Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Roswellian characters. My plot springs from the original plot of Roswell, which I also do not own.
Chapter Eleven
Two weeks had passed since training started, everyone’s abilities were growing and Liz determined that she should begin exploring her own unique gifts. Ava and Zan had agreed when she broached the topic and so she had told them that on the morrow she would commence.
Liz gazed at Zan, lying on his stomach in their hotel bed. She felt as if she’d known him forever, the way he treated her, the way he seemed to know her inside out and the way that every time he spoke to her he said something to make her feel confident when she lacked it; he truly was her other half.
The sudden urge to swim overcame her and Liz’s thoughts drifted to the hotel’s pool. One of the advertisements of the cheap hotel was it’s indoor pool. Ava and Liz had not had the time or inclination to try out the “luxuries” of the hotel, but Liz seemed to have bouts of insomnia of late and at the moment she couldn’t imagine a more perfect time to go for a swim. She rummaged around for her swim suit and changed quickly, her eyes always on Zan.
Liz made her way through the lobby and down a corridor to shelter of a surprisingly well kept room with a large rectangular pool. Lounge chairs were scattered about and a few tables were placed at the four corners of the room. The vacancy of the room was resounding, but Liz reveled in the alone moment. Obviously going out was out of the question per her own decree/Zan’s order- therefore this absolute moment of aloneness was vastly appreciated. Placing her towel on a chase lounge, Liz took to the pool at a run, diving into the 10 ft end.
The water was cool and refreshing, a shock to the senses and a blissful relief from the New Mexico heat. Liz felt weightless, graceful- as if she were a part of the water. Opening her eyes, she turned her head left and right, seeing the vast and clear blue water surrounding her. The need for air arose and she pumped her legs toward the surface- bursting through- Liz laughed outright and spun around creating ripples that expanded outward.
Diving back down and surging like bullet to the shallower end, Liz did a flip and rebounded off the wall, breast-stroking back toward the deep side. When Liz exhaustedly finished out four laps, she paused to hang off the side of the pool near the diving board.
“God this is great.”
“It is nice.” Liz’s eyes snapped to the figure hovering above her. The guy standing on the pools edge looked to be in his early-twenties. Liz assessed his features: light brown hair, crystal blue eyes, a defined build, a little over six foot, a long, strong nose, and full lips that would make most girls weak-kneed. Despite her appreciation for his hunky features, Liz couldn’t help but compare him to Zan- to whom he quite clearly fell short.
“I’m Nathaniel.” He leaned down and extended his hand to Liz.
“Nice to meet you. I was actually just getting out.” She made a move to lift her body up and over the edge of the pool, toward her chase.
“Oh please, don’t leave on my account. I could come back later if you like.” He backed off and turned toward the exit.
“Wait.” She sighed. “I guess it’s a large enough pool to share. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude. My name’s Liz. I’m involved with someone and well meeting a strange guy in the middle of the night is not exactly safe.” Liz settled back down into the water, treading the same space she had been just before he had approached her.
“Oh, I realize that. I didn’t mean to intrude. It’s nice to meet you. I can understand why you would be leery. I’m here on vacation with my family. My dad’s a geologist. He’s excavating here in the desert.” Nathaniel made his way around to the shallow end and slowly moved into the pool. He started rubbing his arms and clutching his sides protectively. “It’s a little cold.”
Liz laughed and dove under before resurfacing a moment later a few feet closer. Her senses were picking up some odd powers off Nathaniel, but she couldn’t exactly bluntly ask if he was inner or outer galactic. “Always is if you walk in. I just dive in, best way to get used to it.”
“I know, but there’s this obstinate part of me that always says gradual entrance is the best way to get used to it. Seems as though I’m a sadist.” They both chuckled a bit and Liz tried to explore her feelings of how foreign his aura felt. “You could just ask you know.”
Liz tilted her head, he couldn’t possibly sense her probing could he. “Ask what?”
“Who I am.” Nathaniel’s smile remained in tact, but she felt a shift in his demeanor.
“Okay, I’ll bite; who are you?” Deciding it was better to play stupid, Liz smiled coyly.
“Hathor, son of Bycon- second son of the Azerian Empire.” Her eyes doubled in size and Liz back pedaled. She didn’t know exactly what the Azerian Empire was, but she couldn’t trust anyone right now. “I’m not here to harm you, highness.”
“Highness?”
“I know who you are. Queen Elizabeth of Antar. Everyone felt your coronation presented by King Zander of Antar. I was sent to earth by my planet to protect and serve the Azerian’s ally. King Zander struck a deal with my relatives back on our home planet to create a better united front against the enemy. When he was reborn here, I and my army were sent to search him and the royal family out. Your recent assent to power alerted me and my troops to the exact location of the reborn royals. I am sworn to protect and serve the Antarian royal family.”
“Why the ruse if you planned to tell me?” Liz gazed at him suspiciously.
“Well I felt you probing me, I figured that you were obviously not buying the vacation thing. I guess it’s foolish to try and pull something over on a queen.” Gave a devastating smile that lit up his face and submerged himself in the frigid waters. Liz watched him glide through the waters and though he had purged his secrets, she felt as though he had something to hide, something that went beyond honor and duty.
When he resurfaced, Liz was still keeping a float at the deep end, her desire to swim no longer existent. “I think I’m going to head back to my room. It was…interesting to meet you. I’ll inform…Zander that you are here at his disposal. He’ll be in touch. What room are you staying in?” Liz held her breath for his reaction.
“274. I’ll await your summons.” He bowed his head and Liz nodded her head in acknowledgement before hoisting herself out of the water and in spite of her clearly involved status, sauntered sexily over to the chase for her towel.
She felt his eyes on her as she exited and a small part of her was thrilled by the male attention, a minute part. As Liz closed the door behind her when she returned to her room, she began to towel dry her hair and then stripped off her suit. She tossed on an oversized shirt Zan had left lying about and crawled into their bed, snuggling up beside him. His body radiated heat and she realized just how cold her skin had become in the chilly pool water.
Zan murmured something in his sleep and Liz rose up on her side glancing at his handsome visage and gently ran her fingertips over his brow, along the curve of his cheekbones, and down the curve of his jaw. “You’re beautiful, Zan. I’m so in love with you. I met a very charming attractive man downstairs, but he couldn’t compare. I wish so much for this war to end, so that I could live, to love you the way I dream of. You are better. The dream I didn’t even know could possibly come true. When this is over, you and I are going to get married.” She leaned in and placed a kiss to his soft lips and closed her eyes for a moment before pulling free and resituating herself by his side for a night’s rest.
Later, Liz fidgeted by the phone- waiting for Maria to call. Everyone else had checked in, but apparently Maria had gone AWOL on checking in. The phone gave a shrill ring and Liz lunged forward to pick up the receiver, but when her fingers wrapped around the handle a vision hit.
A sandstorm blew around the pod chamber. Snatches of conversation whirled around, carried by the air. Maria’s face flashed to the forefront, she shrieked, her pain was intense. More voices, a flash of a silver palm print, and the sound of dragging. Maria’s face became clear again- she has blood running down the side of her face, dripping off her chin; someone had a grip on her upper-arm, and her eyelids were slipping shut. She met Liz’s eyes and a jolt ran through her.
“LIZ!” Maria screamed out and jerked forward.
Liz came out of her vision panting. “Zan!”
Zan came crashing out from the bathroom at Liz’s call, and rushed to her side.
“What’s wrong? What happen?” He asked quickly.
“I had another vision. I saw Maria. Someone has her, she’s terrified, and she was hurt Zan. Her head was bleeding. She screamed out for me, but then I lost the vision. God, someone took her.” Now in full panic mode, Liz stood, pushing passed Zan, and started to pace. “We…We have to get her, find her. I saw a sandstorm…um I think the pod chambers, but it was dusty it could’ve been some other part of the desert. God, she was so scared. I felt like she could see me. Our eyes met- Zan we have to call the others.” Liz paused and turned to Zan who has since started dialing numbers; Liz calmed a degree and nodded her head trying to sort out the shifting images.
Twenty minutes later everyone was assembled in Liz and Zan’s rented room, all knew what was going on, and everyone was nervously shifting from one foot to the other. Liz recounted what she saw once more and they glanced around the semi-circle from one face to another.
“I can’t be sure when this happened. I felt like Maria could actually see me. She screamed out to me.” Liz said. Isabel locked eyes with her and a frown marred her beautiful visage.
“Maybe it was more than a vision? If you actually meet her eyes and she shouted out to you, maybe you connected with her.” Isabel suggested.
“But it felt like a vision.” Liz shook her head in confusion and took on a pensive look.
“Well what if your powers are more advanced than what we thought? What if it was a vision, but you took it a step further, you reached out to the future?” Alex, who had been the least talkative of the group, spoke up for the first time.
“I don’t even know if that’s possible. That would mean I’m capable of influencing the future- possibly even time travel. Alex I don’t know.” Liz gazed around at everyone. Just then the phone rang- Max answered as he was closest. He had a short “uh-huh” and “yeah” conversation before hanging up and staring at Liz, mouth agape.
“What is it Max?” Isabel jumped in at her brother’s expression.
“Who was on the phone?” Zan demanded.
“It was Sheriff Valenti, your dad Kyle. He just received a call from Amy DeLuca; she reported Maria missing- she never got home last night.” Everyone paled at his words.
“WHAT! I thought Kyle got her to and from work!” Liz rounded on Kyle who looked ready to jump out of his skin.
“I did. I dropped her off in front of her house and she made it in, I stayed to make sure.” Kyle defended.
“Then what the HELL happened!” Liz was in a rage. Everyone but Michael had spoken up, he seemed to be in shock. “Michael.” Liz’s voice had grown soft, she approached him. When she touched his shoulder he snapped back from his daze and gazed at Liz. “Michael, we’ll find her.”
“I know. I was thinking, I think you connected with the past. Because what if Maria had been abducted from her bedroom last night, she wouldn’t have had any kind of protection, or been able to defend herself. If you saw her being dragged out to the desert it wouldn’t have taken them all night to get out there.” Michael let loose with his theory and then he was staring at Liz. “I think you should try and connect with her.”
“No way! That would put her in danger. If another alien is there they might sense her!” Ava broke in, halting her and Tess’s quiet conversation.
“MARIA COULD DIE!” It seemed Michael had lost pretense of calm.
A loud whistling brought everyone’s eyes back to rest on Zan. “Look, it’s up to Liz. I don’t like the idea anymore than Ava, but Maria’s a part of the unit and we’re going to get her back.” Zan pointedly meet Michael’s furious gaze.
