[u]Part 44[/u]
For one horrible instant, only moments after his sister had given him what should have been the best news of his life, Max stared mortality in the face. He watched in strange fascination as Lord Edmund's sword rose over his head, unable to even move in an attempt to save himself.
It was amazing how many thoughts one had time for when death was imminent. He wondered briefly if he had been privy to so much insight into where his life had failed prior to his [I]first[/I] murder.
To begin with, he cursed himself roundly. He was going to die and Isabel and Michael would be left at the mercy of Lord Edmund and Tess. He didn't even want to contemplate what would happen to Alexander and Mary. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that they would be killed. While Michael and Bella might continue to live, he didn't doubt that they would be firmly under Lord Edmund's control again. Their so-called guardian would never underestimate them a second time.
His next thoughts were of his wife. How could he not have known that Elizabeth still lived? How had the connection that bonded them been severed so drastically that he could no longer feel her and so had not even tried to heal her? It was this fact alone that led him to understand that while his wife might still be breathing, she was no longer truly alive.
It had to be the child in her womb that was keeping her body still breathing and yet it was no longer [I]her[/I]. Elizabeth was gone. He knew it with every inch of his soul. He could not feel her and he did not think that he could continue to exist in an universe that did not burn with her gentle spirit. It was why, much to his shame, he did not try and stop what was about to happen to him. In spite of his love for his siblings, his affection for Alexander and Mary and his concern for his planet, he simply [I]knew[/I] that he would not be able to go on without his Liz anyway.
She was his heart and soul. He could continue to breathe without her, but he would not accomplish anything. His death would be a blessing. Antar could move on without him.
Afterward Isabel told him that she did not blame him for his momentary lapse, for the cowardice that had almost cost him his life. Michael said he understood. Alexander and Mary certainly forgave him. He never quite forgave himself, but he also understood that, from the first moment he had laid eyes on Elizabeth - from the first moment he had ever dreamt of her in fact - his destiny was sealed.
They were one soul. They were each other's strength. His weakness without her could not be denied.
It was for that reason that, in future years, he blessed the day that Sir Kyle DeValence had entered his life. Because, in the end, it was his nemesis who saved him.
It was over so quickly, Max did not even have time to roll aside before Lord Edmund's body crashed down upon him. He could hear Tess screaming, then felt bile enter his throat as the smell of burning flesh reached his nostrils. He swallowed, hard.
Shoving Lord Edmund's body off of him, Max managed to climb to his feet, stared in astonishment at the dagger that was still quivering in his guardian's back.
"Max!" Isabel's scream forced him to take rapid stock of the situation. Isabel had her hand raised and was holding Tess against the cave wall with some sort of force-field. He raised his own hand, no longer having any resistance to using his powers, and joined his sister. He felt Isabel's relief through their connection.
"What happened?" He asked his sister through a clenched jaw, all of his strength focused on keeping Tess in place. She was struggling like a madwoman, her teeth bared, clearly now completely insane.
"She killed Sir Kyle," Isabel replied, sounding appalled. "He threw his dagger at Lord Edmund's back to save you and she turned on him and burnt him from the inside."
Max struggled against the sickness he felt rising within him again as he took in what remained of Sir Kyle DeValence.
"He was a hero," Max said, knowing that, in this final act, Sir Kyle had saved his own soul. Finally he had achieved his life's goal of making his father proud. He had saved his greatest enemy with no thought to himself and he would live on in the Heaven he had believed so firmly closed against him.
"Max, what are we going to do with her?" Isabel asked. "We cannot control her. She is completely insane."
He knew that his sister was right. There was only one thing to do, now no choice at all. Without Lord Edmund to at least keep some sort of authority over her, Tess would be unmanageable. They were going to have to kill her.
But, first, they needed information. And there was only one way to get it.
"I'm taking her back to Antar," Max said, loudly enough that he knew Tess would hear him.
Tess stopped struggling. She focused on Max, her eyes burning. "We are going home?"
Max attempted not to display his hatred as he replied, "Yes Tessie. I'm taking you home."
Isabel sounded shocked as she murmured, "Max, we should just kill her."
Max looked at her sharply. "Trust me," he muttered. "Just go along with me Isabel. I'll explain." He turned back to Tess. "There is nothing standing in our way now Tessie. I am going to marry you and then we are going home. You just have to promise me that you are not going to hurt anyone else."
