Ok, I'm continuing with the general consensus. There will be slash scenes throughout the rest of this fic but it is not the main point...You want that, enjoy Unuasual Loves
Chapter 24
The eight stood ready as they faced the door that led out of their living quarters. The time had come and they were all ready. They felt rested from just a couple of hours of sleep they’d managed to get after the final bonding occurred. They were feeling an odd peace within themselves since then. Their connections were now permanently opened but could be dampened for privacy. They also felt more energized and stronger than ever, like a hidden door had been unlocked somewhere deep inside of them.
Max and Liz exchanged looks that held assurance before she turned and led Michael, Isabel and Alex out of the room for the last time. They went to the left until they reached the secret passage where Tristen waited for them on the other side. They were to create a diversion so that Niobe could begin deploying ships filled with rebels headed to Earth.
Kyle led Max, Maria and Tess in the opposite direction to the Oracle’s room. Dressed as Palace servants they hoped to move through the halls with little trouble. Kyle approached the wall that held the secret door and was about to use his powers to open it when it slid open on its own. Kyle immediately reacted by bringing up his hand activating his shield ready to defend those behind him.
“Come in Keeper.” A velvety voice called out to Kyle.
Kyle and the others stepped quickly into the room so that the door would close behind them. It was not until they were all safely inside the large room that Kyle finally lowered his shield. Suddenly he found himself face to face with the Oracle and she was beautiful. Not much younger than they, the Oracle stood about 5 foot 5, long, shiny black hair and the most captivating violet eyes anyone had ever seen. The four instinctively kneeled before her.
“Rise.” Her voice reverberated through their minds though she did not speak out loud. “It is I who should bow before you King Max.” she said out loud lowering her head.
Max rose and stepped up to the Oracle. He wanted to touch her, to see that she was real and not just another dream. He reached out and gently touched her cheek. He felt a shock rush through his hand and a thin blue shield erected right before his skin touched hers and almost pulled away but fought the sensation needing to feel that she was real. She let him in.
“It is I who is right in bowing before you Oracle. You have helped us immensely. Thank you.” He pulled back his hand satisfied that he was not dreaming.
She smiled at Max. “Please, my name is Kyra and I am but an instrument meant to bring you to this place and time.”
Kyle and Tess flanked Kyra and both touched her arm but neither felt a shock nor did the blue shield erect. They were her keepers, sent to protect her as she helped them on their journey.
“We have to go.” Maria said. She could not believe that Khivar had kept this beautiful girl hidden away all of her life, much like he had with them but because she could be easily identified, Kyra had probably never stepped out of this room.
“We can’t all go together.” Max said looking to Kyle. “Maria will lead me out to meet Tristen, you take Tess and Kyra another way out. Together we are too big of a target.”
Kyle nodded and watched as Max and Maria left. Several minutes passed before he led Kyra followed by Tess out also.
Maria was leading Max down a series of halls, he knew exactly where he was. He wasn’t sure if it was because of his resurfaced memories or because he studied the blue prints that Alex had gotten them. Suddenly, explosions could be heard from outside, farther away from them.
“Well, so much for a quiet get-a-way into the night.” Maria said.
They heard footsteps coming toward them so Maria pulled Max into a door. She knew that it was a squadron of soldiers going out to the front of the Palace and thought it better not to confront them right now. Maria looked around and cursed. They stood just inside the doorway of Khivar’s office.
A door on the opposite side of the room opened and Khivar walked in. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Maria and Max standing there. He was surprised but did not allow them to see it.
“Zan. Are you going somewhere?” Khivar asked, nonchalantly.
“Actually Khivar, I’m headed home.” Max said lifting his head. He had not see Khivar in this life but he instinctively knew who this man was. They had once shared blood.
Khivar chuckled and looked at Max like he was a silly boy. “You are home Zan.”
“My name is Max and Antar has not been my home since you had me killed.”
