How Dreams Connect Us (AU,ALL,Adult) Ch.32 -2/22/2007[WIP]

[sunshine6258]

Hello everybody!

Ok, well this is the newest chapter I just wrote! Thank you to all of you who are reading. Please post and let me know what you think! Tell me all of your thoughts...

~ANW

Chapter 18

Maria hated cafeteria lunches. Hated them with a passion! She knew she should have checked her backpack before she left her house this morning, but she had been almost positive that she saw her mom drop her lunch bag into her backpack. Determined to stay in a good mood after the night she had just had, she headed toward the cafeteria line, with a look of resolve on her face.

“Hey Maria, why are you looking at the cafeteria lady like that, you look strange” Liz asked while getting in line beside Maria.

Maria looked back at her with a forced smile and then looked back at the server. She nodded in response to the server’s unvoiced question, accepting a portion of Beef Stroganoff on her tray.

“Liz, you know how I feel about cafeteria food…” she trailed off with a strained smile still plastered to her face. It wasn’t the poor lady’s fault she was serving potential toxic food to the students.

Liz rolled her eyes, laughing quietly to herself, thinking that Maria really was dramatic sometimes.

“Mariaaa, the food isn’t THAT bad.” she said poking her friend in the ribs.

“Yeah, well you weren’t the one with food poisoning after eating those ‘enchiladas’ that day.” Maria replied while pushing open the glass door to the quad with her back, and walking over to a table.

“Maria that was in third grade!” Liz said giggling.

“Yeah, well that memory will last a lifetime.” Maria said while gesturing with her hand to indicate a long time.

Liz just smiled, sat down and opened the top to her apple juice. She suddenly smiled conspiratorially and asked “Soooo, what happened last night? I told you to call me afterwards!”

Suddenly getting a deer in the headlights look on her face, Maria blushed in response.

“Come on, tell, tell!” Liz asked.

“Ok, ok.” She replied while taking a deep breath, and tucking her hair behind her ears. “Well, you know what happened the first part of the night.”

Liz took a bite of her stroganoff and nodded.

“Well, as soon as I came out of the bathroom Michael started screaming at me…”

“What? Why was he doing that?” Liz asked through a mouthful of food.

“Apparently he was listening at the door, for some reason, and he heard me talking to you on the phone.”

“But why would he get mad because of that?” Liz asked before taking a bite of her garlic bread.

“He heard what I said about Hockey being like the WWF and blew a gasket.” She finished with a smile. “Despite the yelling, he really is cute when he’s agitated.”

“Well, Max said it was his favorite sport…” Liz replied in an admonishing tone.

“I know, but for goodness sake! You’d think he played professionally or something. He got so offended!”

“Well, then what happened?” Liz asked getting impatient.

“We argued for a couple of minutes, especially when I found out TESS was in his head…but then he said she wasn’t anymore, and got this weird look on his face. I think he didn’t really know how to get her out, without asking her to go, until that moment. I’m thinking he was being so self-conscious because he was worried that Tess would butt in on our night at an ‘inopportune’ time. Then he started backing me into a wall, and kissed me!” Maria finished with a blush and pursed smile.

“I told you Maria! I knew that oufit was killer!” Liz exclaimed.

“Oh yeah, he told me I looked hot also. I almost forgot that. That kiss was something else. I really think I saw stars Liz. Well, not like you and Max see stars, but at least a constellation or two. I can’t wait to see him again. I keep imagining the next time-”

“Maria!” Liz interrupted. “My friend I simply can’t keep up with your brain sometimes” Liz said with a giggle.

“I know, I’m sorry…I’m just so excited!” Maria said while slinging an arm around Liz’s shoulders and giving her a squeeze.

“Oh god, I just thought of something.” Maria suddenly exclaimed with panicky a look on her face.

“What?” Liz said while tickling her friend to get her to drop her arm so she could finish eating.

Slapping Liz’s hand a way she replied “What if it’s weird now between me and Michael? How am I supposed to act around him now?” Maria said ending on a worried note.

“Stop stressing so much Maria” Liz replied with a squeeze to her friends shoulder “Just be you, and everything will be fine.”

Maria gave Liz a half smile, but could not stop from tormenting herself with thoughts of what might happen. She pushed her noodles around on her plate, and made a disgusted sound; resigning herself to just have garlic bread and pudding for lunch.

Isabel was staring at the blackboard, resting her chin on her hand, and waiting for class to be over. At first she had attempted to follow her instructors lecture, but soon she gave up the fight. When the bell rang her elbow slipped off of her desk, causing her chin to fall, but she quickly recovered. Chunking her book and notepad in her backpack, she stood up and clicked her way out of the classroom. Max hated the shoes she had on today, the offending noise they emitted when the heels hit the ground made his ears itch. She laughed quietly to herself thinking that she probably only wore these shoes just to annoy him. Rounding the corner and heading to the quad, she didn’t see where she was going. The collision almost knocked her off her feet, but the offending party caught her just in time.

“Wow, I’m sorry! I didn’t see you there. It’s my first day, and I guess being lost makes walking dangerous.” said the boy with striking green eyes, sandy blonde hair and a green shirt that made yellow flecks in his eyes stand out.

“It’s ok, I really wasn’t paying to much attention to where I was going…” Isabel replied while adjusting her shirt, and picking up her books.

“Oh, let me get those for you!” the new boy replied “After all, I’m the reason you dropped them in the first place.”

“Thanks” Isabel said while she and this new boy put her books in her bag. He brushed her hand while putting in the last book, and the way he was looking at her made the hairs stand up on the back of her neck. All of a sudden she was flushed and on her way to becoming overcome with a rising desire. She mumbled her thanks again, and took off in the opposite direction of this new boy.

“By the way, my name is Kevin!” he shouted after her, and she turned and waved at him in reply, but did not stop her pace.

Turning another corner, and narrowly missing another collision, she found herself outside the eraser room door and without a second thought she barged in. The sight she was met with was an unwelcome one.

Michael and Maria, who were involved in a very heated embrace, sprung apart at the appearance of Isabel.

Michael, after the initial shock, pulled Maria back into his arms and stated “Hey Iz, can we get a little privacy?”

“Michael!” Maria exclaimed. “Can’t you see Isabel is upset?” she said before she broke out of Michael’s arms and pulled Isabel into the room with them; the door closing behind her with a thud.

“Iz, what’s wrong?” Maria asked while placing a hand on Isabel’s arm.

“I don’t know…I don’t know.” She stammered while looking down.

Michael, who had begun to sulk against the wall, now began to get concerned. “Iz, what happened?” He was met with silence. “Isabel!” he said a little louder, while grasping her arms in his hands.

Isabel seemed to stiffen beneath his fingers, then she let out a moan about her head, and she collapsed in his arms.

“Oh my god, Isabel!” Maria exclaimed, while helping Michael lay her on the ground.

“Max…Maria go get Max!” Michael yelled at Maria.

“Michael I don’t know where he is!” Maria said sounding frantic.

“Maria, just find him!” he replied in exasperation.

“Ok, I’ll try!” Maria said while flying out the door.

She was just about to enter her 3rd period class, after lunch, when Michael had grabbed her and they ended up in the eraser room. She ducked under her classroom’s door window now, praying she would not be discovered…and for Max to appear soon.


Tess was so glad that she got C lunch. There were four lunch periods: A, B, C and D. Kyle had C, and when she found out she did too, she was ecstatic.

She sat down at a table in the quad, and opened her lunch bag. She reached in and pulled out a strawberry yogurt, then turned the bag over and out dropped about five packets of sugar. While she was stirring in the sugar, she suddenly felt eyes looking at her. The little hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she stopped what she was doing. Putting down her spoon, and trying to be discreet she looked around and scanned the quad as nonchalantly as possible. She didn’t see anyone or anything out of the ordinary but the next thing she knew, hands were covering her eyes and she jumped in fright.

“Guess who!” Kyle said in an upbeat voice.

“Kyle! God! Don’t do that!” she exclaimed while pulling his hands off of her eyes “I was this close to blasting you!” she said while holding her pointer finger and thumb a centimeter apart, showing him how close she was to hurting him.

“Gosh Tess, why are you so jumpy?” Kyle said while sitting down across from her.

Kyle sat down and began to unpack his lunch, which consisted of two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, an apple, a banana, a bag of potato chips, and a quart of milk. Tess gave him a astonished look at all of the food, and replied “I don’t know. Just before you came I got the distinct feeling that someone was watching me…”

“People are always watching you Tess.” Kyle said blankly while taking a bite of his sandwich.

“No they aren’t!” Tess said getting defensive.

“Tess, don’t get all suspicious on me. I simply meant that since you are very attractive, people tend to stare.” He was thinking that he himself was included in that list.

“I…never noticed.” Tess said while blushing, the heat from it suddenly making her hands sweaty. She rolled her shoulders in an effort to shake the feeling of being watched from her. “Kyle, why are you eating enough for two? Are you pregnant or something?” she said in an effort to tease and change the subject.

Totally ignoring her rib, he replied “I might be thinking about playing Football again.” he said with a grin and a mouthful of sandwich. “I need to bulk up” he said while flexing.

“Oh, that would be cool…” she tried to sound like she was interested, because she really was, but still could not shake the very unsettling feeling of being watched.

“Kyle, I still feel like someone is looking at me with wayward intentions.” Tess said while still subtly looking around in all directions.

Kyle began to get worried for her, and to look around himself, but was sidetracked from is search as just then Maria ran up to them. She was out of breath, and bent over resting her hands against the table for support.

“Have either…of you…seen Max?” she asked in between breaths.

“No I haven’t.” Tess replied “Have you Kyle?”

“Actually yeah, I just happen to know exactly where he is. Max works in the library this period. I never go in there, but during my lunch yesterday, I dropped in to pick up a book for an assignment, and there he was.” As if just now seeing how upset Maria was, he then asked “Why, is something wrong?”

“Isabel just collapsed in the eraser room and me and Michael caught her.” she said while straightening up and beginning to breath normally again.

“What were you three doing in the eraser room together?” Kyle asked with one eyebrow raised. “Never mind, I don’t want to know.” He said with a hand up in a stop gesture.

“Gosh Kyle, now’s not the time!” Tess said getting irritated. First she feels like she’s being watched and now this.

“O--K…, Well, I’ll go get Evans since Maria looks like she’s been running all over campus. Maybe it’s best if you two get back to class.” Kyle replied.

“Nuh uh. I’m going to the eraser room. Isabel might need me.” Tess said while standing up to leave.

“Me too.” Maria replied. “Get going Kyle!”

“Alright” Kyle said in resignation, “I’ll meet you guys there.” He then shoved his food back in his lunch bag and began to run in the direction of the library.
[/i]

[sunshine6258]

Thank you to all of you who are reading. It is very encouraging.

Thank you for your kind comment tequathisy. Any indication that my story is is being read and enjoyed, I enjoy immensly.

Kittens, you gave me a good laugh. I'm sorry this seems to be taking so long to get out, but I guess I just like to elaborate too much. I promise to have some faster plot unfolding from now on.

Last but not least, thank you to all the lurkers-and other members of this site that have not reviewd. Even though you haven't bumped, I appreciate your time spent reading my story, and can't wait to hear from you soon!

~ANW

Chapter 19

Tess and Maria peeked around the corner, to make sure the coast was clear, before running to the eraser room, and slipping inside.

“Michael, how is she?” Tess asked while kneeling down beside Isabel.

“I don’t know Tess. One minute she’s standing right in front of me, and the next, she passes out! Where is Max?”

“Kyle went to go get him” she replied while touching Isabel’s head.

“Michael I don’t think Isabel is breathing!” Tess exclaimed while bending down to put her ear over Isabel’s mouth. She felt no air entering or escaping her lungs.

“Oh my god, Michael you have to do something!” Maria shrieked while practically jumping up and down with worry.

“I don’t know how Maria! I’m not a healer, Max is!” Michael replied in angst.

“Michael, I think I know what to do” Tess said calmly while staring at Isabel’s face. “I don’t know how I know, but I feel like I need to try and do this.”

“Do it Tess. She’s starting to turn blue.”

Tess touched both of Isabel’s temples, closed her eyes, and began to concentrate on getting into Isabel’s head. She felt like she was getting through, but it was like trying to see in through thick black haze. She pushed on the hazy barrier and was immediately surrounded in a warm thick liquid. She could hear a gurgling sound coming from in front of her and suddenly she knew what was happening. Tess began to push through the liquid and felt around for Isabel. She quickly found her, and was fighting to keep her head above the thick liquid. Finding that her energy was swiftly draining she knew she was in trouble. Unable to speak outside of the connection, she reached out for Michael through their telepathic link.

“Michael, I need help! My energy is not enough…try and focus your energy, through our link, into me” she struggled to say.

“Tess, I don’t know how!” Michael replied, almost crying with emotion now.

“Try Michael, I need help…I don’t know how long I can…take…it” she replied.

“Tess, I am trying…I can’t get through!”

Just then Max and Kyle burst through the door.

“Michael what is wrong with Isabel?” he exclaimed while dropping to his knees and picking up one of her hands.

