"KHIVAR!" Liz screamed out as she bolted up. She felt arms wrap around her and a feminine voice say soothingly, "Shh, it's okay. You're okay, it's just a memory. You're safe."
Liz blinked a couple of times in the attempt to focus on the source of the voice. It was a blonde woman and after a moment Liz figured it out, "Kat?"
Kat smiled at her recognizing her, "Yeah, it's me. Good to see your brain wasn't fried. How are feeling?"
Liz put a hand to her aching head, "Like there are too many people in here."
Kat laughed, "That's what my brother said when he woke up. He said between Ava's meddling and his memories, his brain was going to resemble a fired circuit."
"Where is he?"
"I kicked he and Khivar out hours ago. They were driving me nuts the past ten hours waiting for you to wake up, pacing back and forth." Kat explained. "Do you want me to go get them?"
"No, not yet, just give me a minute to get my bearings." Liz answered. As she sat up more and leaned against the headboard her body felt like she'd been sleeping for days instead of hours. She looked around to see that she was in the bedroom where she had first been brought to.
"You don't know how good it is to see you." Kat said.
Liz looked at her best friend from her life as Enola. By looking at her, you'd never think she was an alien as she was simply dressed in jeans and tanktop. She, like Khivar, looked to be in her twenties with long blonde hair and bluish gray eyes just like both of her brothers. It was strange to think that her friend who she had been slightly older than was now a lot older than her. Her memories were still sorting themselves out, she remembered growing up with Alex and Maria but also with Katrin and Vilandra. Descriptions of Earth mixed with what she remembered about Antar and the events that started of the war. And she realized that she was indeed glad to see Kat as well, to know that she was still alive. "You too. I'm glad that nothing happened to you."
"Are you serious? After what happened Khivar wouldn't ..." Kat trailed off when she realized what she was saying. "Let's just say he made sure that there was tighter security when the attack on you happened."
"Tell me about it." Liz asked.
"I can't tell you exact details because I wasn't there. You'll have to ask him for the whole story. But I do know that after, he wasn't the same even with me. It broke something inside him, he became ruthless in his mission both of our missions actually, and that was to bring down Zan. And we did." Kat explained.
"What about you?" Liz asked, "How have you been these past years?"
Kat sighed, "Better now than I have been. Knowing that you and my brother are okay although things aren't expected to be as I thought."
"You're talking about me being friends with Zan?" Liz asked.
"Yeah, that threw me."
"I bet. So besides being under the watchful eye of Khivar, what have you been doing?" Then Liz realized her question must have sounded to Kat, "Did that sound as ridiculous out loud as it did in my head? I asked that like we've just been apart for a few months."
"It's okay, I understand. And it didn't sound asinine." Kat assured her. "I've been doing whatever I could to help Khivar. I helped oversee your rebirth, then pretty much any other job. I helped infiltrate the palace when he went after Zan, and fought along side him. Ever since we took the palace, I've been in charge of it."
"What about you? Did you ever get married? Meet anyone? " Liz asked. Kat had often been in the company of different men, including Larek but had never been serious with any of them. She hoped that her friend had found happiness any the years that had gone by.
Kat smiled sadly as she said, "Yes, I met someone who I loved very much. He was one of the bodyguards assigned to me for protection after the two of you were killed. After we admitted our feelings, things became difficult. He thought he couldn't protect me as well with a personal stake in it. It was either his job or me, so he resigned his post as my protector and joined the regular soldiers. He became one of the army commanders. He was killed in battle a few years ago."
"Why didn't you have him recreated like me?" Liz asked.
"I thought about it. I even suggested it to his family but we both agreed that he wouldn't have wanted it. He died in the way that he would have wanted. In battle, fighting for what he felt was right." Kat explained.
"I didn't mean to drag up bad memories." Liz apologized.
"It's okay, it's the past." Kat said trying to assure her that she hadn't upset her. "I've known for a long time that life doesn't always have a happy ending."
Liz thought of something to say to change the subject. She then remembered something Alex had said when she first got there and asked, "So I guess it was you who helped your brother contact Isabel."
"Yeah, he wasn't satisfied with what the scouts told him and wanted to check on her for himself." Kat answered. "So we went for a little visit. It almost broke my heart to see them. But I stood back in a corner and let him talk to her, trying to comfort her but she thought it was just a dream."
"Isabel doesn't know that there are different degrees of dreamwalking aside from what she could do." Liz stated. One of Kat's powers was a type of dream walking called dream control. She could enter someone's dream and manipulate it. She could change an existing dream to anyway she wanted. Her other power was to astral project but she could do more than project herself. She could also project anyone or anything she wanted. Such as project the image of something she was holding to appear on the other side of the room or even greater distances.