“I’ll try. I mean all of you are here with me; I’m a lot safer than Maria is right now. If I can get through I will.” Moving to the bed, Liz sat down and decided it was do or die time, she had to explore her powers depth and she had to do it to save the life of her one of her best friends.
Closing her eyes and going still, Liz called up an image of Maria- one from before the alien abyss had swallowed them whole- and held it.
“Maria.” Surrounded in darkness, Liz felt like she was close though; quieting once more, she dove deeper into the memory of her best friend. She remembered her smell, the light patchouli scent mixed with lavender; she hear the husky feminine sound of her laughter, and then she felt it- she connected. Maria, scared and tired, was leaning against a rock wall inside the pod chamber. Words didn’t reach her, but she saw Maria. “Maria?” Liz attempted to gain her attention, but Maria was staring elsewhere.
Turning to see what had Maria so captivated, Liz froze. There in the middle of the pod chamber stood Lonnie and Rath. They were talking to Maria, but Liz’s range of hearing seemed to be slightly out of focus. Recalling the sound of their voices, Liz tilted her ear toward them and immediately she found her hearing.
“We’re not going to kill you, yet. Once my sweet brother comes looking for you, and he will- duke’s all about loyalty- we’ll get rid of him. You’re a bargaining chip for now.” Lonnie’s voice held more than a hit of hubris and her expression was one of supreme pleasure.
“She looks like a good fuck though. We only have to keep her alive, don’t see why she can’t entertain us.” Maria cried out then, and Liz snapped her head back to look at her. Rath had advanced on Maria, he held her tight to his chest, her back pressed against his front, as he ran his tongue along her neck and his right hand grasped at her chest.
“Leave her alone, Rath. Girly ain’t woman enough for you.” Rath released Maria and smirked while advancing on Lonnie. He grabbed her up into his arms and their lips crashed together. Disgusted, Liz returned her gaze back to Maria; poor Maria who sat quivering and hold herself huddled on the floor.
“Maria.” Maria’s eyes snapped in her direction and became wild.
“Liz!” Maria whispered, her voice tremulous and panicked.
“Maria, we’re coming for you. I promise. You can explain what happened later. Just don’t provoke them, okay? I’m coming for you, we all are.” Liz felt like crying, tears of relief and worry were already cascading down Maria’s cheeks and she gave a meek nod.
Liz came back to herself, and surged off the bed, bounding for the door. “We have to go. She’s in the pod chambers. Lonnie and Rath have her.” The door slammed open as Liz took off, shouting her instructions behind her for the others to hear.
Zan caught up with her, but Liz was too far gone- her instinct had gone into hyper-alert. Liz, Zan, Ava, and Max packed in the jeep and took off first, they had made it to the parking lot before the others. Liz demanded Max hand over the keys and when she had them the jeep peeled out of the parking lot. Isabel, Tess, Michael, and Alex squeezed in with Kyle and took off after them.
“Liz what happened? Did Rath and Lonnie see you?” Ava popped the question off while Liz made a sharp right.
“I don’t think so, they were to busy keeping each other preoccupied, waiting for us to come to them.
“So it’s a trap.” Max tossed in.
“No Max, not at all. They kidnapped a member of our inner-circle because they had nothing else to do.” Liz’s sarcasm was biting and venomous, but she was wild with anger and fear.
“Sorry.” He mumbled back at her.
“Look forget it. She’s not really hurt, terrified yes, hurt no. She looked a bit banged up from being dragged, but I don’t think she’s injured.” Another swerved to the left and Liz hit sixty-five, heading for the open desert.
“My fucking sister and her bastard lover. They’re not working alone, I can guarantee it. Lonnie’s too much a follower to pull this shit off, and Rath was made for taking commands. This could be bigger than we think, Liz. This is a trap, yes, but whose set it?” Zan leaned over in his seat to grasp her hand- trying to knock so sense into her adrenaline filled mind.
“Fine. We’ll take whoever’s in charge out too. Maria has been one of my best friends since we were five, Zan. I don’t care who the fuck’s in charge, they wanted us here, we’ll I’m delivering their wish personally. If they happen to get more than they expected, well that’s just too bad.” Liz slammed her foot down on the gas pedal, and they hit ninety-five.
“Uh, Liz…I know you want to help Maria, but aren’t we going a tad bit fast?” Max shouted from the backseat, the wind whipping about them.
“NO!” came her thunderous reply.
“Liz you need to calm down.” Ava coaxed. There was a subtle decrease in speed and as they neared the pod chambers, Liz decreased with a skid of the tires and the jeep came to an abrupt and jolting stop.
The others showed up ten minutes later as Liz paced impatiently. “Finally. Listening I’ve been thinking and I have an idea. Ava, Isabel, and Alex will stay out here. Max-” Liz was cut off by Zan, he placed a hand on her shoulder and stepped forward.
“We’re going to do this my way. Liz, you’re not thinking right at the moment. NO, listen- don’t interrupt. Ava, Isabel, and Alex should stay her to keep watch for others. Max and Tess- I want you by the entrance of the pod chambers while the others circle from below. Kyle, you and Michael will come in behind me and Liz; when I say you two come in and grab Maria- get out. That’s all you have to do, don’t fight unless you have to got me? Me and Liz can handle Lonnie and Rath. Now we know someone else is running this show. I want you, Alex to watch for suspicious activity; Ava and Isabel will be doing the guarding and circling, I’m making it your responsibility to determine the real ring leader, or to at least make sure everyone gets back to the cars. Now let’s go.” Zan pushed his way between Tess and Ava, Liz following closely behind.
“Do you really think it’s safe for Alex? I mean I know I was the one to suggest it, but maybe we should make him and Kyle get out of here. They don’t have powers.” Liz voiced her fears.
Alex, Isabel, and Ava were already positioned at the bottom of the rock formation. “I think that they’d come back in the middle of it anyway and end up hurt worse. They might not have our abilities, but they have hearts just like the rest of us.” Zan whispered back. They made it too the entrance and Tess and Max took up positions on either side of the entry way.
Michael and Kyle stood directly behind Liz as she watched Zan wave his hand over the rock wall, then pressed it flat against the silver handprint that appeared. The rock formation shook and the pod chamber revealed itself to them. Liz and Zan walked in, facing Lonnie and Rath, ignoring Maria- who cried out upon their entrance.
“What’s up Duke?” Rath’s arrogant smirk was in place as he stood slightly behind Lonnie.
“Rath.” One word full of fury.
“Aw…Not happy to see us little brother?” Lonnie was fixing her clothes a bit, but she caught his eye and grinned.
“I wouldn’t say that. I’ve wanted to meet up with you two for quite a while now.” Zan stepped forward, but Liz cut him off.
“Ah…So this is queenie? I remember you. Good lips. She work you over good, Duke? Last time I checked she was with your replacement though.” Crudely, Rath ran his eyes up and down Liz’s body and then rested on her chest. “Bet she’s a good tumble.” Rath flicked his tongue out at Liz suggestively and Zan snarled at him beyond logical thought.
“Zan ignore him. He’s trying to get a rise out of you.” Liz watched Lonnie cautiously. The bitch had been inching her way toward the back of the cave, and in a movement she had snatched a dagger that had thus far gone unseen.
As it came hurtling toward the, Rath made his move; rushing forward to catch Zan around the middle. Liz reacted, her hand went up, but the dagger was to fast; it embedded itself in her palm and Liz cringed in pain. “NOW MICHAEL!” Liz knew Zan was too busy to give the signal. Michael burst in the room with Kyle and the two took hold of Maria. Michael paused for a moment, staring as Liz pulled the dagger clean and watched in awe as it was engulfed in flames and thrown back at Lonnie.
“Liz do you-”
“GET THE FUCK OUT NOW! THAT’S AN ORDER!” Liz screamed as she gingerly tucked her wounded hand behind her back and threw up her other hand to send a blast at Lonnie, who had caught the dagger before it hit her. Zan and Rath were on the floor wrestling one another and hit each other with close range power blasts. She spared a glance to make sure that Michael, Kyle, and Maria made it out of the chamber before diving to the side- avoiding an energy blast.
As Liz skidded across the floor a sudden throb went through her body, and her seal burned her flesh. A wave of nausea hit her and then her power was crackling green energy across her skin; she searched with her eyes for Zan and when she found him, he was hoisting himself off the ground, energy zinging through him as well. “ZAN!” Rath was on the floor, he didn’t move- probably dead- but Lonnie raged forward toward him. Liz pushed herself up on her bleeding hand, and released a surge of silver fire from her open palm. Before Lonnie could reach Zan, or make a move to blast him- she was encased by the fire and smoke began to rise. Liz turned her face away even as she fed the fire.
“Liz stop!” She pulled her hand back at Zan’s command and looked up. He stood from the ground, a few scratches, and a burn mark on his torso where the shirt he had been wearing was burned away- but he looked relatively fine. Liz got to her feet and the two made their way to the exit. Once outside they glanced around and found that it was a full on ambush. Tess and Max were a bit further from the entrance than when Liz and Zan had entered, and were fighting off skins.
Zan joined the fray and cleared the path down the rock formation, and Liz grabbed hold of Max in time to pull him out of the way of an oncoming blast; she threw up her good hand and sent three enemies flying and clutched Max to her side with her injured hand. Max appeared to have taken a hit from behind, his whole back was red and some of the skin charred. Glancing over at Tess, Liz realized that she was trying to use her mind warp. On further inspection, Liz saw Isabel being attacked by four skins, Alex was behind her, struggling with another. Terrified she swung her head to Zan who was fighting beside Ava.
Michael and Kyle were defending Kyle’s car- clearly they had put Maria in the backseat. “Shit.” Liz raised her uninjured hand to Max’s back and willed him to heal. “Get down there by Isabel and help and Alex. Get them, Michael, and Kyle out of here. I’ll take care of the others. Go.” Max hesitated for a fraction of a second realizing that Liz was fighting one-handed, but at her stern reproving glare he took off, blasting and using his shield.
“Tess get the up. Move. We have to make it down to Ava and Zan.” The blond glanced up, concentration broken and reached out a hand to Liz, who took it and pulled her to her feet. A shield erupted around them and Liz pooled her energy as blasts and energy shocks hit her energy shield. “Stop squirming.” Tess was trembling in Liz’s hold and Liz was losing patience for her; between her wound and the energy she was expending the girl was just a nuisance.
They reached the bottom or the slope and Liz dropped her shield to join the fight. Ava was going strong, unharmed, and skilled. Tess dropped to the ground once more and closed her eyes to concentrate. “If you’re going to sit there I want this mind warp to be good. Ava, join her; get it going fast.” The other two women complied and Liz placed herself at Zan’s side. Their enemies amassed at approximately thirty in numbers. Intertwining their hands, Liz focused her mind on the seal. Light shimmered around her and Zan and together they attacked. The moment a blast made contact the energy caused the husks to crumble. The blasts built in size and took out three at a time.
