Chapter Twenty: Death

Chapter Twenty: Death

Max groaned, falling to the ground, wondering what had hit him. He rolled over, clutching his side. Unfamiliar greenish blood leaked from a wound in his waist. "Your Majesty," he heard a deep snarl. Lifting his eyes, he found Kivar staring back at him. Max managed to stand, wincing in pain. Kivar's eyes narrowed. "I've wanted to kill you for a long time," he said. Max staggered on his feet. "Here I am," he said, "now's your chance." Kivar was confused, but laughed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Giving up so soon, Zan?" Max swallowed, the pain in his abdomen increasing. "I don't want to say goodbye to you." "Then don't." He sucked in his breath. Nothing will stop him from getting home to Liz. With all of his strength, he lifted his weapon with his free hand. Kivar immediately smacked it away, causing Max to fall. "You're weak!" Kivar shouted, kicking Max in the gut. He moaned in pain. Kivar leaned over him. "Once you're dead, your kingdom will be mine. Say goodbye, Zan." He pointed his laser at Max's head.

Max squeezed his eyes shut. How had it come to this? He heard a shot and flinched at the noise, then felt a large weight fall on top of him. His eyes flew open. "Isabel?" She dropped the weapon, pushing Kivar from her brother. "Max, you're hurt!" He tried to smile. "It's okay. Just a flesh wound. If only we had our powers, huh?" She pressed her hands to his wound. "I guess I'm not a very good soldier," Max joked. Isabel gave him a look, helping him up. "Come on, we have to get out of here." Max clung to her arms. "Vilandra." Her eyes went wide, turning to her fallen lover. His eyes were open, just barely, and he stared at her with hurt in his eyes. Isabel glanced at Max. "I can't leave him like this," she whispered. Max didn't say anything, his silence an acquiesce. She bent down on the ground, her white gown filthy and torn, her hair blowing in long strands around her face. Kivar reached up to touch her.

"I'm sorry Kivar," she whispered, "I couldn't let you kill my brother. I couldn't let you win." He swallowed difficultly, holding his chest. "You betrayed me," he seethed, "I would have given you everything." She shook her head, sniffling, trying not to cry. Her Vilandra side hated to see him in pain, her Vilandra side wanted to help him, cure him. But Isabel couldn't let that happen. Still, out of respect for her former self, she lifted Kivar into her arms, holding him against her gently. "Part me loved you once," she whispered, "she would have forgiven you anything, blinded as she was. But I love my family more. More than you, more than winning, more than this planet. I sacrificed everything and everyone for you once before. I couldn't let history repeat itself." Max stood off to the side, watching her sadly. Isabel had more demons than anyone; he wished he could have been more understanding.

Kivar's breath hitched, his eyes fluttered closed. "You will never escape Vilandra," he whispered, "you will never escape … me." Those were his last words. "Iz," Max called softly. She wiped her eyes, laying Kivar back onto the ground. She stood and went to her brother, supporting him with her shoulders. They walked slowly back to the palace. She didn't look back.

**

"So, are you Rath or Michael now?" Nicholas asked, circling Michael, separating them from the other troops. "Either way, it doesn't matter because you're going to die. It doesn't matter which incarnation I exterminate." Michael scoffed. "You may not look like a little kid anymore, Nicholas, but you're still just as juvenile." Nicholas rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. Couldn't you have come up with anything better?" "… that gleam of dull stupidity in the eyes …" "Come on!" Nicholas cried maliciously, "show me some of that wrath." Michael had a sudden flash of Courtney and what Nicholas had done to her. He pointed his laser, and giving no thought at all, pulled the trigger. Nicholas fell to the ground, dead.

**

"In here." Isabel ushered Max into the study, where he collapsed into a chair. "It's okay, Iz. I'll be fine. We need to find out about Michael." "Michael's a soldier, a born warrior. I'm sure he's doing better than you did." He shot her look. "Thanks a lot." Isabel looked at his side, and he caught her eye. "The bleeding's pretty much stopped now," he told her. "We still need to get the doctor." She smiled slyly. "You're the king. You'll get first priority." Max shook his head, resting his head against the back of the chair. "I'd rather just get out of here. I wanna go home, lay in my own little bed in my own little room … preferably with Liz in my arms." Isabel chuckled. "I know what you mean. I want a hug from Alex more than I've ever wanted anything." Max rubbed her arm. "We'll get home, Isabel. Soon. Very soon."

"Guys!" Tess came running into the room. Seeing that Max was bleeding, she fell to her knees by his side. "Oh my God, Max. What happened? Will you be okay?" He nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine. You've been crying, Tess. Is it Michael? Did something happen to him?" Tess shook her head. "No. It's your mother."