Children of the Vindicated (FF, Adult) Thread #1

[Athenea]

~Adayla~

She stands up and moves away from me. " dont try the grandmother act. Your not my grandmother, even if you are my dad real mom. I have a grandmother and she is nothing compare to you. She is kind, senstive, and this amazing person I know. And you will not replace her, no-one will. Now excuse me your majest… " she says leaving the room to go to her bedroom.

I give her a moment for her to cool off before following her and I find her sitting on a table looking out at the night sky. I didn’t need to use my powers, the girls emotions rolled off of her in waves, fear, anger, confusion as to what her place was now.

“Sarah, I wasn’t trying to replace anybody, I was just trying to make you more comfortable.” I say even though I know that’s not where all this was stemming from. I come up and stand beside her and watch the same sky. Maybe I’ll try a different approach…

“When I was fourteen, I had my whole life planned out for me. I had been studying to become a Priestess of the Goddess. On Antar it is considered a great privilege to be chosen. I had been taken away from my parents when I was three years old, so I could go live at the temple and study to become a priestess. A few weeks before my ignition I met a boy not much older than myself.”

“I found him leaning on the alter in prayer with tears in his eyes, he was dressed as a peasant so I assumed he was one. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, love at first sight, that’s what it was. As soon as I looked into his eyes I knew. He visited everyday after that and it wasn’t until later that I found out he was the crowned prince of Antar.”

“He had been coming into the villages dressed as a peasant so he could go unnoticed. See, he could heal people just by touching them and it used to drain him physically. That’s why he had been crying that day we met, because he wanted to do more and he didn’t understand why he was given a power in which he could only do so much.”

“He told me he would never marry anyone but me because he knew that I loved him as the person he was, not for his crown and we were married within the year, much to just about everyone’s dismay. See, while I was of royal blood I wasn’t very far up on the list, I guess you could say. But he loved me for me and I for him.”

“Not longer after we welcomed the birth of my son and a year after that, my daughter. They were both so beautiful and I knew that if I did nothing else right in this life, I would die happy knowing I brought them into this world. I don’t know how your father was as a child but Xan was always shy and quiet while Vilondra, well Vilondra was the complete opposite.” I say with a smile. “And Rath, well with the three of them together, I never had any peace and quiet. When they got together you knew trouble would soon ensue.”


Then my smile faded, “They say a mother should never have to bury her children but I think their wrong. I never got to bury them, their tombs are empty, after Khivar…after he…” I say unable to finish then I quickly come back into reality. “I’m sorry dear, I got a bit lost, I don’t mean to bore you with stories of a time long past.”

[Dreamer_Dreaming]

~*~Sarah~*~

I'm sitting her when I heard my door open, I look up at and it was Adayla. I guess people on Antar dont give anyone any privatcy or maybe it just her.

"Sarah, I wasn’t trying to replace anybody, I was just trying to make you more comfortable..........When I was fourteen, I had my whole life planned out for me. I had been studying to become a Priestess of the Goddess. On Antar it is considered a great privilege to be chosen. I had been taken away from my parents when I was three years old, so I could go live at the temple and study to become a priestess. A few weeks before my ignition I met a boy not much older than myself.............I found him leaning on the alter in prayer with tears in his eyes, he was dressed as a peasant so I assumed he was one. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, love at first sight, that’s what it was. As soon as I looked into his eyes I knew. He visited everyday after that and it wasn’t until later that I found out he was the crowned prince of Antar...........He had been coming into the villages dressed as a peasant so he could go unnoticed. See, he could heal people just by touching them and it used to drain him physically. That’s why he had been crying that day we met, because he wanted to do more and he didn’t understand why he was given a power in which he could only do so much..........He told me he would never marry anyone but me because he knew that I loved him as the person he was, not for his crown and we were married within the year, much to just about everyone’s dismay. See, while I was of royal blood I wasn’t very far up on the list, I guess you could say. But he loved me for me and I for him.............Not longer after we welcomed the birth of my son and a year after that, my daughter. They were both so beautiful and I knew that if I did nothing else right in this life, I would die happy knowing I brought them into this world. I don’t know how your father was as a child but Xan was always shy and quiet while Vilondra, well Vilondra was the complete opposite.” I say with a smile. “And Rath, well with the three of them together, I never had any peace and quiet. When they got together you knew trouble would soon ensue...................They say a mother should never have to bury her children but I think their wrong. I never got to bury them, their tombs are empty, after Khivar…after he…I’m sorry dear, I got a bit lost, I don’t mean to bore you with stories of a time long past.”