Before she could say more the door opened and Alex and Khivar walked in. They both smiled when they saw that she was awake and appeared to be fine.
Alex rushed over and plopped down on the bed next to her, "Feeling okay?"
"Yeah, just jumbled."
"Yeah, I know the scrambled egg feeling." Alex said as he hugged her with one of his arms.
"So what do I call you now? Ardeth or Alex?"
"Whichever you feel comfortable with," Alex said. "I answer to both. What about you?"
"Either one will do but I think I prefer Liz for right now, just until it sinks in a little more." Liz answered and glanced over at Khivar who was sitting quietly, watching them interact. She wasn't sure how to act around him. It wasn't as simple as it was with Alex and Kat, they were just friends. Friendship could easily be reestablished easily enough. But with Khivar, she remembered how it had felt to be with him, to make love to him, to be in love with him. But as much as she had loved him and a part of her wanted to go to him now, she had lived an entire life since then, and Kat had said he had changed. If they were ever to be with each other again, they would have to learn each other again. Khivar looked up as she watched him and smiled, a full smile, which caused her to blush.
Kat saw the two staring at each other and decided that her and Alex had better leave the two alone for a moment. "Well I think we'll be going."
Alex looked at her confused, "What? Why?"
"Because I think Liz has some questions that we can't answer. And we'll have plenty of time to visit after she gets some stuff resolved." Kat explained tugging him away, "So come on."
Alex knew what Kat was talking about, he remembered all the questions he had asked after his own memory retrieval. He hugged Liz before following Kat out of the room.
As they left Alex couldn't help but ask, "What do you think is going to happen between those two? There's been a lot of stuff happen since they were together."
Kat shrugged. "You are more qualified to answer that then I am, you've known her in both lives where I'm just getting to know Liz. But I do know that when she woke up, she was screaming his name. And ever since she looked like she was trying to figure out somethings."
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see." Alex said.
PART 12
When Alex and Kat left Khivar asked, "I guess by my sister's not so subtle way that we need to talk. Would you like to go for a walk? Go outside?"
Liz realized that she hadn't been outside in two days, not since she was brought there so she nodded. He opened the door and led her out into the hallway. They went in a different direction than she had been led before and again Liz saw people watching them pass. Only this time she could understand what they were saying. They were speaking in Antarian and she could now understand it as clear as if they were speaking English. It wasn't long before he opened yet another door and she felt the sun on her face. She saw that the building was on a hill that over looked the desert. They sat down over looking the desert. Liz asked, "What happened? After I died..."
Liz looked over at him and saw sorrow come across his face. Like with Kat, she felt bad for bringing up such sad memories that had to be hard to live with. She saw a glazed look come over his eyes as he started. "When you and Ardeth did not return by the time you were supposed to, I had a bad feeling and took some men out to look for you. We found Ardeth first, and we knew that you had been attacked by the blast wound in his chest. As I squatted by his body, I saw a small set of footprints going off if one direction and recognized them to be yours. I followed them hoping that you had gotten away as the men looked around for clues as who attacked although we knew. I was alone when I found you."
His eyes shut for a minute as if trying to block out the memories. But he went on. "I found a ripped piece of your dress first, torn as you ran and left behind. You were a short distance away and I was in shock when I first saw you. You were covered in blood and bruises, so much damage that you were almost not recognizable. I knew that Zan had done it that his jealousy had been too much and he took it out on you."
Before she realized what she was doing, Liz was telling her side of things. "We were surprised during our walk. Everything was fine, and then Ardeth heard something and I picked up on Zan and some of his men. He was being his normal self. He harassed Ardeth until his anger snapped and he made a grab for him. He didn't stand a chance because one of the guards blasted him. I begged Zan to save him but he said no because he was a traitor and helping you. I took off, tried to get to safety but he caught up with me. I fell when he grabbed me and hit my head. I was dizzy when we began to argue. He said I was a whore when I yelled that I would never love him. He kept getting angrier and angrier and that's when he started hitting me and he didn't stop until...." Liz said. She knew she was probably telling him what he had guessed at a long time ago but hadn't known for sure.
It was bizarre to think that Max, the person who had saved her life a year and a half ago possessed the essence of the man who had killed her before. She knew that he had been raised differently here so it had made him different then before but she still thought it was very ironic. The killer became the savior. She pushed it away from her thoughts as Khivar went on.
