Roswell Fanatics

Hi everyone,

Ugh, the week isn't even over and already I hadve a tonne of homework, grr, the teachers really don't waste time do they! lol.

xsuper_novax: I've already posted Angel Falls. Click on teh title to go to the thread.


Ok, a warning for this next chapter, its quite grusome, if you're like me and have a very wild imagination I wouldn't recommend reading this at night. I seriously creeped myself out while I was writing this. Unfortuntely the only time I can write is at night if I'm not too tired, and its bad cos its before bed!

Enjoy! and feedback please!


Part 9

Liz walked into her room feeling numb and chilled to the bone. She quickly changed into her long white night-gown and sat before her vanity table. Staring into her reflection, her hand automatically reached for her hairbrush. Her brush glided slowly and smoothly through each strand separating any knots and tangles.

Suddenly, the lights went out, bathing her and everything else in darkness except for the sliver of silver moon that glowed through the window, bathing certain areas in a ghostly ethereal silvery hue.

Liz continued to stare into the mirror and placed her brush back in its place.

An eerie voice floated into existence, a haunting voice that sang an entrancing siren's song.

Liz glanced to the top right of her mirror and saw a woman with long blonde hair approach her. Liz just sat there numbly in her chair. As the woman approached closer, Liz saw she had nothing on, all that covered her breasts was her hair. She continued to sing in a hum. Liz felt her eyelids begin to feel heavy.

"Such beautiful hair." The woman spoke. She ran her fingers through Liz's hair from root to tip. "Such determination from such a young soul." She looked into the mirror so they both saw each other. "It is too strong for you, you will never succeed. We all tried to break free, but we all failed. We paid with out lives; protect yours."

"I... I don't understand." Liz managed in a whisper.

"The beast. The curse. He bounded us to it against our will. He destroyed us in the end. Don't believe in their lies. Don't let him get you."

"The Beast?"

"Yes. Let me show you."

Liz continued to stare into the mirror, her eyes wide with horror as the naked woman behind her slowly morphed into the Beast she had somehow come to care about.

Liz could feel his breath on her cheek as he looked at her reflection in the mirror. His sharp teeth were bared, his eyes glowed a red menace.

"Yeeees, such beautiful hair." he mocked.

Liz wanted to run, but she couldn't move. This couldn't possibly be the same Beast she had known could it? the Beast who had nursed her wound, and who had cared for her.

His claws were at the top of her head, instead of gentle, they dug deeply into her scalp.

Liz screamed in agony.

His claws ripped apart her flesh.

Forcing her arm to work, Liz grabbed the brush and jabbed the handle into the beasts face. He let go with a howl of pain.

Liz turned and ran.

Unfortunately, one of the beasts hand was still on her scalp, and his claws had still been imbedded in her head. The force of Liz turning away pulled the rest of her scalp away.

Liz thought she should be dead from her wounds, yet she remained alive and in unspeakable pain.

She ran out the door.

Frantically looking around through the haze of blood that ran over her eyes, Liz ran blindly down some stairs. Accidentally missing a step, she tumbled down the rest of the way. She heard something crack but ignored it. She had to get help; had to get away from the psycho beast; get away from this place of madness.

Running down a set of hallways, Liz tried to remember the way, but everything seemed to have changed; shifted somehow.

She ran past a mirror and her peripheral vision caught a flash of red stringy mess. But Liz didn't stop to examine it closer. She didn't dare. She knew how her head looked, she could feel every nerve in it.

Liz looked ahead and saw the main door. The other side was filled with a bright white light.

"Hurry Liz!" It was Alex's voice.

Liz ran faster towards it.

"ALEX HELP ME!!" She screamed.

The Beast's hands closed around her throat choking her scream. She struggled to kick him, but he sat on her thighs, trapping her. Liz felt his claws digging into her neck.

'Alex, please help me!' She voiced her distress in her mind.

"You have the power Liz, you can do it, just look deep within yourself." His voice spoke in her mind.

Liz was feeling so much weaker now, she doubt she'd made much of a struggling effort to break free.

Looking deep within herself, she found that last source of strength. Her arms shot up and her thumbs dug deeply into the Beasts eyes.

The Beast howled in pain, and let go of Liz's throat as his hands when to inspect his now damaged eyes.

Quickly, Liz turned onto her belly and scrambled away. She stopped moving and lay there at the edge of the threshold of the door.