I listen her story and it was interesting " no your not boring me, I actually like hearing it, when I was a little girl I wanted to know about Antar. But, I couldnt ask dad, I knew he wouldnt be able to tell me. Could you tell me more?" I ask.

Its funny, how a story can tell you what this person really about. I heard footsteps near my door, and hear the congress people were talking " tonight we kill the boy and the girl, along with there father. we do it when everyone asleep" they talk in a whisper, I'm not sure if Adayla heared, but I know one thing, I need to talk to my father. " Adayla, I'm sorry I can't continue this, I really need to talk to my father. Can send someone to get him for me?"

[KatnotKath]

~Liz~

The footsteps I head behind me are quickening, and a few moments later Xan catches up. I force my attention away from the strange feeling about the window and concentrate on him. "You really don't know what's going on...?" He asks me as we begin to walk again and I shake my head. "No... He said there were some problems, its more the feelings I got from him that worried me though Xan...the feelings worried me far more than what he said...honest sweetheart...

I'd like to take him into my arms as I did when he was a child, but I know he's growing up... He's a young man, fast becoming a full adult, and considering everything that he's been through these last few days, I'm so incredibly proud of him....

Before we get more than a few steps futher though, Max appears, and as he opens his arms, taking me into them, I suddenly feel a whole lot better. That doesn't mean I'm not still worried though, and the emotions I can feel rolling off him right now through our connection are enough to reinforce that worry... It's not fear...just...I can't quite explain it in truth...

"Liz...where's Sarah? What happened?"

"She's with Adayla, she promised to look after her...I wanted to try and keep her safe, but I had to come to you..." I look up at him and shake my head. "As for what happened don't know...she saw something, but she wouldn't let me see..." I swallow, trying to get rid of the lump in my throat which is caused by feeling completely helpless to make things better for her... I continue silently rather than saying this in front of Xan - I have to be strong for him... *I don't know what it was, but it scared her...she said there was nothing we could do to stop it...* Remembering seeing Sarah like that threatens to bring tears to my eyes as I look back at him. *I couldn't do anything Max...she wouldn't let me...* Biting down hard on my lip, I reach up, touching my hair and noting that part of it has fallen down -hardly surprising after the events of the evening...

Blinking, I take a deep breath and from Max, to Xan and then back. "What about you...what happened? Are you okay...?" I ask, turning my attention now to him.

[isabelle]

*Max*

"I'm okay," I tell Liz, holding her firmly. I can feel the worry and fear rolling off of her. Her story makes me feel the same, but I stand tall with her. We will find a way through this. We always do. I wish Sarah had shared her vision, 'tho. It's a lot easier to change things, to fix them, when we know what we're up against. We'll certainly try to coax her into sharing the visions again, later.

I look at Xan, who's standing slightly aide, watching us. I can see that he's worried, too. Probably worried about Sarah, as I am, but he and Liz are worried about me, too.

"I ... I had to out myself at the meeting," I tell them. "They know I'm here."

[nickimlow]

Alexander

"No... He said there were some problems, its more the feelings I got from him that worried me though Xan...the feelings worried me far more than what he said...honest sweetheart..." Mom answered.

I watched her closely, trying to pick up a sign that might tell me whether she was telling the truth or if she was lying. Nothing.

As I contemplated, I heard Dad's voice echo in the hallway and the next thing I knew, he had Mom wrapped in an embrace. I stepped aside a moment, not keen on intruding.

Mom explained to him that Sarah was with Adayla. "As for what happened don't know...she saw something, but she wouldn't let me see..." Then they establish eye contact and said nothing for a few moments.

"What about you...what happened? Are you okay...?" Mom asked finally.

"I ... I had to out myself at the meeting. They know I'm here."

Brow furrowed, I took a slight step closer. How would this affect the situation? Were we in danger now, and was this what Sarah's flashes had been all about? "So what happens now? What was their reaction?" I asked, then after a moment, added, "Do they know about the rest of us as well?"

I knew that Dad probably wouldn't have risked telling them about us, but they were bound to find out sooner or later. And from his expression, it didn't look like they'd been too happy to see him.

[isabelle]

*Max*

I look at Zan, sadly. Sad because I know the answers I have aren't good ones. But I'm proud of him. He's instantly grasped the situation and knows the right questions to assess the dangers.

"They didn't really have much of a reaction at all. They actually welcomed me back but not with a lot of enthusiasm," I tell him and Liz. "It was what they said before I announced myself that was most telling. There's a minority faction in the council that would rather have me stay out of the picture after all this time. They'd prefer deal with Xadalyn because they know her."