"We took your bodies back, your parents were in shock and your mother burst into tears. I managed to get word to Vilandra, Zan had barricaded her inside the castle after Ardeth's death. We buried you but not before the scientists and Kat took enough samples to recreate you. I don't think Kat would have made it through the beginning if she hadn't been working so hard. And I wasn't that helpful either. My grief overwhelmed me, I barely remember the days that followed. Just that I kept expecting Ardeth to come running in to tell me some bit of news or when I'd actually sleep, I'd wake up surprised that you were not next to me. I finally broke down one day and my grief turned to hatred for the one man I blamed, Zan. My need for revenge was so huge that I was consumed by it, hardened me." He looked at her like he was worried she would turn against him for what he said. She just smiled slightly to show him it was okay and to go on.
"After the recreation was successful and I knew you two were safely sent away, I started working harder to achieve our goal. It took some time but we made progress. In the meantime I heard reports that Zan had become reacquainted with Ava after she arrived home from wherever she had gone. He and Larek had been out on at the rock faces when he ran into her. His mother was still pressuring him to marry and since you were gone...I guess he settled for her. I heard that he did actually care for her, if he could actually care for anyone but himself."
"They had a quick engagement and a large royal wedding, but they didn't get to celebrate for long. It was during Ava's coronation that we finally attacked the palace. They weren't expecting it, which was the reason for our plan and we were inside before they could mount a defense. The battle didn't last long. I don't know if it was one of our people by mistake or one of Zan's that killed Vilandra but she was killed as well. Both sides lost a great amount of people but we won. Ever since the war has still been going on although the battles have gotten fewer and fewer over the years. Now it's more political debates and meetings then battles and combat."
"And Zan?" Liz asked. "Did you get your vengeance?"
"Yes." Khivar answered simply.
Liz nodded, knowing that his answer meant that he had killed Zan himself. And she found herself not finding it as appalling as she thought she would. Not that she praised violence but she felt she understood how he had felt. Zan had taken his love and his brother away from him. Just about anyone would want to pay the person responsible back for that. She noticed him staring intently at her as he said, "I said earlier that I would ask your forgiveness when you remembered for bringing you into all this and I hope that someday you will."
"You don't need my forgiveness because it was not your fault." Liz said but she could tell he didn't believe him.
She reached up, cupping his face with her hand and looked him dead in the eyes, "It's not your fault, Enola chose what side she wanted. The side she believed in and the man she loved."
It was then that Liz became away of how warm his skin felt in her hand and she pulled it away. She hadn't meant to touch him. She also realized that she had just spoke about herself in the third person. It showed that she was still getting used to it all. Alex had been right when he told her that Liz and Enola had to merge. She was both of them and they would have to find away to come together. Thankfully the two were similar in personality but she still had two lifetimes to combine. She looked up and saw Khivar watching her, it was obvious that he had caught her slip up. She smiled shyly and said, "I guess it's kind of strange to hear me call myself and talk about me like I'm a different person."
"I won't pretend to understand." Khivar said. "I'm sure you have to experience it to do that."
"I'm still getting used to my memories. I mean I have them but it's hard to...I feel like an amnesia patient. Like one day I just forgot who I was, started over and lived for seventeen years then all of a sudden the amnesia is gone and I've got to figure it all out. I mean I'm Liz Parker but I'm also Enola."
"It'll come, my brother felt the same way."
"But with Alex there's a difference, in both lives he loved one person, Isabel and Vilandra. But while I've been living my life as Liz Parker, I fell in love with Max. He saved my life and risked his and the others existence to do it. True what we had is over and my feelings have changed for him but it still happened. I loved the guy who I came to hate and ended up killing me in my past life. And then there's you. Over the past year since they found out their identities all I've heard is that you're the enemy but now I find out that you're not." Liz huffed out.
Khivar leaned forward and brushed a piece of her hair away from her face as he said, "I'm glad you don't still consider me the enemy."
Liz shifted around uneasily in her seat, wanting to turn more into his hand. He leaned in closer and Liz knew that he was intending on kissing her and she felt herself wanting to feel more of his touch again like in her memories but she had to force herself to stop from acting on those feelings. She pulled back and said, "I remember loving you, wanting no one else except you. And I still feel that love for you. But there has been so much that has happened between that time and now. You said so yourself how affected you were by mine and Ardeth's death. That had to have changed you, and living the last seventeen years the way I have, has changed me. Because of that I don't think I should be with you right now. Not until we learn each other again otherwise it might cause problems down the road."
Khivar looked disappointed but seem to understand. "I've waited for you all this time, and seeing you alive relieves my heart a great deal. I can wait as long as it takes."
"Thank you for understanding." She smiled although she couldn't help but feel a little dissatisfied with the situation. Even if it was her idea. She turned her head and gazed back out into the desert as she asked, "So what do we do now? Where do we go from here?"