"Alex, I'm so weak. I'm not gonna survive this." She croaked in a whisper.

"Liz, you have to survive this, I won't let you give up. Look at me."

Liz didn't respond, she just lay there with her head on the floor.

"Look at me!" Alex demanded.

Slowly, and with effort, Liz raised her head to look up at Alex, who was floating in the white light.

He held out his hand to her. "Take my hand Liz. Let me be your strength."

With a shaky hand, Liz reached out. Her fingers brushed his. She felt a surge of energy flow through her. Alex grabbed onto her hand and pulled her through the doorway. Liz floated up to him.

"Alex..." She breathed out.

"Shh.... you're alright now." he soothed.

Liz felt her pain ebb away. She touched her head and feared the worst, but it was whole and perfect again. No bloody mess.

She looked down at her white gown and saw the red bloodstains begin to evaporate and disappear.

"Thank you, for saving me."

"Hey, what are friends for?" Alex smiled at her. "Liz, listen, you don't have very much time, but you have to solve the story, you have to break the curse. I know its like a scrambled up jigsaw, but try and piece it together."

"I don't know how." Liz said panicking.

"Let your heart be your guide." He placed his palm over her heart. "Believe in yourself Liz, trust in only what you believe is true."

"Can't you just tell me what it is I'm suppose to know?"


"It's not my place to tell. But I believe a certain brown book hold the clues to your answers."

"Casanova's Curse?"

Alex simply nodded.

The light began to get brighter, so bright that Liz had to squeeze her eyes shut.

"Take care Liz, and be very careful." She heard Alex's voice reach her in a whisper.


Liz's eyes flew open and she bolted upright on the bed. Sweat drenched her body and soaked through the sheets. She tried to calm her erratic breathing.

Finally, calming down, she sighed. "Thank you Alex."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alex opened his eyes and stared at his darkened ceiling. A smile spread over his face and she breathed out in relief.

"She made it. I wasn't too late. It's up to you now Liz. You're brainy, you'll figure it out, I know you will." He spoke to no one in particular in the dark.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Liz continued to sit in the middle of the bed.

Looking up, she gazed out the window at the night sky. It would be sunrise soon, with was already beginning to slowly light. Usually she could see the moon from her window, but not now. That was because it wasn't due to appear until tomorrow. Midnight tonight would be tomorrow.

Alex's words haunted her, she had to solve the story before it was too late. Too bad she didn't have the book with her. Speaking of the book, she hadn't seen it since she felt asleep after reading it; though the words were still etched into her mind. She could remember everything she'd read.


A month in a year, the lunar calendar rules.
Before the new moon shall arise above the heavens, the curse shall be destroyed or darkness shall forever fall upon the unfortunate.

A girl so tender, shall seek the truth, but beware of hidden mirrors.
In a land of fairy tales where magick resides, illusions of good and evil shall come to surface.

The truth she seeks is the path she will take.
Be it life or death, only her heart can cast away the darkness to reveal the light.


Liz sat there and mulled over the riddle. Ok, so basically, she had to solve the story before the new moon rose, that was the bit about the month in a year and the moon. Liz thought back to the horrific nightmare she'd just had. It wasn't real she realized, whatever it was had to do with the mystery of the beast. Dear Beast, he would never hurt her, the nightmare was probably an illusion to dissuade her from returning to the mansion. If she hadn't truly believed the Beast would never hurt her, she probably might've actually believed in the smoke-screen.

Liz looked back out the window again.

Time was running out.

Pulling the silver whistle chain from around her neck, she blew on it. Only the faintest sound came out. Liz thought something might've been stuck in it, but it appeared to be fine. She blew on it again, the same faint sound came out. She supposed it was a good thing as she didn't want to wake up her parents.

'Please hurry here CoCo!' Liz prayed that the whistle had worked.

Getting out of bed, she quickly changed into the white dress the Beast had found for her.

Picking up the comb, she combed it through her hair, but the images from her dream made her shiver, and she quickly placed the brush back down. She stepped away from the mirror and her dresser. Liz rubbed her arms and felt goose-bumps. She started to pace around the room full of nervous energy.

Liz looked out the window again.

She could see the first raise of sunbeam hit the house next door.

It was morning.

'Come on Coco, where are you?'

Liz returned to her pacing, her thoughts bombarded her with guilt.