“I don’t know Max, but she’s not breathing. Tess said she knew how to help her, and somehow connected with her, but she just called out for help from me through our link. Her energy is almost gone…and I can’t get through” He replied with tears misting his eyes over. He worriedly looked back at Tess and Isabel as he rubbed a hand across his eyes to wipe them.

“Ok Michael, I know I can connect with Isabel telepathically, because I’m her brother, but I’m not going to assume I can do this alone. So, I’m going to connect with you and maybe through your telepathic link with Tess, we can both get in and help.” He replied as fast as he could.

Michael nodded, and Max looked into his eyes to form the connection. It was almost instantaneous, and the speed of it amazed Max. He had no time to ponder the speed though; once inside Michael’s head, he felt the link Michael had to Tess. He pushed against it and found that he could slip in quite easily. Making sure to keep a hold on Michael, he plunged through, and was immediately surrounded in thick black liquid.

“Tess! Tess, where are you?” he called out.

“Max! I’m over here…I need help!” This world around him was hideous. What could possibly have happened to Isabel for her to be in a place like this? The air smelt of burnt hair and ashes. Through the smoky air he could barely see the sky above, and it was a menacing red color. Wading through neck high black liquid, he and Michael rushed as fast as the thick liquid would let them to the sound of Tess’s voice. She abruptly came into focus and her nose was just above the liquid. He could tell she was supporting Isabel too, and her face and hair were covered in the black oily substance.

“Isabel! Iz!” he yelled as he grabbed her out of Tess’s arms. Tess almost completely drained, fell into Michaels arms, and he supported her above the liquid without to much effort.

Now in Max’s arms, Isabel’s head began to roll and Max could tell she was mumbling something.

“Iz open your eyes. I need to get in so I can see what’s wrong!” he pleaded with her.

“No, nooo. I don’t want to live..no…” she mumbled.

“Iz, yes you do. Please let me in! Open your eyes Iz!” Max begged her.

“ungh…no..” suddenly her eyes flew open “NO!” she screamed, but it was to late, Max was already in.

Her body was perfectly fine, but her mind was a mass of confusion and bloody images. They were flashing so fast he couldn’t see what they were of. Focusing instead on her state of mind, he forced his energy into the mass of jumbled confusion and it was calmed almost at once; like stormy ocean waves settling down into a tranquil pool.

Max opened his eyes and found that he was still up to his neck in black liquid, but Isabel had her eyes open and she was staring right at him.

“Why Zan? Why couldn’t you just let me go? Why? Don’t you know what I’ve done? What I let happen? Why?” she sobbed.

“Iz, I don’t understand! What are you talking about?”

“You never knew…I hid it well. It was all for nothing. I fooled myself and you along with me…”

“Iz, I still don’t know what you are talking about” he replied.

“My name is Vilandra!” she yelled “and…and…and I let them murder you! I let them murder you on your wedding night!”

“Iz, Iz snap out of it. It’s me Max! Iz wake up!” he implored her, while shaking her shoulders under the black liquid.

Crumpling a little in Max’s arms, she shook her head as if in a daze, and squinted her eyes; tilting her head slightly to the side.

“Max…Max?...Max what happened?” she asked.

“I don’t know Iz, but you weren’t yourself for a minute there.” He replied.

“Where are we?” she asked looking around “and why is my face covered in this?” she asked while touching the oily substance all over her.

“We are on some kind of dream plane Iz…and I think you made it.” He replied hesitantly.

“What? Why would I do that?” she asked looking confused.

“I’m not sure, but I bet we can find out. Iz you have to get us out of this place. This is your dream.” Max replied.

“What is Michael doing here?” Isabel asked finally seeing him behind Max.

“He’s how I got here. After you collapsed, you stopped breathing. Tess somehow formed a connection to you, but once she was in, her energy started draining. Through her telepathic link with Michael we both were able to get in and help you.”

“I stopped breathing?” she asked disbelievingly. “What happened to me?” she exclaimed with a hand on her forehead.

“Iz I need you to focus. Look at me” Max asked her gently. She complied and turned back to face him.

“Do you know how to get us out of this dream?”

“I think so…this is different than dream walking, but it should be the same” she replied. Suddenly the liquid started receding, the air began to clear. Rapidly, the color started fading to a bright white color. When they were completely surrounded in the white brightness and the liquid evaporated from their skin, the link between the four broke and they all awoke.

Maria, who had been squatting in the corner and praying, unexpectedly saw Isabel take a huge strangled breath; her chest rising laboriously. The color quickly returned to her cheeks, and she saw the others starting to wake up as well.

“Oh thank God! I was so worried!” she exclaimed before launching herself into Michael’s arms.

“I’m ok Maria” he replied recovering from his half hazard position and settling her in his lap; giving her a gentle kiss.

Maria, completely satisfied with that soft response from Michael, allowed herself to be helped to her feet but clung to his hand.

“Iz, are you ok?” Max asked as she struggled to her feet, and he helped her up.

“I think so. I still don’t know what happened.” She replied.

Tess, who was also standing to her feet with the help of Kyle, said “I do. You were trying to kill yourself” she stated very matter of fact.

“What? Why would I do that?” Isabel asked showing doubt in her eyes; and a hint of something else…maybe fear? Flashes of disbelief flashing on everyone’s face.

“I don’t know Iz, but that’s what was going on in there. You made that dream plane the way you wanted it, and you were drowning yourself when I got in.” she replied. “I tried to help you, but your energy was pushing me away…draining me. I barely managed to keep your head above that black oily mess until Max and Michael got there.”

“We have to go back to class, someone is going to get suspicious if six of us are missing.” Max said to everyone. “Iz, are you ok to go to class now? We can talk about this later—”

“Max are you sure that’s wise?” Michael broke in.

“We have to Michael. We don’t know why this happened, and someone could be watching us.” He replied while shifting his shoulder blades. He was almost positive he had felt eyes watching him in the library before Kyle had gotten there.

“Michael I’m ok, really.” Isabel said while attempting to smile “I’ll just see you after school at the Crashdown. Ok?” she asked trying to appear as normal as possible.

“Ok Iz.” He replied while pulling Maria toward the door.

“Everyone just be extra alert until then.” Max instructed everyone while opening the door.

Kyle saluted and replied “Will do” with Tess in tow. They all split up and went to their respective classes; still with gnawing feelings in the pit of their stomachs.

Isabel at first walked toward her class, but when everyone was out of sight she turned, and headed for the quad.

[sunshine6258]

Here's some more meat for you folks who are tired of my elaboration.
More meat to come in the next chapters, where I will delve into Antar and their past lives alot. The peices will be coming together...

Tequathisy-thank you so much for your continued support. Tess is a very important player in my fic, though she hasn't been focused on much lately...she will be.

Timelord31-Glad to know you are enjoying my story! The reason I write, is because people like you are reading...I hope I can keep it interesting for you! =)

~ANW

Chapter 20

Isabel knew exactly where she was going, she could just feel it. She was pretty sure her façade had fooled everyone into thinking there was nothing she was hiding, and would not be following her. She wanted to be careful though. She looked through the window on the door to the quad, and scanned the area cautiously. Not seeing anyone around, she slipped through the door and headed out. Picking up her pace, she rounded the corner to the building and headed off of school property-on a course straight to Roswell Central Park.

When she woke up, in Max’s arms and surrounded in black goo, it was like waking up out of a dream and into another. She remembered feeling very disoriented and Max helping her to focus and get them out of the dream that she had apparently created. When she woke up on the floor of the eraser room, she could remember parts of the dream she had before Max found her. More specifically she could remember someone. Someone from her past that she didn’t ever dream about till then. Someone she had loved very deeply…someone who wanted her to rule in her brother’s place. Someone she could feel at that very moment. Most of the dream was hazy except for her time spent with this person from her past. Someone she felt deeply connected to…her friend…her lover…Kivar…

She could remember the time she was going to break it off with him. Early in the morning she had slipped into a rich green dress, edged with silver threading; the threading looping around her arms in a large criss-crossing pattern. She stepped barefoot into a pair of silver slippers, with very quiet bottoms. Making her way out of the palace with stealth, she headed for Carene Pond. Antar’s two suns had not yet risen, but were just beginning to tinge the dark lavender sky with pink. As she stepped between two Poppus Trees, the golden waters came into view. It was still so early in the morning that the water reflected the dark lavender sky, and made a very tranquil scene. Suddenly there he was, Sitting on a rock near the waters edge. He looked over at her, and her breath caught in her throat.

“Vilandra…thank you for meeting me here” he said as he stood to meet her.

She walked over to him and he took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss. He was dressed in his black military suit with his blue bands of achievement weaving down his arms. Tall and intriguing, he was a sight. She was in awe every time she saw his him, not to mention his captivating green eyes…

“Kivar, I don’t know if I can do this…anymore…” she trailed off at the end.

“He doesn’t love you, you know…” he said softly into her ear as he pulled her close. She melted with every word, losing her grip on reality.

“He can never love you the way you deserve to be loved” he continued speaking words dripping with honey.

“I suppose you are going to tell me you will?” she replied lightly trying to maintain her poise.

“You know I will Lonn…have I ever lied to you?” he said pulling away from her slightly so he could look into her eyes.

“Even when we were children…did I ever?”

Vilandra looked to the side and could remember many times Zan or Rath had taken off together, leaving her alone with a lie. Kivar was always around to be there in the gap. She really wanted to let go and be with him…his scent was driving her crazy right now…but what about Rath? He was good to her, they didn’t share a deep love, but she loved him. Her father adored him. What was she going to do?

“Lonn?” Kivar shook her a little, to jiggle her out of her thoughts, and looked at her imploringly. “Have I?”

“No…you never have.” She replied looking back into his eyes.

“Trust me…I love you, and I always have. I will make you a queen, and my wife someday!”

She could feel her resolve crumbling. Every second spent with Kivar, was like a breath of fresh air to her soul. She really did think that thought Kivar could be a better leader than her brother. Her and her brother had never agreed on politics, but she and Kivar seemed to think alike on everything. They had since childhood. Her mind was plagued by only one fear…“Kivar I love my brother…I don’t want you to ever hurt him...or Rath” she said the last name softly.

“My princess, I would never do anything to make you unhappy.” He said while slipping a hand around her waist and pulling her close again.

“I want you forever…to forever be mine.” And he kissed her mouth with the ferocity of a thousand fires, each one burning into her soul.

“Meld with me Vilandra…I know you want to…”he whispered into her mouth. “You could still marry Rath for the time being…no one has to ever know. You know Zan doesn’t even love his own betrothed…”

“What if Rath wants to meld with me?” Vilandra asked just short of whimpering.

“He won’t…I promise you that….” He replied kissing her down the side of her neck.

She knew she was promised to Rath, but she didn’t love him like that! If she melded with Kivar she would never have a chance to really love Rath-Melding saved true love for your melded partner only. She decided she didn’t care. She loved Kivar and this is what she wanted…she wanted to feel like this the rest of her life.

“I love you Kivar…I’ll do it. I’ll meld with you…” she replied in between feverish kisses and encompassed within his strong embrace. She felt more alive at that moment than any other moment before…

As soon as that moment passed though, a mirror image of herself appeared in front of her. She could still see her and Kivar in a heated embrace to the side, but there was another image of her sitting on a rock and crying in front of her. “It was a lie…he told me he’d never lie!” she was crying to herself. “He told me pure blood needed to remain on the throne…lies…Why!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.

“It won’t happen again…it won’t! I won’t let it!” She continued to scream and jumped up from where she was sitting. Isabel saw this mirror image of herself come straight towards her and before she could blink, her world went black. The next thing she knew she was in Max’s arms and didn’t know where she was, except for being neck high in black oily liquid…



As she approached the park this memory was replaying in her head. She could feel a presence there…As she got closer she felt a fluttery feeling in her stomach when she felt eyes on the back of her head; It was a very familiar feeling.

She stopped walking as she felt someone walk up behind her. She whipped around to face him and knew who she’d find.

“Vilandra…It’s been a long time? No?” Kevin said as he smiled a seductive smile and stroked a strand of Isabel’s hair.

“I knew it was you Kivar. My name is Isabel, by the way” she replied, taking a step back to distance herself from him.

“Ok, I’ll call you Isabel if you prefer…for right now at least. You will always be my Vilandra though…” he replied while making a half circle around her, and looking her up and down.

“You always were beautiful, I think you might even be more beautiful now…” he continued with a gleam in his eye.

Isabel struggled with the feelings inside of her. She knew from her dream that she had been in love with him, but that she was supposed to marry Michael. Her feelings were all mixed up now, since she didn’t have to marry Michael in this lifetime, and she was so instantly drawn to Kevin. The fact that at the end of the dream she had seen herself sobbing and saying he had lied to her was also disconcerting…but she could have been talking about someone else…couldn’t she? Alex’s face also flashed through her mind, but she pushed out all conflicting thoughts and attempted to focus on who was in front of her. Kivar…

“Kivar…” she began, but was cut off.

“Call me Kevin…might as well use the name I have picked up here on Earth”

“Ok. Kevin, what do you want with me?”