"I thought you just said..."
Liz tried not to laugh at his confused expression, "I meant what's your plan now? Alex and I know the truth and we're safe, you've rescued Nicholas. You mentioned about getting the Granolith, which Alex and I know the location of but what else? I know we will all be going back to Antar, and I want to." Liz said truthfully. She did want to go to Antar, to a place where there were others like her and she wouldn't have to worry about the FBI looking for her. Her dreams of going to college seemed minor now. She had wanted to go so that she could learn more about the science that she loved. But now since she remembered her past life, she already had the knowledge. "So before that what are you going to do about Tess?"
"Oh, don't worry about Tess. She will be dealt with." Khivar stated.
"How?"
"Now that you two are safe, she'll be picked up and brought back here. Then when we leave she'll be taken back with us and be charged for the crimes against her. She won't go free after what she tried to do. With my brother's testimony, there will be no problem" Khivar explained.
"No." Liz said firmly.
"No?"
"No, that's not good enough. I want her to pay for what she did to Alex." Liz said with venom in her tone. "I know I don't sound like myself but I can't stop thinking about it. I want Tess to suffer for what she did to Alex. I want her head messed with like she does everyone else's."
"And you can do that when she is brought here." Khivar stated.
"No, I want to hit her when she least expects it. She deserves it, she tried to kill Alex and mindwarped Kyle who trusted her, had him dump his body and then made it look like he comment suicide. People who knew him his whole life thinks he killed himself. And I can't stand that." Liz argued. "I've made up my mind, I'm going back to Roswell to get her."
PART 13
"No, out of the question." Khivar stated. "It's too dangerous."
"I'll be fine, I've got my powers back and I know how to use them. I can read her at any time I think she's getting suspicious. I'll be fine," Liz explained.
"I brought you here to get you out of her path, I'm not about to put you back into it." He argued. "She thinks you are an insignificant human, she won't hesitate to get you out of her way."
"I can't believe you!" Liz erupted. "This is the person who tried to kill your brother, and would have if your men hadn't gotten there in time. And you just want her to go pick her up like she robbed from someone. I want everyone, Max, Isabel, Michael, Maria, and Kyle, to know what she did. I want her to feel guilty for trying to take his life. For her to know that life is important, it means something whether you're alien, human or hybrid."
Khivar saw the determination in her face and knew that she was set in her task. He also knew that nothing was going to change her mind. He should have known she would do this, Enola had always been fiercely protective of the ones she cared about. She would do anything within her power to help, protect, or stick up for someone she cared about. According to all the information he had from different sources along with Alex, she was the same way now. Perhaps even more since this life had been harder for her. All he could do was make sure that some of his men were around her to keep her safe and he would alert her guardians as to what she was doing. And he knew that even if he wanted to, he couldn't deny her anything. He nodded, "I'll help in any way that I can. But you have to promise to be careful."
"I will, she'll never know what I'm doing." Liz said already thinking of what she could do to Tess. "Thanks for not fighting me anymore on this."
"I know there's no point in arguing with you about it. If I told you not to, you'd go against my wishes and do it anyway." Khivar stated.
"I'm going to do a little bit of other stuff too. I don't think Isabel is a lost cause, things have been tense between her and Max since he found out about her alleged betrayal. Then after Alex's death she was very torn up about it. I think she may come back to him if she knew everything."
"Liz, I trust your judgement but I don't want you doing anything that will risk your safety." Khivar said with concern and worry in his voice. "You have to be careful how you approach her and what you say. Isabel may go running to Max if you tell her that you've been around me."
"I will, I'll make sure I tread carefully." Liz said, "I won't underestimate any of them."
She didn't wait for him before she turned to head back into the facility. She wanted to get started as soon as possible, which meant going back to Roswell now. She heard him following her but didn't turn around. She grabbed the first skin she saw and in Antarian asked where Alex was. He knew who she was and didn't hesitate telling her although his eyes did flicker to Khivar behind her as he gave her directions to where she could find him. As her and Khivar headed that way he said, "The cab that brought you here will take you back. That way it won't look as suspicious when you are dropped in front of the café. I'll call Jeff and Nancy when you leave and let them know you are coming back. As you know there are still some of our people staking out the rest of the others and they will also be updated Don't try to loose them if you spot them."
"What makes you think I'd do that?" Liz said sarcastically.
"Because I know that you wouldn't want someone following you." Khivar answered.
The two didn't talk anymore until they reached where they were going. To Liz it looked like a small apartment and from what she could tell Alex, and Kat were all staying there. Kat and Alex were lounging in the living room and sat up when they saw Liz and Khivar come in. "What's up?"
