set the table.
“Ok, that makes sense. Rule #9: Never go into Erin’s room when Larek is here-”
“That’s not a rule!” Erin interrupted and slapped him on the shoulder.
“It should be.” Michael said coming in clad only in a pair of sweatpants.
“You’re almost breaking Rule #7, Mikey.” Zan said sitting down beside his son and grinning.
Michael chuckled. “Nah, I got specifications on the rules from my wonderful older sister.” He kissed Erin on the cheek.
“Flattery gets you no where.” Erin said mock-threatening him with the spatula.
“Rule #9,” Michael grinned. “Never try to get your way with Erin.”
“Is not!” She laughed. “Rule #9: No reading Erin’s diary. But that rule gets broken more often than the 10 commandments around here.”
“Hey, I don’t read your diary.” Zan said.
“Yeah right.” Tony said in an undertone to Michael. “Rule #10: Erin’s word is final, do not go to Zan or Larek after she says no and vice-versa.”
“Too right.” Erin said. “That will just get you a one-way trip to sharing a room with Michael, Rath and me.”
Tony and Zan both looked practically mortified at this. “You guys are the only ones that can sleep in the same room.” Zan said. “Alone is bad enough, but together…” He shuddered. “The last time I was afraid that an airplane was flying 2 feet over the roof.”
“We’re not that loud. You act like my brothers and I are the only ones that snore around here.” Erin said serving breakfast. “Tony, Les, now.”
“Ok, ok.” He grumbled. “But if I don’t make it out alive tell Maria I love her and that she should go on the best she knows how.”
Erin rolled her eyes. “Les is not that bad to wake up!”
Michael had to snort at that. “The last time I was this close to being staked in a very sensitive region!”
“The last time I did I heard words that would make Rath blush.” Zan said grabbing some maple syrup for his French toast.
“I’ve heard plenty of things that make Rath blush.” Erin said. “And most of them don’t have to do with swearing. Tony! Now!”
Tony still grumbling dragged his feet down the hallway to Les’ room and hesitantly knocked. “Les?” There was no answer. He hadn’t expected there to be one. He knocked again anyways. “Les?” He called a little louder. Since all he heard was silence he opened the door and stuck his head in cautiously. The room was dark and all he saw was a large bulge under the covers of the full-sized bed. He stepped cautiously into the room and his foot nudged against an oblong shape. From the light coming in from the door he saw it was a stake. He gulped. “Les?” He whispered barely audibly. A sleepy grunt came from the bed as the bulge changed shape as Les flopped onto her back.
Tony took a deep breath and turned on the light. He jumped behind the door waiting for the attack. When none came he peaked out. Les had just drawn the covers over her head and grumbled something about light being bad. Tony swallowed. “Les?” He called. “Erin says it’s time to get up.”
He heard something derogatory aimed at Erin’s character and stifled a laugh. Les would be in deep trouble if Erin heard that. “Go away.” She said more audibly, though no less sleepily.
“Les, please, it’s Saturday.” Tony didn’t move more than a foot from the doorway.
“Big friggin’ deal.” She said, though the blankets muffled it. “She can take one Saturday off! We just got back for crying out loud! Tell her if she wants me up she’ll have to do it herself!”
“Gotcha!” Tony said and practically flew out of there. He was back in the kitchen and at his seat less than two seconds later. He piled the French toast, sausages, bacon and strawberries onto his plate.
“Well?” Erin asked looking up from her conversation with Zan.
“She says if you want her up you can get her up yourself.” Tony said pouring a glass of orange juice.
Erin smiled, though it was not a friendly smile. Michael swallowed. “That girl is insane.” He shuddered. “She must have forgotten about last time.”
“What happened last time?” Tony asked as Erin walked into the hall.
“You’re about to see a repeat.” Zan said putting his hands over his son’s ears. Just in time too, for Les let out a string of swear words and curses that would make anyone in fear for their mortal souls, except Erin that is and probably Larek...
Tony strained to hear Erin’s words when Les went silent but he couldn’t quite catch them. A few moment’s later Erin and Les came in. Les looked less than thrilled, but she was up. Erin sat down and continued her conversation with Zan. “Are you ever going to tell me what it is that makes Les get up and stay up?”
“No!” Les said a tad panicky. “If she tells you then everyone will know how to wake me up!”
“Don’t worry, sis, I won’t tell them what dirt I have on ya.” Erin grinned.
Despite herself Les grinned back. “Wait a minute.” Tony said. “Erin knows something about you that I don’t?”
Erin and Les looked at each other and burst out laughing. “Tony thinks he knows all about you…”
“Tony, I don’t understand how Erin knows what she does, but she does, and that’s enough for me to know.” Zan shook his head.
“Wait, sis, can’t you read minds?” Michael asked.
“I can.” Erin said. “But I won’t unless I have to. Or unless I know you’re keeping something from me that’s important-”
“Mornin’!” A voice came from the front door and Ari came in plopping himself down beside Les. “Hi, baby.” He smirked at her and wiggled his eyebrows.
Les raised an eyebrow. “Keep it to yourself.” She threatened.
“You know ya love me.” He said leaning back and putting one foot on the rungs of her chair. “So lets just drop it and go have a tumble.” He looked at her suggestively.
“ ‘Go have a tumble’?” Les asked. “Who have you been talking to?”
“Sounds like Brody.” Zan said. “Speaking of which I have to go see him today and tell him I’m back.”
“Ari, have you been talking to Brody about me??” Les asked throwing him a look that would make a less-confident man shrivel up and die.
“Mebbe.” He said unconcerned by her yelling or her subtle promises of a slow, incapacitating death.
“Erin…can we suspend Rule #4, please?” Les asked still glaring at Ari.
“No.” Erin said. “You want to kill Ari, you do it with your Slaying abilities, I don’t want an agent down on us again. Now both of you listen to me.” They both turned to the older girl. She was brandishing a fork like a sword pointing it at them. “I had enough of your fighting on our trip. Les, you know that Ari is only encouraged by your threatening to hurt him, so don’t give him those incentives.” She turned to Ari. “Ari, Les obviously doesn’t want to sleep-”
“I neva said a word ‘bout sleepin’!” Ari protested.
“Quiet!” She said. “Les obviously doesn’t want to have sex with you, so you can stop right there. You don’t need to be hopping into bed with people anyway.”
Ari grumbled at that and mumbled. “We can’t all be so high and mighty like you.”
Michael growled. “Take it back!” He ordered.
Ari narrowed his eyes at Michael. “No!”
“Take it back.” Michael said through clenched teeth and standing up. Ari stood up to so they were practically nose-to-nose.
“Why don’t you make me??” Ari scoffed.
“Both of you sit down or the next fight you have will be with me!” Zan ordered. Grumbling they both did so. “Ari, take back what you said about Erin.”
“Sorry.” Ari mumbled.
“Good.” Zan said. “And you don’t need to be ‘hopping into bed’ with people. The rest of us manage, with a few mistakes,” He cleared his throat. “And Rath and Lonnie are practically beyond help. But Les obviously doesn’t want the attention you give her so back off.”
“Finally.” Les breathed.
“You’re not getting off that easy.” Erin said.
Les eyed Erin suspiciously. “What does that mean?”
“It means that we will be having quite a long talk.” Erin said getting up to get a washcloth for Jacob.
“Oh, all right.” Les said knowing Erin was probably going to talk to her about Ari and she couldn’t have been more wrong.

[TaylayaTirand]

Erin leaned against the counter watching Les look through the books on the supernatural. She laughed from time to time when she read something totally ridiculous. It was a slow day at the bookshop where Erin worked. Les sometimes came in after classes to just relax and get away from Ari. If there was one place Ari wouldn’t go it was a bookshop…or library. They weren’t even sure Ari could read.
The bell tinkled over the doorway letting them know that someone was coming in. Erin looked over half-heartedly and saw Lonnie and Isabel talking and laughing. Erin grinned. “Hey, what are the two princesses so excited about?”
Isabel smiled at the older girl. “Ava’s birthday is coming up.”
“Oh, really?” Erin asked with a bemused expression. “Does Ava know that?”
“No.” Lonnie said rolling her eyes good-naturedly. “But it’s been a slow week since we’ve been back and we wanted to do something fun. And Ava was the perfect choice.”
“Well, I guess it was either birthday or engagement party and birthday’s are a bit more fun…unless it was just us girls…” Les grinned.
Erin glanced over. “No male strippers!” She warned.
“Oh, you’s still mad about yer birthday party.” Lonnie laughed.
“Well the joint party for me and Les, yes. Whose idea was it for the, uh, dancing?” Erin looked at Lonnie suspiciously.
Lonnie put her hands up laughing. “Not me! It was Maria!”
“Maria??” Erin asked surprised. “Wait a minute wasn’t it her idea for Alex to be a stripper at your birthday party?” She asked Isabel.
Iz smiled. “Yup, that girl is full of surprises.”
“She’s full of something that’s for sure.” Les grumbled.
“What did she do now?” Erin asked as used her powers to put the pile of books Les had discarded onto the floor back to the shelves.
Les didn’t even notice the pile was gone; she just tossed another book onto the floor before answering. “She tried to talk to me about Ari. Why is everyone doing that?? I mean, no offense,” She said to Isabel and Lonnie. “I know he’s your brother and everything, but he’s just not my type.”
Erin snorted and everyone turned to look at her. “I think Erin disagrees with you.” Isabel said and she made it clear that she disagreed with the tall brunette herself.
“What do you know?” Les said not wanting an answer. “I don’t like Ari!”
“Whateva ya gotta tell yehself.” Lonnie said slipping totally into her accent.
Les bristled. “We aren’t all nymphomaniacs.” She growled. “Now do we hop into bed with anyone at anytime.”
Lonnie’s eyes flashed angrily. “Shut yer mouth!”
“Stop!” Erin’s voice rang out over the girl’s angry words. “Les, you know that Lonnie only sleeps with Rath now, thank goodness.” She raised her eyes to the ceiling; Lonnie didn’t seem concerned with Erin saying it though. “And Lonnie, if Les says she doesn’t like Ari, we won’t press her or call her a liar, ok?”
“Ok.” Lonnie said, knowing Erin had a way of putting words. Erin wasn’t saying that Les was telling the truth; she was saying that they wouldn’t call her on it.
“Ok, Les?” Erin said turning to her sister.
“Yeah, yeah.” Les spat out and flopped down in one of the easy chairs opening a book about Ritual Sacrifice.
Erin grinned at that, Les and her subtle messages. She turned back to the two blondes. “Why aren’t you two at work or school?”
“Club shut down.” Lonnie said. “The generator blew, ‘member? Yuri can’t fix it.”
“Class was cancelled because of some exhibit going on somewhere that the teacher wanted to check out. The students were invited, but I just didn’t care.” Isabel shrugged. “I ran into Lonnie at the Crashdown.”
“Is Michael at work?” Erin suddenly asked.
“He was when I was there.” Isabel said her eyebrows coming together in thought. “Why, do you feel something?”
“It’s probably nothing.” Erin said shrugging it off. “Michael has been threatening to quit. Obviously someone is giving him a very hard time there…I don’t think it’s Maria or Liz…but someone. I asked him if he wanted me to take care of it, but you know that brother of mine.”
“Oh, yeah.” All three of the other girls said at the same time. Erin grinned.
The bell over the door tinkled again and a tall young man came in with glasses and wearing a suit jacket. “Hello.” He said. “Customers?”
“Nope.” Erin said. “Their just browsers and conversationalists. Can I help you?”
The young man turned to Erin and for a moment he just stared. He shook his head. “I hope so, I saw your sign outside that you were looking for an experienced bookshop worker.”
“Great.” Erin said smiling. “It’s hard to find good help. I’m the manager, Erin Tirand.” She held her hand out and he shook it.
“Tirand, that’s not a name I’ve ever heard before.”
“It’s French.” Isabel quickly said.
He nodded to her politely. “Yes, I am Dante Heldemann. I’m a college student at the community college. I worked at the Gregorian Bookshop in Las Cruces for 6 months. I quit do to personal differences. I worked in the ‘Books for All-Occasions’ in Alamogordo for 5 months. I was let go because of downsizing. Next I worked in ‘Ruidoso Books’ for 2 months before it closed. I love books and I am interested in opening my own shop someday. I am going to school for business and library science.”
Erin nodded. “It sounds like you have the necessary experience. We need someone that can shelf books in the proper places with the proper codes, someone that can man a register, if need be, help out customers and at times close up or open in the mornings. We will also be hiring another worker so someone can always be here. The owner would prefer two people in the shop at all times.”
“Sounds good.” He said nodding and smiling.
Erin took out an application from under the counter. “Just fill this out with the appropriate information. I will be contacting the businesses you worked out, if possible, today and I should be getting back to you tomorrow if you have the job. All employees go through a training program, just orient themselves with the shop and also a probationary period.”
He quickly filled out the application without looking at anything else. Erin thought this a little strange…but he might be one of those people that had a photographic memory or he may have been filling out applications for some time. He handed it back. “Do I know you?” He asked looking at her as she took the application.
Erin looked up startled. “I don’t think so.” She said shaking her head. “I am sure I’ve never seen you before…”
“I never forget a face…” He said and then he happened to look over at Les. “I’m sure I’ve seen the both of you before.”
“Have you ever been to New York?” Les asked not really caring about the young man.
Dante shook his head. “No, I haven’t. It’ll come to me. I will come in tomorrow then, I don’t have a phone hooked up yet.”
Erin nodded. “All right.”
He left. “That was strange.” Isabel said watching him go. “Do you really think he knows you?”
Erin shook her head. “No, I’m positive he doesn’t. I would have remembered. Les?”
Leslie shook her head. “No, I’ve never seen him.”