'God, the Beast must hate me! I broke his promise. I won't be surprised if he never wants to see me again after this. Me and my stupid selfishness. The Beast didn't have to let me go, but he did it anyway. The least I could do was stick by my side of the agreement.

An hour and a half had passed before Liz heard a neighing call. She rushed over to the window and looked out. Coco stamped his hooves and whinnied impatiently.

Liz wondered how he got here so fast, not that she wasn't grateful, but considering last time, it took them a whole day.

Hurriedly, she raced down the stairs and out the house. She mounted Coco in one graceful fluid motion.

"We have to hurry." She said into his ear.

The horse whinnied once more in agreement, and together, they raced back towards the mansion.


TBC!!! Ooh, getting exciting now isn't it?

Hi everyone,

Yes, I am back, and yes its a new update. As I was writing this, the chapter just kept getting longer and longer, so I've add to extend it to another chapter - which hopefully will the the 2nd to last chapter. lol, its like this story just doesn't wanna end!


Thanks to everyone for your wonderful feedback!

care bears and mlover25: Thank you so much for your supportive bumps!


Round 5 of the fanfic awards are open, so if you like this fic or think it deserves a chance, please vote for me!


Ok, enjoy!


Part 10

CoCo galloped and galloped through the wooded area. Liz had soon noticed that something wasn't right. Where there was once leaves on the trees, now lay a skeletal statue. The clouds had started to roll in, an ominous grey that looked forebodingly down over them. Darkness began to shroud around them.

"CoCo, are you sure this is the right way?" Liz asked warily.

CoCo slowed down to a trot and to catch his breath. Suddenly he stopped and his ears pricked up hearing something Liz couldn't. He neighed uneasily before trotting forward again.

After a while, Liz noticed something reddish hiding beneath the foliage. Against her better judgement, she dismounted and went to investigate.

It turned out to be a red cloak.

'Who would lose a cloak out here?' The answer came chillingly to her mind. 'Little red riding hood.' And where there is little red riding hood, there is the.... big bad wolf.

Or in this case, wolves.

Liz slowly turned around when she heard low growls around her in the dim forest.

Oh no!

Quickly, Liz mounted CoCo and galloped off with the wild wolves nipping at their heels. CoCo kicked them away when they got too close, but the action caused them to slow down; Liz's heart pounded in her chest as she left the woods and onto the footpath that lead to the gates of the mansion.

She prayed that it wasn't locked.

Getting off Coco, Liz tried the gates and found them locked.

Nonononono!

Liz pushed and pulled on the gate willing it to open.

"COME ON OPEN!!! IT'S ME LIZ!" She banged her hands on the iron bars. "OPEN UP!!" She yelled.

Suddenly, the gates gave way and she fell through. CoCo quickly went into the safety of the grounds as Liz fell to the concrete floor. Liz braced her arms in front of her to break her fall. As she turned to sit up, something snagged her dress and pulled. Liz screamed when she saw several wolves growl and bite the hem of her dress trying to drag her out through the narrow space between the gate.

Liz kicked and tried to scramble back, she heard her dress rip and heard a whine as the wolves fell back in a tumble, quickly, she kicked the gate shut. Relief shot through her as the gates closed with a clang creating a divide between her and the vicious animals.

CoCo nudged her with his nose and Liz used him as support to get up.

"Come on CoCo, we've wasted enough time already."

CoCo headed back towards the stables and Liz pushed the heavy mansion door open. Closing the door behind her, Liz was met with eerie silence.

making her way cautiously into the mansion, she went in search of her Beast.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They glared at him as they drank their whisky, trying to calm their nerves and anger.

Max sighed. His brothers had been royally pissed off with him for the last few days. He was constantly faced with their 'I told you so' look. But that was after they'd all gotten into a huge ugly physical fight. The room was still a mess.

Had he been so wrong about Liz? His heart told him there must be a reasonable explanation, but his mind told him to face the facts. Liz had broken her promise. She wasn't coming back.

Their time had run out.

And now they were all damned for all eternity.

Out of nowhere, Michael threw his half-full glass into the fireplace. The flames flared up as it licked and consumed the alcohol.

"This is all your fault Maxwell, you should've listened to us, but no, you had to go and be all gallant and heroic. Since when did you come to care about anyone other than yourself?"

Max remained silent.