He extended his hand to her and said “Come on Isabel, sit with me. We’ll talk and I’ll tell you everything…”

She could feel the familiar honey dipped tone he was using on her and it made her knees weak. She figured she might as well sit down, since standing might not be the best idea at the moment. She walked over beside him, around his hand and sat down on the bench.

He seemed undeterred and sat down beside her.

“Isabel I have been looking for you a long time…you are my one true love you know? Do you remember the day we melded?”

“I…I don’t remember that…I…I remember other times though.” She stammered.

“Isabel, it’s ok…it’s ok.” He said soothingly as he stroked her hair. “I will help you remember..” He stroked her face and she felt her eyelids drooping. She stiffened as she felt herself losing control, and Kevin whispered in her ear.

“Relax Isabel, I’m just taking you to one of your own memories…you will thank me when you wake up my love…” She wanted to resist him, but she just couldn’t…her whole body quaked with each word out of his mouth.

She began to relax and he intertwined his fingers with hers, as she slipped into a memory.

“Are you ready my love?” Kivar asked Vilandra as they stood with their hands intertwined.

Isabel was standing along the sidelines watching her and Kivar stand beside a pond. She recognized the pond as the Carene Pond. The one she was at the time she was going to break it off with him. Ironic that they chose to meld there.

“I’m ready to be yours Kivar…I want to be yours forever…” she replied.

Vilandra was dressed in a lavender dress this time, still with silver ribbons that wove around her arms and under her chest, giving her an empire waist, and Kivar a full view of the curves of her endowments. Her dress swayed lightly in the breeze and her hair did as well, being completely down and falling in soft waves down her back. Kivar was dressed in his black military regalia, his blue stripes woven around his sleeves, but he had cut his hair for this occasion, a custom of Brevanian males on their wedding day. Though he was not marrying Vilandra…this was more. It was a melding of souls…

“Then repeat after me:

Vilandra,

As long as the sun will rise,
as long as the stars will shine,
you will be in my eyes
you will always be mine.

As long as my soul’s alive
As long as you see the sign
I’ll see you every time
You will always be mine.”

She could feel tears prick the corners of her eyes as she heard his words and replied the same.

“Kivar,

As long as the sun will rise,
as long as the stars will shine,
you will be in my eyes
you will always be mine.

As long as my soul’s alive
As long as you see the sign
I’ll see you every time
You will always be mine.”

A white light emanated from their joined hands and circled around them both as they kissed the melding kiss and were joined in hand and in soul.

Isabel opened her eyes and found that her head was resting on Kevin’s shoulder.

“I remember…” she said as she slowly straightened up and looked in to his eyes. “I remember loving you…” she whispered. She stared down at the small birth mark on her left palm just below her pinky. The one shaped ike an oval laying down. Kevin brought his own hand up where she could see the matching mole on his hand, and then he joined the two marks together. A single tear slid down her face as he took her face in his hands and kissed her.

As soon her last class was over, Tess practically ran out school. She was anxious about tonight’s meeting and she was starving after not eating very much lunch. She ran into Kyle on the way to the parking lot, and practically dragged him into his car. They headed straight for the crashdown and were almost there when a boy stepped in front of Kyle’s Mustang. He looked around their age and his green eyes stood out, even from the distance they were away from him. Kyle slammed on his brakes, making the tire squeal, and Tess had awful flashbacks of the last time she heard that sound. When they came to a stop, the boy was gone…he seemed to have disappeared in to thin air. Tess sat back in her chair and took a deep breath trying to calm her breathing. She slapped Kyle’s hand away from her, assuring him she was fine and to keep going. Softly she heard a voice enter her mind.

“Ava…you are not supposed to be alive Ava…you are not pure blood!”

[sunshine6258]

Hello again everyone! Well, I hope you are in the mood to read because this chapter turned out pretty long. Things are beginning to come together for the pod squad and more of Antar and Tess' special connection will be revealed in the coming chapters. I appreciate all previous feedback (sternbetrachter, Stargazer's Delight, tequathisy, begonia9508, kittens, and Time Lord31)more than you know, and can't wait for more!

~ANW


Chapter 21

Kyle continued to pester Tess the rest of the way to the Crashdown, continually making sure she was ok. Tess was far from ok after hearing that voice in her head, but she was trying to hide it as best she could.

“Ok, but I was just trying to make sure you were ok…I mean after I hit you with the c--” Tess cut him off.

“Kyle! I’m fine! We both almost went through that alright? It’s over now, and we are ok. Just drop it already!” Tess exclaimed as she crossed her arms underneath her chest.

“Well pardon me for worrying about you…” he replied as he turned and started sulking against the door. He made one final turn, and pulled into a parking spot near the Crashdown.

Tess jumped out of the car and began walking even before Kyle turned off the car. She knew she had probably hurt his feelings, but she was having a hard time worrying about him when she herself felt her life was being threatened! First she feels like someone is watching her, and now this! “I just don’t want him to worry though…I could just tell him what happened…” she thought to herself.

“Could tell who what?” Michael replied to her inside her head. “What happened Tess?” he asked accusingly.

“We almost ran into a boy who appeared in front of Kyle’s car” she blurted out in reply. She was really beginning to get annoyed that she couldn’t lie to Michael in their connection.

“What?! Are you ok?” he asked concerned.

“I’m fine Michael, Kyle was just pestering me, making sure I was ok.” She replied while walking into the Crashdown front door. Michael met her there, and their conversation went from telepathic to verbal.

“That doesn’t make sense though Tess. Why would you think to yourself “I could just tell him what happened” if Kyle was with you and he knew what happened...” he asked as he steered Tess towards the break room where they could be alone. Tess shrugged and looked away, not knowing how else she could get out of telling Michael what really happened.

He asked her the question again, this time in their connection, and knowing she couldn’t lie to him “Tess, what happened that you didn’t want to tell Kyle…or me for that matter?!”


Kyle walked into the Crashdown looking dejected and saw Alex sitting on a bar stool. Alex looked like he felt and so he slid onto the stool next to him.

“Hey man, bad day?.” Kyle said while waving Liz over. “I’ll have the Area 51 meal w/ orbit rings and an alien blast please.”

“Sure Kyle!” she replied as she turned to put in the order.

“I was supposed to meet Isabel at lunch today.” Alex replied while stirring his milkshake idly with his straw. “She never showed up and I had to eat alone. You know, I thought she was done toying with me…” he stated with a crestfallen expression.

“Oh, I forgot…you weren’t there earlier.” Kyle replied.

Alex looked up at Kyle from stirring his shake “What?”

“Something happened to Isabel today during lunch.” Kyle replied in a low tone. Alex sat up in his stool and leaned in.

“What happened?” Liz asked hearing what Kyle said and leaning in as well.

“She collapsed in the eraser room with Maria and Michael with her. She stopped breathing, and Michael sent her to find Max.”

“Oh my gosh!” Alex exclaimed in disbelief.

“Maria found me and Tess in the quad, and so I ran to get Max from the library, while they ran back to the eraser room. When we got there she was turning blue, and Tess was somehow connected to Isabel, trying to help her. She wasn’t doing very well though, and Michael was trying to help her, but he couldn’t get in for some reason. Max ended up connecting with Michael and they both got into Tess’s head through Michael’s connection to her. Through Tess they were able to get to Isabel and somehow brought her back. She was very disoriented when she woke up…Tess told her she was trying to kill herself.”

“What? Why would she do that?” Alex asked in skepticism.

“I don’t know, that’s just what Tess felt when she was in there. She said Isabel was trying to drown herself, and was trying to drain Tess as well when she got in there with her.”

“I can’t believe this. Something must be seriously wrong.” Liz replied

“I know, but Tess has her lips buttoned tight if she knows anything. Aside from Alien PMS there’s no excuse for the way she’s been acting…” Kyle said with one eyebrow raised.
“Kyle, don’t be so insensitive.” Liz said in an admonishing tone.

“I’m just saying…” he replied and trailed off at the end.

The bells jingling over the front door announced the arrival of Max and Isabel. Alex caught her eye and she quickly looked away, trying to appear like she didn’t see him looking at her. Something seemed strange about her demeanor, and Alex felt he should go talk to her, especially after the ordeal she had had without him. He stood up from the bar stool, and followed her over to the booth she and Max had sat down at.

“Hey Max, Isabel. Listen, can Isabel and I have a word alone?” Alex asked Max all in one breath.

“Uh. Yeah, I was just going to go talk to Liz anyway.” Max replied as he slid out of the booth and walked to the counter. Alex slid in where Max had been while Isabel’s eyes followed Max. Alex looked where she was looking to see Liz come around the counter and kiss Max. Then Max whispered in her ear something funny in her ear and Liz laughed, while Max lifted her off her feet in a hug.

“Those two can really make you gag, huh?” Isabel said to Alex in a joking tone. She knew Alex probably had to eat alone today, what with her passing out and meeting up with her former alien lover. She just hoped she could act natural.

“Yeah, I’m kinda used to it by now though.” He replied.

“Iz, are you ok? I heard what happened to you today. What’s going on?” he asked with concern written all over his face.

“Alex I’m fine, really. I’m not sure what happened earlier today, I’m assuming my dream memories are taking a more direct approach from now on.” She replied. She thought to herself that the second part of her excuse might actually be true. Well, nothing like mixing a little truth into a lie to make it more believable.

“That’s not good though. What if you pass out in class next time? How will anyone know how to help you?”

“That’s what we are going to talk about Alex.” Max answered for Isabel, sliding in beside his sister.

“Aside from picking out important points from our dreams, I have a theory as to why Isabel, Michael, and Tess have been experiencing pain with their most recent dreams.”



After Michael got Tess to tell him what was really going on, he thoroughly advised her not to keep secrets from him again. She knew with their connection he’d find out eventually anyway, so she agreed.

Tess then announced she had to go the bathroom, leaving Michael alone in the break room. Maria entered through the back door and stopped in her tracks when she saw Michael staring at her.

“Hey.” She said while adjusting her top.

“Hi.” Michael replied. Then like the south pole on a magnet to a north pole, the two rushed into each others embrace.

“I missed you.” Maria said in between kisses.

“I know.” Michael replied kissing her back.

Maria pulled away then and said “You know?” with one eyebrow raised.

“I missed you too ok?” he replied.

Just then Tess walked in and saw the two of them wrapped in each others arms.

“I’lllll, just go find Max.” she stated as she pressed on the break room door and walked into the dining room.

“Way to go bro!” he heard Tess say in his head.

“Go away little sis…” he replied menacingly. Then he decided to just push her out, and just like that she was gone.

“Tess in there again?” Maria asked.

“Yeah, but she’s gone now. I’m really glad I figured out how to get her out when I want to.” He said with a gentle kiss.

“Me too Spaceboy…I don’t like to share too often” she replied with a small smile and a twinkle in her eye.

“We better get out there. No doubt Tess is telling everyone what we are doing in here.” He said while taking her hand and pulling her along with him to the dining room.

Maria was in a state of shock as she never thought it would be this easy for Michael and her to be together. She allowed herself to be pulled along with a goofy grin on her face.

Liz and everyone were already sitting at the booth when they got there. Liz was on her supper break, and she and Michael were off for the night.

“Nice of you to join us.” Max said in Michael’s direction.

“Don’t start Max.” Michael replied, and Maria just continued to smile as Michaels grip on her hand tightened.

“Well, we have a lot to discuss now that we are finally all together. I think I’ll start with my theory on everyone’s headaches.” Max began.

“Remember the first dream that we all shared of Andrina?” everyone nodded in affirmation.

“She said that we would start getting these specific dreams, of our past, a long time ago.”

“I remember that, she said we would be around seven or so” Tess interjected.

“Right, and that we would be ready to return home when we were 16, and fully aware of our past, as well as the means to get home was supposed to have been revealed.”

“Oh crap.”

“What Michael?” Isabel asked.

“We are 16…why didn’t we even think about this when we saw the dream?”


“You guys were pretty overwhelmed with the whole “finding out about your past” thing. It’s understandable.” Kyle stated.

“That, and if we were supposed to get all these dreams for the past 9 years, and since Tess only joined us recently…the dreams will have to come much faster, possibly causing the pain you have been feeling, and apparently we might have them while we are awake.” He said in Isabel’s direction.

“Iz, we still don’t know what you dreamed about today. Connecting only takes a second…” he said while grabbing his drink and wiping the condensation onto his hand.

“Let’s see what you learned” he said while extending his hand to her.

Panicking because of what Max might see she quickly responded “I don’t think I dreamed anything today Max! I don’t know what happened, but I don’t think it had to do with our dreams.”

“Iz, just connect with me and let’s see what happens.” Max insisted.

“She’s right Max” Tess cut in.

“What do you mean Tess?” Max replied.

“I think it had nothing to do with a dream, and everything to do with a person.” Isabel’s face went white as a sheet as she heard Tess speak.

“I heard a voice inside my head today, a voice that told me I should be dead. I remember that voice from Antar…I know I do. I just don’t know who it is. It scared me though. More than anything every has before.” Tess finished as Michael squeezed her shoulder in support.
“Wow Tess, I had no idea.” Isabel replied regaining her composure.

“I didn’t want to alarm any of you, so I was going to keep it to myself for a little while…Michael heard me thinking about it though, and made me tell him.”