Erin unlocked the door to the apartment and found it was dark. She wondered where the others were, but wasn’t worried. She turned on the light to the living room and brought the groceries in taking them into the kitchen before she came back and shut the door. Someone grabbed her around the waist and put a hand over her mouth. Erin slammed her elbow back into them and heard a grunt. She kicked down hard on her attackers’ foot and rammed her head back. The person finally let go and she turned kneeing them in the groin and kicking their chest sending them flying back. It was a large man and he had covered his face with a mask. He made his escape through the kitchen and out the back door. Erin followed, but he disappeared to quickly. Erin picked up the phone, too keyed up to even think about reaching anyone in her mind.

The phone rang in Jim’s office. He picked up. “Valenti.”
“Jim, it’s Erin, someone just attacked me in the apartment.”
Jim swallowed noting Erin’s tone. She was worried, but not panicked. It was Erin, after all though. “I’ll be right there.” He said hanging up.

Erin turned as she put down the phone. Michael stood there looking at the mess that had been made. A vase had been smashed, when it fell to the floor and several pictures were scattered around, some broken and torn. “What happened?” He asked concerned.
“Someone was here…they grabbed me and I fought back. They ran.” His sister said.
Michael nodded. “Was it an alien?” He asked anxiously.
Erin shrugged. “It all happened too fast. I just don’t know. Where have you been?”
“I was at the college.” He said blushing a little. “Talking to one of the admission counselors…about going there in September.”
Erin smiled. “Really? That’s great! Have you decided what you want to do with your life?” Erin hugged him happily.
Michael smiled wrapping his sister up in a tight bear hug. It felt so good to have her there with him. “I’ve been thinking about what I can do to be who I was before…”
Erin nodded as she let go of him and stepped back. “That’s great. We can look through the catalog they have and decide a course of study. I am sure we will find something that works.”
Michael scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, I was thinking about taking out a loan or something to pay for it…”
“Michael, we don’t need to take out a loan!” Erin said. “We can work it out, after this semester I will have my degrees in mechanics and nursing. Not bad for a years’ work.” She grinned.
Michael had to grin to. “Not bad at all.”
“I’ll probably start working at Roswell Memorial, they always need RN’s. I haven’t had the on-the-job training yet, but they’ve seen my scores, they want to try me out.”
“That’s great.” He said. He kept back some of his feelings from her. He didn’t want to worry her.
The door opened. “Erin?”
“Hi, Jim.” Erin answered. “Come on in.”
The tall man came in and looked around. He whistled under his breath. Another deputy was behind him. “What happened here?”
Erin nodded to the man. “I came home from grocery shopping and I didn’t shut the door behind me. I put the groceries on the table and came back to shut the door. When I did someone grabbed me from behind. I fought back, he fled.”
Jim nodded as the Deputy wrote down what I said. “Did you get a look at him?”
“Yes.” Erin said. “He was a large man, muscular with very little neck. Solidly built, stocky and square. I didn’t see his face since he had a mask over it. He moved fast for a man his size though.”
“Very few men would want to tangle with you.” Michael said.
“Who are you?” The deputy asked.
“Her brother.” Michael said narrowing his eyes a little. “Michael Vought.”
“Are you the only two that live here?” The deputy asked.
“No.” Erin said. “The apartment is in my name, but everyone pays the rent. Zan Evans and his son, Jacob live here as well as Antonio Archais and Leslie Princeton.” Erin paused. “And my husband when he’s in town.”
“Her husband is Larek Tirand.” Jim said. “He has to be out of the country a lot.”
The deputy didn’t dare say anything to Jim. “Is anything missing, ma’am?”
“No.” She said. “I am sure he came in when I left the door open. I think he was after me not something to steal.”
“You’ve had this problem before?” The deputy asked.
Erin hesitated. “Yes and no. I have been attacked before and I have been robbed before, this felt like an attack.”
There were a few more questions to finish up the report and then they left. “You can clean up, Erin.” Jim said. “I am sure you want to. Michael, can I see you for a moment?”
“Sure, Jim.” Michael said watching Erin picking up the pictures manually while the deputy was still in sight.
Out on the landing Jim sent the deputy back to the car and he spoke to Michael seriously. “Michael, I wasn’t surprised when Erin called.”
“Why?” Michael asked surprised.
“Before I say anything to you I have to talk to Larek, can you get him here?”
Michael knew Jim wouldn’t ask unless it was important. “Sure…Zan has a communicator in his room…why, Jim? What’s going on?”
“Hopefully nothing, but I want you to make sure Erin isn’t alone again. If you notice anything suspicious, anything at all call Zan’s dad, or me immediately. Don’t worry Erin, not yet anyway, until we know if something is going on, all right, Michael?”
Michael nodded. “I won’t tell her if she doesn’t ask.” He said. “If she asks I can’t make any promises.”
Jim left and Michael went back into the apartment where Erin had completely cleaned up everything. “Is everything all right?” Erin asked her brother.
“Yeah, it’s fine.” He said. “Nothing to worry about.”

[TaylayaTirand]

A/N: This was a joint effort by me and snickerbaby, just so everyone knows.

Part 3

Erin was surprised when the door opened and Les and Ava stood there looking worried. They had obviously heard about Erin being attacked or they wouldn't be looking so concerned. "Dinner will be ready in 10 minutes." Erin said trying to act as normal as possible. "Mikey is in his room doing who-knows-what, not that I would probably want to know if I did..." She stopped knowing they weren't going to let her off that easy.
"Yeah…uh huh..." Les said glancing back at Ava as they walked into the kitchen, invited by the great smells of the dinner they would be having that night. Ava went to the cupboards automatically to help begin setting the table since it hadn't been done yet. She bit her lip as she got an armload of plates and went behind Erin's back, shooting Les a worried look from under blonde and purple wisps of hair. Leslie sat down cross-legged on one of the counters stools and crossed her arms, looking at Erin. "So we heard you got attacked today." She said bluntly, going right to the point. "What happened?"
Erin sighed as she stirred the stew and checked the bread baking in the oven. "Nothing really..." She would have left it at that except a look at Les told her that she would definitely not be allowed to do that. "I came in with the groceries and left the door open as I usually do and I came back and closed it. Someone grabbed me from behind and I elbowed him and stomped on his foot. He let me go and I kneed him in groin and kicked him as you taught me to do and they fled. The living room was a little messed up but it was ok. I called Jim and he came right over. That's all. No biggie. Ava, careful with those." She said gently as the younger girl put a glass near the edge of the counter.
"No biggie...It's no biggie that some psycho-creep came into our house and tried to attack you?" Les asked in disbelief. "That's not okay. That is seriously wrong."
Ava made sure to try and pay better attention to the dishes while the two older girls talked, but it was kind of hard with the subject material..."Are you okay, E?" Ava asked suddenly. "He didn't hurt you or nothin' did he?"
"No, Av, I'm fine. I think I hurt him quite a bit though. How couldn't I with my favorite sister to teach me self-defense?" Erin smiled at Les trying satiate her.
Les rolled her eyes out of habit, still looking pretty unhappy, but she decided it was stupid getting angry with Erin about something that technically wasn't her fault. She was just pissed off that some stranger thought they could get away with that in this house. If she was home and it ever happened again the moron would be eating her boot heels. "Whatever." She added getting up to go pull a bottle of water out of the fridge. Taking a sip she noticed how many places Ava was setting and narrowed her eyes uneasily. "Ava...That's too many plates…"
Ava looked up confused. "No, it isn't. I got it right didn't I?" She asked looking at Erin hopefully.
Les looked sourly at her sister. "Who's coming to dinner, Erin?" She asked untrustingly. It better not be whom she thought or she was going for take-out elsewhere.
Erin looked up and counted. "Me, Mikey, you, Ava, Zan, Tony, Maria...and…there is too many plates." She shook her head..."Av, who are you planning on?"
Michael came in. "Nope, right number. Dear old Dad is gonna be here." He kissed his sister and Ava on the cheek and tried to kiss Les too.
Les put her hand up just in time to let Michael make lip-contact with the back of her hand instead of her cheek. She was smiling though. "Get a haircut." She kidded. Ava still looked slightly confused or was that guilty? "That still leaves one plate too many..." Les said to the short girl.
"Well, Kyle..." She began quietly.
Les perked up. "Okay, you're off the hook. Kyle is allowed to eat at my table." She said quickly as if her suspicious behavior was nothing to worry about now. Ava smiled and finished setting the table.
Erin rolled her eyes. "Oh, Les, you had a message on the machine. Ari has to work tonight, so he said for you not to worry about your, ahem, little Ari-slave. That boy." She rolled her eyes. Then she stopped. "Wait a minute...Mikey what did you just say??"
Michael looked a little confused. "Uh...I didn't say anything..."
"Yes, you did, when you came in here..." Erin said looking quite anxious. "Les, Ava, what did he say??"
Les was still mid-gag over at the voice mail. "I don't know! I don't care. Ari isn't here for dinner. I win." She said picking at the salad bowl on the counter.
Ava came over and sat down. "He said 'Dad is gonna be here'." She quoted looking between Michael and Erin.
Erin went red. "Oh my goodness, I haven't even had a shower today! And Michael how on earth do you know this??"
Michael looked around for some means of escape, but Ava and Les blocked him in. "Umm...I...uh...just do?"
"Man, I have stew stains and flour all over me! I am so going to kill you! When is he supposed to be here?? Michael, answer me!"
Michael watched his sister going slightly crazy over the news. She didn't look that bad...sure there was brown stains over her old gray t-shirt and flour marks on her jeans...but other than that. "Uh..." Someone opening the door cut him short. "That would be him?"
"AAUUUGH!" Erin yelled and ran from the kitchen.
"Take a pill, Betty Crocker!" Les called after her with a little smirk. Ava looked up as said 'father' figure made his way into the house.
Larek looked slightly alarmed at the way his wife was reacting to him being home. "And what is going on with Tay?" He asked giving Ava a kiss and hitting Michael on the shoulder. Michael just grinned and laughed unable to answer him.
"The Lil' Misses was stankin' so she went to go freshen up for hubby." Les said while playing the answering machine back and immediately hitting delete at the first tones of Ari's voice. She shuddered. "Nobody told her you were coming till like a second ago."
Larek raised his dark brows at that. "Oh...I see." Though he sounded somewhat like he didn't.
Michael grinned. "Hey, technically I was just supposed to call you, not tell her. I was ordered to make sure she thought everything was fine...oh, uh...I probably should tell you what happened, since all I said was that Jim wanted to talk to you, huh?" He looked slightly guilty.
"You mean you didn't tell him?" Les asked practically choking on the gulp of water she had just taken. Ava went back to chewing on her lip, watching Larek nervously.
Larek looked steadily at Michael. "Yes, perhaps you better..." He said, judging by both Les’ and Ava's reactions that something serious was going on. "What happened?" He asked knowingly. Something was evidently wrong.
Michael swallowed. "Erin was attacked today, here...she's ok and everything...she gave him the old heave-ho. But Jim wasn't surprised that something happened. So I am thinking something big is going on."
"Was anyone else here when it happened?" Larek asked out of habit. "Did she see what the assailant looked like?"
Michael nodded and then shook his head. "Uh, no, no one else was here and she kinda saw what he looked like. He was a big guy, squarely built and was pretty fast getting away from her. He wore a mask though."
Erin came back into the kitchen looking much better than she had, wearing a pretty pink blouse and white jeans. "Is something wrong?" She asked noting the silence when she came in. "Hi, honey."
"Love." Larek exchanged kisses with his wife warmly. His dark eyes drifting back to Michael as she went about her business finishing dinner. "Nothing..." He answered finally. "I was just informed by your brother that you had a little trouble today. That's all." He said calmly, though that bit of an accent was more pronounced in his voice, so it was obvious that he was concerned for her safety.
Erin sighed as she turned off the stew. "Yes, we had an incident here, today. It wasn't that big of a deal. He didn't hurt me at all. I'm totally fine. Now why are you here? You're never here just to say hello or because you want to be. So come on, what's up?" She asked her husband turning to him and folding her arms across her chest.
His brows drew together in obvious discomfort at her questioning. "This oughta be good." Les whispered under her breath. Ava tried not to giggle.
"Actually, I…have some business to attend to with a contact here in town. It would've been rude to have traveled all this way and not pay you a visit." He smiled gently. "I miss you after all. But if you'd like I can go...find a hotel somewhere." He added, glancing solemnly down at the floor with a wounded puppy look. His slight playfulness made Ava grin. Les made a gagging gesture.
Erin raised her eyes in alarm. "Not on your life, mister!" She threw her arms around him and kissed him. She pulled back after a heated moment. "Don't pull that on me, Larek Tirand! Or you'll find yourself in more hot water than you can ever swim out of!"
Larek smiled indulgently and kissed the tip of her nose playfully. "I swear. Never again." He vowed with a wider grin before stealing another heated kiss from her.
Michael pretended to gag. "Oh, please, you two are horrible! All this lovey-dovey stuff makes me sick. Stop it all ready!" Erin just kept on kissing her husband until she was ready to pull back...actually she didn't pull back until a little longer just to spite her little brother.
Ava smiled and Les rolled her eyes, taking the bread out of the oven and let the pan clang against the stovetop on purpose. "So can we eat already? I need to patrol pretty soon and it's probably better to go on a full stomach you know?" She said leaning a hand on her hip. "Suck face in the privacy of your bedroom."
That seemed to stop them and Larek glanced at Erin arching his brows. "Is she moodier then usual to you?" He whispered.
"Yes." Erin said. "But there are two very good reasons for that. One, Ari has been even more persistent and two, I believe it's that time of the month." The door opened again and Maria, Tony, Kyle, and Zan with Jacob came in.
"Hey, Erin, what's for dinner?" Tony asked and then he realized that they had walked into something. "Hey, bro...ok what's going on, guys??"
Larek released Erin allowing her to go back to finishing with dinner. "Nothing." He replied, turning to his younger brother. "I have business in Roswell and I decided while I am here I would pay everyone a visit." He explained.
"And when he says everyone he really means Erin." Leslie chimed in as she took her seat at the table; Ava got up and immediately went to give Kyle a hug and a kiss.
"Well, it's probable he might want to see you too, Les." Erin said as if it was nothing, but everyone knew if Larek came to see someone, it usually meant a long, tedious speech was in mind. And Erin enjoyed seeing that slight panic in people's eyes when she mentioned it. They sat down and Erin started to pass the stew and cut the bread for everyone. She got up to get Jacob's bowl and cup. Ava and Kyle were still smiling at each other with huge grins on their faces. Erin smiled at Larek noticing that they had the same look that the two of them always shared. "So how was everyone's day?"
"It sucked. One of my professors hates me and I don't know why." Les volunteered, ignoring the earlier comment about Larek maybe having come to see her too.
Larek sat at the head of the table as he usually did during those rare times he was 'home'. "I'm sure that's not true." He said as if a father speaking to an over imaginative child.
"I'm sure you don't go to my classes either so...You wouldn't know." She said with a sigh. "He totally hates me and I've actually tried to be nice to the guy, but no way. My friend's keep saying he's just intimidated. But seriously how unprofessional is that? To single out one student just because you don't like them?"
"What class is that? And what professor?" Erin knew almost all of them at the college by now. There were a few she would have preferred not to know though.
"Erik Cummings. He's head of the Art Department." Les said with mild disdain rising in her voice. She loved art in all ways and that arrogant bastard was ruining it for her.
"Ah." Erin said. "Yeah, I know him, I had him when I took that drawing class for fun. He is a real sleaze too. You know he tried to get me to sleep with him? He was such a jerk. That's why I transferred into Mary Beth’s class. Don't worry, Hun, just ignore him. And if he won't I'll get some of the boys to go down there and talk to him, k?"
Les snorted in amusement. "That's okay I can fight my own battles. Thanks." Larek sent a slightly amused look back at Erin. "I'll just deal with him. No big." Les muttered around a piece of bread she was now eating. Ava and Kyle had finally seated themselves and weren't eating nearly as much as they were stealing glances at each other.
Michael was looking around; he was totally surrounded by couples. On one side he had Maria and Tony talking quietly to each other and unfortunately he caught enough to know exactly what they were talking about. On his other side he had Ava and Kyle who were looking at each other in even more nauseous ways than Erin and Larek did. Michael raised his eyes to the sky. "What did I do to deserve this? Did I do something really bad in another life?" It was then he realized just what he had said and couldn't suppress a laugh.
Erin raised an eyebrow at him. "Well I could tell ya, bro, but then I'd have to probably wipe your memory clean." She joked. Les half smiled and threw a little piece of bread at him for what he said. Michael was such a dork, but she loved him anyways. "Who is this contact you have to see?" Erin suddenly asked Larek. "No food fights, you two." She said in a very motherly way to the two 'children' at the table.
Larek was uneasy when attention was turned back on him, but he never let it show outwardly. "Could we perhaps discuss it later?" He asked wearily. "It has been a very long day and for once I'd like to enjoy a moment where I don't have to think about anything other then eating this wonderful dinner and enjoying the company of the people I love." That was mostly true, although no matter what he said she would still be concerned about his real reason for being here. But honestly he was tired and for now it was for the best that Erin didn't know.
Erin smiled. “Ok. Hey, I just got an idea…do you remember when we went swimming on our first honeymoon?” She was now grinning.
"How could I forget?" Larek replied with a slow smile stretching across his handsome face.
"Please, people! Some of us are trying to eat here." Was Les's response, which got a laugh out of Michael on the other side of the table.
Erin waved them off. "Well, if you remember afterwards..." She winked and rubbed his shoulder. "You certainly look and feel like you could use one of 'Taylaya's Specialties'."
Michael threw down his spoon. "Erin! Come on we're trying to eat here!"
"A 'specialty' is a massage!" She threw back at her brother. "Get your mind out of the gutter!"
"Oh, who friggin' cares?? You people make me sick! Michael has a right to complain." Les said. It was hard to tell if she was serious or not. Everyone stopped to look at her. "It's not friggin' Valentine's Day, but everyone is flouncing around like cupid shot them. I mean reel in your hormones or take it outside! On second thought..." She got up with her bowl. "I'll do it instead. Maybe there I can eat in peace. GEEZ!" She put her bread in her mouth balanced her water in one hand, soup bowl in the other and proceeded to go out onto the back porch to be alone. Well it's not as if they weren't used to her mood swings but this was a little much even for Les.
Erin sighed. "I think she's a tad jealous because she doesn't have anyone." She explained.
Michael nodded. "Yeah, I think you're right." He was over everything now. "Do you think someone ought to talk to her?"
Maria giggled. "That's all anybody's been doing with her. We should probably just leave her alone. Maybe then she'll be able to think clearly." Tony wasn't looking too well with all the emotions running rampant. He excused himself to go lie down for a while and Maria joined him.
Ava looked around the table, both concerned about Les and concerned about Tony with all the emotional overload. "If she don't wanna be alone then why doesn't she just..." Ava shrugged a little. "Ya know...I mean Ari really likes her. He ain't just a horn-dog all the time. I mean he really does. He told me so." She said.
Larek sighed deciding perhaps it wise to give the girl space, but he thought he should probably have a talk with her later on. Maybe a different perspective would be helpful to her. Dinner was basically over by then and Michael quickly got up stacking the plates. "You two go on." He said to Erin and Larek. "You haven't seen each other in a while."
"Are you sure?" Erin asked looking around at the others who were gathering up plates and basically cleaning up.
Ava smiled and nodded. "It's okay. Go ahead. We can take care of everything."
"Well, ok." Erin said smiling at Larek and dragged him from the kitchen.