"I promise." Tess's voice was child-like as she smiled beatifically. "I knew you would finally understand Max. I had no choice."
"I know it sweeting." Max clenched his jaw, still nervous, but knowing that the chance had to be taken. He lowered his hand. Isabel hesitated but eventually followed his lead.
Tess moved toward the pods. "Come Max. The granolith will take us home. Lord Edmund told me how to make it work." She looked at Isabel, her blue eyes wide and guileless. "Are you going to come too Bella?"
Isabel looked at Max, who shook his head imperceptibly. She narrowed her gaze, seemed about to argue, but Max glared at her and she finally said, "I am to stay here Tess."
"Go on sweeting," Max said to Tess, making his voice coaxing. "Go through. Don't start the granolith," the strange word rolled off his tongue awkwardly, "Until I am with you. I need to speak with Bella for a moment."
Tess's eyes narrowed slightly, but she eventually nodded, lowered herself to her hands and knees and crawled through the bottom right-hand pod.
"Max, what are you doing?" Isabel hissed, once Tess was out of sight. "You're not actually going with her!"
"Of course not," Max replied firmly. "I just need to know how this granolith works. Plus, as long as she thinks we have finally seen the light, she will be obedient. As long as Tess gets her own way, she is perfectly submissive," he reminded Isabel.
"But what about when she knows that you're not going?" Isabel demanded. "This doesn't seem thought out Max." She moved away from him, went to kneel beside Elizabeth. "You need to be with your wife. She is still alive. You need to heal her!" Isabel sounded concerned that he hadn't already thought of this.
He wondered with interest if his sister thought he was going insane too. The expression on her face seemed to indicate this.
Maybe he [I]was[/I] crazy. Maybe that explained how he knew that Liz was gone, even if she still breathed.
Maybe he was crazy and so he was wrong. His heart skipped a beat.
Max felt a lump enter his throat as he allowed his gaze to rest for a moment on the countenance of his Liz, looking peaceful in her eternal slumber. His sister was right. He could not deal with Tess until he knew for certain that Elizabeth was truly lost to him.
His brain knew it and, yet, his heart still hoped. Yes, he was certainly insane.
"Watch for Tess," Max told Isabel. "I will try."
Isabel nodded, getting to her feet and moving toward the pods, standing stiffly.
Max knelt at his wife's side. He could not tear his eyes from her beloved face, paler than before, but still lovely. He could see a small bruise on her lip where she had obviously gnawed on it in concern at some point during her ordeal. It was this small imperfection that finally caused the seal on his emotions to break.
He fell back on his haunches, his head buried in his hands and struggled to control the great wave of grief that threatened to overtake him.
"Max!" Isabel's whisper of concern floated towards him.
Max straightened his spine, forced his hands down and gently touched Elizabeth's face. He closed his eyes, searched for any way into her mind, any path still open.
He could feel her thin breath against his hand.
[I]Liz![/I] He called to her with every fibre of his being, hoping against hope that she would answer him - that he would find her, that she was simply lost and needed help to come back to him. [I]My love! Please![/i]
There was not even a flicker of awareness from Elizabeth. In fact, the emptiness was so complete, it was beyond painful.
Max opened his eyes, raised his head and looked at Isabel. "She is gone Bella. She is still here in body but her spirit."
But Isabel was not looking at him. She had obviously been watching his attempt at making a connection, but now her eyes were glued to Elizabeth's form. "Max! Look!"
He lowered his gaze, felt his eyes widen. An unearthly glow was spreading across his wife until she was completely encased in it. He stared in astonishment, knew instinctively that he should try again.
Max gently placed his hands on his wife's face and instantly the scene around him changed. Isabel disappeared, as did the glowing pods and the cave itself.
He was back in the forest. Max searched the trees frantically, sure that he was meant to find Elizabeth here. He pushed into the dense foliage and broke through to a sunny glade. He stopped, his heart pounding and stared.
She was sitting on a boulder, her dark hair tumbling around her shoulders, no wimple or veil necessary in such a casual moment. She was dressed in a simple gown, her delicate toes peeking out from under the hem, as she wore no slippers upon her feet. An embroidery hoop lay forgotten in her lap as she laughed merrily at something he could not see.
