Chapter Thirty One

" Thaman " said Isabel aloud as she looked out at the rain. It seemed to just start up again with an unnatural force. She was in the house she lived in by herself now. It was dark and cold inside. She was scared to turn on any of the lights. The thought that she could see Thaman in the dark, going through her mind. " Can you hear me? " she whispered.
I'm here Princess. You just cannot know it.

" Why didn't you show yourself earlier? Everyone would have been so relieved to finally see you "
I do not think it would have been appropriate to show myself at such a party.
" I would have been happy "
Would you be happy to see me? Am I too late?
Isabel leaned against the window. " Do you know how much I've missed you? How much I've needed you? "
Do you know how much you have helped me? The thought of you keeping me going?
" I've tried to be what you told me to be " she said sobbing softly. Her voice was getting louder. " I've tried to be strong. I've tried to move on with my life. But I can't, I'm waiting for you "
You should not wait for me.
" I know you might still think I don't truly love you. What can I do to convince you? "
I know you love me Princess. I am just not what you need.
" You're all I need Thaman " she said " But you promised me that we would be together after all this. That is the one thing that is keeping me going so don't tell me you're having second thoughts "
I have no second thoughts about you.
" Do you know how paranoid I am about you and Lonnie? Do you know how many nights I dream that you're in love with her now and that you're with her? "

Isabel sighed to herself and wiped her eyes. " And here I am, alone. Talking to myself " she said and laughed a little. " I know you're here Thaman " she said as she walked over to her bed. She threw the comforter to the side and laid down. " Please let me see you " she said listening to the rain. She blinked her eyes slowly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" That was awkward " said Max as both he and Liz closed the door to their bedroom.
" I wish we could tell them Max " said Liz. " Your parents have to find out sooner or later "
" I know " said Max taking off his tie." Pretty soon they'll find out "
" Under what kinds of circumstances do you think? "
" Not good ones either way " he looked at Liz. " I'm sorry "
" For what? "
" All this happening today of all days "
" I'm sure Thaman has a good reason for doing what he did "
" Not for Thaman "
" Max, I knew this was going to happen "
" I wanted tonight to be special Liz "
" I know Max " she said holding his hand. " I did too "
" Now we have to worry and think about the survival of a planet "
" Max, you're a king. You have to fulfill your responsibilities. I knew this when we got married "
" When this is all over I'm going to make it up to you "
" I know you will " said Liz. " But you know "

" What? " asked Max.

" You could make it up to me a little tonight "

" What do you want me to do? "

" Help me forget about it for just a little "

Max smiled at her as he carried her to their bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~
" Just don't get killed, " said Maria.
" I won't "
" You promise me that? "
" Yes "
" My mom is going to find out about this. She already hates the idea that we're living together. She won't be happy at all when she finds out I'm also living with an alien "
" It doesn't matter what your mom thinks when the whole world is at stake " said Michael " You know what this means don't you? That means we're going to fight on Earth. Some of this stuff here won't be here afterwards "
" Why didn't Thaman show himself earlier? "

" I don't know, " said Michael " Maybe he just wants us to figure it out on our own "
" Where do you think he's been? "
" Whatever he's been through, it wasn't good. I don't think he would have taken this long if it was easy "
" Imagine what he's been through "
" I don't want to. He's probably been through a lot. But whatever he's planning for us, we have to trust him "

" I just don't want anything bad to happen to you. I mean I've heard Liz's story about how things have ended up before and I don't like where we're headed. You were dead remember? I don't want to live to see you die "

" Come here " he said holding her to his chest. " Whatever happens, you stay alive "

" What about you? "

" I don't know how things are going to turn out. But no matter what, you have to know that I will always love you "

" But I want you here Michael "

" I know, " he said sighing. " I want to be here too "

" I just wish there was some absolute certainty here. We have no solid anything "

" I'll give you something solid then "

" What? "