[TaylayaTirand]

Part 4

It was later that night when the phone rang. Erin yawned and reached over on the nightstand. "Hello?" She asked.
"Hey, Erin, it's Jim, is Larek there?"
"Yeah." Erin yawned. She was too tired to care about why Jim would want to talk to him. She hit Larek in the shoulder to wake him.
Larek grumbled softly, but woke easily and took the phone that was shoved at him. "Hello?" He asked groggily into the phone.
"Larek, it's Jim. Sorry, I couldn't talk to you earlier, but we've had some other stuff to deal with. At the moment though I am very concerned about Erin..." He paused unsure of how to proceed and tell Larek what was going on. "I am actually not sure how much Erin may have told you..."
"Not much." Larek said softly. He glanced at his wife who had gone back to sleep and decided to take the phone into the other room. So he did it quietly hoping not to wake her. "I was informed of the attack earlier today. She seemed unconcerned about it, but Michael was very much the opposite." Larek explained.
Jim sighed. "I didn't want to frighten Erin...we've talked about her past and what happened. Do you know what I am talking about?"
"Yes, of course." Larek replied.
Jim hesitated. "He's out of prison, Larek."
There was only silence on the other end before Larek finally managed to speak. "You are certain of this?" He asked.
"Yes, I'm afraid so. He only got manslaughter, that's only 3 or 4 years. I'm also afraid that he'll come after her for putting him away at all. When I spoke to the warden at the prison he said that Erin's dad had been joking around with the other inmates telling them he was going to go see his daughter when he got out. And from Erin's description of the attacker...well, that's certainly fits him."
Larek was thoughtful. "What can we do to prevent another attack?" He asked. He certainly had his own ideas, but he thought it best to look into what Jim's opinion was on the matter of protecting Erin.
"Just make sure she isn't alone...he is on parole, but I doubt that would stop him from hurting or killing her...he tried to once and now he has even more reason to hate her. Just be careful, Larek. And it would be nice if you didn't leave her right now."
Larek sighed gently. "I don't intend to. Thank you, Jim for the information."
Jim hung up the phone. Erin's voice came from the bedroom. "Larek? Is everything all right?"
Larek hung up the phone and returned to the bedroom. "Everything's fine, love." He said softly.
"Why was Jim on the phone?" She asked yawning.
"He wanted my opinion on something." Larek said, no hint of a lie in his voice, but inside he felt really uncomfortable about it. "Nothing more than that."
Erin nodded. "Ok..." She yawned again and cuddled up to him going to sleep again.
Larek sighed, wrapping her in his arms and tried in vain to do the same.

Erin hummed as she cleaned up the living room. She bent over and picked up a magazine that had been kicked or shoved under the couch. She sighed and pulled it out and then, “AAAUUUUGGGHHH!!!!” Erin’s scream echoed through the apartment. In moments everyone was in there. Michael, looking a bit guilty, but also very concerned, Tony quite surprised, but actually pretty clear headed for once, Les, who had been working out appeared in a black t-shirt and sweat pants, Zan and Jacob, who had been taking a nap and Larek who was just in a pair of sweats after taking a shower.
“What’s wrong??” Tony asked.
Erin was practically white as she stared at the magazine, her mouth agape. “Oh,” Michael said clearing his throat. “Sorry, about that…Rath brought it over…” He was bright red.
“No…” Erin said putting her hand up. “That isn’t the problem, though I wish it was!”
“What’s wrong, love?” Larek asked. “What is it?”
Erin was getting redder by the second…”Uh, Les…I think you should probably look at this…”
Les gave her sister a peculiar look, but stepped forward and took the magazine from her. “Erin, this a Playboy…” Her voice tapered off as she stared at the centerfold of the magazine. “Oh my God! Please tell me Ari hasn’t seen this!”
Erin groaned. “I don’t care if he has! I want to know who they are!” She turned and buried her face in Larek’s chest. He put his arms around her though he still wasn’t sure what was going on.
“What’s going on?” Zan asked. Les, who was looking quite uncomfortable, passed him the magazine. Zan gave Jacob to Tony and looked at it. His eyes grew so large and his jaw was practically on the floor. He looked up; he couldn’t help himself, and just stared at Les and Erin for a moment. “Whoa…”
“Don’t look at us like that!” Les warned.
“What is it?” Tony asked as he and Michael looked over Zan’s shoulder.
“Oh, man!” Michael exclaimed. “I’ll have to dissect a horse to get that out of my mind! That’s so gross!”
“Michael…thinking a naked girl is gross.” Les said snorting. “That’s a first.”
“Well, when she looks like my sister!” He shuddered. “And you…I mean that’s not something I ever wanted to see in my entire life!!”
Larek took the magazine from Zan and looked at it. Even he looked surprised at what he saw. “Oh…” He said looking at the picture of two girls lying naked on a bed of red and brown silk. He seemed at a loss of words.
Les snatched it away from him her cheeks reddening. It was quite obvious that she was quite embarrassed. The two girls in the magazine looked just like her and Erin. If she didn’t know better she would have said it was them. Les quickly incinerated it with her powers. Erin, who was still hiding her face, gave a little sound halfway between a groan and whine. “I am not leaving this house ever again! Never, never, never!”
“Oh, come on, Erin, it’s not that bad.” Zan said.
“What would you do if Ari decided to go commando??” Erin threw it at him.
“Not really care unless he was around me.” Zan said shaking his head. “It’s not that bad. Come on, how many guys in Roswell actually look at Playboy?”
Erin turned and raised an eyebrow at him. “How many? Knowing the guys in this town…well I’d have to say about a third!!”
Michael was banging his head against the wall. “Erin, get the image out of my head! Please!!”
Erin rolled her eyes and put a hand to his temple. A moment later she withdrew it. “OK, I am gonna mindwarp everyone in Roswell!”
“Tay…” Larek said gently pulling her back to him. “No one will think it’s you… don’t worry.” He kissed her forehead gently and stroked her hair. “Come on…” He led her towards their bedroom, but as he was leaving the room he turned back and mouthed. ‘Get Kharnak!’ Zan nodded.
Once they were gone Les sat down on the couch. “Well, this has been a day…”
“Don’t worry, Les, no one will know it’s you.” Tony said.
“Don’t be like the old man.” She growled. “I don’t care if you do share the same genes.”
The door opened and Ava and Kyle came in all bubbly and happy. Kyle paused when he saw their faces. “Ok, what did we miss?”
“A Playboy with girls in it that look like Erin and Les.” Zan said handing his son over to Ava. Ava was delighted and Jacob had stopped crying by now.
“Playboy?” Kyle asked. “Why-oh, wait, I don’t think I even want to know.”
“Rath brought it over.” Michael supplied.
“Wait a minute!” Les said. “Rath did?? That better not mean…”
The door opened again and Ari came in a huge grin across his face. “You spoke too soon.” Tony said.
“That will be the only time you will ever see someone that looks like me like that!” Les shot at him not at all happy.
“Oh, come on, babe.” Ari laughed. “Where’s E?” He asked looked around.
“Betta keep yer eyes off ‘er, Ar, or Larek’s gonna zap ya.” Ava said while making faces at Jacob.
“Like I needs remindin’.” He said rolling his eyes. “I wanted to talk to her. Dere’s a guy watching da ‘partment.”
“This apartment??” Michael asked. “I’ll kill him!”
“Stop!” Zan said as both Michael and Les headed for the door. “You won’t do anything of the sort. Now, I am going to get Kharnak here, no one moves until I get back! The only one allowed to move is Ava and that’s only if Jacob needs a diaper change. Got it?”
“It! It!” Jacob laughed.
Zan smiled looking very proud of his son. Jacob had a very limited vocabulary, but Zan was one proud father. He left the room and the others rolled their eyes. The only one that didn’t technically need to do what he said was Kyle, but even Kyle wasn’t that stupid.