Max realized that he had never beheld his wife in such a domestic pose. Their entire existence had been shockingly dramatic, from the first moment they had met. And, yet, this was not unfamiliar. It was something right out of his dreams in fact.
He took a tentative step forward, disbelieving that it was really her. But as she became aware of him, her head turning, a shocked and then delighted expression crossing her face, he knew that it was.
He took another step, then felt a firm hand clamp down on his shoulder.
"Not yet."
Max turned his head, startled. He regarded a tall man with dark hair and strangely familiar eyes. His countenance was sad.
"What? My wife! I must go to her!"
"Father, you cannot."
Max felt a shiver run down his spine. "Who are you?" He whispered. He looked back to where Liz had been sitting and could see that she was already gone.
"I am your son," the young man replied quietly, although Max somehow already knew. "And this is what you must do to save my mother."
***********************************************
"Mary, stay here," Michael ordered firmly as he swept his hand across the glowing hand-print on the rock face. "Alexander and I will go assess the situation and then you may join us."
Mary opened her mouth to quarrel, but then decided now was not the time. She really could not think of a sound argument anyway. She did have her bow with her, but knew that it would likely be of little use within the confines of the cave. Michael had Alex both had their swords drawn, would be much less able to deal with whatever circumstances they might encounter should they also be worrying about her.
"Very well," she replied wearily. She truly did not have the energy to say anything else. She was trying not to allow her grief over the loss of Elizabeth, her closest friend - really her sister - affect her. There would be time for sorrow later. For now they had to assure that Lizzy had not died in vain.
Michael placed his hand palm down on the glowing symbol and the hidden gateway slid open. Mary heard Alex's sharp intake of breath. That her brother could still be amazed at the wonders of which their friends were capable surprised her. Mary was astonished by nothing now.
"Be careful," she commanded as the two boys melted into the shadows.
Mary truly had intended to stay where she was. Really. But when the yelling began and strange blasting noises emerged from within the pod chamber, she found herself running towards them rather than away. It was only later that she realized that were her friends to lose then she wanted to be with them. There was no way that she was going to stay alive alone.
She broke through into the chamber proper, stopped abruptly, unable to understand immediately what her eyes were telling her.
The first thing she saw was Lord Edmund's body, a dagger sticking out of his back. Michael was in front of her, his hand raised, pointed in the direction of the glowing pods. Isabel was on the ground, Alexander on top of her, Mary's brother obviously having shielded her friend with his body. Max was across the room, sitting cross-legged at Elizabeth's side, his eyes closed and his hands on her face.
And Elizabeth was glowing.
"What happened?" Mary exclaimed. She was still looking around, unsure what was wrong with the tableau presented here - other than the obvious fact that her best friend had never glowed before. Something was [I]different[/I] from the last time she had been there, but she could not put her finger on it.
Michael's head whipped around at the sound of her voice and he glared at her. "Did I not tell you remain outside?"
"Yes," Mary allowed, waving her hand in the air as though brushing aside a pesky fly. "I did not do so however. Now tell me what happened!"
"Tess tried to kill Elizabeth," Alexander said. He was on his feet and was helping Bella to join him. Isabel's expression was resigned. "Michael killed her." When Mary looked around for a body, her brother said quietly, "She is completely gone Mary."
Mary glanced at Michael, decided not to touch that one with a ten foot pole. Michael did not look the least bit sorry, but Mary knew that would not last long . He had killed the girl that he had considered a sister, however justified. He would need her.
"I thought Lizzy was already dead!" Mary felt her heart speeding up with joy as she moved forward to join Max at her friend's side. How could it be? But Lizzy must be alive, for why else would Tess try to kill her again?
"She is not." Mary could see that Max's eyes were now open. His tone was grim, which did not match his words. Shouldn't he be overjoyed?
"I am sorry Max," Isabel said quietly. "There was no choice. I know that you wanted information, but she came out and saw Elizabeth and knew that she lived. She was going to kill her."
"It is not your fault Bella," Max replied, sounding inexpressible weary.
"But we won't be able to go home," Isabel reminded him, although Mary did not think she sounded particularly regretful of this fact. She saw Alexander's arm tighten around Isabel's shoulders.
"It does not matter," Max said, shaking his head. "If they truly want us, they will come for us someday." He did not sound exceptionally interested in whether [I]they[/I], whoever they were, came or not.