Somehow, somewhere along the way, he'd come to care deeply for Liz. He had wanted her to be happy, that was why he'd defied his brothers wishes to keep Liz here. But Max felt something more deep inside of him, what that feeling was he didn't know. He knew it was nothing he'd felt before.

"People change." Max replied at last.

"Yeah, some good that did, look where it got us? damned that's where."

"Look I said I was sorry. I..... I misjudged her." Max said quietly.

'How could you do this to me Liz. How could you break your promise?' Though Max's mind thought it, his heart still refused to believe it.

Michael grunted and stormed off to the other side of the room.

"Hey, why don't we go look for her?" Kyle suggested.

"As good as that sounds to drag her betraying ass back here, it could be for nothing if she doesn't break the spell. Also, where does she even live? And besides, have you ever thought about what would happen if we got caught by the outside world?"

"Geez, chill out Michael, it was only a suggestion."

The grandfather clock chimed several hollow dongs that echoed through the large room sounding like a death knell.

It was eleven thirty.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The air around her tingled as if alive; the tiny hairs on her neck stood on end. Liz froze mid-step as an eerie cry echoed through the empty halls.

Something felt very.... off.

Liz passed numerous room; some doors were closed and some slightly ajar.

As Liz passed an open room, out of her peripheral vision, she thought she saw a little girl laughing and spinning around in a frilly floral dress.

Against her better judgement, Liz went in to investigate.

The little girl beamed at Liz and skipped over to her.

"Hi! Come play with me!" The little girl probably around the age of seven took Liz's hands and pulled her further into the room.

The little girl giggled and spun around the room, her arms floating on either side of her.

Liz watched her spin and twirl.

Something was wrong here, but she couldn't quite get through the fog that seemed to be blocking her sensibilities.

'Where did the little girl come from?' Liz wondered. She hadn't seen anyone else other than the three beasts during her stay.

The little girl took Liz's hands and pulled her to twirl around with her.

"Who are you?" Liz asked, concentrating on the girl as the world around her started to blur as they spun around faster and faster.

"Lisa. What's your name?"

"Liz. How long have you been here? I haven't seen you before."

"I've always been here. Forever and ever!" Lisa suddenly let go of Liz and she fell to the ground. Stunned, Liz watched the girl skip over to a refreshment table where a tea party was set up.

Lisa beckoned Liz over with a wave.

"No, I really must be going." Liz said while pushing herself up from the floor.

As Liz turned towards the door, she was shocked to find Lisa standing there. There was evil burning in her eyes.

"You can't leave yet. You haven't had any tea." The girl's voice was distorted and inhuman.

Liz bit back a scream and took a calming deep breath.

"Ok, maybe just one cup. Why don't you pour me a cup?"

The little girl beamed at her and skipped back to the table.

Taking her opportunity, Liz bolted for the door and slammed it shut behind her and fled down the hallway.

A while later, Liz wondered if she was ever going to find the Beast. Where the hell where they anyway?

"Liz!" A voice whispered for her attention.

Liz saw a figure step out from the shadows.

"Maria? what are you doing here?"

"I followed you. what is this place?"

"It's the Beast's mansion. I have to find them. Why did you follow me?"

Maria ignored her last question. "What?! Beasts?! Liz are you insane? are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"No, it's not like that. Look, I'll explain everything later, but right now we have to find them. Time's running out."

The two girls continued on their way.

"Hey Liz check this out." Maria pushed open the French doors that lead to the garden. "oh wow! It's so beautiful out here." She looked around in wonder. walking towards the huge tree at the centre of the garden, Maria reached up and plucked a plump red apple. "I've never seen an apple tree before. Here, try it, see if it tastes good." Maria handed Liz the apple.

Liz took the red apple and frowned at it. Since when was there an apple tree? how come she'd never noticed it before? She could've sworn the huge tree had been a willow tree.

Maria plucked another apple and took a huge bite out of it.

"Mmm! These have to be the juiciest apples on the planet!" Maria took another eager crunch. "Go on Liz try it!"

"Maria, we don't have time to eat. We have to find the Beast."

"Liz, come one, we have loads of time, and besides, aren't you even a little hungry?" Maria touched Liz's stomach and it grumbled on cue.

Liz blushed in embarrassment.