Erin sat down on the bed with her had in her hands. “This isn’t happening!” She groaned. “Who are they? Really, who are they??”
“I don’t know, love.” Larek said as he sat beside her and drew her hair back from her neck. He bent down and gently kissed her neck and shoulder.
Erin pulled away, but only slightly. Larek knew just what to do to get her mind off something. Larek’s hands went around her gently massaging her stomach. Erin closed her eyes. She was so tempted to just push him away and ask him what was going on, but another part of her was yelling much stronger and much louder. She laid down on the bed and Larek moved his lips to kiss hers, he leaned over her and then took her in his strong arms.

Ari sat down next to Leslie and put his arm on the couch back behind her. She eyed him murderously, but didn’t say anything. Kyle and Ava were sitting together in the armchair. Actually Kyle was sitting in the armchair and Ava was sitting on his lap. They were smiling and cuddling. Ari was watching them as if he was only slightly interested. Every so often his gaze would be drawn to Les. He thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life. She was also the girl he had ever known that was like him.
Tony was flipping through channels semi-amused at what was taking place. He knew that Les sort of had feelings for Ari, but she was afraid of letting anyone in. It had taken about 3 years for her to let him in, then when Erin came along it had been a lot easier for her. He couldn’t blame her though, his parents weren’t the best in the world… but they had loved him in their own way. Les had been an accident, as she was constantly told. Her parents never would have gotten married if it hadn’t of been for her. Tony shook his head. Les’ mom was on her fifth or sixth honeymoon at the moment. Neither of her parents cared about her. They only cared that she didn’t do anything to disgrace the family name. Tony guessed that Les didn’t really believe in love…the first time she had actually seen it was with Erin and Larek. She had a lot of trust issues when it came to men. Tony couldn’t blame her there, though, she had been with someone, but he was dead, now. Les didn’t want to get hurt again.
Zan came back in. “Kharnak is on his way.” He said. He picked Jacob up from where he was sitting on the other armchair. “Now all we do is wait.” The clock on the mantel chimed. “Oh, shoot, I have to go see Liz.”
“How’s she doing?” Les suddenly asked.
“She’s doing well, the morning sickness is the worst of it. Erin said she was doing fine. Since she isn’t worried, I’m not…too much. The only problem is we don’t know exactly how long Liz is going to be pregnant.”
“What do you mean?” Kyle asked surprised. “Is alien gestational periods different than human?”
“Yeah.” Ava said. “Aliens, full aliens are only three months. Tess was four, but dat’s ‘cause we ain’t ‘zactly full alien. We have some human in us too. Les, E and Tony are even less alien.”
“We’ll find out.” Zan said. “I’ll see you later.”
He left with Jacob and Ari let out a cry. “OHHH!”
Michael, who was sitting at the table leaned his chair back to look into the living room. “Les, harder next time!”
“Don’t be tellin’ her what to do!” Ari said rubbing the back of his head.
“Don’t be trying to grope me!” Les growled. “The next time you’ll lose something else!”
“Women!” Ari grumbled folding his arms across his chest.
“Oh yeah!” Kyle said between Ava’s kisses.

[TaylayaTirand]

Part 5

In the beginning there was the Eight. The Healer, the Destroyer, the Sage, the Seraphim, the Disciple, the Dreamer, the Empath and the Slayer. Together their powers could transcend the darkness and bring order and leadership to a war torn galaxy. They were all betrayed by blood. The Eight had fallen as the prophecies foretold.
The Queen Tihandra sought the aid of the Dark One and he told her these words, ‘Wait a season until they come of age…but hold, kill one ‘fore they reach their fourth year…the Deceiver…one that can make the weak see what she wishes…and turn the mind of the Diviner to thee. Then you must wait the season till they come of age. First kill the Seraphim, or all is lost. Next you must gain control of the twin powers, the Void and the Enhancer. Make sure the king dies and then his wife, his sister, her husband, his wife’s sister, her lover and this is the most important of all…leave not the Sage alive or he will cause thy downfall. Mark these words…but even then there is but hope for thee. Make sure the Sage has not the power to bring forth the Royal Eight once more; if the Royal Eight are true and their powers combined they will defeat thee. Stay but a season and a season and then the very powers of Antarix shall crumble and fall leaving thee the ultimate ruler of this tide.’
In the world of Terra they were born…first the Seraphim, once more to guide and protect her own, then the Moon rose once more, the Guard that once failed would fail no more. In sacs of eight two sets were made so that one might live to take the throne of men. But unknown the guard was deceived for three others bore the mark of the Royal Eight…but were they of the royal line or were they three different as noon and night?

Erin gave a shriek and found herself sitting up in bed. Larek was up in a moment and put his arms around her. “What is it, love? What’s wrong?”
“A dream…” She closed her eyes and put her face in her hands breathing deeply and shaking slightly.
“A nightmare?” He guessed.
“No…a dream of our pasts. I dreamed of what Tihandra had done…she knew what to do to gain power. It was systematic…she didn’t die of her accord…all these years I thought she did…but Tihandra killed her…”
“Who?” Larek asked confused. “Who did she kill?”
Erin swallowed and looked at him. “Larek there is something I never told you. I never told you about what happened before we met. There is something that was too hard for me to tell you…”
“What? What is it? You know you can tell me anything.” He looked at her
“Milaya…” Erin whispered.
“Milaya?” Larek asked. “Who’s Milaya?”
“Milaya was my twin sister.” Erin said softly. “She died during the epidemic…”
Larek nodded and held her to him. “It’s all right.”
Erin closed her eyes again and breathed in his scent. She knew that smell…it was so familiar to her…it was hard for her to fall asleep without that smell around her. She just loved him so much and it was so comforting to have him close to her. “Larek…my dream was more than that...”
By the tone of her voice he knew this was important…more important perhaps than just keeping her father from killing her. “What did you dream, love?”
Erin took a deep breath before she began. “I saw the Great War…the devastation and the horrible cries of the children…” She swallowed hard. “I saw Arisan and his great leadership in taking us out of the turmoil. I saw how Tihandra loathed him…after all she wasn’t his mother and she thought that Vilandra or Kevara should lead the people. She was so angry and then she saw us…the Royal Eight of prophecy being born. She knew it before we did…before Belil and Valaya were even born she knew it. She killed Milaya, Larek…it was part of the plan…she had to choose which one of us would be the Deceiver and which the Seraphim…and she chose correctly.”
Larek was surprised…he knew the prophecies well enough, but he didn’t know who was who…exactly…he could guess, he knew he was the Sage because he was the one that didn’t die…but to know that his wife was the Seraphim…well, that was just a bit startling. “Go on…” He whispered.
“Next she had to wait for us to grow up and come of age…I had to be killed first or else I would have been able to stop what happened.”
“But,” he interjected trying to sort this out in his mind. “You were killed by Kevara after she made you kill Arisan…”
“Yes.” Erin said. “It was planned that way, everyone thought I had killed him and then committed suicide, now we know the truth. Larek…there was also something else I never told you…”
“What?” He asked sweetly, though he tensed just a little when he heard that.
“I was pregnant with our third child when I was killed…” She said slowly.
Larek held her even tighter. “It’s all right.” He whispered trying to comfort her.
She brushed away a few tears and continued. “Before that someone called The Diviner had to be turned to her will. I don’t know who that could be…”
Larek swallowed. “Love, there is something I never told you either…the truth is I have a younger sister…or had a younger sister, she was killed during the Insurrection. She was one of Valaya’s Elite…she was the one that killed her.”
Erin looked at him in total shock. “Oh my…I’m sorry…”
Larek swallowed. “I came to terms with many things, but now everything is starting to make sense…”
“There’s more.” Erin said putting a finger to his lips. “Tihandra failed in two things, one was not killing you and stopping you from bringing us back, the second was she could not harness the twin powers…”
Larek looked at her with his brows furrowed. “Do you mean…?”
“Yes, Nicholas and Kharnak…she could not gain Kharnak’s powers, but she can still win. Larek, this is the most important thing. We must have 10 out of the 12 powers to defeat her once and for all, her and Jayden and Neasana.”
“10 out of 12, but that is not possible.” Larek said shaking his head. “There is no way we can have 10 of the 12…Milaya and Laneya are dead…”
“Perhaps not.” Erin said. “Larek, someone made another copy of us…I don’t know who and I don’t know why, but for some reason I feel we must find them before Tihandra does or we are all dead…”

“Another set?” Zan asked as he paced the kitchen floor. He was still in his pajama pants and that was all he wore. He had his hands on his head as he paced trying to fathom what they were saying. “It wasn’t just revenge or hatred…she planned all of this!” He raved. “That bitch! That-”
“Watch the language.” Erin said interrupting him.
“Sorry.” He said looking back at them. “I don’t believe this. Ari? Do you remember any of this?”
The other ‘Arizan’ was sitting in a chair having come after being awakened from one of the best nights’ sleep he had ever had. “I ‘member the proph’cy…sorta.” He said shaking his head. One gen’ration would be born…twelve o’ us…and when we combined do’s powers we could defeat the Dark One…or sumpting…it’s hard to ‘member.”
Erin nodded. “Basically that’s it. The prophecy was made by the Prophet Gabriel thousands of years ago. He just said that in one generation 12 would be born with the powers of their ancestors. They would be the Healer, the Destroyer, the Dreamer, the Disciple, the Seraphim, the Sage, the Slayer, the Empath, the Deceiver, the Diviner, the Void and the Enhancer. Some of them we obviously know who are. Zan was the Healer, Larek, the Sage, Valaya, the Slayer, Belil, the Empath, Milaya, the Deceiver-”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Zan said looking at her. “Who’s Milaya?”
Erin swallowed. “I didn’t think you remembered…Milaya was my twin sister, Tihandra killed her when before we turned four and all of us came together.” Zan nodded though his brown eyes looked at her oddly. “Laneya, Larek’s sister, was the Diviner, Kharnak and Nicholas are the Void and Enhancer.”
Zan nodded. “So we can’t win…is this what you’re telling me?” He demanded.
“I don’t know.” Erin said. “We need 10 of the 12…obviously we have 9…unless we can convince Nicholas to join us…or if Milaya or Laneya was reborn.”
“Da others.” Ari said. “One of dem might just be one of dem, right?”
“Right.” Larek said. “We don’t know yet…we have to find them and we don’t know where to start.”
“Not exactly true.” A voice said from the doorway. The four turned to see Les, Michael and Tony. “We know exactly who they are.” Les said with her arms folded over her chest.
“And who might they be, Vay?” This time they turned the other way and saw Kharnak with his head in the fridge…usual greeting for him, go straight for the fridge.
“The girls we saw in the Playboy.” Les said.
“What’s a Playboy?” Kharnak asked straightening up with a jar of pickles in his hand.
Michael and Ari couldn’t help themselves. They started laughing and couldn’t stop. Larek and Zan rolled their eyes at the immature behavior of the two. Tony just shook his head and turned to Kharnak. “A Playboy is a magazine of naked women.”
Kharnak’s eyes went wider than any of them had ever seen them. “You’re telling me that men on this planet look at women…without clothes on…” He went bright red.
“Yeah, men usually do that.” Zan said looking at his cousin. “Uh, Kharnak…are you all right?”
Larek cleared his throat warning Zan to leave it alone. Zan might have, but he didn’t get the chance…Ari, who was still laughing, spoke up. “Man, K, yous neva done the deed!”
Kharnak went bright red again. “Umm, I don’t believe that this is the time to discuss my experiences with the members of the opposite gender.”
“Ari, can it.” Les said slapping his over the head. “No one needs to be jumping into bed every chance they get!”
“Not a bad ting…to be a…virgin…” Ari said now perfectly serious. “After all yous one, ain’t ya?”
Les narrowed her eyes. “I doubt you will ever know the answer to that question.”
“Let’s go to bed.” Erin said before anyone said anything else. “It’s late and we have time to discuss this tomorrow.” Everyone agreed. “Kharnak, are you tired?”
“Always.” He said nodding.
“Take the couch, you can pull it out and use the blanket over the back of the couch and the chair pillows. Don’t worry, no one needs to wake up early tomorrow.”
“You’re too kind.” Les said. “Ari, you are not sleeping in my room!”
“Ari.” Erin sighed exasperatedly. “You can share with Tony, Michael, Zan or Kharnak, but not Les.”
“Why didn’t you mention us?” Larek asked.
“Because even Ari wouldn’t dream of it.” Erin said. “Oh, and if anyone hears any noise, don’t be alarmed.”
“We never are.” Zan said going down the hall to his own room.
Larek raised an eyebrow at his wife. “And just what did you have in mind?” He asked slightly amused.
“Well, if you recall the night of our 6th anniversary, you’ll have a good idea.” Erin said smirking.
Larek couldn’t suppress a grin as he followed his wife into their bedroom. “Good night, everyone.” He called back.
“Don’t get any ideas.” Les said as Ari glanced at her.
“Too late.” He said glancing below her face.
Les’ fist connected with Ari’s jaw and Ari was flat on his back by the time Les sauntered into her room and slammed the door shut. Ari grinned up at Kharnak and Michael who were looking down at him. “Dat’s ma girl…” He said.
“Ari…” Michael said carefully. “Do you really like Les or is this just a ploy to get her in bed?”
Ari looked serious and that’s not a look you saw very often. “I love her…” He said slowly. “I’ve known dis since da first time I met her. She’s ma dream…what I’s been lookin’ fer all ma life…”

Part 6

Les had her head in the fridge and was looking for something to make for her mid-morning snack when Erin came into the kitchen. “Road trip!” She said grinning.
Les stood and gave her a look, meant purely to discredit the older girl’s sanity. “Somebody drop you on your head today?” She asked.
Erin just shrugged. “Ok, you can stay home with Ari.” She said turning to open the cupboard.
The brunettes’ eyes grew huge. “When do we leave?” She asked with a huge fake smile on her face.