"Max, what is it? If Lizzy lives, this is wonderful news! Tess is gone and so is Lord Edmund! You are free!" Mary did not understand the expression on the young king's face. What was wrong?
"Elizabeth lives but she will not wake up," Max said, his tone even. "There is only one way to do it and my wife would never allow it. Were I to sanction it, she would not forgive me." Mary felt a frisson of dread descend her spine.
"Max?" She whispered. "What?"
"If I kill the baby, then its essence would revitalize Liz." His voice was dead. "But I cannot do it. She would not want to live that way." Mary started at the news that there [I]was[/I] a baby. This was getting worse and worse by the minute.
"Max!" Isabel sounded horrified. "There must be some other way to wake her! There must!"
Max closed his eyes, took a deep breath and replied, "I believe there must be as well." But to Mary's ears he did not sound convinced. "We will try the healing stones, but I fear all of their power was used to revive Lord Edmund." Max grimaced. Mary knew that he was thinking that if they had never healed the shapeshifter, it was unlikely that any of this would have happened.
"What about the baby Max?" Isabel finally ventured. "Can it still be born?"
Max lowered his head. "It is why Liz lives. Our child saved her life when our [I]guardian[/I]," this last was said as a curse, "Hurt her. But he is still far too little to do anything else. He will be born if we take care of Liz. And when he comes, she will slip away.permanently."
"How do you know all this Max?" Michael demanded.
"My son.he told me." Max's voice cracked. Isabel hurried away from Alex and threw her arms around her brother as Max finally broke down.
There was a long silence as Mary, Michael and Alexander all stared at each other in dismay. Mary glanced helplessly around the room, wishing for some sign of hope. It was then that her eyes lit on the pods. One was now dark, obviously Tess's, no longer glowing because it's former occupant did not live anymore. But it wasn't that which caught Mary's attention.
Resting on the floor, bathed in the otherworldly glow of the pods, was a silver book.
"Michael?" Mary whispered. "What is that?"
Michael looked where she was pointing, moved towards it and picked up the slender volume. Mary could see from where she stood that it was made of some metal she had never before beheld.
Michael frowned, flipped through the book impatiently. He stopped abruptly as something seemed to catch his eye. He then turned back to the beginning and stared down at the first page carefully.
"Oh my God."
"Michael! What! What is it?" Mary demanded, going to stand beside him and staring at the book in his hands. It was engraved with a series of squiggles and strange symbols of which Mary was incapable of making heads or tails.
But Michael ignored her. "Maxwell! Bella!"
Isabel was still embracing Max, trying to comfort her brother, who had stopped crying, but was still holding onto his sister as though she was the only thing keeping him sane. However, they both turned and regarded Michael at the urgency in his voice.
"What is it Michael?" Isabel asked, clearly distracted and uninterested.
Michael held up the book and told her, "I can read it!"
"What [I]is[/I] it?" Isabel demanded, this time impatient.
"It is a way home."
To be continued.
For one horrible instant, only moments after his sister had given him what should have been the best news of his life, Max stared mortality in the face. He watched in strange fascination as Lord Edmund's sword rose over his head, unable to even move in an attempt to save himself.
It was amazing how many thoughts one had time for when death was imminent. He wondered briefly if he had been privy to so much insight into where his life had failed prior to his [I]first[/I] murder.
To begin with, he cursed himself roundly. He was going to die and Isabel and Michael would be left at the mercy of Lord Edmund and Tess. He didn't even want to contemplate what would happen to Alexander and Mary. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that they would be killed. While Michael and Bella might continue to live, he didn't doubt that they would be firmly under Lord Edmund's control again. Their so-called guardian would never underestimate them a second time.
His next thoughts were of his wife. How could he not have known that Elizabeth still lived? How had the connection that bonded them been severed so drastically that he could no longer feel her and so had not even tried to heal her? It was this fact alone that led him to understand that while his wife might still be breathing, she was no longer truly alive.
It had to be the child in her womb that was keeping her body still breathing and yet it was no longer [I]her[/I]. Elizabeth was gone. He knew it with every inch of his soul. He could not feel her and he did not think that he could continue to exist in an universe that did not burn with her gentle spirit. It was why, much to his shame, he did not try and stop what was about to happen to him. In spite of his love for his siblings, his affection for Alexander and Mary and his concern for his planet, he simply [I]knew[/I] that he would not be able to go on without his Liz anyway.