"Ok, we'll eat on the go." Liz took a bite of the apple, but a sudden hiccup caused the morsel to slide down her throat and... oh lord no! It didn't go down all the way. It was lodged in her throat. The apple she held fell to the ground and rolled away.

Liz began to choke. Her hands instinctively reaching for her throat.

"Ma...Maria..." Liz strangled out her friends name, but Maria didn't reply. Liz looked up through her tears.

Maria was just standing there with a smile on her face as she watched Liz choke to death.

Oh god, her smile! It was pure evil. She wasn't Maria. The realization hit Liz like a bucket of ice water. Whoever this was, she was part of the evilness that was trying to stop her from finding the Beast and..... drawing out her time until it was too late. Unfortunately, it probably will be too late now.

"I warned you to stay away; but no, you had to go all Nancy Drew wanting to solve the mystery." The being in Maria's form lifted up Liz's chin and looked into her eyes. "It's your own fault sweety. You shoulda stayed away when you had the chance." Placing her own half eaten apple in Liz's hand, she gave an evil laugh. "Still hungry?" she mocked.

Spots danced in Liz's eyes as her air supply was being cut off. Looking down at the apple she tried to scream, yet only the faintest of a gasp escaped her lips when she saw something burrow out of the apple. She dropped the apple, but not before the thing latched itself around her neck and slowly squeezed tighter and tighter.

Liz tried in desperation to pry the huge snake from her neck, but it was futile. Her head felt light and her limbs weak. She fell face down on the ground. She couldn't move, yet she felt. She could feel her life seeping away with every painful suffocating squeeze on her throat.

Thunder clouds loomed ahead and soon blanketed the garden creating a shade of wintry grey. The plants in the garden withered and died leaving nothing more than a shell behind, a husk of skeletal branches. No animals sang or came out to play. No animals except for the slithering serpents. They hissed and glided around the once beautiful garden, they hung on the statuette branches of the trees.

More and more of them, they all came out to play.




TBC! Personally I hate snakes, and it was weird writing about them cos it just made me shiver alot! lol. Feedback please! the good and the bad!

Hi everyone,

I managed to find some spare time, and decided to finish off this story once and for all, you guys have been waiting long enough.

Cue the sad romantic love songs and bring out the tissues!! cos here it is, the last two chapters to this story.


Part 11

Max looked at the clock for the tenth time.

It was 11.45pm.

Max continued to pace filled with restless energy.

"Max, could you please stop pacing? you're kinda hypnotising me." Kyle said while rubbing his eyes. "You can't escape the inevitable, even if you do wear a hole in the floor and fall through.

Suddenly Max stopped and sniffed the air.

"What?" Kyle asked.

Max closed his eyes and sensed the air around him.

"Something's different.... changing...."

"Yeah, that'll be our doom." Michael deadpanned.

"No, its something else.... something...." Max broke off. "Liz. She's here. But.... something doesn't feel right."

Both Kyle and Michael closed their eyes and sensed the air.

Max was right. Something big was about to happen.

Max bolted for the door. "We have to find Liz. She's in danger!"



The air around them was thick with magikal energy. It clung to their skin and made their nerves stand on end.

"You know, we really ought to get a smaller place. I had no ideas how huge this place was!" Kyle panted for breath. "I am so unfit!"

They had search in the places where they thought Liz might be and places where she won't be. But so far they hadn't located her.

'Where could she be?' Max thought. They'd already spent too much precious time on a wild goose-chase.

They'd searched everywhere, all except.....

"She's in the garden!" Max shouted and bolted off.

As they approached the wide hallway that led to the garden, they all stood in horror and fascination at the scene before them.

The huge wall mirrors on either side came alive. Fiery hell licked within the glass; but that wasn't all. The tortured souls of their previous victims unable to move on screamed and raged curses at the trio.

"You did this to us!"

".....damned us...."

"....trapped us...."

They hissed at them.

"Payment shall be sweet...."

They all cackled in glee and then screamed as the inferno continued to consume them for all eternity.

Slowly, the three brothers walked down the hallway. They had to get to Liz.

Max ignored their cries and pleas to free them from eternal torment. He focused on Liz.

The French doors that lined the right of the hall further down were all open. The curtain net blew inwards creating a billow of white sails. The pale moonlight made the place appear ethereal and enchanted like. Not that that was far from the reality in which they lived in.

Stopping at the end of the hallway, Max opened the door to the garden.