" When this is all over and we're still alive " he said pulling back and looking at her. " I'm going to marry you "
~~~~~~~~~
" Are you ready for this? " asked Serena.
" No, I think we're gonna die " said Kyle playfully.
" Come on Kyle, this is serious stuff " she said hitting him.
" I called my dad and told him. He's on his way right now. We have Thaman here now and we need a prayer "
" The people of Antar should have had a plan for this. Why wasn't it written in the book that Alex translated? "
" Maybe Thaman knows how it works "
" I hope so " said Serena " For everyone's sake. Don't you think that Max's mother should have planned this out more. Or prepared them more than leaving just a pre recorded message telling them who they belong with? I don't get why such an advance civilization wouldn't think to send the entire plan so that Max, Michael and Isabel could defend their planet "
" Well Thaman did tell Max and Michael that things were pretty rushed. I don't get it either but here we are. Nothing is easy when it comes to our favorite aliens. But you know what this means right? "
" The end of the world? "
" Besides that. If Khivar's on his way that means Tess is coming with him. There's going to be some major cat fighting when Liz sees her "
" Tess " echoed Serena. Her face darkened at the thought. She looked at Kyle, trying to see his reaction to his own realization. " If that happens I'm totally helping Liz kill her "

Kyle's face looked just as dark as he tried not to look at her. But he looked at her and saw the hatred in her face. " Tess isn't someone you can easily mess with. She does have that mind-warping thing that's much stronger than yours. I don't want you to fight her "

" Kyle I'm going to die trying if I have to. She made me like this and I didn't ask for it. Her and Nascedo kidnapped me and ruined my life. I know she doesn't remember anything about me. I'm not going to let her get away with it "

Kyle sighed to himself. He had his own vendetta against Tess but it was nothing compared to that of Serena and Liz. He knew that it was inevitable. But he knew that Serena and Liz didn't have a chance against Tess. She was half alien and she's been living with people that could show her to full extent of her powers. " You know what that also means right? That Max's son is here too "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thaman stood over Isabel. It was really her. He was with her again and she was waiting for him. She had done fine without him. There was nothing he wanted more than to let her see him. But he couldn't show himself to her. He didn't know how she would react to him really being there. Eight years of being alone and hunted. Eight years without her. He'd gone longer but this absence was different. The fifty years he had hadn't seen her was different. The thought of her being alive was enough. Now it wasn't enough. He knew that she loved him and that he had a chance to be with her. The time without her seemed longer, his trials more unbearable. But the thought of her keeping him going on his quest.
" Is it because you really love Lonnie? And you're with her now " she asked with a blank stare on her face. " I hate her " she said as she rolled over on her back and looked up at the ceiling. She could see the shadows of the trees outside and the rain falling. Isabel could feel unconsciousness calling and her mind was clouding up. She didn't want to fall asleep. She knew that Thaman was there and maybe if she pleaded with him more he would show himself. But her need for sleep was too intense. She closed her eyes and fell asleep let the sleep take over her.
Thaman knew she was asleep and sat lightly on the side of her bed. He looked at her peaceful face and wondered if she would dream about him. No he couldn't show himself to her right now. It wasn't the right time. There were so many things that they still needed to learn. He prayed that they had kept up their training after he left. They would need it to accomplish what they needed. But hopefully tonight, she would show them the way.
~~~~~~~
" Ava come here, " said Brody motioning her to the fireplace. She had just put Sydney to bed.

" What? " she asked looking at him. He had a worried expression on his face.

" I'm worried "

" Why you worried? "

" Because you're going to be off doing God knows what and I don't want to lose you "

Ava smiled at him. " You will never lose me Brody " she said. " You're the reason why I'm here "

" I wish I could believe that "

" It's the truth. Besides Liz, you is the only one that cares bout me "

" They all care about you Ava "

" I knows they always look at me likes I'm Tess "

" I wouldn't worry about that. They trust you "