Half an hour later everyone who was going piled into Erin’s mini-van. Erin was driving, while Larek sat in the passenger side with a cooler in between them. Isabel and Ava and Les sat in the middle seat and behind them, Michael, Zan and Tony sat.
Everyone else either had work or class and either didn’t want to or couldn’t get out of it. Les had an art class, but she definitely did not want to go…and Ari didn’t have work or class, he just wanted to hang around the apartment and play video games all day while he ate anything in the house he didn’t have to cook or couldn’t be microwaved.

Larek looked at the map. “Where are we going, love?”
“Bandera Volcano and Ice Caverns…it’s that place in purple up by Albuquerque. It should take us about 4 or 5 hours to get there.” Erin said as she maneuvered her way through the traffic toward the highway.
“And just why are we going sightseeing, sis?” Michael asked from the backseat.
“We aren’t, Michael.” Zan said. “We’re going to check out a dream Erin had. There is information about us in the caves.”
“Oh…” He said. “What did you dream, sis?”
Erin, who was by now pulling onto the highway didn’t answer for a moment. “I saw the caverns in my dream and I saw a man clothed in light hiding a book and other things that were of our planet in a small cave. He sealed it, like the pod chamber is sealed, but this cave can only be opened if the Royal Eight are all together.”
“So that’s why you coerced me into going.” Les said.
“I didn’t ‘coerce’ you, Hun, I simply asked if you wanted to go or stay home with Ari, simple question.” Erin said.
Larek glanced over at his wife and chuckled. “Good choice of words.”
“Always.” She grinned at the tall man. “By the way who brought their cell phones?”
Les and Isabel pulled out theirs. “I guess it’s the girls that are prepared.” Les said smirking.
“Good, one of you call the apartment and tell Ari where he can reach us. I left my cell with him.”
Isabel did it because Les wasn’t about to. When she got off she said, “Ari said that someone was watching the apartment when we left, but isn’t there now.”
Erin turned and practically glared at her husband. “Ok, does someone want to fill me in now?”
Larek cleared his throat. “Love, it is nothing to be concerned about.”
“Oh and I am sure Kharnak has everything well in hand?” Erin was getting a bit fed up with people keeping things from her, but she couldn’t quite decide if it was important enough for her to know. She glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Michael looking quite guilty. “Who here knows something about this?” She asked in a voice that clearly meant: answer or else.
“Me.” Michael said looking everywhere, but at his sister.
“Me.” Zan said.
“Well, I sure the hell don’t and I want to know!” Les said looking at the others.
Larek said very quietly. “Don’t tell her.”
Zan and Michael wouldn’t have dreamed of saying another word knowing they were in hot water as it was. Erin’s green eyes were now electric and they knew they were deep enough as it is. They both looked at Larek, which caused everyone else, except Tony, who had put headphones on and was listening to them full blast, to look at the tall man. Larek was looking out the window at the moment pretending to be very interested in the desert that was flying past. No one liked Erin to be mad and at the moment the frown and the line between her eyebrows definitely qualified as mad, even Les wouldn’t say anything at the moment. “Someone had better tell me what is going on…” She warned.
“Uh…sis…” Michael said carefully. “Perhaps we can discuss this later? After we have the stuff from the Ice Caverns.”
A bunch of ice in tight formation came pelting back at the poor boy. A scream was heard and then silence. It was quite a while before anyone said anything. In fact it was about 120 miles later when they got onto the Interstate at San Antonio that anyone spoke and that was to ask if they could stop for the bathroom. Since it was Ava who asked Erin pulled into a McDonald’s; while everyone used the bathroom Erin and Zan bought everyone a meal that they liked before heading down the interstate.
About 3 or 4 miles later Erin got off the interstate and back onto the highway heading toward Magdalena. Everyone was still quiet eating french-fries, burgers and sipping milkshakes. Larek was sitting with one leg over the other reading the map and drinking a bottled water. Erin reached over and put her hand on his thigh squeezing a little. He looked up and smiled taking her hand in his. He brought it up and kissed it sweetly. “Forgive me?” He asked.
“Yes.” She sighed. “I know you’ll tell me when you’re ready. I just find it very annoying when people are keeping something from me.”
“I know.” He said lightly. “Let’s just concentrate on the task ahead and put aside other matters.”
“All right.” Erin touched his cheek briefly before putting her hand back on the wheel.
“Hey, old man, stop flirting and pass me some apple juice.” Les said rolling her eyes at the two of them.

Erin suddenly jerked the wheel to one side. Michael, who had fallen asleep, woke with a start. “Wha-what is it?” He asked a little groggily.
“Sorry, Mikey.” Erin called back. “The road isn’t paved and it isn’t exactly a very good one at that.”
Michael was about to say something, but a jolt stopped him as Erin went over a bump in the road she couldn’t avoid. “OW!” Les rubbed her head after she collided with the window. “Watch it!”
“I’m trying.” Erin said. “I am not sure too many people drive this road at all…are you sure we’re on the right one, honey?”
Larek stared at the map. “I think so…it only shows one road. But then again there might be other roads…”
Erin nodded. “OK…I’m doing the best I can. It shouldn’t be long now…no see, there’s a sign announcing it.”

[TaylayaTirand]

Part 7


Erin checked her purse for the money they would need and also the money that the others forked over. "Ok..." She looked at Ava and then at the sign with a huge grin on her face. "Oh...Ava..."
"What?" Ava asked, blinking innocently. She started nervously twirling a purple curl around her finger.
Erin had been counting the money and realized they only had $60 on them, that meant everyone could go in if..."Ava, how would you like to be my daughter?"
Ava blinked again. "What do ya'z mean by that?" She asked, violet eyes widening a little. That grin was giving her the heebie-jeebies.
Erin grinned. "Well, Av, let's put it this way, admission is $8 per adult and there are 8 of us...and we only have $60...what does that tell you?"
Ava's brows wrinkled together worriedly as she began trying to count out the math on her short black polished fingers. The van went quiet until Isabel finally couldn't wait any longer. "8 times 8 is 64, Ava." She said patiently, knowing the girl couldn't help the fact that she hadn't even been through basic schooling. "We only have $60 between all of us." She explained, noticing Ava blush slightly to herself, her fingers going back to twirling her hair.
"I knew that." She mumbled.
"Yeah, we know you know." Isabel said, not intentionally being snooty. It was just that Ice-Princess-impatience showing.
Les rolled her eyes at Isabel, the most impatient girl of all apparently having one of the biggest soft spots when it came to Ava. "So what do you say Ava? You’re so friggin' cute nobody'll know the difference. Plus I can help! I rock with disguises!" Ava smiled a little at Les. "You in?" Les asked.
Ava nodded and smiled. "K. I'm in."
Erin smiled. "Great. Ok, Larek, looks like we have our own little family." She giggled a little and winked at her husband.
Larek smiled back. "Is it too late to trade some of them in?" He asked. A chorus of protests and a flying water bottle was his response.
Erin laughed and stopped the water bottle in mid-air. She leaned forward and kissed her husband on the cheek. "'Fraid so...but you never know when we're gonna really start one of our own." Erin said cryptically and got out of the van.
Larek stared forward and swallowed, both excited and horrified at the idea. Les leaned between the seats and smiled at him. "She's right ya know...the way you two shag like bunnies...I mean let's face it you aren't getting any younger, Pops." She teased, blowing him a kiss. On that note the boys, got out of the van while Les and Isabel got to work on Ava.
Isabel did most of the work considering she was the best at makeovers and the least prone to power-related disasters. By the time they were finished, Ava was fresh faced, pigtailed and looking very much like the kid they were trying to pass her off as. She hid her hands in the pockets of the overalls (a change Isabel had added) she wore and tried not to blush even though she felt kind of silly. "How come I'm the only one who'z gotta dress all cornball?" She asked shyly.
Erin smiled at the girl. "Because you are the only one we are passing off for twelve, Honey. Now act your age." Erin giggled and noticed Larek was doing something with his little Antarin device that looked like a palm pilot. "I thought you were leaving work at home today."
Larek looked up surprised and finished quickly with what he was doing before concealing the device. "I did." He replied seriously.
"Then what were you doing?" Erin asked curiously. She wondered if she could get into his pocket without him noticing...
"Nothing." He replied hastily, stopping her search before it had even really begun. "Am I not allowed any secrets of my own?" He asked looking a little nervous; he was really cute when he was frazzled.
Erin grinned. "Of course you are." She said putting her arms around him. "You are allowed all the secrets you want..." She tried to slide her hand into his pocket.
One of his hands encircled the wrist that was reaching for his pocket and stopped her again. "I'm so glad you respect my privacy." He added with a grin to equal her own.
"This from the man who insists he doesn't read my diary and I know for a fact he does?" Erin asked and she kissed him on the nose.
"I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about." He replied innocently.
"Right." She said. "We'll see just how much you remember tonight." She said untangling herself from him. She saw Les watching them with a look that purely said it all. She wanted to gag. Erin couldn't help herself. Larek had turned away to say something to Zan and Erin walked passed him and slapped him right on his backside and looked innocent afterward. "OK, who's ready to go in?"
Larek went rigid with surprise even though he knew somehow he really should be used to this by now. The girls laughed. Les more like caught between gagging and laughing. Ava hurried off to join Erin, looking as cute and perky as a tiny, 12 year old blonde girl should have.
Erin grinned back at her husband and blew him a kiss before putting her arm around the bubbly blonde. The tour shack was near the huge volcanic crater carved out of the earth. Michael, Zan and Tony were walking along behind them and Tony was having trouble keeping a straight face because of the emotions that were coming in at him, but at least they were good emotions.
Larek joined the front of the group across from Erin. Ava was between them giggling to herself. The tall man gave his wife a look before he went about trying to re-compose himself. Isabel followed with her arms crossed and a big smile. Les rolled her eyes and kept walking.
They reached the tour shack and a man with sandy colored hair greeted them. "Hi, I'm Ted."
Erin smiled. "Erin Tirand. This is my husband, Larek and our kids...well, some of them are anyway. We have...7 adults and 1 child."
The man nodded. "Nice to meet you." He held his hand out to Larek. "That's an unusual name." He commented.
Larek smiled and shook the man's hand. "It's French." He said politely as he paid the man. Ava looked up quietly at the young man from under blonde curls and her long eyelashes. Already she didn't like this big plan.
The man nodded. "Are you here for both tours?"
"Yes." Erin said. "But we were hoping to have the Ice Cavern tour first, if it wasn't an inconvenience..."
"None at all." Ted said smiling. His eyes had wandered to Isabel though. Erin glanced back and hid a smile. "Follow me."
He led them to the entrance and down into the cavern, down the stairs and landings onto the blue-green sheen of the ice. Isabel had no problem with the little extra attention she was getting. Sometimes her looks could really work to their advantage so she played it up just a little smiling back when he would look her way and keeping that sultry look going that came so naturally to her. Ava wasn't loving the whole "icy cave" thing so instantly she was holding Larek's hand as they traveled down. That made the tall man smile and comfortingly squeeze her much smaller hand.
Les was equally unhappy about the cave thing, but for a whole other reason. Big darkish, underground places always made her think of vampires and well...it was hard not to be on her guard when going into enclosed places during the day, far away from natural sunlight. Les spoke up trying to relieve some of her anxieties. "Hey, old man, ya gonna buy me a souvenir or something?"
Ted looked at Erin. "Oh, is she your daughter too?"
Erin grinned at Les. "No, she's my stepdaughter. That's why she's a little punk." She gave Larek a look indicating it was entirely his fault. Larek smiled innocently as they continued to walk.
Erin was looking everywhere as Ted was talking about the caves history and everything. She wasn't paying much attention until she saw a large wall of ice that was slightly different from the others. She hung back a moment. "Iz, distract him for a few minutes so I can get the book." She went back up to Ava. "Av, say you have to go to the bathroom and whine about it."
Isabel fell into place beside the enthusiastic Ted and smiled sweetly at him. She started asking him questions just as Ava started whine-y brat mode. "Where are the bathrooms? I've really gotta gooo!" She whined.
"Didn't you go before we left like you were supposed to?" Les asked just as if that was the norm. Ava continued her whining.
Erin slipped off to the wall and examined it for a moment. She flashed her hand over the wall and two handprints appeared. "Uh-Oh..." She whispered. She looked around. "Honey!" She whispered urgently.
Larek discreetly slipped off to Erin leaving the "kids" to argue and Isabel to flirt. He saw the pair of handprints.
Erin looked at him. "This is weird." She muttered as she put her hand to one of them. "Definitely weird. Who on earth had this top-security clearance? I thought only you and Kharnak did..."
"As far as I knew we did. No one else should." Larek said uneasily as he put his hand to the second print.
A small cave opened, just big enough for a small box. Erin put her hand in and picked it up looking at it..."Whoa..." She whispered. "Larek...this is written in Old Antarin, as far as I knew only 4 of us knew how to write or speak it. Kharnak, You, Me…and…" She swallowed. "Let's get out of here, we have what we came for."
Larek didn't need to argue with that. He sealed the opening and any evidence of anything being amiss there. Erin handed him the box, which he concealed inside his coat as they made there way back to the group.

