Part 11
“So you two are back together then?”
“I guess.”
“Michael! You guess? What kind of answer is that?” Isabel asked him.
Michael rolled his eyes. “It’s a Michael answer. Why do you care anyway?”
“I don’t care. I’m just curious.” She answered.
“Whatever. Curious means you care.” He told her.
They were cleaning his apartment, waiting for everyone to get there. The week had gone by so slow and al the teens were glad it was Friday. No school for two days, and more story time. They had all taken off work so that there would be no interruptions. The humans were just as interested in the story now, as the aliens were. The two continued talking and cleaning when they heard loud talking outside.
“What?” They heard Maria yell into the phone.
“Liz! You have to come. You can’t leave me here all alone with them! … Yes I know I have Alex and Kyle… but I’ll kick her ass if she says anything… well then I’ll kick his ass… LIZZIE!!! MY BESTEST FRIEND! PLEASE!!! …. Fine… I’ll be over later tonight. Bye.” Maria turned off her cell phone and bounced into the apartment. “Hiya Spaceboy!” She kissed him on the cheek. “Hi Isabel.”
Isabel smiled at her friend. “Hi Maria.”
“What was that about?” Michael asked.
Maria looked confused. “What was what about?”
“The phone call with Liz.” He told her.
“Oh, she’s not coming.” Maria went over and sat down on the couch. “Mainly because of that big fight her and Max got in and then of course the whole Tess thing.”
“Oh. Ok.” Michael said. He was about to sit down, when he heard a knock at the door.
He opened it and there were Kyle, Tess, and Max. Soon after them came Alex and Courtney and finally Brody.
They all took a seat and got ready. Brody looked around the room with a confused look on his face. “Where is Liz?” He asked.
“Oh she’s not coming.” Maria told him.
“Why not?” He asked.
“Um… just because.” Maria said, not wanting to say it was because of Max and Tess.
Brody sighed. “Well she needs to be here.”
“Why?” Tess asked.
“Because, it’s important to me that you all know the story. Everyone involved with you must here it. Call her and get her over here.” It was obvious that having Liz there was important to Brody and no one really wanted to argue with him, so Alex grabbed the phone and dialed her number.
“Hey Mrs. Parker. This is Alex. Yeah is Liz there? Ok can I talk to her? Thanks… Hey Liz… Yeah I’m at Michael’s. Hey, um Brody said he really thinks you need to be here for this part. Yeah… I’m not really sure… Yeah I know… Yeah… Uh huh…. Ok… well yeah I understand… No he said it’s important that you be here… yeah I can do that… Ok… Bye Liz.”
Alex hung up the phone. “She’s on her way.”
* * *
When Liz arrived at the apartment she didn’t say a word to anyone. She wouldn’t make eye contact with Max or Tess and she just sat down on the floor next to Alex. She couldn’t understand why she needed to be here, it was just going to hurt her more. But as always, when the aliens called, she was there. So she took her seat and prepared for the story.
“Well we left off with Zan falling asleep in his room after finding that Rath is seeing Ianna. So that’s where I’ll start.” Brody started the story. “When Zan awoke the next morning, he was surprised at what he saw…”
Antar - The Castle - 8 and ½ Antarian years before the fall
Zan awoke to the sound of voices downstairs. It was a big castle but the voices always seemed to echo from the kitchen and dining hall and recreation room to the upstairs bedroom quarters. Zan heard many female voices laughing, and it sounded like whoever was down there was having fun. He put on his clothes and descended the steps to the recreation room. There he found quite a surprise. His sisters were laughing and talking to none other than Catherine. Vilandra and Ianna were sewing and Catherine diligently watched. The three would laugh, talk, tell jokes. Zan couldn’t believe his eyes. The love of his life was in his house, with his sisters. He stared at the sight for a few moments before his presence was noticed.
“Zan! We were just getting to know Catherine. She is great.” Ianna told her brother.
Zan cautiously walked into the room looking at the three girls with a rather perplexed look on his face.
“What’s going on?” He asked.
Catherine stood up. “I suppose I should explain that.” She walked towards him. “Yesterday after you left, my Father came home and found me rather a wreck in my room. I told him how I loved you and how… well how we loved each other and how we wanted to be together. After some convincing and a call to your Father… well he agreed to let us see each other.”
Zan almost leapt for joy. He had never been so happy in his life. He grabbed Catherine and kissed her. He didn’t care that his sisters were watching. He was so happy.