Inwardly, I think they want her because they've seen her grow up. They're probably still thinking of her as a child and think they can control her. I have a strong suspicion that they'd be very wrong about that.

"There was no mention of the rest of you, but most of the council was at the banquet earlier. I'm sure they'll remember having seen me there and they'll figure out that you're with me." Justin will be associated with us, too, and he has no powers to protect himself.

*What you can't let them find out is that you're Xadalyn's twin. That's very important,* I warn him silently, not even wanting to say the words aloud. I can't tell him why and I hope he'll do it without asking too many questions. It's not because of his biological mother, but rather the trouble with being twin heirs to the throne. If the council knew of that, they'd see it as a threat and they'd probably gladly kill both of them and take me, instead, even if they don't know me any more. I can't let them do that. I have to keep my children as safe as possible.

[Athenea]

~Xadalyn~

As Max leaves me with an apology and heads over to where Liz and Xan are, I can’t help but think that the actions of tonight will no doubt ably change things, for the better or worse I do not know. So instead of following him I watch them speak to each other for a moment before turning and leaving unnoticed.

Why do I always feel like an outsider looking in. Perhaps because I spent the first have of my childhood as a fugitive and the next part as a Crown Princess. I realize that most people my age don’t feel like they belong, so perhaps that’s it. I walk past Sarah’s room and see her and Adalyn talking quietly. I roll my eyes as I pass the ‘bonding’ scene as walk into my quarters and lock the door behind me.

I am thankful for the sanctuary of my own room and the quiet. I send my handmaidens away and dress for bed by myself for once. I take all the pins out of my hair and let the long curls fall down my back. I looked at myself in the mirror; my mother’s eyes stared back at me. No wonder people always said we looked alike, we had the same fair skin and curly hair, of course hers was blonde while mine is dark brown. ‘At least I wasn’t as short as her.’ I think with a smile. Of course she didn’t live long enough to see how tall I’d get.

The woman Max knew and the woman I knew as my mother seem like two totally different people. And it's hard to believe they were the same person, but I know they were. Am I like her other than appearance? She was my age when she got pregnant and came to Antar by herself. Would I have done the same things she did in order to get back to my home? Probably, without even a second thought.

And what would Max think of that? He sees her as a manipulative murderer and I only see her as my mother who raised me, protected me, loved me, is it disloyal to her for me to get close to Max? Does he see too much of her in me? Is that why he seems put off giving me the seal and rule over the planet I have been ruling over?

So many questions, so little time. All this and now I have a twin bother, a half sister and a step mother to top it off. Liz seems nice, I have never got the felling that she blames me for my mother’s sins. She raised the son of the women who killed her best friend for Goddess sake! She seems the complete opposite of my mother in every way, shape, and form.

Soft kisses down my neck bring me out of my own thoughts. “I thought I locked that door with my powers.” I say. If someone used there powers to lock a window, door, worm hole, then only that person can use there powers to unlock it.

“You did, I came through the window.” He says in a husky voice and I smile at the thought of him climbing down from his own room on the outside wall. He could have broken his neck, of course everything this Prince does is graceful.

“Daimeon, your father is asleep right down the hall and now so if mine, we can’t do this.” I say half heartedly. “Walls are thick.” he says with a sexy smile before picking me up a placing me on the bed beneath him. As he starts to take off my night gown I think to myself, ‘Well this is one way to keep your mind off things.’ I think with a smile.

[nickimlow]

Alexander

"They didn't really have much of a reaction at all. They actually welcomed me back but not with a lot of enthusiasm. It was what they said before I announced myself that was most telling. There's a minority faction in the council that would rather have me stay out of the picture after all this time. They'd prefer deal with Xadalyn because they know her."

Somehow, I didn't quite find that unexpected. Dad, or Xanakin, had been dead and gone for ages. Now suddenly he was stepping back in- they probably didn't want him back. Max Evans was probably a whole new man, a different man now, one whom they didn't think they knew.

Dad went on to say that nothing had been mentioned about the rest of us, but it was easy enough for them to put two and two together and figure it out.

What you can't let them find out is that you're Xadalyn's twin. That's very important, I heard his voice enter my head, and immediately I understood. Xadalyn was - by right - next in line to the throne. As her twin, I had an equal right. And the council, or whatever, wasn't exactly going to welcome that idea.

I nodded discreetly and glanced down the hallway. Was it just me or had there been someone there?

Maybe my lack of sleep was getting to me. I considered suggesting to them that we call it a night, but decided to wait for one of them to do it, since I probably wasn't going to be able to sleep anyway. Still, maybe I'd be able to clear my mind and think. Somemore.