" I just haves to prove it to them " said Ava. " But sometimes I just feels like I been robbed of somethin "

~~~~~~~

Isabel opened her eyes and looked around her room. There was nobody in her room with her. There was a tapping on her window. Sounded like a tree branch. She got up from her bed and walked over to it. She pulled up her window." AH! " she screamed. She saw someone just outside her window staring at her from the rain. She stepped back and let go of her curtain. She had to grab her mouth from screaming again. Her heart was thumping intensely as she tried to get a grip on her feelings. She took two more deep breaths and opened her curtain again. There was nobody there. She sighed as she turned around. "AH!" she screamed.
The figure in front of her was still wet and dripping. He was tall and slim. He had dirty blond hair and deep blue piercing eyes. He looked at her with a familiar face. He had such a familiar presence to her. But this wasn't familiar in a comforting way. He reached out for her.
" Don't touch me " she yelled pushing his hand away. " Who are you? "
" You know me Vilandra " he said getting closer. " I told you I'd come for you "
Isabel was stepping backwards away from him. Where was Thaman? Had she been only talking to herself all night? " Khivar? "
" You haven't forgotten me have you? " he asked.
" How could I forget about you? " she said trying to smile but she couldn't catch her breath. She was up against the wall now. Khivar just kept coming towards her. His face was right in front of hers when he finally stopped. He seemed to be studying her face. His deep blue eyes seemed to be looking inside her. Without any warning he buried his face in her neck.
" You even smell the same " he said. His breathing was heavy too.
Isabel was frozen. What could she do? " Are you really Khivar? Or are you just taking over some human body? "
Khivar started laughing. But he pulled away from her, which made her sigh silently. " Vilandra " he laughed. " Only you would think that "
" That's how I got to see you the last time " she said folding her arms. She was terrified but she had to put up an act for him. This person could easily kill her.
" It's all me this time Vilandra " he said " But this husk is very uncomfortable. I can't wait until we can return to Antar together " he was stroking her face again. " It's been very difficult to come here "
" Why did it take you so long? "
" Unexpected things come up " he said running his lips across her cheek. " But don't worry Vilandra. It'll all be over soon "
She had to fight her hands from pushing him away as he put his arms around her. His touch was crawling through her skin. It was cold and scary. " I'm not worried Khivar " she managed to say. Please don't let him try to kiss me.
He smiled at her. " We're going to be happy again Vilandra " he said leaning in to kiss her.
" My Lady " she heard a soft and familiar voice say and jumped up. She sat up abruptly in her bed looking around. She was alone in her room. The sound of the rain outside her window was the only noise. She grabbed her chest and tried to calm her nerves. " Oh God " she said looking around the room. She was sobbing now from fear and ran her fingers through her hair. " Just a dream Isabel. Just a dream " she said looking at her window. Her heart almost stopped as she silently walked over to her window.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She quickly swung the curtain open and prepared to stop her scream. There was nothing outside her window. She slowly turned her head to the side of her but there was nothing there.
She exhaled loudly as she humped her shoulders in relief. A sudden thought stopped her. Khivar came into her dream. He had dream walked her. That meant he was on Earth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" So what did he say exactly? " said Maria. They were all at the Crashdown. Maria had just come in her PJ's with Michael, Max and Liz were dressed the same way. Serena and Kyle were fully clothed. Brody and Ava were sitting in a booth together. Isabel was sitting on a table in the middle. Thaman was invisibly off to the side just watching.
" He said he was here "
" What else did he say? " asked Max.
" He's here for me. He said we were going back to Antar and that we're going to be happy "
" What did he look like? " asked Kyle.
" He's " said Isabel trying to remember more clearly. " He said he was in a husk and that it was uncomfortable. He had blond hair and blue eyes. His eyes " she said putting her face over her eyes.
" What about his eyes? " asked Liz.
" Sounds like a hunk " said Maria smirking.
Michael shot her a look.
" It's like he was looking right inside of me " she said looking at Max. " Like he was trying to read my mind or something "
" Did he? " asked Brody.
" No "
" This was all in your dream? " asked Maria.
" Yeah "
" How did you wake up? " asked Serena.
" I " she said looking at the faces looking back at her. " I guess my mind just jolted up " she said thinking to herself. Thaman was there tonight. He knew Khivar would come to me in my dream so he stayed invisible. He knew I was in trouble in my dream so he woke me up. Thaman, is there anything you don't know? She smiled at the thought.
" Well he's definitely here to destroy us all, " said Kyle.
" He knows we have the Granolith " said Max " There's no telling what he's up to "
" Where did you put it Max? " asked Ava.
" Somewhere safe " he answered. He couldn't tell anyone where it was. Things were just getting too crazy right now. " We just have to find Thaman ".
" He still hasn't shown himself, " said Michael. " Where is he? "
" He could be anywhere " said Maria.
" There has to be a reason why he hasn't shown himself "
" Maybe hes hidin sumthin " said Ava.
" Thaman doesn't hide anything " said Isabel defensively.
" He hid the Granolith " said Kyle " Not to bad mouth Thaman but he did "
" He always has his reasons, " said Max.
" What if he's hiding from Khivar? " asked Maria " The last thing he would want to do is appear to us and get killed by Khivar. He did steal back the Granolith and give it back to us "
" We don't know what's happened to him " said Isabel standing up. " The least we can do is give him the benefit of the doubt "
" Isabel's right " said Max " We have to trust him. We all know what he's been through already "
" So what are we going to do? " asked Michael.
" We can't just all sleep here until this is over " said Maria
" We have to live our lives like normal but stay alert. If you notice anything suspicious or if anything happens, everyone meet here at the Crashdown. Is that agreed? " said Max looking around the room.
" If anything happens to any of you I don't know what I'd do " said Liz looking at their faces.
" We're going to be ok Liz " said Max holding her hand.
" Let's just pray we make it " said Kyle.

TBC….

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