"I just wanted to tell you that I'm going back to Roswell." Liz stated.
"WHAT?" The twins said simultaneously. "What are you thinking?"
"That was my reaction as well." Khivar said.
"I'm going back to Roswell because I have some unfinished business to take care of. I'm not going away forever, I'll be back."
"What unfinished business?" Alex asked curiously. He recognized that look in her eyes; it was a look she had had in both lifetimes. It meant that she was coming up with a plan. But he wasn't sure what it might concern, Tess? Max, perhaps? What was she thinking?
"Yes. I want to talk to Isabel. I want to check on her and see how's she's doing. She was in a bad way the last couple of times I saw her and I doubt Max has been doing anything to help her. And I don't think she's a lost cause, her and Max have been fighting a lot and the distance between them has gotten as big as the quarry this year. I want to talk to Kyle and Maria too. I want to check on Kyle to see if Tess's mindwarping has any effect on him. He's a good friend, I don't want to leave him alone. And despite how much at odds Maria and I are at the moment, I want to talk to her too." Liz explained. She saw Alex's eyes sparkle when she mentioned talking to Isabel. She knew he was hopeful that Isabel would come to their side and against her brother once again to be with him.
"And she plans on confronting Tess." Khivar added.
Liz saw that Kat and Alex were both about to say something and she held up her hand to stop them. "Don't say anything. Yes, I'm going back to Roswell partly because I plan to face Tess. I'm not going to go right up to her and ask her straight to her face or anything. She'd just lie and say I was coming up with an insane theory. No, I plan on doing what she's been doing to us since she came into town. Mess with her head."
Kat's face brightened, "Oh, I want to help!"
"This isn't a game Katrin." Khivar said sternly with no doubt in his voice that he was telling Kat that she could not help Liz.
"Don't call me by my full name using that tone with me, Khivar. The only person that can get away with that is Father and you're not him. So don't try to use it and tell me what to do."
"Am I wrong or am I the one in charge?" Khivar said back. Alex and Liz just sat back and waited for Kat's outburst.
"In case you don't realize it, we're not on Antar." Kat said before pointing down, "This is Earth, E-A-R-T-H."
Liz decided she better step in, Kat had always been able to rile her brother's temper and if they kept going then she'd never get out of there. "If you want to help, it's fine with me. You can do it from here. Tonight, can you dream manipulate Tess? Not too big yet, just something small like seeing Alex?"
"Sure." Kat said happily although Liz saw her glare at Khivar.
"And if you're up to it, Isabel too. Maybe something to trigger her memories of Ardeth, I'm sure Alex can help you." Liz said. She normally wouldn't want anyone messing with others minds but unlike mindwarping, dream walking or manipulation didn't leave any ill effects if done repeatedly. "And I'll check in from time to time. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
PART 14
The trip back to Roswell was an uneventful one. She had said goodbye to Alex, Kat, and Khivar who had given more warnings before she headed back. Just before she left Khivar pulled her aside as he pulled something out of his pocket and Liz recognized it as her cell phone. "Hit *9 on speed dial here and it'll connect you straight to me. Don't hesitate to call me even if you just want to talk." He added with a slight smile before pulling something else out of his pocket. "This is a locator I had programmed for you. If anything happens, anything at all, just grip this and send a jolt of energy into it. It'll send your location to everyone in Roswell including your guardians. And I'll be there as soon as I can."
Liz nodded as she took the phone and the device. "Thanks."
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you." Khivar said.
Liz smiled at the memory as she got out of the cab and looked around at the darkened streets of Roswell. All was quiet and looked the same as always but she couldn't help but think of how much was lurking under that illusion. It seemed that Roswell had quite a few more aliens then she thought when she left. She went to hand the driver some money but he shook his head and refused to take it. "No, it's not necessary."
"I know but I have to keep up appearances." Liz said reminding him. "It would be unusual for me to get a cab ride without paying, wouldn't you think?."
He smiled at her as he took the few dollars she held out. She grabbed her bags before shutting the door. She watched the cab pull away before she went inside. The café only had a few people inside, she could see that two of the day waitresses, and one night waitress was working, probably called in to cover her and Maria. She glanced through the pick up window and saw that Jose was managing the kitchen. Deciding to see if her dad and mom were in the office, she headed to the back. They might just be her guardians or the off springs of her protectors but she had lived the last seventeen years as her parents and she would still think of them that way.
When she got there she found the office was empty so she took her bags upstairs. Once inside the apartment she called out. "Mom? Dad? I'm back!!"