They were by the bathrooms about half an hour later. Erin got out first and was walking towards a scenic overlook when she was grabbed from behind. She was so surprised she had no time to call out in her mind and their was a hand at her throat…she could barely breath let alone say anything. He back was rammed against the side of the bathrooms and she looked up into a face she knew all too well. The fear was welling up inside of her. “Well, now…” Her father whispered. “Look what we have here…I always thought there was something different about you…and now I know why…Taylaya.”
Erin was now more shocked than afraid. She blinked at him gulping for air now that his hand had loosened a bit. “H-how do you know…?”
He smiled an evil smile that went straight to her heart freezing it cold. “I never thought that I would be the father of the reincarnated Consort of Antar. If I had known you never would have breathed life, you bitch.”
“Who are you?” She whispered not able to turn away from his eyes.
“Tell that bastard you call a husband that Quarik says hello.” He sneered.
That’s when Erin screamed, the cry ripping from her almost unconsciously when she heard the name. The man, her father, was gone and the others were around her now asking her if she was ok and what had happened. She stared at her husband, her brother and the king. “How could you?” She asked them. “How could you keep something like this from me??” She practically yelled at them. “You knew…what did you think? That you could protect me from him?? He’s Quarik, Larek! He’s Quarik.”
Larek just stood there staring at her. “By the three moons…” He whispered turning from her. His entire face was pale and he looked like he was going to be sick. “Quarik…I thought he was dead for sure…” His hands were on his head and his hair was now in total disarray.
“He’s not…” Erin whispered. “All this time…I knew those eyes, those horrible eyes. He scares me so much…he always has…”

[TaylayaTirand]

Part 8

The words of the book spoke to them from the distant past. Like the sounds of their ancestors coming to them from so long ago. They had called everyone together, including Jim and Amy, so they could read the book together. Erin sat and ran her fingers along the symbol etched in the cover.
“It’s written it Old Antarin.” She told those gathered in the kitchen around them. “This symbol represents ‘Prophecy’. We have the Destiny books and the Prophecy book. The three go together. The Destiny books tell us what we are to become and the Prophecy book tells us what must be done for us to finally destroy Tihandra and all those that follow her so that we may reclaim Antarix for the people.” She opened the book and on the page in front of her were the symbols, not unlike the one on the front of the book. “In the beginning,” She read touching the symbols so they glowed under her touch, “there was the Eight. The Healer, the Destroyer, the Sage, the Seraphim, the Disciple, the Dreamer, the Empath and the Slayer. Together their powers could transcend the darkness and bring order and leadership to a war torn galaxy. They were all betrayed by blood. The Eight had fallen as the prophecies foretold.” She looked up. “We know who they are… the names are not exact as they are in English, but they are close enough. The Healer obviously is the one to heal Antar, the Destroyer, is the one that will have the powers to destroy their enemies, the Sage is the one the will lead by wisdom and knowledge, the Seraphim, the one who will guard Antar by the sword if need be, the Disciple, the one who with teach in place of the Sage to the people, the Dreamer, the one who will in mind be able to search out those that would destroy us, the Empath, the one who will know the hearts of man and none may hide from, and the Slayer, the one that will ultimately be the one that saves the others either by giving of her own life or by a selfless act.” She looked around to see what the others were thinking.
“The names are what we are…and always will be…aren’t they?” Les asked, for once she wasn’t being sarcastic or making fun of something.
“Yes.” Larek said. “It was destined before we were even born. We have a duty to perform…but whether it was foretold or not it would still be the same. We are what we are and nothing can change that. The prophecies do not tell us everything, they are more like a structure…the bare outline of what is to come.”
Les nodded. “So one of these days I will probably die to save all of you…”
“We don’t know—” Isabel started, but she couldn’t finish the sentence. She put her hand to the brunette’s shoulder. “It doesn’t say that, it just says you will do something for the good of everyone.”
Les pulled her shoulder away from the tall blonde. “I’m not afraid to die.” She said simply and hopped up on the counter with a dark look on her pretty face.
Erin put her hand on her husbands arm and shook her head. She knew Larek was about to say something, but Erin knew the girl better than anyone and knew that she needed some time to assimilate the information. Erin turned the page of the book. There was a picture underneath the other words of the prophet Gabriel, who had foretold the prophecy. The next page showed the pictures of Arizan, Ava, Rath and Vilandra. The 7 of them in the room craned their necks to see them. Under each picture were symbols. Erin translated. “The Healer, the Destroyer, the Disciple and the Dreamer.” They nodded. They had all known what they were just from the descriptions. It was still a toss-up for some of them which one would be the one to carry out the prophecy. Ari, for one, knew that he might have to, but only if Zan were to be killed. He didn’t relish the thought, he wasn’t a king and he knew it. He didn’t mind not being a king, but he was ready to fill in if he had to. Erin would show him what he had to do so he wasn’t worried. He glanced at Les, who was still staring into nothingness. Her brooding face was fixed and he knew she didn’t see anyone or anything in the room. She was thinking and she was afraid, he knew that. He could see it in her eyes, she didn’t want to die, she always thought of herself as indestructible, but even if she was…that couldn’t stop her from giving up her life in the defense of someone she loved.
Erin was speaking again so he turned back to her to listen. Erin’s eyes betrayed her as she spoke the names on the next page. “The Sage, the Seraphim, the Empath and the Slayer.” The pictures were those of Larek, Taylaya, Belil and Valaya.
“What is it?” Tony asked his sister-in-law. She looked pale now.
“The girls may not be us…” She said simply. “Les, you might not be the Slayer of Antarix.”
Les looked up surprised. “What do you mean?”
“Les, their were two other girls that looked just like us. One was my twin sister, Milaya and the other, Larek’s sister, Laneya. She was your Top Elite, your bodyguard. She killed you.”
Les turned away. This was way too much information to process in less than 10 minutes. She had known that the other two girls might not be them…but she never thought they might be…well that the other one might be the one that killed her, someone that was supposed to protect her. That was just pure betrayal and that was something Les definitely did not look upon with the least degree of allowance. Her sister, Tess, had betrayed them, had done more than that, she had offered them up to be slaves or even to be put to death, and that could not be forgiven.
Erin turned the page revealing the others. “The other four…the ones that are part of the Twelve…We all should have been together, if it wasn’t for Tihandra we would have been. The Void, the Deceiver, the Enhancer and the Diviner. The Void is the one that can stop the others powers.” Kharnak nodded. He knew well enough that it was him. “The Deceiver, one who can make others see what is not really there. The Enhancer, the one that can make the others powers grow in strength…Nicholas. And the Diviner, the one that can see the truth and the lies in everything. She knows good from evil and can manipulate those that seek evil, she has no power over those that are good. Of these they are two sides of the same thing. The Seraphim can show people only the goodness and truth, the Deceiver only lies and deceit. All of them can be good though. The Void and the Enhancer. The Slayer and the Diviner.”
Les was now more confused than ever. She knew that she did see the good and evil in people…was that just a coincidence? She didn’t know and it was weighing heavily on her mind. She wanted to leave and go to the gym or something, as it was still too early to go patrolling. Erin would probably require her to have a tag-along, as usual, if she had something on her mind or wasn’t up to her peak condition. She just hoped that the girl wouldn’t choose Ari; if she did Ari would probably get staked. It wouldn’t kill him; he could heal himself, after all. Man, you never saw Erin so mad as the last time Ari got staked. It’s not as if he hadn’t deserved it, and he was fine. One little stake through his shoulder and you’d think it was the end of the world.
Les was just a little surprised when Kharnak hopped up on the counter beside her. “You ok?” He whispered.
“Yeah.” She said all to aware of the soft fluttering in her chest with him so close. She was amazed, to say the least, she hadn’t felt this way since…she swallowed and pushed his memory out of her mind. It was true that Kharnak was handsome. From his wavy dark brown hair and gentle green eyes. He was a kind person and felt strongly about those that he had sworn to protect with his life.
Les often wondered why he had never fallen in love, why he had never even been with a girl. She knew he didn’t like men and that his duties kept him kind of aloof of everyone else, but that really wasn’t an excuse.
She found herself drawn into the depths of those shining eyes. She leaned forward and kissed him passionately and felt him kiss her back just as intensely. The feelings running through her were incredible; she had never felt like this before.
“Vay?” Kharnak’s voice brought her out of her thoughts. She blinked as she saw him looking at her intently. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah…” She said turning from him. That had been quite a daydream…she had thought she had actually done it…her mind was certainly being overactive today. She looked back at Erin who was having an extremely serious conversation with Zan about what was going on.
Zan sighed. “All right, continue.” He finally said shaking his head.
Erin nodded and pushed a strand of her shoulder-length blonde hair behind her ear. “The Queen Tihandra sought the aid of the Dark One and he told her these words, ‘Wait a season until they come of age…but hold, kill one ‘fore they reach their fourth year…the Deceiver…one that can make the weak see what she wishes…and turn the mind of the Diviner to thee. Then you must wait the season till they come of age. First kill the Seraphim, or all is lost. Next you must gain control of the twin powers, the Void and the Enhancer. Make sure the king dies and then his wife, his sister, her husband, his wife’s sister, her lover and this is the most important of all…leave not the Sage alive or he will cause thy downfall. Mark these words…but even then there is but hope for thee. Make sure the Sage has not the power to bring forth the Royal Eight once more; if the Royal Eight are true and their powers combined they will defeat thee. Stay but a season and a season and then the very powers of Antarix shall crumble and fall leaving thee the ultimate ruler of this tide.’ Ten of the twelve must unite or Antarix shall fall to the ruin of all.” Erin put down the book.
“Erin, what about the last page?” Michael asked.
Erin bit her lip. “The last page is the Prophecy of the Princes; 12 Princes to be exact. The Princes of the Galaxies, is what they are known as. They will be born of us…every woman here shall bear a son which will be a prince…”
Amy looked startled at that. “Even me??”
Erin nodded. “One prince must come from Terra. The child will be yours.”
Liz rubbed her stomach. “I guess that means I will have another child…”
“It’s a girl.” Erin explained to those who were looking confused.
“Are you going to read the prophecy?” Kharnak asked.
“Not now.” Erin said. “We’ll read it when everything settles down.”

[TaylayaTirand]