“No good has ever come from secrets right?” Maria said while poking Kyle in the ribs.

“Hey, that was the Czech’s fault…they are the ones who insisted on waiting to tell Tess the truth…” he said in his defense.

“Maria, leave Kyle alone, it wasn’t his fault.” Tess said while patting Kyle on the back.

“Oh alright, I just love to harass the Buda boy.” She replied with a smirk.

“Guys, back to business alright?” Max interrupted.

“I guess I’ll start with the dream that me and Iz shared. It was of our mother and her name is Dinah.” Max began.

Isabel, Michael, and Tess thought to themselves that the name rang familiar.

“She said that I was a prince and my name was Zan.”

Isabel, wanting to have some part in discussing the dream that she shared stated “My name was Vilandra and I was a princess like we thought also. Oh, and our father’s name was Salvetar.”

Michael felt a twinge of something when he heard the name Salvetar…it felt a lot like rage.

“Do you want to tell the dream Isabel?” Max asked with an eyebrow raised.

“Well, I had the dream too Max. I just wanted to tell some of it. I’ll wait until you are done though, and add anything that you forget.” She replied.

“Ok, anyway, she said she found out after our deaths that Tess was Andrina’s daughter and that prophecy could still be fulfilled somehow. She said for us to always follow our heart, for our heart will always be true. She also said Earth holds more for us than just a place to grow…but she didn’t say why.”

“The power of four combined will not die…she said something like that also. I wonder what that means?” Isabel mused.

“Well, we heard something along those lines in our dream as well.” Michael replied. “There was more to it though..”

“The strength of four combined will forever bind them. Alliance will bring peace, mixed blood shall heal what pure blood destroys. Praise be to the God of Creation.” Tess had her eyes closed while she recited the prophecy she remembered. She now opened them and found everyone silent and staring at her.

“I…I just remembered it as if I just heard it.” She mumbled.

“Ok, well, now that we know what it said…what can it mean?” Michael replied.

“What else happened in your dream Tess?” Max asked.

“Well, me and Michael were surrounded in a field of blue swaying grass. I could see you Max across the field, in a beautiful gazebo type structure. We followed the sound of your voice and found you talking to…” She suddenly stopped talking…realizing what the dream might mean…

“She was talking to you Maxwell” Michael finished for her. “You were talking about your marriage to her.” He said pointing at Tess.

Max almost choked on his cherry coke when he heard what Michael said “What did you say?”

“I said you were talking about your marriage to Tess, I mean Ava. Apparently your father arranged it. You had originally been betrothed to someone named…Karindra…I think…she was from Kentwaisis. I was against the marriage.” he stated while tapping his finger on the table.

“Yes, Karindra was her name.” Tess finished for him.

“Why were you against the marriage?” Max asked in Michael’s direction. Tess answered for him.

“For some reason, your father wanted you to marry me instead, but we were NOT in love.” She said the last part quickly.

Liz, who’s pleasant face had turned into one of a deer in headlights, visibly relaxed at hearing Tess’ last revelation.

“I knew Tess/Ava didn’t love you, and I couldn’t understand why she would do it otherwise. She revered your father though, and would do it.”

“Why would he want us to marry if I was betrothed to someone else?” Max asked.

Tess shrugged her shoulders and replied “I don’t know…but Michael/Rath, in my dream, seemed to know…”

All eyes then turned to Michael. He hated being the center of attention and stiffened. Maria patted his hand and he relaxed a little.

“I just remember that your broken betrothal to Karindra would negate an alliance that would have been formed. Also Salvetar did not like ruling by prophecy. He thought Tess/Ava was pure blood, and didn’t know she was really from Kentwaisis as well.” He said gruffly.

“I don’t understand” Isabel broke in.

“How would their marriage go against prophecy?”

“Remember? ‘The strength of four combined will forever bind them. Alliance will bring peace, mixed blood shall heal what pure blood destroys’ .”

“Salvetar did not want to think that pure Antarian blood on the throne would destroy anything. He was an advocate of pure blood as a rule anyway; to the point of being prejudiced against other races.” Michael finished.

“But that means that the prophecy would have been fulfilled anyway with Tess/Ava because she was of mixed blood…wasn’t she?” Maria asked.

“Oh my god…I hadn’t thought of that” Tess said turning white. “Maybe they cloned us, and sent us here so that we could come back and…” she trailed off at the end.

“Get married and unite our people…” Max finished very softly.

“No…Max No! That can’t be right!” Liz exclaimed while squeezing his hand tight.

Tess began to look a little green at the thought of having to marry Max…but then she felt like she was being selfish. Maybe that’s why she was born? To unite her people? She gave a frustrated sigh.

“I don’t know Liz…that could be why we are even here.”

“But Max feel your heart...” she said while pressing her hand to his chest. “Didn’t your mother tell you to listen to your heart above anything else? Does your heart tell you that’s the answer?” she finished with a catch in her voice.

Max was silent for a few seconds…and the seconds seemed to stretch like hours for Liz.

“Your right Liz…you are my heart.” He replied looking into her eyes and squeezing her hand back.

“Max, I don’t want to sound like the crazy one here, but what if we’re right? In my dream we did love each other, if not romantically, and you told me that we would make each other our soul mates. Maybe our parents thought we did love each other and would do it?” she stated, her own words making her cringe.

“Tess, look inside your heart for a second…is that what you really think?” Michael asked. He’d seen inside her heart when they connected…he knew she was fooling herself.

Now it was Tess’ turn to be silent for a few moments… “No, you are right Michael. I don’t love him like that…” she replied stealing a glance at Kyle who looked clearly relieved at her words.

“Now that we have that settled, we’ll save more deliberation about that for another time. What else did you find out in your dream?”

“Well, Michael--Rath showed up and voiced his thoughts, which you already know, about the marriage. He was against it, for two reasons. The first reason of our not being in love, and because it would show to our people that Antar supported not mixing between races. It seems that Antar was having trouble with bigotry. Michael/Rath was against that, and believed that intermixing of races was the only way to peace. He believed the prophecies.” Tess said.

Michael then broke in. “Bigotry was so bad on Antar, that females from other planets were not safe on Antar unless they were married and “Melded” to their husbands. That’s why our father wanted to send Tess away when she was born. I guess fate stepped in with that one.”

At the mention of the word “Melded” Isabel sat up a little straighter. She had melded with Kivar…oh what was she going to do about him?...

“Melding brought safety as somehow being melded gave the female greater strength. As for Michael, he was a student of my father-well step-father I guess-, and I grew up with him. He was like a brother to me…ironically. Anyway, my father, being the head of military operations for Antar, was the main trainer of Michael/Rath while he grew up. He spent countless hours at my house being trained and was about to be named Military Commander shortly before our marriage. He was fierce, and even intimidated you a little” Tess said the last statement with a little smile directed to Max.

Michael began to look a little smug, and Max In an effort to change the subject said “Yes well, with all that we’ve learned, I guess the most important thing is that someone is watching us. Someone who has threatened Tess. Also, we don’t know how fast or when these dreams will be occurring, so I want us in pairs at all times. We all have at least one class together, so be on the lookout for anything strange. Keep water with you at all times in case we need to connect, and keep your cell phones on out of school.” Max then looked over at Isabel.

“Iz, do you remember anything at all about your time when you were out in the eraser room?”

Isabel tried her best not to look guilty while replying “All I remember is waking up in your arms and you telling me that I made the dream we were in, and to focus on getting us out of it.”

“Iz, you weren’t yourself before you woke up in my arms.” He said while Isabel started to grimace.

“I wasn’t myself? Um, who was I?” she asked tentatively.

“You called yourself by your Antarian name, Vilandra, and you were sobbing. You called me Zan and you told me that you… ‘let them murder me on my wedding night….’”

“What?” she replied in disbelief. “I don’t know what you are talking about Max. I swear I don’t.”

“Well, maybe it could have something to do with this mystery person that is watching us…” Tess interjected.

“No, Max I—”

“Don’t worry about it sis, it has to mean something else…” Isabel relaxed as Max wasn’t going to push the subject and thee conversation shifted to lighter subjects. As the night progressed, and Isabel tried to maintain a normal façade.

The whole time though, she kept reconsidering who “Vilandra” was on Antar. She knew she had betrayed Rath…whom she was supposed to marry and meld with, could she have also betrayed her brother? Should she tell everyone about Kivar? “No…” she thought to herself “If I do that…what will they do? What will Max do…? I need time to think” and with those thoughts Isabel stood and slipped out of the Crashdown. She was headed back to the park to think. In the back of her mind, she was hoping to see Kivar again…

“This is better than I thought. I’ve found my lost love, and the rest of the royal court all at the same time.” Kivar thought to himself while watching the eight of them from his car parked across the street. “I have to protect my kingdom at all costs…prophecy cannot be fulfilled…”

Then he saw Isabel leaving the Crashdown, and walking away alone.

He shifted in his seat and turned on his car “Where are you going my queen…?”

[sunshine6258]

I'm back! Here is the newest chapter. Thanks as always to all my readers for your patience with me. Special thanks to:

Stargazer's Delight
TimeLord31
Kittens
begonia9548

who have been gracious with their encouragement in the PM world. Hope you like this one, and I should be updating again by Saturday at the latest.

~Andrea

Chapter 22

Alex noticed Isabel leaving when no once else seemed to. He shrugged to himself, and decided to follow her. Weren’t they in the least bit concerned that she was walking off alone and they were “supposed to stay in pairs at all times?”
Sometimes the pod squad got on his last nerve. Stepping out of the Crashdown, he looked left and right and could not see her anywhere. It was like she just disappeared. Getting worried, he decided to tell everyone else before trying to find her on his own. He walked right back in and ran over to Max.

“Max! Do you notice someone missing here??” he exclaimed with his hands on his hips.

Max gave him a confused look, then began to look around “Where’s Isabel? Did you see where she went Alex?”

“I just saw her leaving. I tried to follow her, but when I got outside she was gone. No thanks to you..” he replied the last part under his breath.

“What was that?” Max asked, but before Alex could reply Maria butted in with her hand thrown out for emphasis.

“I can’t believe she just…left after that whole talk! That doesn’t make any sense…” Maria replied.

“Let me see if I can contact her…” Max stated while closing his eyes. Everyone fell silent waiting for his response.

“No, nothing. It feels like she’s blocking me…”

“Something must be wrong.” Liz interjected.

“Alex, do you know where she could have gone?” Max asked.

“No, your guess is as good as mine….I have a growing, gnawing feeling that she’s putting herself into danger though…” Alex replied.

“Ok, we need to split up. Alex, you are with me and Kyle. Tess and Michael go with Maria. Keep your cell phones on and call if you find her first.”

“Got it.” Tess replied.

“Max wait, let me see if my dad will let me off work, so I can go too!” Liz announced.

“No Liz. You need to stay here. She might come back and then you will need to call and tell us.”

“Ok Max, well…just please be careful…” She replied while pulling him to her for a quick hug and kiss. Max squeezed her back and then let go quickly. Liz felt the loss of his warmth and hugged her arms to herself. As she looked on with a frown on her face, Max returned to the group.

“Let’s go.” Max said and they all filed out of the Crashdown.



Ever since Kivar found out that Vilandra and the rest had been cloned, his scientists had developed a way to channel his meld with her; the meld serving as a beacon. It seemed like he had been searching for her forever… They finally pinpointed her location to Roswell, NM and Kivar dropped everything, leaving his second in command Nikolas in charge. He enrolled in Roswell High, not expecting to find Vilandra right off the bat, but luck seemed to still be in his favor. He had Antar under control for the most part, but he needed her if he was to ever have true control. The people had always loved Vilandra, as had he. He quickly saw the direction she was heading, and beat her to the park. Stealthily getting out, he made his way over to a thicket of trees and hid. She had always enjoyed his surprise entrances to their interludes…

Isabel could hear the crunch of grass beneath her feet and could feel the wind blowing through her hair. Looking around to make sure she was not followed, and satisfied that she wasn’t, she turned her eyes towards a thicket of trees where she could practically feel Kivar radiating. She approached with caution, and a jumble of mixed feelings. The only thought in her head was “I have to end this…”

“Kivar, I know you are in there. We need to talk. Come out.”

“Vilandra…how nice to see you again my love.” Isabel took a step back at hearing those words.

“Please don’t call me that…I’m not that person anymore” she said with nervous fidgeting hands.

Kivar took a step towards her then and reached out a hand to stroke her cheek “Ah, but you are! You just haven’t embraced it yet…” Isabel couldn’t help but shiver as his touch aroused something primal within her, but a flash of Alex’s face appeared before her eyes and she forced herself to take another step back and look away from his piercing eyes.

“Don’t you understand me? I don’t want to embrace anything with you!” She struggled to say, each word like a dagger to her soul. This was the hardest thing she ever had to do, but she just knew in her heart that it just wasn’t right.

“Vilandra…?” Kivar looked at her with confusion painted on his face. He then seemed to suddenly realize that Isabel really didn’t want him…but how was that possible? Melding with her assured him a lifetime ago that she would always be his. His mood changed swiftly from that of loving to anger.