Khivar chuckled. “So you know about that. Interesting. It was the best thing that could have happened to Antar, Max. I was always the better choice but no, you had to be born, you and your sister. That screwed up everything for me. That knocked me back on the succession line so I knew that I had to get rid of you all in order to take over.”
Kyle stopped suddenly. “Shit.” He muttered looking around. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He hated being pulled in so many directions. He fought with his priorities. He was the Oracle’s keeper, made to keep her safe but also Tess’s mate. He had to protect her and their child. But now, Max, his King needed him. He was with Khivar. Kyle knew that Max and Maria could handle themselves and Max was more than powerful enough to protect his child and Maria but…Kyle could not help it. Max’s welfare beckoned him.
“Shit! Why can’t my life be more simple?” he muttered.
Khivar smiled at Max and Maria with evilness. “Maria, dear, how is your mission coming along?” he asked trying to distract her so that he could get into her mind. “Are you becoming too attached to this hybrid?”
Maria glared at Khivar. She’d always disliked the man, hated that he was using them for his obsession. He was the root of her troubles. She felt him try to tear into her head but she tightly held her block up and watched his eyes widen a little as she smiled back at him. Suddenly a flash from her nightmare claimed her mind and her smile faded while his grew. Maria trembled and her stomach began to churn at the thought of Khivar taking away her child and hurting Max.
“No!” she gasped as yet another image flew through her mind. This one was of Zan being killed. Max looked so much like him that her heart broke when she saw him fall to the ground calling out to Tess who already lay near him.
Max felt what was happening to Maria. Khivar had somehow taken hold of her fears and feeding them back to her. Max reached out and took her hand their energy instantly mingling. Easily Max pushed and cleared her head and soothed her fears.
Khivar lifted a brow at the former king and opened his mouth to say something when he saw the door behind Max open bringing in Kyle, Tess and…Kyra? Then he realized what was happening. The sudden attack from the Rebellion, the Hybrids out of their rooms with the humans and why Kyra was with them. Suddenly it came together.. They were escaping him and taking the Oracle from him so to overthrow his position as King. Khivar seethed with anger.
“Traitors!” He yelled eyeing Maria and Kyle. “How could you do this to me? I raised you and gave you all you needed.” He turned to Max. “You will not have the throne. It is rightfully mine.”
Kyle stepped up and glared at Khivar. “You gave us nothing. All you did was take away the lives we should have lived and the families who loved us.”
Khivar laughed. “Love? You humans are lead by your emotions. You can’t possibly see the bigger picture. There is more out there than love.”
Khivar looked at Max and dug hard into his mind. He knew what it would do but the humans had turned on him and he needed to control Zan. If he had control over him, then the others would follow.
Max felt Khivar push into his mind and much like flicking an ant from his hand, Max threw him out. He watched as Khivar’s eyes grew wide with surprise. Then he turned to Tess and reached in, looking for the chip that had been placed inside. He quickly found it but it would not activate. He could feel that she was the one preventing him access and he now began to panic. Only he and the humans controlled the chips but now he saw that the hybrids could override them. Khivar growled and with lightening speed, he threw three blasts at the group.
Max felt Khivar’s panic and was ready. Before the blasts could hit, he threw up his shield and watched as the blasts absorbed into the swirling green. Lowing his shield Max flicked his wrist and Khivar flew back and hit the wall then fell to the floor. Khivar was dazed with the intensity of the impact but still tried to get up.
Max saw that Khivar was trying hard to get up so he held him down using his powers. Max stepped toward Khivar, his expression stone cold as he looked upon this man that he truly hated.
“You can have this dying planet Khivar. It’s yours so keep it. You caused this damage with your wars when you killed us so live with the consequences. I am taking my family to our real home so do not follow us or you will be sorry you ever saw me again.” Max’s eyes pierced into Khivar’s and his voice was ice cold.
Khivar glared back not giving this hybrid the satisfaction of defeat over him. As his words sunk in he looked to Maria who was standing next to the hybrid Ava.