His heart pounded in his chest at the sight in front of him.

Nightmarish hell.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"My god......Maxwell......"

The 3 brothers gazed out into what was once a beautiful garden; now, no life breathed or lived there. Save for the hundreds of snakes that slithered and hissed about.

Max's acute eyesight caught a lone figure lying on the ground amongst the horror. Fear gripped Max's heart like a iron vice.

Ignoring the hissing snakes and his brother's calls for him to retreat, Max walked into the garden.

Crouching down next to the figure, Max began to pull the snakes away from the body. He did not bother to hold back the tears that flowed down his cheeks when it was revealed who it was on the ground.

Michael and Kyle watched their brother carry a limp Liz back towards them. Tears filled their eyes at the sight. Liz couldn't be dead.......could she? But then, who knew what had happened to her, and being in this garden.....

Salty tears slipped down their cheeks.

"Max?"

Max looked at Kyle then down at Liz.

"She came back. She kept her promise to come back. How could I have doubted her?" Max voiced whispered in guilt and sorrow.

"Is she?...."

"what's that?"

Michael and Kyle said at the same time.

"What's what?" Max asked puzzled.

"That." Kyle pointed to her throat. "Looks like something's stuck there, and I doubt is an adams apple." Kyle joked weakly.

Carefully, lifting Liz up, Max used the heimlich-manoeuvre on her.

"You weren't far off Kyle. It looks like a piece of red apple."

"What, like in Snow White?" Kyle shook his head. "Man, this is getting stranger and stranger."

Placing Liz on the ground, Max smoothed her hair away from her face. Max could see the ugly dark-blue bruise where a particular stubborn snake had refused to unwrap itself from her neck. Her body was also covered in small snake bites.

"Liz? Can you hear me? Please wake up. Please don't die."


Liz felt air entering her body once more; she could breathe again. But it was painful, in fact, her whole body felt on fire. She heard a voice calling to her; a voice soothing and familiar. Liz slowly opened her eyes, and her gaze locked with familiar amber ones that sparkled in the moonlight. It was then the hazy fog that inhabited her mind lifted from her memories. She had seen those mesmerising eyes before. It was the night she met Max. The night everything had felt so perfect.

Liz lifted a hand to caress his beastly face.

Max was the Beast.

Dear Beast, who had been so kind to her; dear Beast who she had come to care for. Liz felt the emotions to her locked heart open and flood her senses.

Dear Beast who I have come to love; whether he be the handsome Max Evans or the gruesome looking yet gentle Beast; it didn't matter, they were one and the same. And she loved him. Her only regret was that she hadn't come back sooner as promised, and now.... now it was too late.

The grandfather clock chimed as Liz spoke her final words.

"I'm so sorry. I love you...... Max." A tear slipped down her temple.

Max watched as her eyes began to drift close and her hand slipped from his face and lay limply at her side.

The final stroke on the clock echoed a hollow dong down the empty hallway. An eerie silence settled over the place.

'She knows. She knew who I really was. And she... she loved me. But now it's too late.'

Uncontrolled tears coursed down Max's cheeks as he lay his head upon Liz's body.

"Max, something's happening. I... I don't feel so good...." Michael gazed at Kyle in wonder then at himself and Max as a white light emanated from each of them, they could see the deformation of themselves shift and change until they were all human again.

"We're human again!" Kyle exclaimed and inspected himself, then blushed red. Ripping the curtain nets, he folded it then wrapped it around his waist to hide his nude maleness. Michael did the same, and threw Max a piece of material too.

After becoming somewhat more decent, they turned their attention back to Liz.

"She broke the spell. She said she loved Max. She knew Max was the Beast. Is she still...."

Max nodded. He grasped her cold hand and held it against his face as tears of loss overcame him once more. Liz had given her life so they could live as humans again. But it wasn't worth it, how can he live a life without her? Maybe they were still being punished despite returning to human form.

They watched as Liz's long raven hair slowly turned a silvery white.

Picking her up, Max carried her down the hallway.

The spot where Liz had lain turned to ice. Ice that spread out; Ice that ran along the walls and ceiling; Ice that raced ahead of Max to the rest of the mansion. Ice that ran over the mirrors and finally giving the tortured souls peace.

Kyle and Michael watched as their brother carried the sun that was his life down the hall.

The sun was now gone.

Just like the life out of Liz's limp body.