Gathering his resolve he took another step towards her and grabbed her arms so she couldn’t back away from him again “It doesn’t matter. You WILL embrace it whether you want to or not…” he finished his eyes going black.

“Hey! Get your hands off of her!” Alex screamed, running up towards Isabel.

“Alex get away from here…ung ahh!” she grunted as Kivar’s fingers dug into her flesh.

“Who is that Vilandra? Have you been a naughty girl with this human?” he asked making Isabel seeth with anger. “I’ll just take care of that little distraction…” he stated as he held up his right hand and light started to gather there.

Max was just about to catch up with Alex, who had been at a dead run since he spotted Isabel. As Kivar was about to let a blast go in Alex’s direction Isabel struggled against him trying to deflect his aim, but it was no use. He was too strong for her.

“Noooooooooooo!!!” she screamed as Alex took the hit square in the chest. Max put up his shield right after Alex took the hit and surrounded him and Kyle as well over Alex’s fallen body. Kyle was calling the others on his cell, as Max checked Alex over. Isabel took the opportunity to changer her tune and to try and distract Kivar from Alex and the others.

“Kivar…wow. You are right. You are the only one for me. I see that now.” She told him seductively, trying her best to be convincing.

“I knew once I eliminated that little annoyance, you would remember that…” he replied with a smile on his face. “Now I just need to finish him off, along with your brother…” he stated as he turned and held up his hand, again letting the light begin to gather there.

“No! No, not now my love. I need to be close to you…right now…” she replied as she ran her hand down his cheek and drew his lips down to meet hers in a passionate kiss.

“I guess they can wait a minute…” he replied as he allowed their lips to meet and she felt the memories begin.

****

Vilandra had been asleep when a loud commotion in the hallway outside her chamber awakened her. After quickly pulling a heavy green robe around her, and stepping into slippers, she ran to her door and found that it was locked. The commotion grew louder, and she was confused as to why someone would lock her door… She decided to use her powers and the door clicked open. What she found was even more confusing.

That night her brother had wedded Ava, daughter of Lyatso. It had been a beautiful wedding, filled with laughter and friendship. She knew her brother didn’t really love Ava, but was marrying her at the request of their father. Except for the wedding vows being a tad strained, understandably, the wedding had went off without a hitch.

While sharing a dance at the reception Isabel had talked with her brother alone “Brother, I know you don’t love Ava…it’s almost incestuous what you guys have!” she said with a grimace on her face.

“Vilandraaaaa” Zan replied in the tone he had used with her since childhood. “Yes we have grown up with Ava and yes, she is almost like a sister to me…but…”

“But??” Vilandra asked.

“But, for the sake of Father, I did it. It pleased him, and he won’t be with us for much longer.” He replied while twirling her around.

“Besides, I do love her…maybe it will turn into more…” he stated not convincingly.

“You keep telling yourself that big brother…True Love is very important” she replied while stealing a glance in Kivar’s direction. He was looking right at her and she blushed deeply as she turned away.

“Thinking about Rath sister?” he asked with a grin, while twirling her again.

“Oh, um, yeah.” She replied while tucking her hair behind her ear with her free hand.

“He’s loved you since we were children…I know you will be very happy with him.”

“Um, he makes me very happy brother.” She said while not meeting his eyes. Zan gave her a confused look, as she didn’t seem very convincing. Then he followed her gaze across the room and saw that Kivar was staring intently at his sister. She seemed to be meeting his gaze. He didn’t like the way that soldier was looking at her, but instead of ruining the night, he twirled his sister again and whisked her to the opposite side of the dance floor; away from those eyes.

Vilandra had these memories in her head as she peeked outside of her door and saw soldiers piling into her brothers chambers, down the hall. Fear gripping her heart she ran down the hallway and saw Nikolas, Kivars best friend, coming out of the room. Something was definitely wrong…they were not supposed to be there…especially on her brothers wedding night! Fearing she would be seen, she darted down an adjacent hallway and hid behind a tapestry. After not hearing any more footsteps, she slowly walked out and down the hallway to her brother’s door. After knocking and not hearing anything, she found that his door was unlocked. A growing sense of dread was filling her, as she walked across the foyer of his rooms. When she got to her brother’s door she called out

“Zan? Ava? Is everything alright?” Not hearing any answer or sound, she slowly pushed open the door. The sight she was met with horrified her.

“Zaaan! Oh No No No, he couldn’t have!!” she screamed as she saw her brother. He was in his dressing robe and was flat on his face just two feet in front of the door. He had a huge, black burn mark in his back and blood was everywhere. She couldn’t see Ava anywhere. Scared for her life, and quickly going numb with having seen her brother, she looked around the room for Ava. She saw a big lump under the covers of the big bed in the center of the room.

“Ava? Are you here?” she asked while looking around the room. Not seeing any other place she could be, she walked over to the bed; dreading each step. She pulled back the covers and was met with another horrifying site. Ava had been strangled, and her eyes had been put out. Blood was everywhere and Vilandra started to see black spots before her eyes. Fighting passing out, she covered her sister-in-law’s body again and ran to the edge of the room and vomited. When she was done, she wiped her mouth with the edge of her robe and her eyes fell on Zan’s dagger from his royal military uniform. He had worn it today in honor of his wedding. She grabbed it in her hand and unsheathed it. Just then Kivar swept into the room, having checked Vilandra’s locked door and finding her gone.

“Vilandra! What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Kivar what have you done?” Vilandra screamed. “How could you? I told you I didn’t want them DEAD! They’re my family!!”

“Vilandra, I didn’t kill them, I swear!” he replied while taking a few steps toward her.

“Stop. Just stop right there.” She cried with her hand up in front of her. “You will never be able to touch me…ever again. Not after this…You betrayed me.” She sobbed.

“No Vilandra, don’t!” he yelled as she aimed the dagger just below her breast bone.
“What’s going on in here?” Rath yelled as he came in the door behind Kivar. When his eyes took in his surroundings his hand instantly went up in the direction of Kivar. “I knew you were a traitor!” Rath screamed.

“You were never good enough for her…” Kivar sneered as he turned before Rath could get a blast off and let off a blast of his own in Rath’s direction. As Rath crumpled to the floor Kivar heard Isabel’s grunt as she stabbed herself.

“…and you will never be good enough for me Kivar…” she replied as she went down to her knees, blood dripping down the front of her dress.

“No! Vilandra, Nooo!” he yelled as he caught her before she hit the floor. “Nikolas! I need a healer in here now!”

“It’s too late Kivar…I never should have loved you…” she cried with tears streaming down her cheeks.

“No…don’t leave me…I love you…Vilandra…..” Kivar cried while she died in his arms.

[sunshine6258]

Sorry for my misjudging when I could update! I guess I'm getting old, because I threw my back out on Thursday! I couldn't sit up for two days and had to call into work. Sigh. I finally got a new part written though. Thanks to all of you who are faithfully waiting. Thanks also to the faithful feedbackers and PMers: Timelord31, Sternbetrachter, Stargazer's Delight, Redrumm, tequathisy, kittens, and begonia9508.

The feedback and encouragement means so much to me you guys!

~Andrea

p.s. No razzing intended Stargazer's Delight! You'll see why soon...I'm glad you are enjoying it! =)

Chapter 23


“…OK, we’ll be right there…” Tess said quickly and she snapped her phone shut.

“What did Kyle say Tess?” Michael asked as Tess grabbed him by the arm and started dragging him towards Maria’s Jetta.

“He said they found Isabel, and…” she swallowed hard as she suddenly felt a big lump in her throat.

“What, what?” Maria asked as she followed beside Michael.

“…and also…maybe who has been watching us…” she replied while wiping her suddenly wet eyes and jumping into the car. Michael took a deep breath as he turned on the car.

“It will be ok Tess. Whoever it is they won’t hurt you, I promise…now, where are we going?”

Tess snapped her seatbelt into place “Roswell Central Park” and with that Michael threw the car into gear and stepped down hard on the gas.

Maria reached back and grabbed Tess’ hand. “Don’t worry Tess, we won’t let anything happen to you….”

While fighting back tears and the panic building in her, Tess stared hard at her human friend. She couldn’t believe someone could care that much about her. No one ever had before… “Thank you Maria that means a lot…” she replied while taking another deep breath. Maria squeezed her hand then released it, turning around and snapping her seat belt on.

*****

After Isabel saw those memories, she felt a presence in her head that was not her own. Vilandra was fighting for control after being awoken from memories of her past. Instead of relinquishing control of her mind, Isabel simply yielded to her and felt Vilandra and her memories, mix with hers…all at once she was different. She was still Isabel, but now felt Vilandra coursing through her veins. Her eyes snapped open, and Isabel threw Kivar off of her in disgust, hitting him hard across the mouth with the back of her hand. She felt hot emotions flowing through her…revulsion, loathing, abhorrence, hatred, nausea, and at the forefront BETRAYAL… Isabel’s eyes turned black with fury, her hands began crackling with white hot energy at her sides. She began to focus on her meld with Kivar, and instantly tried to melt it. Although it caused excruciating pain, she continued to push. With a blood curling scream, she felt the connection to Kivar disintegrate; that’s when she felt someone or something else take over her body.

“Betrayer…you have done the unthinkable…” she stated while raising her arm and pointing at Kivar. Kivar pushed himself up to his knees and wiped at his bloody lip; a twinge of trepidation twisting in his stomach as he realized it was no longer Isabel talking. Isabel began rising off of the ground as the white energy circled around her feet.

“You were given a precious gift, and you chose to betray it. This has never been done before; therefore punishment for this type of crime has not been decided yet. We, the creators of Antar and many other worlds, have felt your meld partner’s pain. Since she had to endure the pain of melding with a betrayer, and the pain of severing that bond, she will be the one to decide your fate…”

Kivar stood to his feet, trying to hide his fear behind defiance. “You can’t do this! She is my melded partner. She is bonded to me for the last lifetime, this one, and the ones to come! It is written in the ancient books--”

“SILENCE male Brevanian!” the creators screamed through the mouth of Isabel. “We wrote the ancient books, and we can add to them as we see fit… The energy that surrounded Isabel suddenly lifted and a ball of white light floated over her head.

“Princess of Antar” the creators said in a strong voice through the white light “You are now the Judge of Kivar, a son of Brevany. What is your verdict?”

Isabel her eyes still black with menace and seething with fury; with her hands fisted at her sides, said in a very stern by quiet voice “Guilty…and his punishment…DEATH!” she hissed the last part.

The light that was floating above her head said one final word “Granted” and slammed back into her body. She could feel the energy growing stronger and stronger in her belly. Kivar was now just standing in dumfounded silence. As he felt her energy build, he knew what was coming. Before she could do anything he mouthed three words to her. “This isn’t over…”

“This is for my family that was, and still is, you TRAITOR!!!” she screamed as she stretched her hands down in Kivars direction and let the energy fly. “Anak veir Dregis!” (Death to Traitors) she screamed in the ancient language as she sent another blast into Kivars body.

He was knocked flat on his back with the first hit, the second hit lit him up from head to foot in a blood red light. Then with a hair-raising scream he disintegrated to ash; then, to nothing.

Isabel floated down from her high vantage, and was set gently back on the ground. The white light receded and she felt the creators leave her body. As they ascended she could sense them telling her that she would live a full life now; and she had their blessing.

Max had dropped his shield as soon as Isabel started floating, and had finished healing Alex. In awe of what was happening, Alex simply sat up and stared as the events unfolded. He was still on the ground as Isabel floated down. Kyle ran to Maria’s approaching car, as Max ran over to Isabel. Alex then stood, and ran after Max.

“Iz! Wow, what happened to you?” Max asked as he reached her and fiercely hugged his sister to him.

“Let’s just say, my past came to visit me. It wasn’t a pleasant past, and our creators let me dispose of him.” She said in relief.

“Our creators?” Max asked.

“Izzy!” Alex exclaimed as he encompassed her in a huge bear hug. “I was so worried! I’m so glad you are ok. You mean so much to me…” he trailed off at the end as he squeezed her harder.

Isabel could feel tears prick the corners of her eyes as she felt so loved in Alex’s arms. The feelings she had right now rivaled those she had felt once her meld with Kivar was awakened. She assumed the meld blocked feelings for others, and was so glad she was rid of it. “You mean a lot to me too Alex…” she replied as she squeezed him back and lightly kissed him on the cheek.

Just then Michael, Maria, Tess and Kyle ran up.

“Isabel are you ok?” Michael asked.

Pulling back from Alex, but grabbing hold of his hand, she turned so she could face the rest of them “Yes Michael I’m fine. That was a singular experience though.”

“What happened?” Tess asked. The foreboding feeling she had felt since almost running that guy over had swiftly vanished.

“Um, I need to tell you guys a little story…but we can’t do it here” she replied.

“Don’t worry Iz, I’ve already checked the area. I don’t think anyone saw what happened.” Max stated.

“Honestly, let’s go to Michael’s apartment or something. I have a lot to tell you guys and I’m going to need some time to do that.”

“How much time are we talking about?” Maria asked “I have to get the Jetta home soon”.