Liz chanced a look in the others direction and was relieved to see they had made it to Kyle’s car and that they were all piled in and head out. Michael and Isabel hung out the side windows throwing off stray skins and blasting the path clear for them to escape. Coming back to herself, Liz realized that Ava and Tess had caused some sort of distraction and that she was being half-pulled/half-dragged by Zan in the direction of Max’s jeep.
Liz shook loose his grasp on her hand and the doors to the car flew open, she remembered giving the keys back to Max and dwelled on it for half a second before hopping in the driver’s seat and telekinetically shocking the car to a start. Once they were all in, Liz floored the jeep and it flew over rocks and debris- accelerating quickly and it was all Liz could do to maneuver around boulders and passed skins without breaking the continual mind warp Ava and Tess had going.
Liz kept her eye in the rearview mirror when Ava and Tess broke out of their trance. She estimated a five minute head start and headed for the hotel. “Should we get out of Roswell?” Tess stuttered out.
“No. We have backup at the hotel. Last night I met someone, an ally.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Zan shouted.
“Hello, we’ve kind of had a busy morning. And I wasn’t sure. His name is Hathor, son of Bycon. He comes from something called the Azerian Empire.” Liz’s eyes flickered between the road and Zan. “I met him when I went for a swim at the hotel pool. Do you recognize the name?” Liz prayed that he did, an ally would be welcome.
“Yes. I remember the Azerians. Our trust was new. I’m unsure if we should trust them.” Zan said.
“Well I say whatever help we can get we take, we are in the middle of a war here.” Poking her head up front she waved a hand at the dashboard, cooling it down a degree and making the car shake less.
“I agree.” Liz spoke up.
“I don’t. We should wait for Max and the others and then make a decision.” Tess argued.
“Right because in the middle of a war we have time to deliberate-” Liz cut off as she caught sight of cars coming up behind them. “We don’t have time.” Liz pulled in to the parking lot of the hotel and cut the car to a stop and took of at a run in the direction she hoped room 274 was.
Banging on the door, Liz saw that Tess, Ava, and Zan were at it once again. The door was thrown open and Liz gazed up into Hathor’s wide eyes. “We’re at war.”
A/N: So here's my surprise for you guys. I wasn't going to update until tomorrow, but I got to writing and it just all came to me. My muse is back. Thank God, you can't possibly realize how stressful not writing is and knowing that you have readers that want an update. Let me know what you think. Enjoy. EK!
Meant for Him [Zan/Liz] ADULT (Epilogue) COMPLETE 09-23-07
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, Erina, Forum Moderators
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Egyptian_Kiss
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 194
- Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:40 pm
- Location: Arizona
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Egyptian_Kiss
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 194
- Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:40 pm
- Location: Arizona
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Roswellian characters. My plot springs from the original plot of Roswell, which I also do not own.
Author's Note: Okay so SURPRISE! Such a quick update for you! I was inspired and Chapter Twelve just presented itself. This is the chapter before the Epilogue. I'm so sad that this story is coming to an end- an abrupt one some might point out, but in my opinion a worthy one. I appreciate everyone who has read and reviewed my story. I'm hoping to hear from each and everyone of you. Enjoy...EK!
Chapter Twelve
Zan gazed back in the direction he had felt Liz take off for. The others hadn’t come to the hotel like they had assumed. It was him and Ava standing against the vast army of their enemy. As much as they needed Liz’s help, Zan was awash with relief that she was out of harms way- for the moment.
Ava cried out and Zan spun to face her; three skins were facing her and one was off to the right. The delicate flesh of her left arm was scorched, the flesh sizzling permeating the horrible scent of burned skin. In a quick move, Zan threw up his shield around the two of them and dropped it only long enough to fry the three facing her, and blast the fourth backward against the far wall.
“We got to get the fuck out of here!” Ava shouted. Crouching slightly, Zan threw her right arm around his shoulder and proceeded to back up. The skins moved en masse, surging to face them.
“Hold on Aves.” Zan commanded as he swung her up in his arms. In full on run, Zan raced away from the hotel, taking off for a nearby field. Just as they reached it, they heard a roar- the resounding force the skins outraged shouts. Spinning on the spot, Zan put Ava back on her feet and shoved her behind him.
The swarm of skins had parted like the red sea, allowing a path to separate them. Liz, followed by a battalion of men, charged through the enemy ranks. Like a force of nature, Liz shot off fire and blasts in dual movements, rapidly making her way toward him and Ava. She was beautiful and terrible at the same time; her hair was swinging with every step she took and her face, gorgeous and luminescent, was contorted in anger and ferocity.
Zan dropped his guard when she reached him and joined her, throwing out an arm in defense. The men that accompanied Liz were disbanding the skins with skill, even when they were outnumbered and outmaneuvered they kept at it. A golden haired warrior stood amid them shouting orders and glancing at him and Liz as they attacked.
“Zan where are they others? I didn’t see them.” Liz popped off the question as she avoided a particularly brutal blast of what appeared to be icy wind. “Did you know they could do that?” Liz puzzled as she dispatched of the attacker.
“No. The others didn’t come to the hotel. I don’t know where they are!” The last was a outcry as Zan took a hit to the leg. The icy wind had caught his right leg, a shard of what could’ve been glass pierced the skin as it flew by.
“What’s wrong with Ava?” Liz called over her shoulder.
“Got hit! Left arm is burned bad. No time to heal it. I’m not sure what she’s doing.”
Ava poised crouched on the floor eyes closed, arms folded around herself in a protective cocoon. A sudden tidal wave of fire enveloped at least forty of the enemy as Ava’s eyes snapped open. Zan recognized her mind attack and steeled himself against the heat that emanated from were the enemy had been.
“Aves, call to the others! Try and reach Isabel!” Zan turned to Liz uncomprehending.
“Liz she doesn’t have that gift.”
“Yes she does! You guys are in touch with what every human is capable of! If Isabel can do it, so can Ava. Don’t argue. Do it Ava, we’ll keep covering you.” Zan wasn’t sure if Liz was right, but now was not a time for argument. They were breaking even with the skins, but they’d need to do more than that to defeat them.
Zan concentrated on a section of land that the skins stood on and forced himself to gather his energy; he remembered this particular skill- the ability to telepathically shift or heave up ground, but he had yet to try it in this life. Focusing in on the land around twenty or so skins he pushed, let go. The earth shook ominously for several moments and then a four foot crater appeared where the land had been and the chunk of land that had held the skins flipped over and slammed back down onto the space directly next to it. They were buried alive.
Gasping from the exertion, Zan scanned the surrounding of him and Liz- they were in a center of a loose circle surrounded by their allies. His eyes flickered to Liz as she broke the circle to release attacks on the skins, and then returned his eyes to Ava; lines furrowed her brow, and her jaw was taut. Stretching out a hand Zan offered her a bit of strength, praying it helped, before pulling back and attacking again with renewed vigor.
Unexpectedly, Zan was caught around the middle, Liz had stumbled back into him. Moreover, they both went sprawling to the ground. The wind went out of him, and Zan gasped for air. “Liz you okay?” He spoke as best he could and realized she too was breathless.
“Yeah. Fine.” She coughed loudly and pushed to her feet again. A shard of that glass-like weaponry stuck out from her side, but she removed it before he could. The creamy skin of her torso became tainted crimson as blood gushed out her side. Zan tried to reach around her and heal her, but she pushed his hand away and spun away to face the fight once more.
“Now’s not the time. Save your energy.” Tears were running down her face, but she was like nothing he’d ever seen before, she didn’t stop to complain or think of anything, but the fight.
Feeling a touch to his wounded leg, Zan winced and peered down. Ava had reopened her eyes and was staring up at him. “I think I got through. To Tess though, not Isabel. I think they’re coming.” Ava tremulously put out her good arm and held it out for Zan to help her to her feet. He knew he should be fighting and as Liz had pointed out, saving his energy, but Zan ran a hand over Ava’s arm and soothed the tender flesh; then pulled her to her feet.
“Move to the East. Help the soldiers over there. Me and Liz will cover the North and South. I guess we’ll just have to trust our “allies” with the West.” Gritting their teeth against the idea of trusting others with such an important task, the two split up.
Minutes passed and the battle grew more intense and then Zan saw something that set his warm blood to ice. Liz was thrown back, arms wind milling out in front of her as she was sent flying, only to skid on the barren field, scrapping across rocks and dirt on her stomach. Blood oozed from her nose and her eyes closed; he paused mid-blast and stopped breathing. A full minute passed and then her eyes opened, raging and driven. A calm mask fell over her features, and Zan watched attentively as she gained her footing. Her shirt was torn and her shoulder bloody and scratched.
Paralyzed with worry and admiration, Zan took in the image of her. Her hands turned ice blue and burst into flames, her arms, legs, and torso gleamed with an odd powerful light, and then she was moving. He gazed at her as she ran full on toward battle. She took out two skins with the thrust of her right hand, then moved on to a pack of skins. Her intense power poured over the field, rolling outward toward the north part of the field- obliterating every creature in her path; ally and enemy.
Zan tore his eyes from her and shouted orders to Hathor’s men. They followed his instruction without words or even a glance in his direction. Ava was handling herself and Zan felt them- Max and the others. They had just arrived at the hotel and were sprinting toward the hell that surround him.
Michael was the first to break the circle around Zan, then Isabel and Tess. Zan searched for Max, eyes roving over through the gapes of Hathor’s men, but he never showed. “Where the fuck is Max?” Zan yelled toward Isabel who had just slammed a blast to a skins lower back, causing them to disintegrate.
“I don’t know! We lost him as we fought our way toward you. He was ahead of us and then he just disappeared!” Isabel called back.
“Mother-” Zan bit back the words ready to lash out. “We DON’T have time to find him right now!”
“I know! Don’t worry, he can take care of himself.” Isabel cried out as a blast of icy wind caught her full on in the shoulder. “Don’t distract me.” She pulled out tiny pieces of the glass-type daggers.
Zan shielded Isabel as another attack came at her, she wasn’t ready for this kind of fighting! None of them were completely prepared. He dropped the shield and prayed she would make it through. Michael, true to his rank, handled the attacks and was killing off his fair share of skins. Tess had joined up with Ava and the both were blasting off the enemy. Zan ordered Michael to the West and commanded Tess to take up his spot in the South. He made his way toward Liz, who was defending the North once more- the enemy she has destroyed had been quickly replaced.
“How many are there?” Liz questioned as she took out another ten.