Without the sun's warmth and happiness, it only left the cold and bitterness.

There would be no warmth in this house again. No. It had now become as cold as the Snow Queen's Palace.

Though they thought with despair and sorrow, all is not lost; for cold and ice cannot last forever, sooner or later, a ray of warm light shall melt the coldness and bring back life.

Max does not know it now; but as it was written in the book, he still has his part to play.

He will know it soon enough.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gently, Max lay Liz down on the bed. Kneeling on the floor beside the bed, he gently stroked her hair back and caressed her soft pale face.

Tears that seems to have no end burned behind his eyes, though he tried to be brave about the situation. The emotion of loss is too great, the tears start to fall once more.

"I'm so sorry Liz, I'm so sorry...." Max squeezed his eyes tightly shut. "I should never have dragged you into our mess."

For the first time, Max felt it. He was truly in love. And only with this brave young girl who had given her life for his. with the other girls he'd been with, what he thought was love was nothing more than simple lust that he had mistaken for love.

What he felt now in his heart, in his soul, it went much further than he thought possible in loving a person. He realized he had loved her (though hadn't realized it earlier on) from the very first time he met her in the square.

Max lay his head on Liz's chest and let his emotions flow through him. He felt broken; his soul shattered without Liz by his side and in his life.

"I love you Liz. I love you. I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner."

A tear rolled down his cheek and sparkled as it fell onto Liz. Where it landed on her skin, a white light began to spread out until she was bathed in a white shimmery light. Her body defied gravity and floated off the bed.

Max sat back in shock. All he could do was watch in fascination.

Liz's dressed wavered, her hair whipped about as if blown by an invisible wind. Her body sparkled like when the rays of the sun hits the water.

Max shielded his eyes from the brightness.

The air around Liz rippled and expanded outwards in a shock wave. As the ripple spread out, where it reached and touched, the place began to change and revert back to it's original form. All the mystical magick that had harboured in the mansion vanished. The gargoyle statues became angels, the dark gothic atmosphere became lighter and warmer.

Liz's hair change back to its original raven locks, the bites and bruises on her body disappeared.

Slowly, her body floated back onto the bed.

Max leaned over and touched her cheek.

"Liz?"

No reply.

No movement.

"Hey Max!" Kyle and Michael burst into the room. "The place is back! It's normal again! everything when poof! where the ripple touched. Did Liz...."

"Yeah she made the place normal again." Max looked at his brothers with despair in his eyes. "It still didn't save her though. What good is it that she's dead and I'm alive? I'd rather be the Beast for all eternity if it meant she'll be alive again."

Michael and Kyle wanted to comfort Max, but felt he would want some time alone with his beloved.

They left with a quiet click of the door.


Max lay with Liz for a long time, simply holding her and pouring his love for her through his spirit.

The sun's first morning rays touched the earth and onto the two figured on the bed; its warm rays wrapping them in its life giving embrace and teasing them to awaken to the new day.

Max opened his eyes and felt a warmth under his cheek. Lifting his head, his amber gaze locked with chocolate brown ones.

He must still be dreaming, Liz was dead, this cannot be real.

Still....

"Liz?"

"Morning Max." She gave him a warm smile that melted the coldness that had previously set upon his heart; the hopelessness.

"I'm I dreaming? if it is, I never want to wake up." He nuzzled her neck and face. He could stay like this forever.

"No, at least I don't think so." Liz reached out and touched his cheek. "Can dreams feel this real?"

Max closed his eyes and rubbed affectionately against her palm.

It felt real.

It was real.

Liz was alive.

She had somehow come back to him. He had a second chance to love her.

"Oh god! I thought I'd lost you!" Max choked back a sob.

"You did..... for a while, but you brought me back. I felt your essence, the love you felt for me. It entered me and gave me life. It felt kinda warm and tingly." Liz giggled.

Max crushed his lips to hers in a desperate kiss.

Pulling back, he gazed intently at her. "So I guess you know the truth about us, what we were and what happened to us?"

"Yeah, I do."

"I never meant to hurt you Liz, I love you."

Her eyes glistening with her own tears, she gave him a loving smile. "I love you too.... Max. Even when you were the Beast I still loved you. I know you would never intentionally hurt me.

Silence followed as the past month finally sank in. It felt as though a weigh had been lifted off them.