“Well, during my time floating in the air, I seemed to have acquired Vilandra’s memories…as well as a little of her personality.” Looks of confusion flitted across everyone’s faces at hearing that last part.

“Don’t worry, I am still in control of my body guys” she stated with a smile.

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Michael said impatiently.

“Can it wait half an hour sis? I’d like Liz to be there for this.” Max asked.

“Yeah Max. Call Lizipoo and tell her to meet us at Michaels after her shift is done.” Isabel replied with a smirk.

Maria rolled her eyes, seeing one of her best friends hand in hand with Isabel. She knew Isabel would do the same thing in a heart beat. “I’ll just drop you guys off and go pick her up. That way I can pick up my mom also, and she can drop us both off and take the car. She said she needed it to go to Boot Shaker’s tonight.”

“Kyle, didn’t Jim say something about going to Boot Shaker’s tonight also?” Tess asked.

“Looks like soon, I might be calling you bro, huh?” Maria asked while poking Kyle in the ribs.

Kyle slapped his hand to his forehead and grunted “Ungh, Don’t remind me…”

[sunshine6258]

Nathan, Sibylle, Trude, Timelord31, Redrumm, soulmates4eva, and Beth I hope you guys are still reading after my long hiatus. My brother got married this past Thursday, and the past month or so has been HELL. Almost every spare moment was spent on wedding details and it has been driving me bonkers! Well, I'm finally wearing my writing cap again...here is a new chapter to be follwed by the rest of the story in installments! Thank you soooo much for your patience, enjoy, and please keep the comments coming! =)

Chapter 24

Maria’s mom pulled her Jetta in front of Michael’s apartment and Maria jumped out, followed close behind by Liz.

“They better not start without us!” Maria exclaimed. “See you later mom!” she said as she waved bye to her mom.

“Relax Maria. If Max wanted me there, I don’t think that would happen.” She replied with a grin. Maria continued to mutter to herself as they walked up the stairs to Michael’s apartment.

As Liz raised her hand to knock, Michael opened the door from the inside.

“About time you guys showed up…Isabel is starting to creep me out with the looks she keeps throwing me.” He said nervously as he ushered them into his living area. Liz and Maria exchanged a look and then noticed Isabel staring at both of them. Suddenly self-conscious, Liz hurried to where Max was sitting and sat down at his feet. Max reached down and encircled her in his arms and Liz relaxed instantly.

Maria had snatched up Michael’s hand when she pried her gaze away from Isabel’s and they sat down together near Max and Liz. She couldn’t quite interpret the look on Iz’s face, but Michael was right, it was unnerving.

Isabel was seated in a dining room chair that she had pulled near the others. She had her feet gathered to her, with her arms around her legs, and her head was resting on her knees.

Max on the other hand seemed to be studying his sister. “That was a favorite position of yours, wasn’t it…” Max told Isabel, while appearing to imagine it in his mind. “I have a vague memory tugging at me seeing you sitting like that…”

“Yes! On Antar the seats are built to float, and all are wide enough to pull up your feet.” Isabel replied then her expression broke, and she looked down and to the side. Her expression turned to that of shame.

Alex, who was closest to her, reached out and touched her arm. “What is it Iz?” he asked gently.

Isabel briefly met Alex’s eyes then looked around at everyone else, before looking down again. “I have to tell you all something…and I’m very ashamed about it.”

After hearing the anguish in his sisters voice, Max got up and walked over to her. He took her hand in his and squeezed it. She reluctantly picked her eyes up and looked back at her brother.

“Iz, you are my sister, and nothing will ever change the love I have for you. You can trust me on that.” Various statements of mutual affirmation and encouragement were heard from everyone else and Isabel took a deep breath of relief. Well, not exactly relief, but at least she felt a little better.

“I know you all don’t remember much about life on Antar…but the last year we spent alive, I did something I wasn’t supposed to do. You never knew the truth…none of you did.”

Max was settling back in his seat above Liz as Isabel began, and couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable at her words…where was this going?

“It actually began a long time before that, but the consequences of my choice built up that last year.” She paused then and bit her bottom lip, still a little hesitant to talk. Alex reached over and gave her hand a squeeze, and she turned a grateful half smile in his direction.

“I know you guys don’t remember him…but there is someone who we grew up with that was directly or indirectly involved in all of our deaths…and I…….I fell in love with him.”

“What?!” Michael broke out.

“But, it’s not what you think!” Isabel quickly replied. Looks of confusion and horror passed between them all.

“Iz what are you saying?” Max interjected.

“I think in order for you guys to understand fully, I must start at the beginning, but I’ll try to summarize it all. As you can tell, this is really hard for me to talk about, so if you guys could hold all your questions till I’m done, I’d appreciate it.”

“Take you time Iz, we’re all listening” Max replied.

“Ok, well you and I..” this was said in the direction of Max “…were the only children of our parents Dinah and Salvetar. Our names, as you know, were Vilandra and Zan. We grew up with the nobility of Antar, as well as male children of nobility from neighboring worlds. Antar’s Military Defense and Scholastic achievements were famed throughout the galaxy and the majority of the nobility of these other worlds chose to send their sons to Antar for their training and education. Our neighboring planet, Brevany, also sent their only heir to the throne. His name was Kivar.”

Max felt a chill run through him at the mention at that name…he knew that’s who Isabel had turned to dust earlier. Tess felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and shifted closer to Kyle who was sitting to her left. Kyle in turn froze at having Tess so near to him, obviously looking for support. He looked down to meet here eyes and she smiled weakly at him in return. He thought to himself their little “talk” was drawing nigh.

“Kivar was a good friend of the four of us. He was almost as good as Michael at war games, and was almost as good at Max in his scholastic achievements. If he was bitter about being second best he never really showed it. You and Rath, what Michael used to be called, were best friends. You would often disappear, after your studies were done, for hours on end. Ava, what Tess used to be called, associated with us scholastically, but was always called home after school. We never really knew why, but now I can guess as I’m sure you can as well.”

When she was met with more confused faces, she decided to explain this detail. “Tess was not really the daughter of Lyatso and Mayverna. She was the daughter of Andrina and Jameus, and because of her mixed heritage did not have the same powers as other Antarian girls her age. Since she would be virtually powerless against a threat, Lyatso probably kept her busy at home. I didn’t know of this at the time, and I just thought she was shy or maybe even did not like me.” Isabel then took a deep breath. “That left Kivar. After Zan and Rath would disappear to who knows where, and Ava would run home, I would be left alone at the palace to amuse myself. Kivar was always there to fill in the gap. During our childhood we became good friends. All through those years I saw subtle signs of his dark streak, but since he seemed to be my only confidant, I chose to ignore them. By the time we were of melding age, I was already heavily involved with him. Even though all he could talk about at the time was putting me on the throne as Queen of Antar, and him ruling by my side, I didn’t really believe he would hurt any of my loved ones in the process. I basically allowed myself to be deceived by my love for him. In reality I was betrothed to Rath…” she said this with a slight upward glance at Michael “…but I did not love him that way. I was completely in love with Kivar and blind to his motives. When the day came that he asked me to meld with him…I agreed. I was the happiest I had ever been. It was a short lived bliss though, as only a few weeks later, Zan had his wedding day with Ava.”

She was met with more confused faces “No guys, the wedding itself wasn’t bad, It acutally was a beautiful ceremony, strained at times because Zan and Ava were not in love, but beautiful none the less. It was that night I awoke to a feeling of trepidation as I heard lots of footfalls outside of my door. When I got up to check who was about at that late hour I found that my door was locked. This alarmed me further, but without a second thought I used my powers to quietly unlock my door. What I saw were soldiers piling into Zan and Ava’s honeymoon chamber, down the hall. At the head of the group was Kivar’s best friend Nikolas. Seeing him alerted me that Kivar was behind whatever was going on. My heart broke instantly, but I kept my feelings at bay, fearing what I might find next. I ran down the hallway, and then hid behind a tapestry as I heard retreating footsteps from the room. I was so terrified, but as soon as the sound was gone, I crept over to the doorway and knocked softly. I didn’t hear anything so I pushed open the slightly ajar door. When I got to Zan & Ava’s door I called out to them. There was so reply, so I pushed open the door. The sight I was met with will haunt me for-ever…”
A sob got caught in her throat and she paused for a moment to gather her strength and her breath “Zan was on the floor, face down in a pool of blood. There wa-as a big black hole in his back. I screamed and then went numb with the weight of the emotion that was coursing through me. I then found Ava on the bed, under rumpled covers. Those monsters had put out her eyes and strangled her.” Isabel was crying freely now and so were many others around her. Alex put his arm around her shoulders protectively and squeezed her.

“There was so much blood everywere…so much blood…I almost blacked out and was sick in a corner of the room. My eyes then fell on Zan’s dagger; the one he had used as part of his military dress for the wedding. I took it out just before Kivar appeared in the ro-oom. He…unh…” She began to sob and Alex pulled her into his arms. He stroked her hair and whispered random encouragements in her ear. Isabel’s sobs subsided a little and she turned, stretching her right hand out in front of her.

“Iz, what are you doing?” Michael asked misunderstanding her intent. Suddenly a holographic projection jumped into focus in front of them all. Suddenly they were looking at the room it happened in.

*****“Vilandra! What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Kivar what have you done?” Vilandra screamed. “How could you? I told you I didn’t want them DEAD! They’re my family!!”

“Vilandra, I didn’t kill them, I swear!” he replied while taking a few steps toward her.

“Stop. Just stop right there.” She cried with her hand up in front of her. “You will never be able to touch me…ever again. Not after this…You betrayed me.” She sobbed.

“No Vilandra, don’t!” he yelled as she aimed the dagger just below her breast bone.

“What’s going on in here?” Rath yelled as he came in the door behind Kivar. When his eyes took in his surroundings his hand instantly went up in the direction of Kivar. “I knew you were a traitor!” Rath screamed.

“You were never good enough for her…” Kivar sneered as he turned before Rath could get a blast off and let off a blast of his own in Rath’s direction. As Rath crumpled to the floor Kivar heard Isabel’s grunt as she stabbed herself.

“…and you will never be good enough for me Kivar…” she replied as she went down to her knees, blood dripping down the front of her dress.

“No! Vilandra, Nooo!” he yelled as he caught her before she hit the floor. “Nikolas! I need a healer in here now!”

“It’s too late Kivar…I never should have loved you…” she cried with tears streaming down her cheeks.

“No…don’t leave me…I love you…Vilandra…..” Kivar cried while she died in his arms.*****

“That sick bastard thought I could forgive him for his betrayal...” Isabel snapped gathering some of her composure back. “I don’t know how I ever loved him…” she then said with a slight catch in her voice. “I just couldn’t bear living after that…I just couldn’t!”

She unexpectedly found another set of strong arms encircling her from the front. Max had tears in his eyes when she looked up at him. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that Iz. I…I somhow feel I could have prevented it somehow.”

“No Max, you did what you could. You were a king in training and had other responsibilities. I should have known. I just…let myself be fooled.”

Suddenly Michael had his hand on her shoulder “No Iz, neither of you is to blame. We were all victims of circumstance. You can’t blame yourself.”

Still feeling guilty she replied “I don’t think our parents would have cloned me if they knew what kind of a person I was…” she sobbed.

Max tipped her chin up so he could look into her eyes as he replied “Iz, you are here for a reason, and so are the rest of us. Even though we were cloned we are still here for a purpose. No matter what happened in our past, the future is what’s important…and you are very important to me.”

“I’ve always thought of you as a sister too Iz, you are also very important to me” Michael broke in.

“I guess I couldn’t consider the future till I faced the past” Iz replied. “You both are as important to me as life.” She said as she squinted from the sudden sunlight filling the window…but the sun should have set by now…

“What’s wrong with Tess??” Kyle exclaimed as he jumped back from her. A bright and luminescent light was emanating from her whole body.

She seemed to float off of the couch and when her mouth moved, a voice they did not recognize spoke “The royal four finally understand the meaning of life…it is family and how important each member is individually and as a unit. The approaching war could never be waged while you were still singular in your thinking. No matter what you are, you have done, or will do; your connection to each other must be strong and unwavering. Here is the path to the answers you have been searching for…” the voice coming from Tess said with a flourish of her hand.

A holographic image, similar to the one that Isabel had used before, sprung up in front of them all. The image was bigger and crisper than the previous one. It showed a path, about twice as fast as normal leading down the highway and then at a certain point, into the desert. A distinct rock formation came into view and the image showed the pathway to the center of the formation. A silver handprint sprung up from the rock face and glowed once while a door in the rock slid open to reveal a dark room.

“Here is where you, and your chosen human companions, must go for your questions to be answered” the voice that was not Tess said. "Make haste as the time of your departure draws nigh." The light swiftly left Tess’ body and Kyle caught her as she quickly fell back onto the couch.

[sunshine6258]

Hey Guys! New chapter is up! =)

Redrumm- Yes, Isabel's confession was overdue. She at least could give a clearer picture now since she has Vilandra's memories. The Granolith chamber will hold more than you know!!

Trude (aka Sternbetrachter -I'm confused as to the "guy who has been following her..." that was Kivar aka Kevin. He was destroyed already... Did I miss something? .... Yeah, Tess' show was a shocker...and will be explained...