“I think there’s another hundred or so. We can handle this.” He debated whether or not to mention Max’s disappearance as he fought off a blast from his front and his left.
“Are the others doing okay?” Liz blasted away one of the skins as they jumped toward her.
“Fine.” No need to distract her.
“Help them. I’m fine.” Liz called to him, pushing him into the center of the circle again.
“They can handle themselves.” He didn’t want to leave her, she was still injured.
“HELP THEM!” Liz cried out, her face had contorted with terror for a moment when she glanced back behind them both. “ISABEL WATCH OUT!” Liz’s once flaming hands extinguished and she threw out the right as she twisted her upper body to face the other girl. A blinding light left Liz’s hand and encompassed all of Isabel, elevating her above the fight and holding her out of the way of an attack. Zan took care of the short, elderly-looking woman who had attacked Isabel. Liz’s eyes were wide with shock, but she moved her hand gingerly back to the ground, and the light let go of Isabel; the other girl who was similarly incredulous landed with a jarring force on her feet.
Zan turned back around in time to see Max running full tilt for Liz and slamming his body into hers, pushing them both to the ground. Stunned, Zan barely registered the oncoming force of the mental attack the skins had sent in a unified wave. Pain, incredible, merciless pain- it torn threw him, he produced a meek shield, but it shattered against the power of his enemy. He opened his mouth to scream, but he couldn’t hear. He ceased to exist in that moment, nothing else was real, but the pain. His organs quivered, his mind compressed, his bones condensed, and his skin burned. It lasted forever and was over in an instant.
Something warm twined with his hand and Zan came back to himself; his shields raised and the attack came to an end. His body shook and he battled with himself to open his eyes. While his body shuddered with relief, he registered that a calming presence stood beside him- and yes, he was still standing, how he didn’t have a clue.
Finally, he was capable of opening his eyes. She was the first thing he saw. Liz gripped his hand, it was her warmth he felt. He realized that the last of the skins had migrated together to attack him, the stood not circling, but in a swarm in front of him. His other hand was free, but he felt a presence nothing like the one Liz gave off, but still a presence. Glancing to his other side he saw Ava. Beside her was Michael and Tess, peering to Liz’s side, comprehension touched his frayed mind. Isabel and Max stood side by side arms extended, hands raised. He braced himself and put up his free hand, mimicking the others.
Together they formed an invisible wall of energy- the strength of which seemed invincible. A moment of clarity settled over him- this was it, this was the war. And they were going to win. The connection between him and Liz, the seal that linked them spread; and together they touched something…something he remember, the granilith. In his previous life it had been a religious icon, a pinnacle of strength, and a source of energy so beyond anything his people could conjure that it had been feared, revered, and fought for. That was why he had died.
Khivar had wanted the thrown, but not just for the title. Whomever the crown belonged to, the granilith blessed with the seal, with energy and access to it’s power- thereby making the ruler dominant, supreme in every sense of the word. Khivar’s thirst for power had driven him to commit treason, gave him reason to control Vilandra, and to start an unholy reign of terror over a world not loyal to him.
Zan let go of his wounds, released his mind, and embraced the power rightfully his and Liz’s. Their mind merged and both he and his queen accepted the energy offered. As one they build the wall, visibly it gelled, rippling with electric shocks and then they forced it- thrust it at the enemy. It ripped through every single one of them. They didn’t disintegrate as a normal blasts effect would prompt, in it’s wake, the energy left shells, husks, hollow unmoving masses of matter.
The backlash of energy hit the royals and only Liz and Zan remained standing; their faces turned away from the devastation they reaped. When the energy reached the end of the field, it dissipated, fading away. Zan relinquished his hold on the seal and mental shook himself, coming back to the present, corporeal form of himself.
“Wow.” Liz breathed out beside him.
The others all around them, Hathor’s men, Max, the others, they were all on the ground, groaning, or attempting to lift themselves back up. “You alright, Aves?” Zan dismissed the others in the wake of Ava- she wasn’t moving. “Ava.” Still nothing. “Avaline?” Stooping down, Zan gently pulled her into his arms, turning her face up toward him.
Shock coursed through him, he felt her for a pulse, and found none. “Zan?” Liz crouched beside him, she has checked to make sure the others were okay and had returned to his side. “Zan is she alright? Ava.” Liz leaned over and placed a hand on the girls arm. “Ava? Ava wake up.” Liz was gasping beside him and shaking the girl in his arms. He couldn’t form thoughts, couldn’t move, didn’t know what to say or do.
“Oh God.” He felt Liz push him away and watched her take Ava in her arms. “Oh God, Zan. Zan! What-” She stopped speaking and started to hyperventilate. He saw all of this from a distance, it didn’t feel real. She was his family, he grew up with her here, she had kept him alive, had not betrayed him, and she was dead. “Zan? Zan what do we do?” Liz was sobbing and the others had come to see what was wrong.
“Liz? Is she okay?” Tess asked. He heard her and looked at her, she was alive, she looked just like Ava, and she was alive.
“Max. Max you have to….she’s not breathing, she’s not-” Zan stared on as Max moved Liz aside and put his hands on her chest. They glowed, he glowed, Ava glowed. Nothing happened. Max tried again, valiantly working his powers- drained as he was, but nothing happened. Ava stayed limp under his touch.
“Zan! Help him. We have to-” Liz broke off with a cry. “We have to help him!”
“She’s gone, Liz. Aves is gone.” He spoke the words even as he tried to wrap him mind around the idea.
“NO! She’s one of my best friends! She’s not gone! Don’t say that!” Liz was screaming at him, even as Max and Michael tried to hug her, calm her. “Don’t touch me!” She pushed them away and they hugged her- despite her protests they held her. Isabel was watching sadly, clutching Tess’s left hand, and her blue eyes filled with tears.
“NO! She’s not dead!” The moment the word left her mouth, Zan’s eyes snapped to her face. Dead. Ava was dead. “The stones! Get the stones! Michael?” Liz’s face had turned hopeful, and she looked at Michael.
“They’re in the pod chamber. But Liz, they’re for healing. Not reanimation. I don’t think-” Michael started.
“I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU THINK!” Liz had shoved him and Max away and leaned toward Zan. Zan mechanically held her, felt her arms come around his body, and she brought him to his feet. “We have to try something!”
“She’s right. We can’t just not try.” Tess said.
“Michael.” Isabel whispered Michael’s name and a tear slipped out.
“Okay. Let’s go.” Zan stood on autopilot as Max lifted Ava into his arms and they all trooped toward the car. None of them bothered to say anything to Hathor or his army. They took off for the cars without a word.
The ride was long, but Zan barely recognized the minutes that passed. When they reached the pod chambers, Kyle, Maria, and Alex were waiting for them. Maria was crying on Alex, Alex was staring open-mouthed, and Kyle stood stonily off to the side. As a group they made their way up to the pod chamber and Zan once again stood still, holding Liz, as they laid Ava out on the floor in the center of the chamber. Michael disappeared for a moment and came back with a bag.
He distributed a stone to Liz, Isabel, Tess, Max, and then the last one he held. “No, Zan has to hold the last one Michael. Zan, these are healing stones- they might be able to save Ava.” Liz had taken the last stone from Michael and handed it to Zan. He stared at it and seemed to wake up.
“I’ve never heard over stones that could reawaken the dead, Liz.” The hopeful look in her eyes registered in him, but he didn’t recognize the emotion in himself. “I’ll try. How they work?”
“Just think of Ava. Think of who she was to you. Think of how she affects your life.” Liz was trembling still with unshed tears, but her resolve firmed under Zan’s gaze and he knew he would try.
Michael stepped off to the side, next to Maria, Alex, and Kyle. Together: he, Max, Liz, Isabel, and Tess formed a circle around Ava, and the others closed their eyes. Zan watched their faces quietly for several seconds and then joined them; closing his eyes he recalled everything that Ava was to him. He remembered her as a little girl, he played the mental video of her growing up, recalled how she had helped him when he was sick; he hear her voice as she told him stories of home, envisioned her during the battle. Then he saw her as his wife, when they had been companions, friends, lovers- the other life they had led together when they had actually been meant for one another, before he had been reborn and met Liz- his future.
When his palm warmed, as it often did while holding Liz’s hand, he opened his eyes, gazing at her on the floor. Kyle had broken into the circle and was kneeling beside her, touching her face with a gentle hand. The soft expression on his face reminded Zan of how he himself had once gazed at her. The tips of Kyle’s fingers gently caressed Ava’s face and then to everyone’s surprise, they lit up. His fingers bathed a golden glow on Ava’s face, touched her hair creating a halo of radiance around her face, and then they trailed over her cheek, jaw, neck, shoulder, and then came to rest palm flat, against her heart.
The stones were warm in the hands of there holder, the blue hue emanating from them circled Ava, and then centered around Kyle’s hand, covering Ava’s heart. Breathless moments slipped by, and then the phenomenon happed before all of their eyes. Ava’s eyes opened as her body pulsed and twitched. A jerk of power hit her and Ava’s body contracted before stilling again.
Zan almost dropped the rock in his hand, his shock paramount. Liz beside him let out a shaken cry, and when the glowing ended, she launched herself at Ava. “Oh thank God! We were terrified.” Liz fell to the ground beside Ava and everyone, closed in on Ava.
Zan got in close and when everyone else released her, Zan pulled her into a hug. Actual tears fell from his eyes as he pulled back to stare into her eyes. He kissed her cheek and hugged her again. “I don’t know what the fuck happened to you, but you better not do that again.” His voice was rough, edged with his emotions.
“Alright, I’m fine. You guys fixed me up right. I’m fine.” She kept repeating that for their benefit, but Zan couldn’t help, but hold her. He had almost lost one of the two most important people in his world.
Liz eventually got him to let go, and then he latched onto her. She had been hurt so bad in the battle- now that it was over he wished he had a second shot to kill everyone of them all over again, he wanted to destroy each and everyone of those treacherous creatures with slow torturous attacks. The smell of Liz’s scent hit him and his nerves settled slightly. Reality crashed down around him- the war had begun and ended in the blink of an eye, and they had won.
As the others crowded around Kyle and Ava, he listened to them exclaim over Kyle’s new found abilities, and the wonder they exhibited over Ava’s revival. Liz, Tess, Michael, and himself still had injuries. Max had begun healing Tess, when she was done he advanced on Michael, and soon there after he came toward Liz.
“Let me heal you, Liz.” His brown eyes were pleading, but Liz shook her head.
“Zan will do it.” Hearing his name murmured, Zan reacted; he moved his hands up and down her body, concentrating on her wounds, healing them quickly. Liz in turn healed him. The granilith pulsed for them behind the torn pods, but Zan focused on the feeling Liz gave him as she fixed his cuts and bruises.