"So- what do we do?" I asked, though I figured we all needed time to think it over before deciding what to do. "What about Sarah's flashes? She seemed genuinely frightened just now."

[isabelle]

*Max*

I'm proud of Xan's acceptance of the situation. I don't know what he's assuming about this or if he's just agreeing because I asked him too. Either way, I'm glad. I wish I could tell him the truth, but I can't.

"So- what do we do?" Xan asks. "What about Sarah's flashes? She seemed genuinely frightened just now."

"Let's get back to our rooms. I want to be sure Justin and Sarah are okay. Hopefully Sarah will share what she saw. It's the only way we'll be able to change it." Xan knows a little of how we've used Liz's flashes to change the future, many times. But we need to have the information so we can figure out what to do.

Just then Larak comes up to us. "I wasn't expecting to see you tonight."

"I happened to be with Xadalyn when you'd sent Daimeon to fetch her," I explain. I wonder why he didn't inform me, but then, I'm not officially here, so that probably explains it. *Will my family be safe tonight?* I ask him.

"That was fortunate," Larak says before silently answering my question. *I don't think they'll try anything so soon, but I'll send someone to keep watch for you.*

*Thank you,* I tell him. Aloud, I add. "I want to talk to you about another matter, but I think it will wait until morning. Can you come by for breakfast?"

"I'll be there," He promises. He gives Liz and Xan a slight bow and turns to go on his way.

I turn back to Liz and Xan with a sigh. "Let's head back, then,"

[KatnotKath]

OOC: the NaNo fic is rather taking over my writing at the moment, so not too sure if this is to the normal standard, sorry if it isn't . I'll leave it unformatted for now, but try and remember to add in the italics for speaking and telepathic communication tomorrow, for now I'm just trying to get a few posts out

~LIz~

"I ... I had to out myself at the meeting," Max tells us. "They know I'm here."

I swallow nervously and bite my lip, trying outwardly to maintain a facade of calm. I know that was the last thing that Max wanted to do at the moment, and for him to do that, it must have been bad... I determine that I'll ask him more later though, when Xan isn't there... His expression doesn't exactly suggest they were overjoyed to meet him either, but then I guess given they have a 'queen' they're perfectly happy with it seems, that would make sense...

"So what happens now? What was their reaction...? Do they know about the rest of us as well?"

Xan steps forward and I can see he too is worried. I wish I could save him from all this... When I was a child, all I wanted to do was to stop being a small-town girl with a boringly normal life...now, well if I could choose any sort of life for my children, that would be it... Normal, ordinary and safe, for them to be able to go out and enjoy themselves without having to be concerned about powers or anythng like that... They do amazingly well considering though, and I am overwhelmingly proud of Xan for how he's stepped up this last two days...

From the feelings coming through our connection, and the look on Max's face, I'm pretty sure that it isn't going to be good... His words seem carefully selected, but I have to wonder exactly what is meant about 'staying out of the picture'. I'm sure there's more than he's telling us right now, but I'm not going to push...if we needed to know right now, Max would tell us, if not, it can wait...

Confirming that although they haven't mentioned us, the council still is likely to know about us, I nod silently. They might not know who is who though, and certainly I don't imagine they'll know about Xan, so I'm guessing that's one bit we keep to ourselves... "If they don't I'm sure they'll find out soon enough anyway..." There's plenty of people about, guards, servants and members of court to say nothing of the council and other dignitaries... We haven't exactly hidden away...

Xan looks away, and then back at us, but he looks so tired... I know today has been a long day, for all of us...

"So- what do we do? What about Sarah's flashes? She seemed genuinely frightened just now."

She was, I know that look, I've worn that look so many times... If only she hadn't insisted on keeping it to herself though... I wonder if I should have made her show me, but that would have made it worse for her, and I hate to see my daughter cry...

Max suggests just going back to our rooms for the moment, checking on Justin and Sarah and I nod. *I'll try with her again when we get back...I might be able to access the visions without her having to see them again, I know she doesn't want to talk about it, but if only I could see...*

Just then, Larek walks up to speak to Max, commenting on his surprise appearance. There's more that's being said silently I'm sure, but for now openly Max simply says he wants to talk to him tomorrow, inviting him for breakfast, the invitation to which Larek accepts. I smile as he bows slightly to Xan and I, dropping a slight curtsey in reply and nodding as Max again says to head back. "Sounds like a good idea, I'm sure everyone could do with some rest..." I agree as I settle my hand on his arm. *Are you sure you're okay, I get the feeling there's more than you said... What did you mean by staying permenantly out of the picture...?*