Timelord31- thanks as always for your encouragement. Even though it's just two words...at least I know you are reading and enjoying!!!

Bethann- Thanks for understanding about the wedding...yeah it was so much work! But you are right, it was fun too. Thanks so much for waiting! I'm glad you think my story is good. Also thanks for telling me so! It really means alot to me.

RhondaAnn- Glad to see a new face! (so to speak ) I'm also glad to know you have been reading and enjoying. Here is the new part!

A big thankyou to all my other faithful readers and lurkers. Even though you don't always leave f/b...thank you for reading! =) That's the real reason I do this...to entertain my readers!! =) Without further ado, her it is! New chapter coming soon....

~Andrea



Chapter 25


The sun was shining bright over the desert sands, and everyone was squinting as they kept a look out for their turn off. The air was electric with excitement, wariness, and apprehension. All eight occupants of the Whitman minivan were silent, but their minds were racing with thoughts. Alex kept stealing glances at Isabel, who was in the passenger seat, and pressed down a little harder on the accelerator when he realized he was going 10 under the speed limit.

The day before, after Tess had come out of whatever she had been taken over by, pandemonium had broken out. Everyone’s first question, of course, was “what was that???” Except for Isabel, who automatically recognized that it was the voice of the creators coming from Tess’ mouth due to the presence exuded by her. You can’t have the creators take over your body and not recognize it when it happens to someone else! Kyle had gently shaken Tess after he caught her, and she woke up almost immediately.

“You can stop shaking me now Kyle!” Tess exclaimed with amusement in her eyes.

“God Tess! I thought something happened to you… Are you ok? What just happened?” he said all at once. Michael was right behind him.

“I’m fine Kyle. I’m better than ever actually.” She replied with a relieved smile.

“Are you sure you’re ok?” Michael asked with a tinge of fear in his voice.

“No worries bro, I feel perfectly fine” she replied, giving his arm a squeeze.

Isabel had rushed over to Tess as soon as Kyle caught her and was now standing over her.

“What do you mean? If it looked and felt like I think it did, then the creators just paid us a visit.”

“Yes they did” Tess replied. “They told me the message has been waiting to be triggered since our creation”

“What are you saying Tess?” Max asked, coming over to stand by his sister.

Liz, sensing Max’s need for reassurance, came up and took Max’s hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. He looked back at her and gave her a quick grateful smile. Michael getting impatient, as was his nature, was beginning to sweat. He couldn’t believe what was happening…it was happening so fast!

Maria couldn’t believe it what was happening either. She could tell the pieces of the puzzle were rapidly forming a picture for the aliens, and wondered with a stab of fear, what that was spelling out for her and her three human friends. She thought to herself “I can’t lose him…not when I feel the way that I do! I love you so much Michael!”

Alex was thinking the same thing. His beautiful Isabel that he was only beginning to understand just how much he loved, was beginning to draw away from him. He thought to himself “Iz is now sharing memories with her past self Vilandra, and she’s about to find the way home to her world. She’s going to leave me alone in mine…”

Kyle was staring at the woman of his dreams in disbelief. “This is happening to fast…we haven’t had our talk…she’s on her way off of earth, and we’ll never have a chance to be together…to have a family together…wait… a family?” He hadn’t even realized himself, what Tess meant to him. She meant much more than he ever realized until this very moment. The moment he was faced with losing her…

“Well, I don’t know how it was for Iz when she was taken over, but while the creators used me to speak through, they also gave me a little knowledge as to why it was happening.”

“They didn’t do that with me” Iz quickly replied. “I knew what they were saying when they were inside me, and I had the impression that I had their blessing while they were departing, but that’s pretty much it.”

“Well...” Tess began, “they told me the trigger was our understanding of the importance of family and the strength it brings…the meaning of life. They also told me it was my destiny to be the light; to lead the way home for us.”

Various exclamations of shock and awe were heard all around as everyone struggled to take what Tess was saying in. The alien’s common though was “We’re going home?” The humans were thinking “We’ll be alone…”

“Guys!” Max said loudly to stop the random murmurings of the group “We don’t know what all this means right now, so I think we shouldn’t drive ourselves crazy with speculation.”

“Max…” Liz asked trying to hide the thick emotion in her throat “will you go? I mean if you find the way home…” Max turned her so he could face her fully since she was avoiding his gaze.

“Liz, I’ve told you before…you are my home….right here with you is where I belong” he said as he gathered her to himself.

Maria looked up at Michael and he took her hand a squeezed it before gathering her in for a hug as well.

“I can’t believe we might have the chance to go home…” Isabel stated to no one in particular. “I have so many memories of it from when Vilandra added her memories to mine. I remember our mom and dad Max…I remember Dinah and Salvetar…I..”

“Don’t worry Iz, we still don’t know for sure what we’ll find at that rock, in the desert.” Max replied while sending his sister an encouraging look.

Conversations were being had by all the respective couples now, and the tension in the room was intensifying.

“Iz” Alex started and asked the question he did not know if he wanted the answer to “do you want to go home?”

“Oh Alex, I…you are so important to me…I know I haven’t told you how much of how I feel. There has been so much going on lately.” She replied while taking his hands in hers and pulling him down onto the loveseat closest to her.

“Yeah, I know.” Alex replied while looking at his hands. “I also know I’m not being fair with you to ask you that question now.” There was a brief moment of uncomfortable silence followed by a slightly frustrated sigh from Isabel.

“Whatever happens Alex, I want you to know that…” Alex looked up to meet her eyes “I never knew true love till I loved you” and she fell into his embrace as he hugged her back and was struck speechless.

Alex gripped the steering wheel just a little tighter, as thoughts churned in his mind. “How can she consider leaving me if she loves me? I love her…so much…” He stole another look at her out of the corner of his eye. God she was beautiful.

She was wearing a green V-neck top with tiny sleeves and brown jeans. She was wearing the green topaz necklace he had bought her for her birthday and it shimmered in the sun just like the green flecks in her hazel eyes. She hadn’t wanted to accept the gift when he had presented her with it because of it worth, but Alex had insisted telling her “It’s a precious stone for a special friend. You will do me a dishonor if you refuse!” and with that her resolve had crumbled. She wore it only on special occasions.

Max had Liz firmly against his side with his arm around her shoulders. She had her head on his shoulder and her eyes were closed as she breathed in his scent. She felt so safe when she was in his embrace. He had told her his home was with her… What did that mean? Would he stay and let Isabel, Michael, and Tess go back to their home world if they had the chance to go back? Could she honestly ask him to sacrifice that chance to be with her? “I’m being so selfish…” she thought to herself “He would be willing to stay for me, and I’m not willing to let him go.” She pressed her lips to his neck and he nuzzled back against her mouth to give her better access. “I don’t think I could ever let him go…” she thought as she wrapped her free arm across his waist.

Max felt Liz’s gentle kiss and was comforted by her. He leaned into her to have even more contact with her and sighed in contentment. This is where he knew he was meant to be…in her arms. If he went back he’d be a king. He’d have a queen…Tess… he shuddered inwardly at that thought. They couldn’t make them be married after all that has happened could they? He then gave himself a mental shake. “No, I’m meant to be with Liz. She is my home. Nothing will ever change that…” was his resolute thought.

Isabel shifted in her seat as she felt Alex’s gaze on her once again. She was thinking to herself as she idly played with her necklace “How can I do it? How can I leave him? Maybe I won’t have to…” she winced inwardly as her thoughts swirled. Her soul was telling her she’d never find a love like his…but her head was telling her if the chance arose, to go home. Her people needed her…right? She glanced over her shoulder at Tess, who seemed to be staring contentedly out the window. “How can she be so calm?!” she thought.

Maria and Michael thought to themselves that they got the short end of the stick as they were separated by a seat. Max and Liz had quickly taken the back seat, letting Kyle and Tess have the first row so Tess could better direct Alex. That left Maria and Michael separated, Maria beside Liz, and Michael beside Tess. Michael of course liked being near his sister, but right now he really needed to feel Maria. She made him feel good about himself like no one ever could. Even with her wacky ways she was his rock. She completed all that was incomplete in him. He looked back at her and grabbed her hand, not caring that what he was about to do was against the law. He pulled her out of her seat and into his lap where she went willingly and quickly, almost as if the idea had been hers instead of his. He gathered her closely to his chest and positioned her face close to his own. “I love you Maria” he said in a whisper and with longing in his eyes. She let herself be encompassed in his arms and whispered back into his ear “I love you too Spaceboy” and squeezed him tight. She thought to herself “Please never leave me Michael…” as a tear escaped one eye.

Tess saw Iz look back at her out of the corner of her eye, and sighed as she pretended not to notice. “Everything will be fine, I just know it!” she thought to herself. “Why can’t everyone else feel it?” Well she knew that her human friends might not, but not Max, Michael, and Izzy. “I don’t know how I know, but I know It will be ok.”

Kyle reached for Tess’ hand when she looked out the window again. She gladly laced her fingers with his when she felt him initiate the contact. His mind was a blur with confusion, but when he touched Tess, everything seemed to settle down. When she looked into his eyes she reflected peace, and something else…something that made his knees weak. If he had been standing, he knew his knees would have buckled…

As Tess looked back at Kyle she saw the desperation in his eyes and tried to send him reassuring feelings with her eyes. She took in his face and the strength of his hold on her hand, and couldn’t help but feel more for him…so much more than friendship. She was so filled with…love… “I love him…” she thought to herself as she stared back at him. Finally admitting to herself that she now loved him, she then thought to herself “Will it be ok? Will I be queen when I go back? Will I have to be with Max?” The thought of that began to make her queasy, and she pushed that thought away. She knew the creators wouldn’t do that to them…right? She looked up and saw a familiar group of bushes as well as a huge bunch of cane cholla cactus that marked their turn off.

“Alex, turn right there, after the big bunch of cactus.”

Alex practically jumped out of his skin, after Tess’ voice broke the silence in the van. He tried to calm his breathing as he replied. “Ok Tess” He looked over at Isabel, who was staring at him and gave her a reassuring smile…at least he hoped it looked reassuring. “Here we go…” he said as he made a right turn and the van started to bump along the sand and gravel.

[sunshine6258]

Sibylle-Thanks for sticking around girl! Your encouragement is appreciated so much!

TimeLord31-Many Many thanks for you continued interest in this story. I hope you like this chapter!

RhondaAnn-I'm glad you enjoyed the moments between the couples. =) I really wanted everyone to feel their emotions, and know exactly what they are thinking in the minutes before getting there... =)

Trude-Yeah, that is the question I'm sure that's in everyone's mind...will they leave? We are almost to the answers! Thanks for the encouragement!

RedRumm-I'm glad you enjoyed the moments between the couples as well... It will help to tie everything together in the coming chapters... =)

Hope you guys like the new chapter! =)


Chapter 26

“There it is” Tess said and everyone jerked with her announcement, then followed the direction her finger pointed to.

A big red ominous rock formation could be seen in the near distance. There was absolute silence as everyone bounced gently in their seats during the short distance to the rock formation. They all seemed to be holding their breath as the van slowed to a stop. Alex clicked open the automatic door locks and everyone got out. Almost instinctively they all joined hands, as couples, and began to walk toward the rock.

Max and Liz were in the lead and had a firm grip on each others hands. Each could sense the others steadily increasing anxiety, and were sending reassuring feelings through their connection. Max glanced at Liz as they got halfway up, and she looked back at him at the same moment.

“Whatever we find out in there Liz…I love you. I’ve loved you since the first moment I saw you” he said as he pulled her toward him and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, giving her a kiss on top of her head. Liz smiled back up at him and hugged him back with both arms around his waist.

“I love you too Max.” she replied as she kissed him quick and firmly on the lips.

Isabel was beginning to shake and Alex let go of her hand, wrapping a tentative arm around her waist instead. He was rewarded with a warm smile and Isabel leaning into his embrace.

“Whatever happens Iz, I know it will be ok” he told her trying to be brave for her sake.

“Thank you Alex…” she replied.

“For what?” he asked as he pulled back slightly so he could look her in the eyes.

“For being so strong for me. I know this isn’t easy for you…being here…thank you for being here for me.” She replied her eyes misting over slightly.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else Iz. Wherever you are is where I want to be” he replied.

“You are important to me too Alex…I think I…” she was then interrupted by the sound of Liz’s voice.

“Here it is I think…” Liz states while running her hands over the rock.

“Here Liz, let me do that…” Max replied but before he could get his hands on the rock, Liz had ran her hands over a divot in the rock and a handprint began to glow.

“How did you..” Max began.

“I don’t…I don’t know…I just knew…” Liz replied.

“Did I just see what I think I did?” Tess asked.

“I think you did sis.” Michael replied for Liz.

“Ok this is getting really weird” Kyle interjected.

“You aren’t kidding” Maria stated while walking up to the rock and waving her hand over the print. It responded by flickering in a ripple pattern.

“Maria what are you doing??” Michael asked worried she might trigger something.

“I don’t know, I just wanted to see what it would do if I waved my hand over it!” she replied.