His eyes drank her in, Liz was in his arms. Forever was in his arms, the war was won, Ava was alive, and everything was perfect. This is what he’d been waiting for, she was what he had been waiting for. Thinking of how Ava had been hurt, it dawned on him it could have just as easily been Liz that was dead. Liz on the dirt ground of a battle field, lifeless and scarred. But she wasn’t. She was right in front of him. His queen. His everything.
“I love you, Liz.”
“I love you, Zan.” She kissed him then, and Zan felt warm everywhere. He embraced her, positioned her so she was flush against him, and clutched her arms. He opened himself to her and they connected. Images rolled threw his mind, but he ignored them in favor of just feeling. When he pulled back, she was staring at him with wide eyes.
“You are such a beautiful person.” She whispered to him and he let his charming smirk appear.
“What it took you this long to figure that out? You know I’m the Man.” His smirk turned into a genuine smile. “But there is someone more important you know.”
“Yeah, who?”
“The Woman.” He kissed her again and everything faded away.
A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed. Let me know. EK!
Author's Note: Okay so SURPRISE! Such a quick update for you! I was inspired and Chapter Twelve just presented itself. This is the chapter before the Epilogue. I'm so sad that this story is coming to an end- an abrupt one some might point out, but in my opinion a worthy one. I appreciate everyone who has read and reviewed my story. I'm hoping to hear from each and everyone of you. Enjoy...EK!
Chapter Twelve
Zan gazed back in the direction he had felt Liz take off for. The others hadn’t come to the hotel like they had assumed. It was him and Ava standing against the vast army of their enemy. As much as they needed Liz’s help, Zan was awash with relief that she was out of harms way- for the moment.
Ava cried out and Zan spun to face her; three skins were facing her and one was off to the right. The delicate flesh of her left arm was scorched, the flesh sizzling permeating the horrible scent of burned skin. In a quick move, Zan threw up his shield around the two of them and dropped it only long enough to fry the three facing her, and blast the fourth backward against the far wall.
“We got to get the fuck out of here!” Ava shouted. Crouching slightly, Zan threw her right arm around his shoulder and proceeded to back up. The skins moved en masse, surging to face them.
“Hold on Aves.” Zan commanded as he swung her up in his arms. In full on run, Zan raced away from the hotel, taking off for a nearby field. Just as they reached it, they heard a roar- the resounding force the skins outraged shouts. Spinning on the spot, Zan put Ava back on her feet and shoved her behind him.
The swarm of skins had parted like the red sea, allowing a path to separate them. Liz, followed by a battalion of men, charged through the enemy ranks. Like a force of nature, Liz shot off fire and blasts in dual movements, rapidly making her way toward him and Ava. She was beautiful and terrible at the same time; her hair was swinging with every step she took and her face, gorgeous and luminescent, was contorted in anger and ferocity.
Zan dropped his guard when she reached him and joined her, throwing out an arm in defense. The men that accompanied Liz were disbanding the skins with skill, even when they were outnumbered and outmaneuvered they kept at it. A golden haired warrior stood amid them shouting orders and glancing at him and Liz as they attacked.
“Zan where are they others? I didn’t see them.” Liz popped off the question as she avoided a particularly brutal blast of what appeared to be icy wind. “Did you know they could do that?” Liz puzzled as she dispatched of the attacker.
“No. The others didn’t come to the hotel. I don’t know where they are!” The last was a outcry as Zan took a hit to the leg. The icy wind had caught his right leg, a shard of what could’ve been glass pierced the skin as it flew by.
“What’s wrong with Ava?” Liz called over her shoulder.
“Got hit! Left arm is burned bad. No time to heal it. I’m not sure what she’s doing.”
Ava poised crouched on the floor eyes closed, arms folded around herself in a protective cocoon. A sudden tidal wave of fire enveloped at least forty of the enemy as Ava’s eyes snapped open. Zan recognized her mind attack and steeled himself against the heat that emanated from were the enemy had been.
“Aves, call to the others! Try and reach Isabel!” Zan turned to Liz uncomprehending.
“Liz she doesn’t have that gift.”
“Yes she does! You guys are in touch with what every human is capable of! If Isabel can do it, so can Ava. Don’t argue. Do it Ava, we’ll keep covering you.” Zan wasn’t sure if Liz was right, but now was not a time for argument. They were breaking even with the skins, but they’d need to do more than that to defeat them.
Zan concentrated on a section of land that the skins stood on and forced himself to gather his energy; he remembered this particular skill- the ability to telepathically shift or heave up ground, but he had yet to try it in this life. Focusing in on the land around twenty or so skins he pushed, let go. The earth shook ominously for several moments and then a four foot crater appeared where the land had been and the chunk of land that had held the skins flipped over and slammed back down onto the space directly next to it. They were buried alive.
Gasping from the exertion, Zan scanned the surrounding of him and Liz- they were in a center of a loose circle surrounded by their allies. His eyes flickered to Liz as she broke the circle to release attacks on the skins, and then returned his eyes to Ava; lines furrowed her brow, and her jaw was taut. Stretching out a hand Zan offered her a bit of strength, praying it helped, before pulling back and attacking again with renewed vigor.
Unexpectedly, Zan was caught around the middle, Liz had stumbled back into him. Moreover, they both went sprawling to the ground. The wind went out of him, and Zan gasped for air. “Liz you okay?” He spoke as best he could and realized she too was breathless.
“Yeah. Fine.” She coughed loudly and pushed to her feet again. A shard of that glass-like weaponry stuck out from her side, but she removed it before he could. The creamy skin of her torso became tainted crimson as blood gushed out her side. Zan tried to reach around her and heal her, but she pushed his hand away and spun away to face the fight once more.
“Now’s not the time. Save your energy.” Tears were running down her face, but she was like nothing he’d ever seen before, she didn’t stop to complain or think of anything, but the fight.
Feeling a touch to his wounded leg, Zan winced and peered down. Ava had reopened her eyes and was staring up at him. “I think I got through. To Tess though, not Isabel. I think they’re coming.” Ava tremulously put out her good arm and held it out for Zan to help her to her feet. He knew he should be fighting and as Liz had pointed out, saving his energy, but Zan ran a hand over Ava’s arm and soothed the tender flesh; then pulled her to her feet.
“Move to the East. Help the soldiers over there. Me and Liz will cover the North and South. I guess we’ll just have to trust our “allies” with the West.” Gritting their teeth against the idea of trusting others with such an important task, the two split up.
Minutes passed and the battle grew more intense and then Zan saw something that set his warm blood to ice. Liz was thrown back, arms wind milling out in front of her as she was sent flying, only to skid on the barren field, scrapping across rocks and dirt on her stomach. Blood oozed from her nose and her eyes closed; he paused mid-blast and stopped breathing. A full minute passed and then her eyes opened, raging and driven. A calm mask fell over her features, and Zan watched attentively as she gained her footing. Her shirt was torn and her shoulder bloody and scratched.
Paralyzed with worry and admiration, Zan took in the image of her. Her hands turned ice blue and burst into flames, her arms, legs, and torso gleamed with an odd powerful light, and then she was moving. He gazed at her as she ran full on toward battle. She took out two skins with the thrust of her right hand, then moved on to a pack of skins. Her intense power poured over the field, rolling outward toward the north part of the field- obliterating every creature in her path; ally and enemy.
Zan tore his eyes from her and shouted orders to Hathor’s men. They followed his instruction without words or even a glance in his direction. Ava was handling herself and Zan felt them- Max and the others. They had just arrived at the hotel and were sprinting toward the hell that surround him.
Michael was the first to break the circle around Zan, then Isabel and Tess. Zan searched for Max, eyes roving over through the gapes of Hathor’s men, but he never showed. “Where the fuck is Max?” Zan yelled toward Isabel who had just slammed a blast to a skins lower back, causing them to disintegrate.
“I don’t know! We lost him as we fought our way toward you. He was ahead of us and then he just disappeared!” Isabel called back.
“Mother-” Zan bit back the words ready to lash out. “We DON’T have time to find him right now!”
“I know! Don’t worry, he can take care of himself.” Isabel cried out as a blast of icy wind caught her full on in the shoulder. “Don’t distract me.” She pulled out tiny pieces of the glass-type daggers.
Zan shielded Isabel as another attack came at her, she wasn’t ready for this kind of fighting! None of them were completely prepared. He dropped the shield and prayed she would make it through. Michael, true to his rank, handled the attacks and was killing off his fair share of skins. Tess had joined up with Ava and the both were blasting off the enemy. Zan ordered Michael to the West and commanded Tess to take up his spot in the South. He made his way toward Liz, who was defending the North once more- the enemy she has destroyed had been quickly replaced.
“How many are there?” Liz questioned as she took out another ten.
“I think there’s another hundred or so. We can handle this.” He debated whether or not to mention Max’s disappearance as he fought off a blast from his front and his left.
“Are the others doing okay?” Liz blasted away one of the skins as they jumped toward her.
“Fine.” No need to distract her.
“Help them. I’m fine.” Liz called to him, pushing him into the center of the circle again.
“They can handle themselves.” He didn’t want to leave her, she was still injured.
“HELP THEM!” Liz cried out, her face had contorted with terror for a moment when she glanced back behind them both. “ISABEL WATCH OUT!” Liz’s once flaming hands extinguished and she threw out the right as she twisted her upper body to face the other girl. A blinding light left Liz’s hand and encompassed all of Isabel, elevating her above the fight and holding her out of the way of an attack. Zan took care of the short, elderly-looking woman who had attacked Isabel. Liz’s eyes were wide with shock, but she moved her hand gingerly back to the ground, and the light let go of Isabel; the other girl who was similarly incredulous landed with a jarring force on her feet.
Zan turned back around in time to see Max running full tilt for Liz and slamming his body into hers, pushing them both to the ground. Stunned, Zan barely registered the oncoming force of the mental attack the skins had sent in a unified wave. Pain, incredible, merciless pain- it torn threw him, he produced a meek shield, but it shattered against the power of his enemy. He opened his mouth to scream, but he couldn’t hear. He ceased to exist in that moment, nothing else was real, but the pain. His organs quivered, his mind compressed, his bones condensed, and his skin burned. It lasted forever and was over in an instant.
Something warm twined with his hand and Zan came back to himself; his shields raised and the attack came to an end. His body shook and he battled with himself to open his eyes. While his body shuddered with relief, he registered that a calming presence stood beside him- and yes, he was still standing, how he didn’t have a clue.