They walked out of the kitchen and looked ecstatic to see her. Her mom ran forward and hugged her before her dad did the same. Once the hugs were dispensed her parents turned to reprimand her`, "What were you thinking going off on your own like that? You should have come to us."
"I didn't really think I could come to you about this." Liz asked. "It's not like I knew we were aliens."
"Liz, we wanted to tell you but we couldn't. Your grandparents were under orders that you not be informed unless they got word from Antar. We couldn't break their words." Nancy explained.
"I understand, I really do. It's just hard to believe that I was lied to for so long." Liz said.
"We're sorry, Liz. But it was necessary." Jeff said.
"Did you always know you were aliens? That your parents were and about their mission?" Liz asked curiously.
"We learned about what we were when we were about eight. Sure, I'd noticed that sometimes strange things happened in our house." Jeff explained. "Objects that had been across the room suddenly appeared in one of my parents' hands or a home improvement project or café repair getting done in a quarter of the time that it should stuff like that. And I noticed that my father always left for one night a week and never said where he was going, at least not to me. But as a kid, I trusted my parents and didn't ask."
"Aside from that our lives were normal, we had regular human friends as well as each other. Our parents were always together so Nancy and I were close as well. I noticed them talking quietly with a few of their friends that came in but just assumed that it wasn't something kids weren't supposed to hear. Then when I was eight I got into a fight at school, it's kind of funny actually because I was helping out Jim Valenti defending his father's name from some other kids who was saying he was an alien loony. I got yelled at when I got home and made the mirror in the living room explode. I was shocked. Nothing like that had ever happened. I didn't know that it was coming into my powers but the parents did and knew it was time."
Her mom took over then in the explanation, "They took us out to Frasier Woods on what was supposed to be a camping trip. When we got there we were joined with two other families, the Whitmans and Bertrams. We knew that they were old friends of our parents as well but they lived in Arizona and we didn't see them that often. That's when they told us. About Antar, the war, Khivar, and the precious pods they were carrying. We didn't believe them at first but after a small display of powers, we did. Not to mention seeing you and Alex in your pods definitely convinced us. After that night it was decided that they would leave their home near the headquarters in Copper Summit and move to Roswell. They still weren't positive where the occupants of the crashed ship were so they thought they could keep a look out for them while the group of skins traveled around the surrounding states doing the same thing. We learned how to use our powers, grew up, fell in love, and when it was time we raised you."
Liz just nodded in response to the story, seeing that they were done she said, "I'm going to go to my room, the last few days have been tiring."
They both nodded and then her dad said, "You know Khivar contacted us right?"
"Yeah, he said he would call and let you know that I was coming back. I figured that he told you to keep an eye on me. He didn't agree with my decision to leave. He mentioned that the others who are around watching would be on their guard and not to try and loose them if I spotted them."
"He's worried for your safety, he wants to make sure nothing happens to you. And since you have your memories, I know you know why." Her dad explained.
"Dad, I'm not going to do anything dangerous. I'm not going into this blind, I know how dangerous Tess is." Liz stated starting to feel like a broken record.
"Liz, I'm not going to stop you, I care about Alex. He's the closest thing I've ever had to a son so I understand the bitterness you feel towards the girl who tried to kill him. It was all I could do to not say or do something every time I saw her in the café after I found out what happened."
"I know. It'll take a lot of control to not try anything when she's around but I have other plans for that." Liz stated.
"You and Maria are covered for the next week. Amy called earlier and told us that Maria still wasn't in any condition to be working and she's working on Alex's memorial." Jeff said.
"I'll call her tomorrow or I plan on going to see Isabel so maybe I'll stop by there too. But I can work if you need me." Liz said absently. She turned then and headed down the hall to her room. When she was inside she saw that everything was as she left it, all her charts and notes concerning her investigation were still up. She moved to take them down but realized it might look strange if it all disappeared since everyone knew she didn't give up easily when she was set on something. So she just moved them aside and out of the way.
Once that was done she took a quick shower, got into a pair of pajamas, and climbed out onto her balcony. She had pulled the loose brick out of the wall and retrieved her journal. She had a lot to write down and sort out. She turned on her little Christmas lights and used her powers to light the candles before she settled down to write.
It's April 30t and I'm Liz Parker, but the strange thing is I just found out that I'm not only her but another person as well. My name is also Enola. I was what you would consider a Lady or even Countess here on Earth. I lived another life before I was killed by the last person I expected, Max. Well not Max exactly but the person whose essence, Zan's, he was made from.