Catherine laughed and smiled when they pulled apart from their kiss and the other two girls were giggling.
“Zan’s got a girlfriend.” Mocked Ianna.
Zan looked at Catherine, not able to take his eyes off of her, afraid that it was all a dream and in a moment she would be gone. There she was standing in front of him, and they were finally going to be together. He swore to himself that moment that nothing would ever get in the way of them again.
* * *
Vilandra kicked at the stones on the sidewalk. She saw how happy Zan was, and she was happy for him, she only wished she could love like that. She had Rath, but she wasn’t in love with him. And she knew he felt the same. They were just too close, like family, not like lovers. She sighed as she thought of what love would feel like when she found it. She envisioned that there would be a handsome man and he would sweep her into his arms and murmur sweet nothings into her ear. That he would keep her safe no matter what. That he would love her fully and completely and always be there for her. She knew that someone was out there for her, but she wasn’t sure who it was. She knew that when love came to her though, it would be obvious, just like it had been with Zan and Catherine. That she would just run into it and there it would be… like
BAM! She felt his body, touching her’s and she felt overwhelmed. She looked up at the man she had run into and saw the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. His blonde hair glistened in the sunlight. He was tall and muscular and he smiled at her. Oh his smile. It was perfect.
“I’m so sorry!” She said, obviously embarrassed. He just laughed.
“It’s ok. Really.” He told her.
She was immediately entranced by his voice. His deep voice that captivated her.
“I really should be watching where I’m going.” She said.
“I guess I should be too.” He smiled again and she almost fainted.
“I’m Vilandra.” She said boldly. Vilandra wasn’t one to sit around for things to come to her. She took action, and with this one, she wanted to know everything about him.
“I’m Khivar. Nice to meet you Vilandra.” She took a deep breath. Khivar. That was his name.
She felt her legs go to mush as she looked at this man. By some miraculous fate they had bumped into each other, literally, and she knew it was more than a coincidence. She felt something strange for him, something real, something true. Was it love? Was this what she had been looking for?
“So Vilandra. What are you doing just walking the streets of Antar on this beautiful day.”
“Oh, I had to get away from home for awhile. You know just a nice walk.”
“I’m surprised a beautiful girl such as yourself isn’t at home primping for a date. Tonight is date night.” He smiled at her.
She laughed. “I’m not exactly allowed to date. Doesn’t go over well in my family.”
“Why’s that?” He asked. “Oh, come over here. We can sit.” He motioned to a bench sitting in front of a small store.
The two walked over and sat down. “So why don’t you date?” He asked again.
“Well…” She debated on telling him the truth of her identity. Most people knew Zan, he was going to be the King of the planet one day, but Vilandra and Ianna weren’t in the public eye very much. They were always trying to be protected from men who just wanted to take over the throne. She didn’t think Khivar could possibly be a person like that, and her feelings for him were so strong. She decided to tell him. “I’m Princess Vilandra.” She said looking down, looking embarrassed by her identity.
“Wow. I’ve never met a princess before.” He said. “So, I suppose a girl of your station wouldn’t want to go on a date with a guy like me.”
Her heart started beating fast and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Was he asking her out. He looked into his eyes. His beautiful sparkly blue eyes. They were so pretty.
“Actually, a girl like me would love to go out with a guy like you.” She told him, hoping he was asking her out.
“Well what are you doing tonight?”
“Nothing!” Her brown eyes widened and she got excited. This man was asking her out.
“Well what do you say we go on a date. Tonight.”
“Ok. I’d love too. Just one thing. Could we meet here. Ya know, I’m not going to be allowed to go unless I sneak out.”
“That sounds fine. I’ll meet you here at eight.” He told her.
“Ok, I’ll see you at eight.” She stood up and bounced back home. She had asked for love, and she had gotten it.
* * *
Khivar grinned to himself. Stupid girl. How easy it was to manipulate her. Like he didn’t know who she was. She had played right into his plan. She would sneak out and go out with him. He would convince her he loved her, and then the rest of the cycle would be set into motion. Stupid, stupid princess, he thought again. This was how he was going to get to Zan. Zan stole his love, his Catherine. They were going to get married and then he interfered and the stupid father called the engagement off, only one day after it had been announced. He loved Catherine and he would make sure Zan regretted ever taking her from him. Soon, I’ll have what I want, he thought. Soon it will all be mine.
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