Finally, he was capable of opening his eyes. She was the first thing he saw. Liz gripped his hand, it was her warmth he felt. He realized that the last of the skins had migrated together to attack him, the stood not circling, but in a swarm in front of him. His other hand was free, but he felt a presence nothing like the one Liz gave off, but still a presence. Glancing to his other side he saw Ava. Beside her was Michael and Tess, peering to Liz’s side, comprehension touched his frayed mind. Isabel and Max stood side by side arms extended, hands raised. He braced himself and put up his free hand, mimicking the others.
Together they formed an invisible wall of energy- the strength of which seemed invincible. A moment of clarity settled over him- this was it, this was the war. And they were going to win. The connection between him and Liz, the seal that linked them spread; and together they touched something…something he remember, the granilith. In his previous life it had been a religious icon, a pinnacle of strength, and a source of energy so beyond anything his people could conjure that it had been feared, revered, and fought for. That was why he had died.
Khivar had wanted the thrown, but not just for the title. Whomever the crown belonged to, the granilith blessed with the seal, with energy and access to it’s power- thereby making the ruler dominant, supreme in every sense of the word. Khivar’s thirst for power had driven him to commit treason, gave him reason to control Vilandra, and to start an unholy reign of terror over a world not loyal to him.
Zan let go of his wounds, released his mind, and embraced the power rightfully his and Liz’s. Their mind merged and both he and his queen accepted the energy offered. As one they build the wall, visibly it gelled, rippling with electric shocks and then they forced it- thrust it at the enemy. It ripped through every single one of them. They didn’t disintegrate as a normal blasts effect would prompt, in it’s wake, the energy left shells, husks, hollow unmoving masses of matter.
The backlash of energy hit the royals and only Liz and Zan remained standing; their faces turned away from the devastation they reaped. When the energy reached the end of the field, it dissipated, fading away. Zan relinquished his hold on the seal and mental shook himself, coming back to the present, corporeal form of himself.
“Wow.” Liz breathed out beside him.
The others all around them, Hathor’s men, Max, the others, they were all on the ground, groaning, or attempting to lift themselves back up. “You alright, Aves?” Zan dismissed the others in the wake of Ava- she wasn’t moving. “Ava.” Still nothing. “Avaline?” Stooping down, Zan gently pulled her into his arms, turning her face up toward him.
Shock coursed through him, he felt her for a pulse, and found none. “Zan?” Liz crouched beside him, she has checked to make sure the others were okay and had returned to his side. “Zan is she alright? Ava.” Liz leaned over and placed a hand on the girls arm. “Ava? Ava wake up.” Liz was gasping beside him and shaking the girl in his arms. He couldn’t form thoughts, couldn’t move, didn’t know what to say or do.
“Oh God.” He felt Liz push him away and watched her take Ava in her arms. “Oh God, Zan. Zan! What-” She stopped speaking and started to hyperventilate. He saw all of this from a distance, it didn’t feel real. She was his family, he grew up with her here, she had kept him alive, had not betrayed him, and she was dead. “Zan? Zan what do we do?” Liz was sobbing and the others had come to see what was wrong.
“Liz? Is she okay?” Tess asked. He heard her and looked at her, she was alive, she looked just like Ava, and she was alive.
“Max. Max you have to….she’s not breathing, she’s not-” Zan stared on as Max moved Liz aside and put his hands on her chest. They glowed, he glowed, Ava glowed. Nothing happened. Max tried again, valiantly working his powers- drained as he was, but nothing happened. Ava stayed limp under his touch.
“Zan! Help him. We have to-” Liz broke off with a cry. “We have to help him!”
“She’s gone, Liz. Aves is gone.” He spoke the words even as he tried to wrap him mind around the idea.
“NO! She’s one of my best friends! She’s not gone! Don’t say that!” Liz was screaming at him, even as Max and Michael tried to hug her, calm her. “Don’t touch me!” She pushed them away and they hugged her- despite her protests they held her. Isabel was watching sadly, clutching Tess’s left hand, and her blue eyes filled with tears.
“NO! She’s not dead!” The moment the word left her mouth, Zan’s eyes snapped to her face. Dead. Ava was dead. “The stones! Get the stones! Michael?” Liz’s face had turned hopeful, and she looked at Michael.
“They’re in the pod chamber. But Liz, they’re for healing. Not reanimation. I don’t think-” Michael started.
“I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU THINK!” Liz had shoved him and Max away and leaned toward Zan. Zan mechanically held her, felt her arms come around his body, and she brought him to his feet. “We have to try something!”
“She’s right. We can’t just not try.” Tess said.
“Michael.” Isabel whispered Michael’s name and a tear slipped out.
“Okay. Let’s go.” Zan stood on autopilot as Max lifted Ava into his arms and they all trooped toward the car. None of them bothered to say anything to Hathor or his army. They took off for the cars without a word.
The ride was long, but Zan barely recognized the minutes that passed. When they reached the pod chambers, Kyle, Maria, and Alex were waiting for them. Maria was crying on Alex, Alex was staring open-mouthed, and Kyle stood stonily off to the side. As a group they made their way up to the pod chamber and Zan once again stood still, holding Liz, as they laid Ava out on the floor in the center of the chamber. Michael disappeared for a moment and came back with a bag.
He distributed a stone to Liz, Isabel, Tess, Max, and then the last one he held. “No, Zan has to hold the last one Michael. Zan, these are healing stones- they might be able to save Ava.” Liz had taken the last stone from Michael and handed it to Zan. He stared at it and seemed to wake up.
“I’ve never heard over stones that could reawaken the dead, Liz.” The hopeful look in her eyes registered in him, but he didn’t recognize the emotion in himself. “I’ll try. How they work?”
“Just think of Ava. Think of who she was to you. Think of how she affects your life.” Liz was trembling still with unshed tears, but her resolve firmed under Zan’s gaze and he knew he would try.
Michael stepped off to the side, next to Maria, Alex, and Kyle. Together: he, Max, Liz, Isabel, and Tess formed a circle around Ava, and the others closed their eyes. Zan watched their faces quietly for several seconds and then joined them; closing his eyes he recalled everything that Ava was to him. He remembered her as a little girl, he played the mental video of her growing up, recalled how she had helped him when he was sick; he hear her voice as she told him stories of home, envisioned her during the battle. Then he saw her as his wife, when they had been companions, friends, lovers- the other life they had led together when they had actually been meant for one another, before he had been reborn and met Liz- his future.
When his palm warmed, as it often did while holding Liz’s hand, he opened his eyes, gazing at her on the floor. Kyle had broken into the circle and was kneeling beside her, touching her face with a gentle hand. The soft expression on his face reminded Zan of how he himself had once gazed at her. The tips of Kyle’s fingers gently caressed Ava’s face and then to everyone’s surprise, they lit up. His fingers bathed a golden glow on Ava’s face, touched her hair creating a halo of radiance around her face, and then they trailed over her cheek, jaw, neck, shoulder, and then came to rest palm flat, against her heart.
The stones were warm in the hands of there holder, the blue hue emanating from them circled Ava, and then centered around Kyle’s hand, covering Ava’s heart. Breathless moments slipped by, and then the phenomenon happed before all of their eyes. Ava’s eyes opened as her body pulsed and twitched. A jerk of power hit her and Ava’s body contracted before stilling again.
Zan almost dropped the rock in his hand, his shock paramount. Liz beside him let out a shaken cry, and when the glowing ended, she launched herself at Ava. “Oh thank God! We were terrified.” Liz fell to the ground beside Ava and everyone, closed in on Ava.
Zan got in close and when everyone else released her, Zan pulled her into a hug. Actual tears fell from his eyes as he pulled back to stare into her eyes. He kissed her cheek and hugged her again. “I don’t know what the fuck happened to you, but you better not do that again.” His voice was rough, edged with his emotions.
“Alright, I’m fine. You guys fixed me up right. I’m fine.” She kept repeating that for their benefit, but Zan couldn’t help, but hold her. He had almost lost one of the two most important people in his world.
Liz eventually got him to let go, and then he latched onto her. She had been hurt so bad in the battle- now that it was over he wished he had a second shot to kill everyone of them all over again, he wanted to destroy each and everyone of those treacherous creatures with slow torturous attacks. The smell of Liz’s scent hit him and his nerves settled slightly. Reality crashed down around him- the war had begun and ended in the blink of an eye, and they had won.
As the others crowded around Kyle and Ava, he listened to them exclaim over Kyle’s new found abilities, and the wonder they exhibited over Ava’s revival. Liz, Tess, Michael, and himself still had injuries. Max had begun healing Tess, when she was done he advanced on Michael, and soon there after he came toward Liz.
“Let me heal you, Liz.” His brown eyes were pleading, but Liz shook her head.
“Zan will do it.” Hearing his name murmured, Zan reacted; he moved his hands up and down her body, concentrating on her wounds, healing them quickly. Liz in turn healed him. The granilith pulsed for them behind the torn pods, but Zan focused on the feeling Liz gave him as she fixed his cuts and bruises.
His eyes drank her in, Liz was in his arms. Forever was in his arms, the war was won, Ava was alive, and everything was perfect. This is what he’d been waiting for, she was what he had been waiting for. Thinking of how Ava had been hurt, it dawned on him it could have just as easily been Liz that was dead. Liz on the dirt ground of a battle field, lifeless and scarred. But she wasn’t. She was right in front of him. His queen. His everything.
“I love you, Liz.”
“I love you, Zan.” She kissed him then, and Zan felt warm everywhere. He embraced her, positioned her so she was flush against him, and clutched her arms. He opened himself to her and they connected. Images rolled threw his mind, but he ignored them in favor of just feeling. When he pulled back, she was staring at him with wide eyes.
“You are such a beautiful person.” She whispered to him and he let his charming smirk appear.
“What it took you this long to figure that out? You know I’m the Man.” His smirk turned into a genuine smile. “But there is someone more important you know.”
“Yeah, who?”
“The Woman.” He kissed her again and everything faded away.
A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed. Let me know. EK!
Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal~Pamela Vaull Starr
-
Egyptian_Kiss
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 194
- Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:40 pm
- Location: Arizona
Meant for Him
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Roswellian characters. My plot springs from the original plot of Roswell, which I also do not own.
Rating: ADULT
Pairings: Zan/Liz. Ava/?. Michael/Maria. Alex/Isabelle. Max/Tess.
Summary: Liz gets away from it all. Leaving Roswell and its inhabitants behind when Max and Tess hook up. This is after prom, before grad, and Alex does go away to Sweden, the real Sweden. Liz is looking to change who she is, adapting to her new, yet unrealized abilities, and reaquainting herself with an old friend, and new attraction; all while staying in New York with her Aunt Amada.