She was his heart and soul. He could continue to breathe without her, but he would not accomplish anything. His death would be a blessing. Antar could move on without him.
Afterward Isabel told him that she did not blame him for his momentary lapse, for the cowardice that had almost cost him his life. Michael said he understood. Alexander and Mary certainly forgave him. He never quite forgave himself, but he also understood that, from the first moment he had laid eyes on Elizabeth - from the first moment he had ever dreamt of her in fact - his destiny was sealed.
They were one soul. They were each other's strength. His weakness without her could not be denied.
It was for that reason that, in future years, he blessed the day that Sir Kyle DeValence had entered his life. Because, in the end, it was his nemesis who saved him.
It was over so quickly, Max did not even have time to roll aside before Lord Edmund's body crashed down upon him. He could hear Tess screaming, then felt bile enter his throat as the smell of burning flesh reached his nostrils. He swallowed, hard.
Shoving Lord Edmund's body off of him, Max managed to climb to his feet, stared in astonishment at the dagger that was still quivering in his guardian's back.
"Max!" Isabel's scream forced him to take rapid stock of the situation. Isabel had her hand raised and was holding Tess against the cave wall with some sort of force-field. He raised his own hand, no longer having any resistance to using his powers, and joined his sister. He felt Isabel's relief through their connection.
"What happened?" He asked his sister through a clenched jaw, all of his strength focused on keeping Tess in place. She was struggling like a madwoman, her teeth bared, clearly now completely insane.
"She killed Sir Kyle," Isabel replied, sounding appalled. "He threw his dagger at Lord Edmund's back to save you and she turned on him and burnt him from the inside."
Max struggled against the sickness he felt rising within him again as he took in what remained of Sir Kyle DeValence.
"He was a hero," Max said, knowing that, in this final act, Sir Kyle had saved his own soul. Finally he had achieved his life's goal of making his father proud. He had saved his greatest enemy with no thought to himself and he would live on in the Heaven he had believed so firmly closed against him.
"Max, what are we going to do with her?" Isabel asked. "We cannot control her. She is completely insane."
He knew that his sister was right. There was only one thing to do, now no choice at all. Without Lord Edmund to at least keep some sort of authority over her, Tess would be unmanageable. They were going to have to kill her.
But, first, they needed information. And there was only one way to get it.
"I'm taking her back to Antar," Max said, loudly enough that he knew Tess would hear him.
Tess stopped struggling. She focused on Max, her eyes burning. "We are going home?"
Max attempted not to display his hatred as he replied, "Yes Tessie. I'm taking you home."
Isabel sounded shocked as she murmured, "Max, we should just kill her."
Max looked at her sharply. "Trust me," he muttered. "Just go along with me Isabel. I'll explain." He turned back to Tess. "There is nothing standing in our way now Tessie. I am going to marry you and then we are going home. You just have to promise me that you are not going to hurt anyone else."
"I promise." Tess's voice was child-like as she smiled beatifically. "I knew you would finally understand Max. I had no choice."
"I know it sweeting." Max clenched his jaw, still nervous, but knowing that the chance had to be taken. He lowered his hand. Isabel hesitated but eventually followed his lead.
Tess moved toward the pods. "Come Max. The granolith will take us home. Lord Edmund told me how to make it work." She looked at Isabel, her blue eyes wide and guileless. "Are you going to come too Bella?"
Isabel looked at Max, who shook his head imperceptibly. She narrowed her gaze, seemed about to argue, but Max glared at her and she finally said, "I am to stay here Tess."
"Go on sweeting," Max said to Tess, making his voice coaxing. "Go through. Don't start the granolith," the strange word rolled off his tongue awkwardly, "Until I am with you. I need to speak with Bella for a moment."
Tess's eyes narrowed slightly, but she eventually nodded, lowered herself to her hands and knees and crawled through the bottom right-hand pod.
"Max, what are you doing?" Isabel hissed, once Tess was out of sight. "You're not actually going with her!"
"Of course not," Max replied firmly. "I just need to know how this granolith works. Plus, as long as she thinks we have finally seen the light, she will be obedient. As long as Tess gets her own way, she is perfectly submissive," he reminded Isabel.