“You Bitch!” Khivar growled. “That child is mine. You will not take it from me. I’ve worked too hard and waited too long to get my heir.”
Max felt Maria’s physical shiver run though his own body as she listened to Khivar’s words. It made him angry beyond means that this man thought he had a right to speak to her that way. He wanted nothing better than to kill Khivar right at that moment but something inside of him protested. He was not a killer like Khivar. He would not kill out of anger.
“Max.” Kyle interrupted his thoughts as explosions rocked the room. “We have to go.”
Max looked at Khivar again. “If you so much as step on the planet Earth, I will kill you. Your place is here, to die in this dead world.” With that said, Max pressed in Khivar’s mind and made him pass out.
He turned to the four that waited for him. “We will leave together. No more splitting up.”
Kyle nodded and led the way out of the room. He led them through the halls trying to find a safe way out of the Palace. Blasts and explosions could be heard coming closer to them no matter which way they turned. Squads of troops were being dispersed throughout the Palace and the small group dodged them all but one.
Kyle rounded the corner than froze. Before him stood a squad of about 15 Palace Guards. Luckily they were looking away from Kyle so he went to back up.
“Ooomph!” Tess hissed as she ran into Kyle’s back.
This got the guards attention. Immediately they turned and began firing but Kyle got his shield up before a blast could hit their targets. Max ran up to Kyle and added power to the shield allowing them to absorb the blasts instead of deflecting them.
“Halt! Hold your fire.” A deep voice yelled and the hall became quiet.
A man who looked to be in his late thirties stepped up in front of the squad. He squinted, trying to see through the fuzzy shield. His eyes widened with surprise.
“King Zan. Queen Ava.” He whispered shocked.
Max and Kyle lowered their shield as Tess, Maria, and Kyra stepped up close behind them. Suddenly the man before them bowed down before them, as did many of the other guards.
“Uncle.” A young guard stepped forward. “What are you doing?” He asked eyeing the group in front of them. He remembered the one called Kyle then recognized the other one as the one he had helped with training that day.
“Bow before King Zan, boy. Do not show disrespect.”
Upon hearing this the other guards bowed. Immediately Max became uncomfortable. He did not like anyone bowing to him especially since he was not the king.
“Please rise.” Max said, not knowing what else to do. Somewhere deep inside this felt right but he fought it. “Where do your loyalties lie?”
The man in front answered. “Our loyalties lie with the King of Antar, the true king. King Zan who stands before me now.”
Max saw that all the other heads nodded in agreement. What is your name?”
“Tallon, Majesty.”
“Khivar is king of Antar, why do you say that your loyalties lie with me?”
“There are many of those who do not agree with Khivar but have had no choice but to continue with life or die. My family has been Royal Guards for 13 decades; I would not break that cycle. I remember you King Zan. I was just a child when you died but I remember you and your family.” Tallon looked to Tess.
Max quickly reached out and scanned the group that stood before them. They were all true to their word. He nodded to Tallon.
“I am not Zan. He died all those years ago. My name is Max. I am not the king but I am trying to take my family home to Earth. If you are willing to join with the Rebellion, you may join us, away from this dying planet.”
The group, without hesitation agreed. “There are others that would join and follow you to this new world. I must go inform them. This is my nephew Nephram. He will take you to safety.”
“Thank you.” Max said as Tallon went left half the squad following him.
“This way.” Nephram said as then other half stayed with him. An explosion sounded very near making them all jump. Nephram led the group to a hidden passage that went to the outside wall. Once they got outside, the chaos was even more prominent.
“Nephram, take your squad and assist Tristen, he will be expecting you and tell you where to go. We must meet the others.”
Nephram nodded and left but not before looking into the eyes of the great, legendary king long dead. What he saw was amazing and encouraged him to do what was right.
TBC...
My muse is running on this fic so I'm hoping to have posts more often the next few chapters...