Author's Final Note: This has been one of the most wonderful stories to write, and I have enjoyed every chapter. I want to thank every person who has every review this story, and give them honorable mention.
flyawayraven
chanks_girl
jamy21
svetlana
polar vixen
tinie38
rachelg224
CharmedDestiny
pinky25
carter13
aussietrueblue
ladylou
LizNdAlec4eva
Lunatic
mezz
Natalie36
kerri240879
roswell3053
Ms_BuffyAnneSummers
Allie Xie
pandas2001
IzzyEvans2201_PuertoRico
moon_sprite
Zanssoulmate08
Amelia
zanandrathslver
forever dreamer
behrstars
Flamehair
Orphyfets
Natz
SnowyOwl_17
kitten88
Liz1490
Luna_Seer
torrierose
KiaraAlexisKlay
thetvgeneral
*RebelGirl*
WinchesterBunni
elizibeth
I appreciated and enjoyed every review- and I am pleased by just how many of you there were who reviewed. I hope that this Epilogue was everything you had hoped for and more. Let me know. EK!
Epilogue
I never really believed in happy endings and after the Max fiasco I guess I never thought I would. But I was wrong. It has been five years since I’ve last written in this journal, five years of difficulty, five years of leadership, five years of knowledge gained; it has been five years since I became a queen, five years since a war that will always touch something inside of me, five years of friendships, five years of love. In five years I have become who it is I was destined to become. My love for Zan has never wavered, my friendships with the people I now call family has shaken, but not broken.
After the war, I went back to New York, I lived on NYU campus and visited Amada. Zan and I married after my second year, everyone came out to see it- even my parents who I had thought to be far too estranged from me and my life to care- and it was beautiful. Ava stayed in Roswell, she and Kyle became close and though they have yet to marry, I know that it will happen for them.
Maria stopped singing, something I thought I would never see, and she and Michael finally got married- I had just graduated when they made the announcement that they were committing to one another. Maria became a school teacher, choir of course. Michael, our Michael, Mr. Introvert until the end, went to college, got a degree in Abstract Art, and now is considered one of the best artists in the Southwest.
Isabel married a lawyer. I was stunned and not just by the fact that she married outside of the group, but by the fact that they eloped- she sent me a postcard from the Virgin Islands, and dream walked me to detail her travels in Europe- where they had decided to honeymoon. I can’t say that I know Jesse that well, but I do know that Isabel deserves happiness, someone to cling to other than her brother and our alien background.
…Sorry I had to take a moment; the hardest part in all of this is about to come up. I…My ill-favored opinion of Tess proved true to her character, only a few short months ago; she stole the book from Max, the father of her son, and mind warped Alex to decode it- I didn’t even know until it was almost too late. I heard from Max that the book had gone missing, then Kyle and Ava informed Zan that Alex hadn’t been in Sweden, as had been the plan -a return trip after his exhilarating experiences there half a decade ago - they had called the host family to make sure his flight went well only to find out that he never arrived when he was supposed to; I headed out on the first plane available.
I had recently found out that I have the odd power of premonition, I can see things before they happen. When I arrived at Alex’s house, I raced up to his room; I touched every possession I could get my hands on, moving from his computer to his books, and finally to his guitar.
I received a flash of Las Cruses, the college there, and than of Alex with the book. Tess stood nearby, she had a threatening hand at the ready. Without delay I told Zan, he had come along with me of course; and we showed up just as Tess was readying to attack Alex; he had given her a stack of papers, which later proved to be the decoded transcript of the destiny book.
The fight didn’t last long and when I had killed Tess it seemed to be over, but it didn’t feel that way. Hathor and his men had returned to their home planet and together our Antarian forces joined with his to rebel against Khivar, but Khivar got away before the complete decimation of his army. The entire Tess debacle took place this last May, and the other shoe has yet to drop, but we know that Khivar and his men have landed here on Earth. The war may have been over here on Earth, and then shortly after on Antar, but it appears Khivar will still be a gnat to swat in the future.
Alex had massive amounts of brain damage, all of the mind warping necessary to keep him on task, despite the threat of blasting from Tess, appeared to have taken it’s unhealthy toll. Max and Zan both had to work on him- it was a sight I never want to see again. And in spite of all this drama, and all of this fighting- I’ve finally found my happy ending.
Zan and I are going to Antar- we are going to liberate the throne from it’s current power struggle, and finally I’ll have found my own destiny. The others have decided it in the best interest of the Earth that they stay here, that they protect what they now have come to call home. I don’t consider it a put down to my leadership, or a shunning of their heritage; like me they are embracing their lives.
The prospect of leaving this place I’ve been raised, this security blanket that has cocooned me for so long is terrifying, but it reminds me of something I told Ava once, something told to me by my Godmother: “where you decide to live for the rest of your life tells you if home was where you started out, or if home is something bigger; that if you live somewhere other than where you were born for the rest of your life, then you were meant for bigger and better things”. I had told Ava that I liked that, that it was nice, and she had related, but I never could’ve comprehended what it would truly mean for me someday.
I was the smallest of small town girls, the most unlikely for something out of the ordinary to happen to, but in a single moment when I faced death only to turn from it, I changed; everything that has happened to me has blessed me, even the most painful events. I do not believe that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger; I believe that what doesn’t kill you changes how you see everything.
Zan is my home, he is my heart, my love, my king- Zan is my soul mate. This journal started out as a way to document my scientific finds, to help me study life and understand it; and scientifically it may have failed, but the end product- understanding life- succeeded on a grander scale.
To whomever reads this I want you to know- I was Liz Parker, small town girl from Roswell, New Mexico, but today I am Liz of Antar, Queen of the Antarian people, and bound for bigger and better things.
Liz let the book cover close and she sighed. The finality of her last entry hit home and she curled up in her chase lounge and drew the wool blanket tighter around herself. Shifting only momentarily to place the journal on the snow-covered table beside her. She was waiting for Zan to come home. It was getting late and the snow was already beginning to fall again for the third time that day.
They planned to leave for Antar in a week and before they went Liz wanted to share something with all of their friends, something she couldn’t share with them without Zan. The quaint little apartment they had rented held one deciding factor in their choice for living there instead of a high end suburban house- it had a balcony. The small but serviceable slat of concrete floor overlooked a large part of New York City, and Liz found that waiting outside under the smattering of stars until Zan arrived home was one of her favorite past times.
Liz glanced up at the sky, the V constellation was barely visible, but just a glimpse of it comforted her. Twirling the ends of her hair, Liz realized that the length had growth at least two feet in the last five years. Furthermore, Liz realized that it felt like yesterday she had allowed Ava to mix up the natural color scheme of her hair- something that had lasted until a year ago when Liz wanted back her plain dark brown color. She still had her tattoos, though she did let close the belly ring. Zan hadn’t really cared either way if her appearance had changed; though he complimented anyway.
Ava. Liz longed for her friend, it had been so long since they had last seen each other, at least four months. They talked constantly, but traveling from one end of the country to the other wasn’t a luxury either could afford. Maria too hadn’t visited in quite a while, but they were all coming soon. Even Isabel, who Liz hadn’t seen in two years. Max and two-year-old James were still grieving Tess’s death, James didn’t really know where mommy went, and the emotions weren’t mature, but the baby boy knew something was wrong. Moreover, Max hadn’t taken Tess’s death well either. They had really connected a year after the war, and married six short months later- they had seemed happy. When Max found out what she had done and the inevitable fact that she had been betraying their group for power with Khivar; he couldn’t be angry at Liz, or anyone else, but the personal betrayal had done great damage.
His son was the only reason Max was still standing, still moving forward; and Liz loved the child like her own for that fact. Zan may have been her king, but Max had been her friend long before that. Even though the fence had taken this long to mend, Liz and Max were finally back where they had started all those years ago in High School- they were friends.
The opening of the front door alerted Liz to Zan’s arrival. She tugged the blanket around her tighter and hopped off the chase before sliding open the door to the living room. “Hey honey.” She leaned again the doorframe to study her husband.
“Hi Angel.” Zan said then looked up at her as he stripped off his scarf and coat. “Baby what have I said about sitting outside in the snow? You’re going to catch pneumonia out there.” He walked to her and Liz entered the room fully, toeing the door closed behind her. She reached up for his kiss and warmed as he hugged her.
“I have something to tell you, Zan.” Liz smiled and held him more snuggly to her.
“What? Is somebody not coming? Are we going to have to postpone the departure?”
“No.” Liz shook her head against his chest coyly and then released him, stepped back, and took her face in his hands giving him a long kiss, only to pull back again and smile. “I am pregnant. I am…we are, going to be parents.”
“Holy-” He didn’t finish that thought, he grabbed her up in his arms and kissed her before throwing open the balcony doors and letting out a shout. Liz yanked him back in and laughed at his response- it was everything she had hoped it would be.
“Oh God, Angel. Oh I love you so much. I love you. I love you. I love you.” Zan was on his knees in front of her hugging her around the middle and kissing her stomach.
“I found out this morning. Dr. Dresden called me and told me that I’m perfectly healthy and that I should be very happy to know that I am now expecting. We are five weeks pregnant. I’m going to have a baby.” Liz felt the on set of tears and laughed again. Dr. Dresden was a good find, he was a part of one of the rebel Antarian factions that had come to Earth in hopes of finding the rumored king of Antar. Liz and the others didn't have to fear for their secret or lives with him, and Dr. Dresden, as he had chosen to call himself, was a gentle being by nature.
“I’ve been bursting to tell you all day, but with you gone to talk to Larek about leaving and preparing for everyone to come visit us; I haven’t had the chance. I was waiting out on the balcony for you.”
“I don’t want no more of that. No outside, you and the baby need to be one hundred percent safe and warm.” Zan kissed her stomach again and then got to his feet. That’s when he noticed the dinner table in the open dining area- it had their good china out and tapered candles, and sparkling cider. “Ah Baby, you had a nice dinner planned.”
“Yeah, but then I saw you and I couldn’t wait anymore. I wanted to do it like you see on TV sitcoms, but the anticipation has been bottled up inside of me all day. I say we celebrate through a big dinner…then maybe another celebration afterwards.” Liz bite her lip and then smiled brightly before tilting her head up to Zan again. He swept in and their lips met once more, and then Liz tugged at him, leading him to the dinner table. As they sat down, parting from one another, Liz couldn’t help but smile when she realized that she had always been meant for him.
The End
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Roswellian characters. My plot springs from the original plot of Roswell, which I also do not own.
Rating: ADULT
Pairings: Zan/Liz. Ava/?. Michael/Maria. Alex/Isabelle. Max/Tess.