Tess then walked over to the print and waved her hand over it. It responded by vanishing from sight. “What does that mean? Why would it respond to Liz and Maria, but not to me?” she asked with confusion painted on her face.

“I don’t know. Let me try” Max replied. He waved his hand over the divot in the rock and nothing happened.

“I’m sensing a connection here you guys” Alex stated while he waved his hands over the same spot. He was rewarded with the glowing handprint flaring back to life.

“I think I get you Whitman” Kyle replied waving his hand over the handprint, and it rippled again.

“This thing only works for humans?” Isabel stated completely shocked.

Before they discussed it any further, Liz biting her bottom lip, placed her hand directly on the handprint and a door appeared from the rock sliding in smoothly and then sliding to the side.

“Liz?” Max choked out.

“I just knew…” she replied to his unspoken question.

He took a deep breath, took her hand and gave it a squeeze, then after an exchanged look of resignation, they both walked into the darkness together.

“What just happened here?” Michael said to no one in particular.

“Come on Spaceboy. I think it’s time to face our destiny.” Maria replied and pulled him along with her into the shadows. He didn’t have time to think about her choice of words as he was pulled along.

They were followed closely by Isabel, Alex, Kyle, and Tess.

After their eyes adjusted to the change in light, they heard the door shut behind them and a blue/green glow lit the room up. In front of them were four oval shaped cavities that seemed to have been built into the wall.

“Wow” Max said looking astounded.

“I know what those are…” Isabel said while walking towards the cavities. “Max this is where we were born.”

Seeing them sparked a memory “I remember…” he replied while the memory replayed in his head “I remember we didn’t know where we were. A woman helped me out of my pod…”

“That was Mayverna” Isabel replied. “She helped me out also, while Lyatso helped Tess and Michael”

“Oh my god…I remember too” Tess replied “I remember he helped us out and helped us learn to balance on our feet, which we learned surprisingly fast. Then they both led us quickly out into the desert…because something wasn’t right…”

“There were sounds of gunshots in the air…” Michael broke in, also seeing memories in his head.
“They pulled us by our hands and hid us in different areas. They then went out to face the threat.”

“We were all so scared… I remember they had no means of defending themselves besides their basic powers. In the rush to get us away, they had left everything here in the chamber…” Isabel said pointing to the aged weapons, or what appeared to be weapons, in the corner. The shined a menacing black color.

“They were valiant.” Max replied. “Without fear they led them, Earth’s military, with small distractions to the other side of the desert…and we waited.”

“We waited for hours…but they never came back.” Isabel said sadly.

“They gave their lives so that we could live…” Tess said with shining eyes, unshed tears floating at the surface.

Kyle reached over and pulled her into a hug while Michael was inspecting the pod cavities. All of a sudden Michael realized he could feel a cool air coming from the other side.

“Max, there is something on the other side of this wall!” he exclaimed as he began to crawl through one of the lower cavities.

“Michael! Wait! We don’t know what could be on the other side!” Maria exclaimed, frantic that Michael would be hurt and grabbed one of his ankles.

“Michael wait for us..” Max said but was interrupted by Michael yelling at Maria.

“Maria let go of my foot!”

“No Michael…wait!” she replied just as he pulled free of her.

As Michael tumbled into the new chamber, his presence seemed to activate the lights and a luminescent light filled the area.

“Guys, you have to see this…” he said in awe.

After everyone finished crawling through the opening they were speechless as they took in the scene around them.

They were in a chamber made of the same blue glass material they had seen in the dream shared by Tess and Michael. In the middle of the chamber was a tall shaft of light that shimmered and seemed to radiate power.

The power made the girls hair stand on end, like static electricity, and they all simultaneously reached up to smooth their hair. As the eight of them stared down at something that caught their eye on the floor they were faced with something that made allof their hair stand on end.

On the floor was a huge symbol with four circles extending from it, each on the end of a stem. Two circles were joined by a V shape and the V shapes were joined in the middle. It almost looked like a K with circles on the ends except it was symmetrical. Isabel immediately recognized it. It was the symbol for unity.

Painted next to each circle were two faces, eight faces total….they were the faces of those staring down at it…

[sunshine6258]

Trude-Well, your answers will be answered in this chapter...Hee Hee, well most of them. Thanks for all of your enthusiasm. I love every second of it!

Sibylle-Thank you Thank you Thank you!! I love hearing your encouragement!

Redrumm-Like I told Trude...your questions shall be answered! =) Thank you for your continued faithful f/bing. I really appreciate it!

Rhonda Ann-Your questions will be answered too!! I hope you like the update and hope to hear what you think after you read it! =) Thank you for your encouraging f/b!

Timelord31-Thanks for your faithful f/b as well. I can always count on it! I hope this chapter makes your f/b longer next time. Enjoy!

Thank you to all my other readers who are enjoying this story, but have not left f/b. I appreciate your faithful reading!! =)

Special Note:

I'm getting close to wrapping up this story, and would appreciate your f/b now more than ever. Once I wrap it up, I haven't decided if there will be a second installment as well. Let me know all of your thoughts!!

~Andrea


Chapter 27

Tess looked down at her painted face then looked up at Kyle in complete shock. Why was Kyle’s face painted next to hers?

Kyle looked down at his own face and felt sweat begin to bead on his forehead. Had Tess come in here and painted that? If she hadn’t who had? What the heck was going on…he thought as he looked back down at Tess.

“I knew it…I knew it couldn’t be chance…” Liz said amazed as she stared down at her face painted next to Max’s. “I felt it the moment my touch made that handprint glow…”

“What couldn’t be chance?” Max was beyond confused. He didn’t know what he had been expecting exactly. A ship, a portal home, a map of some sort…anything but this… He was completely floored. He looked back at Liz and saw realization in her eyes. Could she be right? Could his being on Earth mean more than they all thought all along? When he looked back in her eyes he felt the depths of her love for him…fathomless depths…the love he reflected to her…

After crawling through the wall, Alex helped Isabel to stand. He still had a firm grip on her hand when the symbol on the floor had come into focus. Isabel had instantly recognized the symbol for unity, but was exceedingly confused as to why their faces were painted on the floor. She didn’t realize her grip had tightened on Alex’s hand until he squeezed her hand back. His face had turned as white as snow, and his eyes were round as saucers; though his grip never weakened.

“That we are all connected somehow…on a deeper level…” Maria replied for Liz to Max’s question.

Maria, whom you would typically expect to be freaking out about now, was strangely calm. She was regarding the symbol with a furrowed brow, as if by staring at it long enough, the answer would come to her.

Michael was looking from Maria to the symbol and back again. Where was his wacky girlfriend that he had come to know? At that moment she looked back at him and a slow smile spread across her features. The smile was somehow even more disturbing; but when he looked in her eyes he saw peace, trust, and happiness. How could she be happy about this? She didn’t even know what it meant?

As if in answer to his question she said “That we are meant for each other…”

A change in the brightness of the room, alerted the eight of them that something was happening. As their eyes were drawn once again to the tall shaft of light, they felt themselves drawn, not of their own accord, to the symbol. Their feet seemed to float just above the ground and they were placed next to their faces at the four corners of the symbol. Their hands were joined with their partner, and four blue circles of light encircled the couples.

Like a strong wind the girls clothes were removed, and a yellow haze surrounded their bodies, making subtle curves visible, but nothing more. Before the switch from clothes to haze, the boys were astounded to have gotten a glimpse of their women’s naked beauty. Their eyes were only for their partner though, and they didn’t catch a glimpse of anyone else. Before they had any time to react to that wondrous sight other than a slight tightening in their groin, their own clothing was removed in another rush of wind and they were in turn surrounded in a yellow haze. The girls in turn, felt their mouth go dry from the sight of the boy’s brief nakedness before the haze surrounded them too, and they let out a small gasp of awe.

Before another blink of an eye, they found they were dressed again. The girls had on thin floor length white dresses. The Dresses were gathered just below their breasts with a simple satin like ribbon and clung to them in all the right places. They were sleeveless with the material gathered above their shoulders with the satin ribbon. The ribbon wove down their arms and was tied in a simple bow at the base of their wrists. Their hair was then caught up, as if by unseen hands and arranged in different ways upon their heads. More of the satin ribbon was woven through, as were tiny white flowers that they didn’t recognize.

The boys had on a white tunic like shirt that extended down to just below their knees. It was gathered at their waist with a white cord that was knotted in the front. All of their feet were bare.

Heavy breathing could be heard all around for obvious reasons. Besides the initial shock of seeing their partner naked, there was also the fear of being controlled. Who was behind this? Would they gain back the ability to move? They each looked back into their partners eyes for support when they heard a strong voice.

“Welcome Royalty” they heard a voice say from the glowing stream of light in the middle of the room.

I know you must be confused, but fear not. You have been chosen; all of you, for such a time as this. I come to you on behalf of the creators. The creators of this Milky Way Galaxy, The whirlwind Galaxy, and many other worlds.

The balance must be restored that was severed long ago. Only then can peace reign in the place of chaos.

You are here by the means that was necessary to bring you to this point. Prophecy on Antar sped the way for the Antarians, and destiny or fate for the Humans. Let me start at the beginning.

Humans were always meant to mingle with the race of Antar. Their deep capacity for emotions brought a balance to the fierce militant drive of the Antarians. Long ago, the people of earth were once an ally of Antar. Both civilizations thrived and enjoyed wealth, happiness, and peace. Places like this one, gateways between worlds, can be found on Earth and on Antar, but have been hidden or forgotten. Deep imbedded instinctive knowledge of how the key, or rock handprint would work is in the humans, who are all direct descendents of Earth Royalty from long ago. Earth royalty was given dominion over the gateways on their world, as the Antarians have control over the gateways on theirs. After 1,000 years of peace, Antar in her arrogance broke alliance with Earth, choosing to instead deal only with their own galaxy, and to rule supreme there. Those who knew of the gateways eventually died, and that knowledge was buried with them. The severing of that alliance eventually brought wars that could not be won on earth, and peace that could not be found on Antar. Earth’s Military has always been striving to be what Antar’s always was. Without Antarian strategic training and capacity for effective military tactics, they have fallen short; as with Antar, who struggles with the capacity to love their fellow man and woman unconditionally and without prejudice. Without clear direction even earth has struggled with prejudice to some degree. Both worlds have survived up until now, but make no mistake. If things stay as they are, both will continue to systematically destroy themselves…until there is nothing left. We have heard the cries of both races and you have been chosen to provide the groundwork for the solution.

Now you know the truth…and can begin to understand that your unions have been foretold for centuries. The balance has cried out to us to be restored. The prophecies have been long ignored, but fate has brought you here to this moment. “The strength of four combined will forever bind them. Alliance will bring peace, mixed blood shall heal what pure blood destroys. Praise be to the God of Creation.” The words of this long forgotten prophecy shall finally be fully realized today. Some on Antar have long speculated, Wise One’s like Bethsheta who knew of the birth of Ava but not of Rath. They grasped partial meaning, but none have seen the truth. Look down to where you are standing. You are the key. Each melded couple creates four individual units that can be combined to form the most powerful unit seen since the beginning of time. Your unions will make Antar an ally of Earth again, and in this way will lead the way to ultimate peace for both planets. The mixed blood children of the melded couples will be the most powerful and influential leaders in their time. Instinctively, you all new you would be at a place in your life like this. You chose your paths when you chose your mates. You have been dressed and prepared in the traditional melding way; the way of leaders of planets. In this way, your meld would also make you best suited to hold court over your planets. Love represented by your joined hands, physical compatibility represented by your brief view of your partner naked, and trust represented by being here at the same time with each other. Your white clothing represents the purity of your heart. With all of these criteria met, your meld will be the strongest in centuries; your reign the most just. The last human to have access to this portal, was given a vision by the creators; as he would be the last living person to have access to this room for many centuries. He knew drawing it here would not raise any questions, and drew the symbol you are now standing on in one human day. The door to this chamber remained shut until the arrival of Mayverna and Lyatso on this planet. Mayverna was very special as she was not only from the planet Kentwaisis, but she was the last living person on Antar that had human blood flowing through her veins. That is why she was able to get in and out of this chamber. She could not use the portal to travel though, because that knowledge had been lost. Mayverna & Lyatso escaped their captors to help release you from your pods. It is unfortunate that they gave their lives away so that you would live, but very courageous. They could not begin to understand the bigger capacity of what their decision held...The means to heal two worlds.”

Everyone looked at the person standing in the circle with them, in a way that they never looked at them before… All confusion was gone. It was like suddenly the scales had fallen away from their eyes and they saw the truth for what it was. With this understanding brought new feelings of inadequacy and fear though…after all they were too young right?

“The strength of four lies in your hands. Are you ready to meld and begin the journey to peace together? I ask you this because we will not force the hand of peace upon your people. We will not force you to do something that you don’t feel you are capable of. I tell you now though, that you are, and that the means to obtain it are in your very grasp. The eight of you represent four couples that have the capacity to love your melded partner unconditionally, and never wavering. Your youth has not let your love tarnish or fade. Embrace your youth for it is an advantage. You eight now truly understand the meaning of life. It is Love. Only love can heal your worlds now. You must be the example. Choose wisely children.”