I think I'm starting to adjust to all of this except for one element, Khivar. I found myself attracted to him even before I found out about our past, and having these memories amplifies that a hundred times. I feel myself wanting to go back to his command center to crawl into bed next to him and just not leave his side again. But there's this part in my head that is overruling my heart saying that we need time to get reacquainted. I don't know which is going to win in the end, it's hard not to be with him. I think I'm probably the only person on the planet who knows what it's like to make love numerous times but still be a virgin. Maybe I should just listen to what my grandma Claudia/ nanny Cladya had told me before she died, to follow my heart, wherever it took me. And it's taking me to Khivar.
I guess I should push it to the side at the moment and concentrate on my payback on Tess. I'm not usually a vengeance kind of person but the fact that Tess just thought she could use anyone she wanted just to, to reach her goal. She didn't care that she took away a month of Alex's life and controlled what he did. Then when she killed him, she just disposed of him like she was throwing away a piece of paper. I think she lived too many years with Nasedo.
The more I think about all of this, the more it sounds like something out of a Science Fiction book. But I guess it should considering our lives contain what sci-fi is based on.
Liz stopped writing for a minute and looked down at her journal and let out a soft chuckle. Without even realizing it she had wrote the entire entry thus far in Antarian. The symbols were printed boldly on the paper and she of course understood every word of it. At least now if Michael found it, he wouldn't be able to understand it although it would cause problems when he recognized them as the same symbols on the cave in Riverdog's cave. She figured he had bigger things to do then search for her journal so she didn't worry about rewriting it.
She quickly capped her pen and put it back into it's hiding place except when she placed the brick back, she sealed it with her powers. She lay back on her chair and looked up at the stars, she knew that she couldn't see Antar but it comforted her to look at the V constellation. Her parents were there, waiting for her to return and she smiled. She was still thinking of that as she fell asleep under the stars.
PART 15
After working all day and spending the evening with Tess doing memory retrieval, Max was wiped out. The session had been in his eyes a success even if Tess didn't. The memories he had recovered that night were of his childhood. Of times spent with his family including Isabel up until he guessed about the age of seven. He knew Tess had been upset that he hadn't remembered any later memories, she was anxious for him to remember more about their lives together. After all remembering their first meeting and kiss had gotten them to where they were now.
Thinking of that made Max remember his conversation with Liz the night she had come to talk to him, the last time they had spoke decently to each other. She had told him that she had seen him kiss Tess at prom. He had felt so horrible that she knew let alone had witnessed it but she had just blown him off and told him that he was doing what he was supposed to, move on. And he had, he was with Tess now. Things weren't the same as with Liz. There was no lovey doviness, as Michael would say. But Tess was there for him when he needed her.
But despite being with Tess, Liz kept popping into his brain. He couldn't believe the way she had been since Alex died. She wouldn't listen to him when he tried to reason with her. And then the anger she had showed him at the roadside had been another surprise. Liz had never acted like that but he realized it was his fault. He was the one who had given her the ultimatum that day. But when he had, he had never thought she would go through with it, but it looked like he was wrong. She hadn't done what he ordered her to do. He knew that technically he wasn't her king but her, Maria, Alex, even Kyle had looked at him as the gangs' leader and had listened pretty much before. He needed to talk to her. When she got back from Sweden. He had to convince her to stop her search. It wouldn't lead her anywhere and it was dangerous. He had failed to convince her before but he wouldn't fail again.
He rolled over onto his stomach and pushed it all out of his mind. Once he relaxed he drifted off to sleep. As he did, the memories he'd been trying to uncover rose to the surface.
Zan was glad to be home for a short holiday away from the academy. He missed living in the palace all of the time. In the palace he was senior to everyone but his father and mother including Vilandra. He didn't have to do anything in the palace that he didn't want to do unlike at the academy where things were different. There were still servants and such to take care of laundry, cleaning and cooking but he along with the others were still expected to do chores. And he hated to do chores. At the academy his position only got him one advantage, the ability to go home for holidays.
As he wondered down the hall he heard feminine giggles coming from the families' private library. He recognized one as his sister's but the other one was just as familiar. He walked into the room and the two girls looked right at him, "Vilandra, you didn't tell me Enola was visiting today."
He wasn't sure but he thought he heard her mutter something along the lines of, "I didn't tell you so that you wouldn't be hanging around."
"How are you Zan? Enjoying your time home?" Enola asked giving him a smile that warmed his heart.
"Yes, even more now." He said as he got closer to her. "Would you like to go for a walk on the grounds?"
"No thank you." Enola declined. "Vilandra and I have a lot of work to do for classes."
"Which we would like to get back to. Good bye brother." Vilandra said but he didn't pay any attention to her, he didn't take his eyes off the beautiful girl in front of him.