Summary: Liz gets away from it all. Leaving Roswell and its inhabitants behind when Max and Tess hook up. This is after prom, before grad, and Alex does go away to Sweden, the real Sweden. Liz is looking to change who she is, adapting to her new, yet unrealized abilities, and reaquainting herself with an old friend, and new attraction; all while staying in New York with her Aunt Amada.
Author's Final Note: This has been one of the most wonderful stories to write, and I have enjoyed every chapter. I want to thank every person who has every review this story, and give them honorable mention.
flyawayraven
chanks_girl
jamy21
svetlana
polar vixen
tinie38
rachelg224
CharmedDestiny
pinky25
carter13
aussietrueblue
ladylou
LizNdAlec4eva
Lunatic
mezz
Natalie36
kerri240879
roswell3053
Ms_BuffyAnneSummers
Allie Xie
pandas2001
IzzyEvans2201_PuertoRico
moon_sprite
Zanssoulmate08
Amelia
zanandrathslver
forever dreamer
behrstars
Flamehair
Orphyfets
Natz
SnowyOwl_17
kitten88
Liz1490
Luna_Seer
torrierose
KiaraAlexisKlay
thetvgeneral
*RebelGirl*
WinchesterBunni
elizibeth
I appreciated and enjoyed every review- and I am pleased by just how many of you there were who reviewed. I hope that this Epilogue was everything you had hoped for and more. Let me know. EK!
Epilogue
I never really believed in happy endings and after the Max fiasco I guess I never thought I would. But I was wrong. It has been five years since I’ve last written in this journal, five years of difficulty, five years of leadership, five years of knowledge gained; it has been five years since I became a queen, five years since a war that will always touch something inside of me, five years of friendships, five years of love. In five years I have become who it is I was destined to become. My love for Zan has never wavered, my friendships with the people I now call family has shaken, but not broken.
After the war, I went back to New York, I lived on NYU campus and visited Amada. Zan and I married after my second year, everyone came out to see it- even my parents who I had thought to be far too estranged from me and my life to care- and it was beautiful. Ava stayed in Roswell, she and Kyle became close and though they have yet to marry, I know that it will happen for them.
Maria stopped singing, something I thought I would never see, and she and Michael finally got married- I had just graduated when they made the announcement that they were committing to one another. Maria became a school teacher, choir of course. Michael, our Michael, Mr. Introvert until the end, went to college, got a degree in Abstract Art, and now is considered one of the best artists in the Southwest.
Isabel married a lawyer. I was stunned and not just by the fact that she married outside of the group, but by the fact that they eloped- she sent me a postcard from the Virgin Islands, and dream walked me to detail her travels in Europe- where they had decided to honeymoon. I can’t say that I know Jesse that well, but I do know that Isabel deserves happiness, someone to cling to other than her brother and our alien background.
…Sorry I had to take a moment; the hardest part in all of this is about to come up. I…My ill-favored opinion of Tess proved true to her character, only a few short months ago; she stole the book from Max, the father of her son, and mind warped Alex to decode it- I didn’t even know until it was almost too late. I heard from Max that the book had gone missing, then Kyle and Ava informed Zan that Alex hadn’t been in Sweden, as had been the plan -a return trip after his exhilarating experiences there half a decade ago - they had called the host family to make sure his flight went well only to find out that he never arrived when he was supposed to; I headed out on the first plane available.
I had recently found out that I have the odd power of premonition, I can see things before they happen. When I arrived at Alex’s house, I raced up to his room; I touched every possession I could get my hands on, moving from his computer to his books, and finally to his guitar.
I received a flash of Las Cruses, the college there, and than of Alex with the book. Tess stood nearby, she had a threatening hand at the ready. Without delay I told Zan, he had come along with me of course; and we showed up just as Tess was readying to attack Alex; he had given her a stack of papers, which later proved to be the decoded transcript of the destiny book.
The fight didn’t last long and when I had killed Tess it seemed to be over, but it didn’t feel that way. Hathor and his men had returned to their home planet and together our Antarian forces joined with his to rebel against Khivar, but Khivar got away before the complete decimation of his army. The entire Tess debacle took place this last May, and the other shoe has yet to drop, but we know that Khivar and his men have landed here on Earth. The war may have been over here on Earth, and then shortly after on Antar, but it appears Khivar will still be a gnat to swat in the future.
Alex had massive amounts of brain damage, all of the mind warping necessary to keep him on task, despite the threat of blasting from Tess, appeared to have taken it’s unhealthy toll. Max and Zan both had to work on him- it was a sight I never want to see again. And in spite of all this drama, and all of this fighting- I’ve finally found my happy ending.
Zan and I are going to Antar- we are going to liberate the throne from it’s current power struggle, and finally I’ll have found my own destiny. The others have decided it in the best interest of the Earth that they stay here, that they protect what they now have come to call home. I don’t consider it a put down to my leadership, or a shunning of their heritage; like me they are embracing their lives.
The prospect of leaving this place I’ve been raised, this security blanket that has cocooned me for so long is terrifying, but it reminds me of something I told Ava once, something told to me by my Godmother: “where you decide to live for the rest of your life tells you if home was where you started out, or if home is something bigger; that if you live somewhere other than where you were born for the rest of your life, then you were meant for bigger and better things”. I had told Ava that I liked that, that it was nice, and she had related, but I never could’ve comprehended what it would truly mean for me someday.
I was the smallest of small town girls, the most unlikely for something out of the ordinary to happen to, but in a single moment when I faced death only to turn from it, I changed; everything that has happened to me has blessed me, even the most painful events. I do not believe that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger; I believe that what doesn’t kill you changes how you see everything.
Zan is my home, he is my heart, my love, my king- Zan is my soul mate. This journal started out as a way to document my scientific finds, to help me study life and understand it; and scientifically it may have failed, but the end product- understanding life- succeeded on a grander scale.
To whomever reads this I want you to know- I was Liz Parker, small town girl from Roswell, New Mexico, but today I am Liz of Antar, Queen of the Antarian people, and bound for bigger and better things.
Liz let the book cover close and she sighed. The finality of her last entry hit home and she curled up in her chase lounge and drew the wool blanket tighter around herself. Shifting only momentarily to place the journal on the snow-covered table beside her. She was waiting for Zan to come home. It was getting late and the snow was already beginning to fall again for the third time that day.
They planned to leave for Antar in a week and before they went Liz wanted to share something with all of their friends, something she couldn’t share with them without Zan. The quaint little apartment they had rented held one deciding factor in their choice for living there instead of a high end suburban house- it had a balcony. The small but serviceable slat of concrete floor overlooked a large part of New York City, and Liz found that waiting outside under the smattering of stars until Zan arrived home was one of her favorite past times.
Liz glanced up at the sky, the V constellation was barely visible, but just a glimpse of it comforted her. Twirling the ends of her hair, Liz realized that the length had growth at least two feet in the last five years. Furthermore, Liz realized that it felt like yesterday she had allowed Ava to mix up the natural color scheme of her hair- something that had lasted until a year ago when Liz wanted back her plain dark brown color. She still had her tattoos, though she did let close the belly ring. Zan hadn’t really cared either way if her appearance had changed; though he complimented anyway.
Ava. Liz longed for her friend, it had been so long since they had last seen each other, at least four months. They talked constantly, but traveling from one end of the country to the other wasn’t a luxury either could afford. Maria too hadn’t visited in quite a while, but they were all coming soon. Even Isabel, who Liz hadn’t seen in two years. Max and two-year-old James were still grieving Tess’s death, James didn’t really know where mommy went, and the emotions weren’t mature, but the baby boy knew something was wrong. Moreover, Max hadn’t taken Tess’s death well either. They had really connected a year after the war, and married six short months later- they had seemed happy. When Max found out what she had done and the inevitable fact that she had been betraying their group for power with Khivar; he couldn’t be angry at Liz, or anyone else, but the personal betrayal had done great damage.
His son was the only reason Max was still standing, still moving forward; and Liz loved the child like her own for that fact. Zan may have been her king, but Max had been her friend long before that. Even though the fence had taken this long to mend, Liz and Max were finally back where they had started all those years ago in High School- they were friends.
The opening of the front door alerted Liz to Zan’s arrival. She tugged the blanket around her tighter and hopped off the chase before sliding open the door to the living room. “Hey honey.” She leaned again the doorframe to study her husband.
“Hi Angel.” Zan said then looked up at her as he stripped off his scarf and coat. “Baby what have I said about sitting outside in the snow? You’re going to catch pneumonia out there.” He walked to her and Liz entered the room fully, toeing the door closed behind her. She reached up for his kiss and warmed as he hugged her.
“I have something to tell you, Zan.” Liz smiled and held him more snuggly to her.
“What? Is somebody not coming? Are we going to have to postpone the departure?”
“No.” Liz shook her head against his chest coyly and then released him, stepped back, and took her face in his hands giving him a long kiss, only to pull back again and smile. “I am pregnant. I am…we are, going to be parents.”
“Holy-” He didn’t finish that thought, he grabbed her up in his arms and kissed her before throwing open the balcony doors and letting out a shout. Liz yanked him back in and laughed at his response- it was everything she had hoped it would be.
“Oh God, Angel. Oh I love you so much. I love you. I love you. I love you.” Zan was on his knees in front of her hugging her around the middle and kissing her stomach.
“I found out this morning. Dr. Dresden called me and told me that I’m perfectly healthy and that I should be very happy to know that I am now expecting. We are five weeks pregnant. I’m going to have a baby.” Liz felt the on set of tears and laughed again. Dr. Dresden was a good find, he was a part of one of the rebel Antarian factions that had come to Earth in hopes of finding the rumored king of Antar. Liz and the others didn't have to fear for their secret or lives with him, and Dr. Dresden, as he had chosen to call himself, was a gentle being by nature.
“I’ve been bursting to tell you all day, but with you gone to talk to Larek about leaving and preparing for everyone to come visit us; I haven’t had the chance. I was waiting out on the balcony for you.”
“I don’t want no more of that. No outside, you and the baby need to be one hundred percent safe and warm.” Zan kissed her stomach again and then got to his feet. That’s when he noticed the dinner table in the open dining area- it had their good china out and tapered candles, and sparkling cider. “Ah Baby, you had a nice dinner planned.”
“Yeah, but then I saw you and I couldn’t wait anymore. I wanted to do it like you see on TV sitcoms, but the anticipation has been bottled up inside of me all day. I say we celebrate through a big dinner…then maybe another celebration afterwards.” Liz bite her lip and then smiled brightly before tilting her head up to Zan again. He swept in and their lips met once more, and then Liz tugged at him, leading him to the dinner table. As they sat down, parting from one another, Liz couldn’t help but smile when she realized that she had always been meant for him.
The End
Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal~Pamela Vaull Starr