Part 9

Later that evening everyone was doing his or her own things. Maria and Tony were at the table with Kyle and Ava helping to plan the latter’s wedding. Zan, Liz and Jacob were over at the Parker’s again. Isabel, Michael, Lonnie and Rath had gone to the movies to create a little havoc and have a good time. The four of them were getting awfully close. The rest of them were in the living room watching a movie or in Les’ case in her room getting ready to go patrolling.
Les came out while Erin, Larek, Ari and Kharnak were watching a movie. “Hey, I’m leaving now.” The tall brunette said.
Erin turned to her. “Take someone with you.” She said predictably.
Les rolled her eyes. “Fine, who do you suggest?”
Erin glanced at Ari, but he was so engrossed in the scene that he would never hear her. She turned to Larek, but decided against that too. Then her eyes fell on Kharnak. “Hey, Kharnak, you’ve never been with Les patrolling. Want to go?”
He looked up a little surprised and then looked at Les. “Is it all right with you, Vay?”
“Sure.” Les said nodding and a little surprised at this nice turn of events. Kharnak smiled at her and she almost felt herself melt.
It only took the rebel leader a few minutes to get ready and then they left. It was dark and the moon was high and waxing full. They walked along toward the cemetery, as that was the most logical place to start. There hadn’t been many vamps around in the last few weeks. And while that wasn’t really strange it certainly made Les feel on edge. Something inside her told her that something was coming, but she didn’t know what.
Les began to see that this might not have been such a good idea. She was very acutely aware of Kharnak walking beside her. And well aware, perhaps too much aware, of that kiss that hadn’t been real…She wasn’t sure if she could concentrate with him there. “Were we close?” She suddenly asked.
Kharnak smiled and chuckled a little. “We were. You and I were practically inseparable for a while when we were in our teenage years. That was before the insurrection of my mother and other people of my family. I swore a blood oath to protect Arizan. We all failed during those weeks…” Les knew he had gotten off topic, but she was fascinated by what he was telling her. “I failed to protect Arizan from my own brother. Orphena failed to protect you from your own bodyguard. Larek failed to protect them all. It wasn’t our faults; we know that, it had to happen. There isn’t a day that goes by, however, that I don’t feel some of that guilt…that I don’t wonder what might have been.”
“You are one of the best, Kharnak.” Les said simply. “You would have given your life…”
“Yes, I would have, if I had only known. I didn’t know how far the treachery went inside my own family…my own brother helping to kill Arizan and Belil…”
“How did Belil die?” Les asked suddenly. Larek didn’t talk about their deaths. It was a very sore subject for him.
“My brother is an ‘Enhancer’. That means he can multiply someone’s powers. It also means he can overload them. Belil died when his heart…” Kharnak took a deep breath. “His heart gave out from the amount of power that had been coursing through him. He fought though, he fought like a…like a dragon defending the young. He died like Rhussean, of old, and I can give no higher credit than that. Nicholas didn’t have enough strength after that to kill Arizan…but my mother or aunt did. I don’t know which one actually killed him; I don’t suppose it really matters, though. It was so long ago.”
“How many years ago was it?” Les asked softly. I suppose it has been about 60 years…Time doesn’t really matter after a while, you’ll find that out.”
Les nodded, she had already found it out. They were silent for a few minutes and Les’ mind wandered to Erin and Larek and that made her think about how Kharnak was. “Don’t take this the wrong way…” She began. “But, why haven’t you ever been with anyone?”
“I didn’t think you remembered.” He sighed a little sadly and his face took on a thoughtful expression as he thought back. “We were together for a time…when we were about 15. We shared our first kisses together…then the war drove us apart. We didn’t see each other for years and by that time you had to make a decision about who to marry. Belil was there for you.”
Les looked at him silently for a moment. “I always thought you were in love with Erin.”
Kharnak turned to her surprised. “How could you know that?”
Les shrugged. “It was pretty obvious to me.”
He sighed and nodded. “Yes…and no. I was in love with her for a time…more like ‘goddess worship’, if you know what I mean.”
Les nodded and chuckled to herself. “I know what you mean.”
“Laya was the woman that every man was in love with. I doubt she ever knew it. She loved Larek and he loved her. It was how so many women fell for Arizan…but it was different with Laya. Everyone knew her, knew her gentleness and her caring. They knew she loved, maybe more than any other person could love. Yes, I loved her, I still do…but I don’t think I am in love with her.”
“Why have you stayed alone all these years?” She didn’t know if he would tell her, but she felt she had to know.
By now they were walking through the headstones and strangely enough, it was peaceful and calm. They sat down on one of the stone benches along the pathway. Kharnak got comfortable, or as much as one could on a stone bench, before speaking. “Vay, I was only 20 when all of you were killed and suddenly the people were looking to me to lead them. That is a hard task for someone that never wanted to rule, never even entertained the thought of ruling anything. But that’s where I found myself, leading, with Larek, who…well, even Larek looked to me as the last surviving member of the Antaris family that would rule for the Royal Eight. It hasn’t been an easy life, Vay, not at all. I am sure many women wouldn’t have minded sharing my bed…but that isn’t who I am. I always believed in love. I grew up with it all around me…true love.” He looked at her and Les began to feel, perhaps for the first time in her life that there actually was such a thing…and not just for the select few. “Laya and Larek, there never was anyone more in love than they were…and you don’t remember Arisan and Andreya. Though it was probably custom for the king to have concubines and more than one wife…Arisan did away with that custom…he loved Andreya so much and neither would have anyone else. Even my mother loved my father…he was killed when Nicholas and I were only 5 years old, but I remember him. He was a good man, perhaps my mother and Nicholas wouldn’t have turned out the way they did if he hadn’t of died. I knew of love and I always wanted to find it for myself.”
“But you didn’t.” Les said sighing. “All these years and you never found anyone to love…”
“I wouldn’t say that…” He swallowed and turned from her.
“What do you mean?” Les asked curiously.
“I found love when I was 13 with a girl that grew into the greatest queen the Varani would ever know.” He licked his lips a little nervously. “My heart was broken at 16 and then…I guess I never really got over that pain. I didn’t want to feel it again.”
Les looked at him and wasn’t sure what to say…she just wished she could remember…she had always assumed that it had just been her and Tony…well, Belil. She never knew that she had someone else in her life…was it possible? Had she found love before?

Part 10

Les walked into the kitchen the next morning after most everyone else had eaten and had gone off to work, school or were attending to business. She was glad she didn’t have to face Kharnak. After he had told her about their lives together on Antar and Varan…well, it was a bit confusing as well as…she couldn’t explain the feeling she had when she thought about it. It also made her think of…it was hard even now thinking about him. It hadn’t been that long ago…
Les sighed and drove it from her mind picking up one of the muffins on the plate in the middle of the table and the note that went along with them.

Les,
I’ll be working at the bookshop most of the day, but I should be back for dinner. Larek and Kharnak went to check out some leads, Michael, Liz and Maria are working at the Crashdown most of the day, Tony will be at the college until 4 and then he is working until midnight, he didn’t have time to pack a dinner, so I packed one for him, it’s in the fridge, if you could take it to him when he goes to work, I would be very grateful. Zan is working at the museum and closing up, he’ll be home in time for dinner. Ava and Ari are working at the shop, but should be here for dinner, sorry about that. Kyle will be around for lunch probably, so be nice. Rath and Lonnie probably will to. There are pizzas in the freezer and any other number of things you can microwave.
If I am not home by 4:30 put the lasagna into the oven at 375 and the timer on for an hour. I don’t know when Larek and Kharnak are planning on getting home, but when they do make sure that they take a shower. I don’t know why, but those two always seem to get into something when they go to check out a lead. Don’t eat all the muffins; there is a plate of eggs in the fridge made with bacon, sausage, green peppers, and ham. You can have as much of that as you want. Don’t get into any trouble and if anything happens call Jim…before you go to take care of it yourself. OK?
Love, Erin

Les rolled her eyes a little as she read the note. Erin knew she planned to spend the whole day at home since she didn’t have class. She grabbed the plate of eggs from the fridge; there was a whole heap of them. She smiled to herself as she popped the plate into the microwave. She also grabbed the milk carton, hey, there was only half a quart left.
She grabbed a few more muffins, still leaving more than half of them and took her plunder into the living room where she lounged on the couch and flipped through the channels while gorging herself. She would work out later, she had a fast metabolism and she needed everything that was in the food anyway.

Well, Erin had been wrong about one thing. Ari showed up with Rath, Lonnie and Kyle for lunch. Ava didn’t, but that was because she had promised Torrance that she would eat lunch with her that day. Les heated up some burritos while the boys were in the fridge snagging leftovers.
They only stayed about an hour. Rath and Lonnie had to get going and help Yuri with the clean up of the club; it was reopening as he had finally fixed the generator. Ari didn’t really care too much. Kyle had to go back to the garage and get some work done.
Ari stayed and Les, for once didn’t care, she needed someone that could spar with her anyway. She would take whoever was available. She went through her routine to stretch. And then they went at it. She had to admit Ari was one of the best to help her. He had a nice toned body and took care of himself, reasonably well. He also had energy to spare, he could keep the punches and kicks coming and that was what she needed. He was very limber and could twist and turn in ways Les didn’t think a guy would be able to.
She took a hit in the chest and flipped over backwards using some of the gymnastics was so good at. Ari followed and he caught her off guard sending them both rolling onto the carpet. She almost swore, she should have seen that coming, but her mind was somewhere else…Ari landing on top of her and she lay there for a minute just looking at him. Those beautiful chocolate brown eyes seemed to draw her in. She had never noticed just how gorgeous they actually were. Ari leaned down toward her, but Les was the one that initiated the kiss and for a few minutes that’s all that got done.
Then Les pushed him off of her. She swore and got up going into her room and slamming the door shut. Ari sat there on the carpet wondering what had happened. For a few minutes everything had been great and then…he had no idea what was going on. She seemed like she was finally into him. He sighed; frustrated and discouraged he got up and left the apartment.

Les was hitting her punching bag, harder and harder. She couldn’t believe what was going on. First Kharnak and now Ari! What the hell was wrong with her? She had fought against having feelings for anyone since…well, since it happened. She kicked the bag sending it flying sideways and then turned around it catching it with the back of her forearm and then twirled to the other side with and elbow into the hard leather. She groaned inwardly. She couldn’t do this while her mind was racing. She sat on the floor and began stretching out again going through a gymnastics routine and throwing in some kata moves. That helped some, but she still thought about how Kharnak was sweet and caring and most of all he cared about her…and how Ari was persistent and quite frankly gave her a thrill of the unknown. It wasn’t fair. Two great guys and they were so different. It wasn’t very hard to think that she was attracted to both of them though. They did look a lot of like they were cousins after all.
The two young men were as different as night and day though. Kharnak was quiet and serious and gentle, Ari was loud, quite extroverted and wasn’t afraid of being physical…in any sense of the word.
Her and Ari did make sense…but so did her and Kharnak.
It was true that Ari and Les had many of the same qualities and attributes, but Kharnak seemed to balance her out. She didn’t know what to do. Both of them could make her happy…

[TaylayaTirand]

Les looked up as Larek came into the kitchen. Les blinked. Larek was only wearing a pair of sweatpants. She looked at the clock and then back at the tall man who was pouring himself a glass of orange juice. “Hey, old man, don’t you two have any self-restraint?”
Larek chuckled. “Of course, it’s not as if we do anything in front of you.”
“God, Larek, it’s 3:00 in the afternoon!” She complained. “Where’s Erin?”
“Asleep. She’s exhausted.”
Les rolled her eyes. “Ok, whatever, you two shag too much as it is.”
Larek laughed shaking his head. “Prerogative of being with your true love.”
The brunette groaned and stood. “I don’t want to hear this.”
“Sit down, I want to talk to you.” Larek leaned against the counter still drinking his orange juice.
Les sank into her chair again knowing there was no getting out of this. She had a dreadful feeling practically creeping up her neck. This would not be good. “What?”
“We need to talk about what has been going on lately.” Whump! Les’ head hit the table. “Les, we all have urges and needs—”Whump! “—And sometimes when those needs are not met we can transfer those feelings into anger and resentment.” Whump! “Now, Les, I am certain you are aware that a certain young…gentleman—” Whump! Whump! Whump! “—Has feelings for you.” Whump! “Ari is a very upstanding young man—” Whump! Whump! “—And I am sure his intentions are honorable.” Whump! Whump! Whump! “Les, I know your hesitations and concerns about letting someone—anyone—into your life.” Whump! “And the fact that Ari is very experienced with women and you have as yet to know—” WHUMP! WHUMP! WHUMP! Les was trying to knock herself out before she heard any more of this speech. “—A man’s touch. It can be a very enjoying and gratifying experience—” WHUMP! WHUMP! WHUMP! WHUMP! “Being in the arms of the person you love, feeling the passion, the ecstasy—” WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP!!! “—And the climax—”
Suddenly a loud peal of laughter was heard. They both looked up to see Erin leaning against the doorway, wearing nothing but one of Larek’s t-shirt’s and laughing hysterically. “Ok! Stop! Please! Les is going to concuss herself.” Erin got her laughing under control. “Honey, I’ll take it from here.”
“Thank GOD!!!” Les said practically in supplication and looking skyward gratefully. “There is a God!!!” She ran from the room.
Erin went over to her husband and kissed him softly. “Lovely sentiments.”
“Thank you.” He kissed her back while pulling up on the t-shirt she wore.
“Uh-Uh-Uh!” Erin said getting away from him, laughing. “I have to talk to Les and you have some work to do!” She giggled as he grabbed her again.
Larek pulled her back into his embrace. “Tonight?” He whispered huskily and his accent becoming more pronounced. He ran his fingers through her rich honey blonde hair.
“After dinner.” She promised. He kissed her again before she got free of him.

Les looked up from her sprawled position on Erin’s bed. She had definitely made herself comfortable for one of their gab sessions. “Hmmm.” Les said. “I thought you two might have decided to try out the kitchen table.”
Erin grinned. “I’m not sure he would have minded too much.” She pushed Les’ leg out of the way as she sat down. “I just love being with him.”
“I know.” Les said a little wistfully as she rolled over on her back and leaned against the pillows at the head of the bed. “Erin’s what’s it like?”
“What? Sex?” Erin asked as she laid back herself beside the brunette.
“Well, yeah, but what’s love like?”
Erin smiled closing her eyes. “Les, true love is above and beyond any feeling in the world. You want to be with him…you want to wake up in the morning and kiss him…and you have no qualms about morning breath.” Les laughed turning over onto her side. “True love comes but once…”
“But Erin what does it feel like??” She pleaded.
Erin thought a moment and turned over herself. “Love feels like…well, there are different emotions when you are with them. You know it’s true, beyond anything you’ve ever known. And when you’re apart for a long time you ache for them.”
“How long?” Les asked.
The tall blonde sighed. “Les, I hate and dread going to bed without him, waking up in the night needing and reaching for him, remembering he’s not there. And even worse is waking up in the morning alone. Every moment I get to spend with him I cherish. You may not realize it, but I fear for him. If he wasn’t just in the living room I would wonder if he will come back…”
“You’re afraid he’ll die…” Les whispered.
“Yes, I don’t think I could live without him.”
“You’re strong.” The brunette assured her. “You could make it, but I wouldn’t for the universe have that happen to you.”
“No fair!” They looked to see the bubbly purple/blonde girl. “Yous two are ‘dishing’ without me!” With that she scrambled onto the bed and crawled between the two older girls, flopping over onto her back. “What’s da talk?”
“Love and sex.” Les responded.
“Oh, da usual.” Ava grinned. “Ya thinkin’ ‘bout doin’ da deed wit Ari, sissy?”
“NO!!!” Les protested, but then grinned seeing that Ava was teasing her. “Actually I have a confession to make.”
“We’re all ears.” Erin said as the two blondes stared at the brunette expectedly.
“Ok, this is under strictest confidence and you two swear by the honor of sacred sisterhood that you won’t ever tell Larek and Kyle or write it down in a diary.”
“We promise!” They said together.
Satisfied Les continued. “Well, when I was Valaya I was in love…I don’t remember, but I want to…” Erin reached over the perky blonde in front of her and touched Les’ temple. A soft white glow pulsed under her fingertips and then disappeared. Les closed her eyes. “Oh…joy…I was in love with Kharnak.” Pretty soon the whole story came out of what he had told her and then of what happened with Ari. “What do I do?”
“Kharnak! Kharnak!” Ava quipped casting her voice.
“Ava!” Erin laughed. “Les, you have to be honest with both of them. See who you like better, take it slow. You don’t have to make a decision right away. Give them both a chance.”

