Ch. 11
Liz was overwhelmed by the emotions coming from Michael. She saw him as a child coming out of the pods and sensing danger, and ushering Max and Isabel out of the chamber. She saw them walk down the hill in the desert, not talking but communicating through their emotions. She felt love and loyalty from Michael to Max and Isabel. She saw headlights approaching in the distance and felt his fear. She saw Max and Isabel standing in the road looking expectantly at the car and holding their hands out to him. She felt his fear and apprehension as he hid behind a rock. The feeling of overwhelming sadness as he watched the couple get out of the car and walk over to Max and Isabel and eventually take them away in the car, which confused him, because he didn’t recognize the strange object that took them away. She felt his loneliness as he wandered around the desert for 2 days before he was finally discovered. After that the images began to speed up. He saw the relief and recognition when he first saw Max and Isabel again. And then she saw him seeing her for the first time. He had just reunited with Max and Isabel on the playground. Max kept glancing over in Liz’s direction where she was playing hopscotch with Maria. Michael eventually followed his gaze and saw Liz. She felt his recognition and immediate love for her, but at the same time the recognition was different than he felt with Max and Isabel. She felt his hurt and anger towards his foster father, who was always drunk and abusive. She felt his hate for this town and his need to get out and find his real home. She felt his envy towards Max and Isabel as he watched them play a game of basketball with their adoptive parents. She felt his overwhelming desire to have a real family. She saw him talk to Maria for the first time in one of their classes, and felt how he was immediately attracted to her and wanted to be with her, and she felt the turmoil this caused in his head, he was not supposed to get attached to people. She felt his love for Max and Isabel grow over the years. And finally she saw him find out that he could have a family in Josh and Liz and his immense excitement. Just as Liz was about to break away she was sucked even farther into his sub consciousness.
She saw a whirling of stars and suddenly she was standing in a garden. She looked around and saw beautiful flowers, some of which she had never seen before. They were exotic and bright, and quite frankly out of this world. But then again, Liz reflected, she didn’t think she was on Earth anymore. She looked to her left and saw a giant white palace. It was more magnificent than any thing she had seen in her history books on Earth. She saw three children running around playing tag. They appeared to be around fifteen years old. There was a dark haired boy, a dark haired girl and a blonde girl.
“Na na na Rathos… you can’t catch me,” the dark haired girl taunted.
“I’m not trying to get you ‘Reina… I’m going for Vil,” the boy responded. He pretended to go after the blonde girl but then suddenly changed course and tagged the unsuspecting dark haired girl. As he was doing this a man walked out of the palace and over to them.
“Haha very good my son, you will make an excellent war general for future King Zan someday with strategies like that.”
“No daddy… Rath will never be as good as you are!” the dark haired girl said as she ran over and gave him a hug, “tag you’re it!”
“Lareina don’t be dumb. Father can’t play tag, he’s too busy running the palace while the High King is visiting Zan during his training.”
“I miss my brother… I haven’t seen him in a month,” Vilandra said quietly.
“I’ve never met your brother. Everybody always talks about him, but every time I come to visit Daddy and Rathos he’s never here,” Lareina cried out despairingly.
“Don’t worry little one. I’ve come out to tell you about the big party that will be held in Rath’s and your honor. A huge sixteenth birthday ball for my two almost twins. And of course Prince Zan will attend a party for his best friend Rath,” Aidan exclaimed.
“Yay a party! Can Mommy and Jabari come?”
“Of course they can Reiny. How is your mother doing and why doesn’t Jabari come with you to visit the palace anymore?” Aiden said with overwhelming sadness in his eyes.
“Mommy’s good. Jabari says he doesn’t want to come anymore. He doesn’t like your wife or Avaria.”
“Well that makes two of us,” Rath grumbled miserably.
“Rathos! Don’t talk about your mother and half sister like that!” Aidan reprimanded.
“Well it’s true, mostly about Ava. ‘Reiny is a much better half sister.”
“Ya, I wish Lareina lived in the palace instead of Ava,” Vilandra added.
“That’s enough Rathos and Vilandra. That is no way to talk about Zan’s soon to be fiancé.”
“What???” responded the two children completely flabbergasted.
“Oh I thought you knew. Not only will this party be to celebrate Rath and Reina, but also to announce the engagement of Zan and Ava.”
“Does Zan know about this?” Vilandra demanded to know.
“Well, Princess, I’m sure he’s been informed by now. You can find out for yourself, he should be home later this evening. But it’s getting late and I have to get you home Reina before your mother starts to worry.”
“Aww man I’m never going to get to meet Prince Zan. I want to meet the person Rathos likes more than me.”
“I do not like him more than you. I like you equal. He’s like my brother, and you’re my sister,” Rathos told his sister.
“Ok, ok. Make sure you find out what Zan has to think about his engagement and let me know. I’m sure he’ll have quite the opinion on it. Bye Rath, bye Vil. See you at the party!”
Aidan and Lareina leave. Rath and Vil continue to wander about the palace gardens as it gets dark out. They hear the sound of bugles and know that means the arrival of the High King, and Zan should be with the High King.