"So where do we go from here?" Max asked.

"For now.... just hold me?"

Max held Liz in his warm embrace as he lay with her on the bed. Both simply enjoying being in each others company, and taking the time for all that has happened to settle down in their minds. But above all, their minds thought about the their future and where it would lead.

The sun continued to bathe its warmth over the place. The birds began to sing, and the smell of wild flowers drifted into the room where the breeze carried it through the open window.

It was a new day.

It was a fresh start.

A new life for Max and Liz to embark on.

A life that was made out of love, a love that defied even death.

A love that would strengthen everyday and transcend beyond time and space!


Epilogue

18 years later

Sitting in the cafeteria, 5 male friends ate lunch while discussing about the upcoming basketball game among other things.

"Hey guys." A young athletic guy with amber eyes and spiky raven hair joined them and sat down.

"Hey Zan. Dude, lunch is almost over, where you been man?" Paul asked.

Zan just grinned smugly. "Remember that bet we had?"

"NO WAY! you actually fucked Courtney?"

Zan leaned back in his chair.

"How do we know you're telling the truth? there's like 50 bucks riding on this."

Zan shifted in his chair to pull something out of his pocket and tossed it at his friends.

"Is that enough proof for ya?" H gave them a cocky arrogant grin.

"You took her panties as a trophy? you're such as perv!"

Snatching the panties away from Paul, Jack sniffed it. "Yup, definitely smells like her."

"Well? time to pay up fellas." Zan outstretched his palm.

"Damn." They all muttered.

After putting the bills away, Zan caught sight of a long-haired blond girl. A girl he hadn't seen around school before.

"Who's that?" he nodded to his friends in her direction?

"The blond girl?"

"Yeah."

"Oh yeah, that's Caleigh. She's new here, transferred here from some other school."

Fresh meat. Zan thought.

"I can't wait to get better acquainted with her." Zan thought aloud.

"Dude, I ain't betting with you anymore. I already lost like $200. How the hell do you do it man? you're like one of the biggest players in the whole damn school!"

Zan just grinned cockily. "It's in the genes man, total Evan's charm. Works every time."

"If your folks new you were like this--"

"Nah, they think I'm the good straight A student, and Mr all responsible son. The first part's true, though the latter...." he grinned mischievously

The bell rang, and they all left for class.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After third period; walking down the halls, Zan spotted Caleigh looking a bit lost, so he walked over to her.

"You ok? you look ab it lost."

She turned to face him. He saw she had vivid sea blue eyes, eyes that held mystery and seemed to hypnotise him.

"Uh, I'm trying to find my locker. I'm new here." she said shyly.

"Lets see if I can help. what number is it?"

"35."

"Oh, the thirties start around the corner of the hall. I'll show you."

"Oh, no wonder I couldn't find it." She laughed.

Zan walked her to her locker.

"I'm Zan by the way. Zan Evans." He stuck out his hand in offer for a handshake.

"Caleigh. Caleigh Matthews." She returned his handshake.

"So where's your next class?" Zan asked.

"Bio, with a Mr...Seligman." She fumbled with her new timetable.

"Oh right! I have him too. Come on, I'll walk you."

"Sure, just let me put my books away."

Opening the locker, Caleigh put her books in her locker. Amid the pile on top, a brown leather bound jewel book toppled over. She picked it up and placed it vertically so it stood on its side. Her fingered lingered on the book, and a mysterious smile spread over her lips.

"You ready?" Zan asked.

Caleigh closed her locker and turned to face him. Her eyes were bright and twinkling.

Smiling up at him, all she said was "Lets go."


~*The End.*~

************************

Well, that's it folks, its the end *finally!* I'd really appreaciate your feedback *you too lurkers!*

what did you like or hate about this story? was there a particular part that left an impression on you? was there something that you thought could have been worked on (focused) more? a particluar plot, scene etc. what about the writing style? You get the idea. lol.

Come on, I'd really like to know the good and bad about the story.

And above of all, did you ENJOY this story? or couldn't you stand it? I've been writing since November 2002, and I'd found that I prefer to write fantasy alternate universe fics, I know most fics here in the AU section tend to be normal modern fics about the life of M/L, I know what I write is kinda different, but I don't know if its everyone's cup of tea.

Anyway, i'll try and get my other fics updated soon.

Thanks for all you support!

Luv n hugz

Suzanne