"Please Enola?" Zan pleaded.
"Zan I can't."
"Come on. You're not really going to deny me the pleasure of your company for a short while, I don't have much time left at home and would love to spend some of it with you." Zan implored.
He saw her look at him for a minute before her shoulders slumped in defeat. She pushed her book back and looked at Vilandra, "We won't be long."
"Enola you don't..."
"Don't worry I don't mind. And I know most of this stuff anyway." Enola stated before taking Zan's arm and letting him lead her away, a large smug smile plastered to his face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
From the moment he entered the celebration, Zan wanted to go back home to the palace. There was something in the air that made him feel like it was not going to be a good night. Maybe it was just something as simple to the fact that the celebration wasn't for him and he was used to being the center of attention. He wouldn't even have come if his father hadn't insisted. He had told Zan that he had to go since it was two of his academy mates that were the guests of honor not to mention the fact that he was to accompany his sister. So here he was.
The only consolation he found was that he would be able to see Enola. He had overheard his sister telling to his mother that she was also attending and was looking forward to spending some time with her. Now only if he could find her. He had inquired about her whereabouts and knew she had arrived but was unable to track her down. Enola seemed to continually be one-stepping a head of him.
He gave up momentarily to grab something to drink. As he did he watched the dance floor and the crowd. He saw one of his academy mates who the ball were thrown for, Khivar. He was dancing with a girl but he was unable to see her face for her back was turned to him. It prompted him to think about asking Enola to dance when he found her.
He was about to go in search of her again when Khivar and his dancing partner turned and he saw the face of the girl. And when he did he saw red, red that was not from the color of her dress but for the fact that she was in someone else's arms. The girl was Enola, his Enola. He didn't approach her, instead he watched her. The two continued to dance for a little while before moving off and chatting with other guests. His rage only grew more and more as he watched her smile and laugh. If he looked past his jealousy he would notice that her smile lit up her face like he had never seen before. But he didn't see that, he just saw another man going after what was his.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Zan and his small group of men snuck into the palace by way of the passages that ran underneath the large structure. He didn't want to be seen, didn't want to answer any questions if his mother or sister saw him. As he approached another tunnel that would lead up to his rooms, he gave the senior officer orders to not let the Princess out and that he was not to be disturbed. He then followed the small passageway to go to his rooms. When he got there he allowed the facade he put on in front of his men crumble away.
The excursion had not gone as planned, nor had it ended remotely close to how he had planned it. Why couldn't she listen to him? Didn't she know that they belonged together? That she was supposed to be by his side as his queen? Why did she have to fight him about it? Why did she have to choose Khivar over him? Why had she made him do what he did?
He felt his hands shaking and fisted them in the attempt to stop the tremors but it didn't work. He brought his closed fists up to his chest, his palms facing up. As he did, he opened them slowly and stared at the stains on his hands.
Max jolted awake from his dreams or his memories to be exact. He could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest. No doubt from what he had saw in the last few seconds of his memory. His hands had been covered in blood; blood that he knew wasn't his own. So whose was it? The memory hadn't exact been clear. Had his former self just killed someone? He knew that he had probably had killed during the war but the memory didn’t seem to be have been after a battle. His men didn’t look like they had been in a battle or anything so the only thing he could think of was that something had happened when they had been outside of the palace. He was sure his state of mind at the time wasn't sane during the memory. His shaking hands, which he now remembered had a few cuts, scrapes on them like people got when in a fight, and erratic thoughts proved that to him. Zan had done something that shook him up. A sickening thought came to Max’s mind, he had a feeling Zan had either hurt or killed someone who meant something to him and in a very violent way.
Was the ‘her’ he had kept thinking of, Enola? Had she been the one whose blood had been on his hands? It couldn’t be, Zan had loved her, why would he kill her? Of course Max had felt all of the jealousy Zan had felt during all of the episodes where he thought about Khivar and Enola, had that jealousy spurred him to kill her? Again his stomach felt queasy and he ran to the bathroom.
After he emptied his stomach of all of its contents, Max sat on the cold bathroom floor and tried to calm down. He focused instead of the first memory, of when he saw Enola and Vilandra together. Vilandra didn’t look like Isabel but the strange thing was that Enola looked so much like Liz. But how could that be? Liz hadn't been on Antar. The rational part of his mind reasoned that he had only imposed Liz's image over Enola's face because of what he had been thinking about before going to sleep. About Liz and the divide between them. Just like the divide Zan had felt between him and Enola. That had to be it.
The last memory surfaced once again when he thought about the divide Zan had felt between him and Enola and Max knew he wasn't going to be sleeping any time soon.
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