[TaylayaTirand]

Part 12
“Leslie!” Erin’s voice echoed throughout the apartment and the brunette rolled her eyes as she listened to the blonde yell at her. “I didn’t tell you to date both of them! I told you to get to know them! What are you thinking?? It’s not far to Ari or Kharnak for you to be doing this to them! They both have feelings for you and you are treating this like it is a big game! These are real people you are playing with! You aren’t 5 years old and Ari and Kharnak aren’t your playmates! We’re adults here! You can’t play with emotions like this especially with two men that feel so strongly about you!”
“OK, Erin, you can stop now!” Les said. “I have talked to both of them and they are agreeable to the idea!”
“Yeah.” Erin rolled her own eyes. “Ari’s just hoping for a big payoff from this.”
Les sighed. “Erin, I am not going to sleep with either of them. Ok?”
“Les, I just don’t want anything to happen, to any of you. I need you to be able to work together without anything interfering. Sex doesn’t mean anything to Ari, you know that, but it does mean a whole lot to you. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Ari is not going to hurt me, Erin.”
“You don’t know that. Les, I love Ari, you know I do, but I also know his tract record and his blatant disregard for the sanctity of, well, love making.”
Les smirked. “Ari wouldn’t try anything with me, Erin. He’d get his butt kicked. I already promised you that before I have sex I would tell you.”
“Darn right you will!” Erin exclaimed. “I know how much being with the right person means to you and I won’t let you make that mistake.”
Les pulled Erin down onto the couch beside her. “Erin, I know you care about me and that’s the whole reason behind me telling you when I plan on having sex. I don’t think it’s going to get that far with either of them for a very long time. And by that time I will only be with one of them. Kharnak would never do anything to hurt me and Ari is strong enough to make me do anything. Although he is pretty strong.” Les grinned. “That boy has a great body.”
“You haven’t seen Kharnak’s yet.” Erin said cryptically as she got up going into the kitchen.
“What???” Les put her hand on the back of the couch and practically leapt over it from her sitting position. “Erin! Exactly how much of Kharnak’s body have you seen??”
Erin looked up from the fridge. “Oh, you know, on Antar we never really cared about being clothed and when he was here the last time, well, he hasn’t changed. Les, did you drink the last bottled water?”
“They’re behind the milk jug.” The brunette sighed inwardly. “Erin…I want details.”
“Oh, for goodness sake.” Erin put her bottled water on the counter and touched the girls’ temple. In a moment Les’ eyes widened and her grin stretched from ear to ear. “Yeah, that would the one.”
“And I thought Ari had a nice body…Kharnak…whoa, baby.” Les said in her reveille.
“What?”
Les whirled around seeing Kharnak and Larek coming in from the back porch. Larek immediately went to his wife putting his arms around her. Kharnak looked at Les with a bewildered expression on his face. “Uh…Kharnak, hey…uh…uh…”
“I showed her the memory of when you were here the last time.” Erin said.
Larek looked at his wife. “And what was this?”
“Michael stole Kharnak’s towel so I took him in one.” Erin explained.
“Ah.” Larek said not really concerned.
Les looked at Larek. “I thought he would be mega jealous of you seeing another man naked.”
Larek laughed. “Les, we’ve all seen each other naked, it’s not a big deal. Now if it was someone outside of the family, well, then I’d probably be a little jealous, but I would know better than that.”
“Too right.” Erin said playfully as she put her arms around the tall man and kissed him barely touching his lips.
“Tay.” He said. “That isn’t nice of you.” He grinned.
“Oh, would you rather I be very nice?” She pulled him to her and kissed him deeply.
He pulled back after a moment. “That is exactly what I want you to be.”
Kharnak blushed a little and averted his eyes from the brunette. At first Les thought it was because Erin had showed her what he looked like naked…but then she realized he was embarrassed because Erin and Larek were being all lovey-dovey and he didn’t know what to do! Les giggled. Wait a minute…Les…giggle…ok, where did that come from? Les sighed, she was getting as bad as Erin. Erin at the moment was giggling and trying to stop Larek from tickling her. His grip was secure though and Erin wasn’t trying to get away that hard. “Guys, knock it off!” Les said. “You’re making him uncomfortable.”
Larek sighed at her. “When’s dinner?”
“In about half an hour…can you wait an hour?” Erin said pretty sultry. Les started to gag.
“I waited 80 years…I can wait an hour.” He kissed her softly.
“Oh, please.” Les rolled her eyes and grabbed Kharnak’s hand. “Come on, let’s go to my room.”
“Don’t knock him out!” Erin called after them. “Kharnak! Watch out for her roundhouse!”
Well, at least Erin knew that Les was honest and when she said they were going to her room it meant they were going to spar.
Larek let go of his wife and she set about preparing for dinner. “What did you and Kharnak talk about?” She asked him.
“Les, mostly.” He admitted. “What did you three talk about?”
“Love, mostly.” She admitted. “She wanted to know what love was like, what it felt like.”
“And what did you tell her?” He asked with an adoring smile on his handsome face.
Erin stopped what she was doing and went and put her arms around him. He took her gladly into his arms. “I told her that true love is beyond any feeling in the world. That I want to be with you when we wake up in the morning and we don’t care about morning breath.” He laughed. “I told her true love comes only once…I am so glad I found you… even if you were a little punk about it.”
He laughed deeply and good-naturedly. “I hope I have grown since then, love. If I had the sense I do now I wouldn’t have let you out of my sight from that first moment…”
“I was five.” She reminded him. “And you were ten.”
“Hmmm.” He nuzzled her and she leaned in close breathing in deeply. She just loved that scent. It made her feel so safe…so secure…that she could almost forget about everything else…her father, the whole prophecy…she knew that he wanted to be with her and if it meant that she wasn’t thinking about stuff like that, well so be it.
“Love is knowing it beyond anything you’ve ever known…and when we’re apart. Oh, Larek…I need you so much when you aren’t here…my heart just aches for you. Especially at night…I don’t like sleeping alone…and I doubly hate sleeping without you there. It’s so hard to get to sleep without smelling you right there and without your arms around me. I wake up in the night and I reach for you…before I remember you’re not there. And then I wake up and I always just want you by my side…”
He held her tightly knowing exactly what she felt. He had felt it for so long himself. “Remember when we were together again?”
“Mhhmmm.” She murmured.
“I was scared.” He admitted.
She looked up at him. “Why?”
“Eighty years is a very long time, darling. I had so many things just running through my mind…when I came I wasn’t sure you would even want me in your bed.” He said softly. “I had hoped you would, but I didn’t know for certain.”
Erin smiled and put her hand to his cheek. “Larek, I had dreamed of that night for so long. I wasn’t sure you would be with me.”
He put his hand over hers and kissed her palm. “Love, I also wondered if I could after all that time…I had spent so long just denying myself even the thoughts that if was hard for me…”
“I know.” She whispered. “Larek, you don’t have to ever be afraid to tell me what you are feeling. I understand. I was so scared that night. I had the memories…but obviously my body wasn’t the same. I didn’t know what was going to happen.”
“And now?” He asked putting her hand over his heart.
“And now,” She smiled. “Now, I just want to be with you. I don’t care if we’re making love or just talking. You’re the only man I could ever consider loving, Larek Tirand.”
“And you are the only woman that has ever been in my heart and ever will be, Taylaya.” He put his hand under her chin and kissed her.
When the kiss was over Erin bit her lip. Larek looked at her concerned. “Love, what is it?”
“Larek, I don’t want you to be mad…”
“Just tell me.” He whispered.
“I just…well…I just need to know if you’ve ever been with anyone else or even thought about it.” She didn’t look at him.
He sighed and turned her face to him. “Tay, look at me.” She lifted her eyes to meet his. “I admit to kissing others, before we were together, but you know I was never with them, you were my first and my last. I lost you and my world was shattered. The only reason I kept on was because Kharnak and the rest needed me so…and I knew that there was a chance that I could have you back. I clung to that hope so desperately, beloved, and I never even thought about being with anyone else. Tay, we tasted something so pure, so miraculous, that it would betray everything I ever knew to be with another. You know you are the light of my life and everything I do is for you. I know you needed to know and I am not angry, not at all.” He pulled her to his chest and she could hear his heart beating beneath her. Her eyes closed and she clasped herself to him tightly. “There will never be another woman like you.”
“And there will never be a man like you.” She whispered. “You’re my life.”

Les sat on the floor next to her bed while Kharnak lay on his stomach above her. “OK, favorite memory.” Les said.
The handsome young man thought a moment. “The last night we were together and you gave me the pendant that your mother had given you for safe keeping.” He pulled on the chain he always wore around his neck and revealed a charm on the end of it. And intricately molded silver disc with a blood red stone in the middle the symbols of the eight symbols of the Royal Eight. He slipped it on over her head.
She stared at it. “It’s been so long.” She whispered. On the stones surface was her own symbol. Just like the ones in the prophecy book…She hadn’t known what it had meant then, but now she loved it all the more. It proved who she was…she didn’t like it, but she really didn’t have a choice. She sighed as she thought about it, maybe having to die for her family. Ava’s face came into her mind, the cute bubbly girl that loved her so much and trusted her explicitly. The sister that never let her out of the games they played as children…that never told her not to tag along…the sister that would hold her and kiss away her tears. The sister that never begrudged her the title of queen, that never envied her or even spoke harshly to her. Les had, as Valaya, yelled at Ava all the time and begrudged her everything. Ava had been beautiful and wise and had such a shining countenance. Everyone loved Ava and that was still true. It was different now, though, Ava was so child-like and yet her experiences, however awful or adult, never changed her. Les could never be really angry with Ava nor Ava at her. Les would die to protect her; there was never a question in her mind about that. She would die before anyone touched her sweet little angelic sister, if the person that touched her didn’t die first. Lonnie had only hit Ava once since they had been there and once was enough; Les had laid into her and threatened her with a swift death if she ever did it again. Les liked Lonnie well enough, they were good friends, but there were some things that you just didn’t do.
“Vay?” Kharnak’s soft voice interrupted her thoughts.
She looked up. “Sorry, I was just thinking.” She smiled sheepishly.
“It’s all right.” He said slipping into his accent. He tried to speak perfect English while he was on Earth, but sometimes the Antarin slipped out. It made Les’ heart practically melt to hear it. Now she knew why Erin always loved it when Larek spoke to her. Les got up on her knees and she leaned closer to him a little hesitantly. He looked at her a little afraid. She brought her head forward and their lips met very tentatively at first, Les pulled back staring at him. He swallowed. “It’s all right.” She nodded uncertainly and then he sat up. “It’s really all right, Vay.” She put her hands on her knees drawing herself up, still on her knees and he bent his head down. His hands rubbed her upper arms and shoulders. Les wasn’t quite sure about kissing him. He put a hand to her cheek. “I won’t hurt you.” He promised looking into her eyes. “I promise you, I won’t ever hurt you.” She couldn’t help but believe him. She used his knees for balance and lifted herself up meeting his lips. The feeling was incredible. She could feel her whole body tingling and she was aware that the only place his hands were, were on her arms.
Les pulled back slowly ending the kiss. “I know you won’t hurt me.” She said. “I’m just afraid I might hurt you.”
Kharnak sighed and put his hands on her waist maneuvering her so she was sitting on his knee. “Vay, I am willing to take that risk. And no matter what the outcome I will be happy just knowing that you are even giving me a chance to love you and be loved by you. I know that you could choose Ari over me and I am not one to look at this like it is a horrible thing. I do not mind sharing you, especially with one whom I love, like I do my cousin.”
“You may not always feel that way.” Les pointed out.
“True.” The man nodded. “I may not always feel that way, but that is how I feel now. And now is what we have, we don’t know about tomorrow. Just as long as I can be with you and not have to worry about tomorrow, that is what I want, just to know your touch and forget the horrors I have seen and the uncertainty that tomorrow will even come for us.”
Les nodded and put her head down on his shoulder. She knew what he meant and she understood it, perhaps better than the others, although Erin and Larek were well aware of what might befall them. Les did not want to lose her family, but even worse, she didn’t want to live with the regret of not giving what she could to Kharnak or Ari to make their lives a little easier. She didn’t know if this was a good idea. She had thought so before when she talked to the both of them…but now, after talking to Erin, she just wasn’t so sure. She didn’t want to hurt either of them…but who knew how long any of them had?