Chapter
Seventeen: Fight
"Larek," Max warned, holding an arm
out to protect Tess and Isabel. Larek
held the weapon steadily in his hand, moving further into the room. "I'm sorry Zan," he said, "or Max – whomever
you've decided to be. But you're not
returning to Earth. Your mother won't
allow it." "I've talked to my mother,"
Max told him, stepping forward slowly, "I'm sure if we all speak to her
together, she'll realize that keeping us here is wrong." Michael pushed Tess and Isabel back with his
hand and joined Max. "Don't take another
step," Larek cautioned, "I won't hesitate to use this." "Try it," Michael challenged, his hands on
his hips. Max reached an arm out,
placing his hand over Larek's. "I'm
still your king," he said, "and what you're doing here … I can have you
killed." "Max!" Isabel cried. He ignored her. "Give me the weapon, Larek." Michael narrowed his eyes. "Drop
it," he warned, "I'm the head of the army. They'll be here in a second if I call them." Larek sighed in frustration. "Fine." He handed Max his
weapon, who gave it Michael to put away.
"Sit down," Max told him firmly,
pointing to a chair. Larek sat. "Look, Zan. We're friends. Don't forget
that." "What kind of friend would lie
to me the way that you've done? What
kind of friend would threaten us with a weapon?" Michael led Tess and Isabel from the room. "We'll be in the study," he said to Max,
closing the door behind them.
"Why?" Max demanded angrily, "why
did you do it? Why lie to us?" Larek wrung his hands, a guilty expression
on his face. "I didn't want to do it,
but you would never have agreed to return otherwise. I was instructed to use any means necessary, including taking you
by force." Max's eyebrows drew
together. "You would have …" Larek shook his head adamantly. "No, Zan … Max. I didn't want to use force, I wanted you to come on your own." Max thought about how it would have been;
they and their friends could have been hurt, or worse. The image of Liz he was given in the White
Room flashed before his eyes, and he shook it away. "Why was it so important for us to come back?" Max asked, "Kivar
is no threat. The armies were doing
fine on their own without us." "But we
didn't have our Royal Family. Your
mother was lonely. She wanted you back
and decided that it was time. So, I was
sent to collect you."
Max ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Well, we're going to have to talk to her. I thought she understood." Larek stood. "Why don't you want to stay? This is who you are, Max. This is your life. You're not human. Why go back?" "It's my home."
"Michael, there's something I have to tell you," Isabel said nervously, as they gathered in the study, waiting for Max to return. "What?" "I'm the one who took those plans to Kivar. I'm your spy." Michael stood up, his mouth wide. "You? But why? Why would you do that?" Isabel wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "History repeats itself," she whispered. Tess sat next to her and placed an arm over her shoulder. "There's something else too." He shook his head in disbelief. "What, you were having an affair with him too?" She looked down. "Yes," she said softly, "but that's not it. On the day of our wedding, he was going to storm the palace. Kill everyone and marry me, so that we could rule together." Tess dropped her arm. She and Michael stared at Isabel in shock. "I'm so sorry," Isabel cried, "I don't know what I was thinking. I loved him. She loved him. And would do anything for him. I'm sorry." "About what?" Max asked, striding into the room.
Isabel wiped the tears from her face. "Nothing," she said quickly, "but we have to leave now. Right away, Max. We have to go." Michael grabbed her arm. "And let everyone die? No way. We have to kill Kivar. We have to warn everyone." Tess stood up, siding with Isabel. "Michael, she's right. If we stay and fight, we could be killed in the process." "Wait a minute," Max held up his hands, "what are you talking about? Fill me in here." Michael looked pointedly at Isabel. "Ask her," he spat, "she's our spy. She was going to bring her lover here to kill us." "I'm sorry!" Isabel screamed at him, "but that's why we have to leave. We have to go before Kivar comes for me – for you. Michael, as my fiancé, he wants to kill you first. He's insane about it. Please," her voice was desperate. Michael stuck his finger in her face. "Are you willing to let your mother die, to let our people die?" Max swallowed hard, standing with Michael. "Of course not," he answered, "we stay and fight." Isabel turned and ran from the room, Tess hot on her heels.