"But what about when she knows that you're not going?" Isabel demanded. "This doesn't seem thought out Max." She moved away from him, went to kneel beside Elizabeth. "You need to be with your wife. She is still alive. You need to heal her!" Isabel sounded concerned that he hadn't already thought of this.
He wondered with interest if his sister thought he was going insane too. The expression on her face seemed to indicate this.
Maybe he [I]was[/I] crazy. Maybe that explained how he knew that Liz was gone, even if she still breathed.
Maybe he was crazy and so he was wrong. His heart skipped a beat.
Max felt a lump enter his throat as he allowed his gaze to rest for a moment on the countenance of his Liz, looking peaceful in her eternal slumber. His sister was right. He could not deal with Tess until he knew for certain that Elizabeth was truly lost to him.
His brain knew it and, yet, his heart still hoped. Yes, he was certainly insane.
"Watch for Tess," Max told Isabel. "I will try."
Isabel nodded, getting to her feet and moving toward the pods, standing stiffly.
Max knelt at his wife's side. He could not tear his eyes from her beloved face, paler than before, but still lovely. He could see a small bruise on her lip where she had obviously gnawed on it in concern at some point during her ordeal. It was this small imperfection that finally caused the seal on his emotions to break.
He fell back on his haunches, his head buried in his hands and struggled to control the great wave of grief that threatened to overtake him.
"Max!" Isabel's whisper of concern floated towards him.
Max straightened his spine, forced his hands down and gently touched Elizabeth's face. He closed his eyes, searched for any way into her mind, any path still open.
He could feel her thin breath against his hand.
[I]Liz![/I] He called to her with every fibre of his being, hoping against hope that she would answer him - that he would find her, that she was simply lost and needed help to come back to him. [I]My love! Please![/i]
There was not even a flicker of awareness from Elizabeth. In fact, the emptiness was so complete, it was beyond painful.
Max opened his eyes, raised his head and looked at Isabel. "She is gone Bella. She is still here in body but her spirit."
But Isabel was not looking at him. She had obviously been watching his attempt at making a connection, but now her eyes were glued to Elizabeth's form. "Max! Look!"
He lowered his gaze, felt his eyes widen. An unearthly glow was spreading across his wife until she was completely encased in it. He stared in astonishment, knew instinctively that he should try again.
Max gently placed his hands on his wife's face and instantly the scene around him changed. Isabel disappeared, as did the glowing pods and the cave itself.
He was back in the forest. Max searched the trees frantically, sure that he was meant to find Elizabeth here. He pushed into the dense foliage and broke through to a sunny glade. He stopped, his heart pounding and stared.
She was sitting on a boulder, her dark hair tumbling around her shoulders, no wimple or veil necessary in such a casual moment. She was dressed in a simple gown, her delicate toes peeking out from under the hem, as she wore no slippers upon her feet. An embroidery hoop lay forgotten in her lap as she laughed merrily at something he could not see.
Max realized that he had never beheld his wife in such a domestic pose. Their entire existence had been shockingly dramatic, from the first moment they had met. And, yet, this was not unfamiliar. It was something right out of his dreams in fact.
He took a tentative step forward, disbelieving that it was really her. But as she became aware of him, her head turning, a shocked and then delighted expression crossing her face, he knew that it was.
He took another step, then felt a firm hand clamp down on his shoulder.
"Not yet."
Max turned his head, startled. He regarded a tall man with dark hair and strangely familiar eyes. His countenance was sad.
"What? My wife! I must go to her!"
"Father, you cannot."
Max felt a shiver run down his spine. "Who are you?" He whispered. He looked back to where Liz had been sitting and could see that she was already gone.
"I am your son," the young man replied quietly, although Max somehow already knew. "And this is what you must do to save my mother."
***********************************************
"Mary, stay here," Michael ordered firmly as he swept his hand across the glowing hand-print on the rock face. "Alexander and I will go assess the situation and then you may join us."
Mary opened her mouth to quarrel, but then decided now was not the time. She really could not think of a sound argument anyway. She did have her bow with her, but knew that it would likely be of little use within the confines of the cave. Michael had Alex both had their swords drawn, would be much less able to deal with whatever circumstances they might encounter should they also be worrying about her.
"Very well," she replied wearily. She truly did not have the energy to say anything else. She was trying not to allow her grief over the loss of Elizabeth, her closest friend - really her sister - affect her. There would be time for sorrow later. For now they had to assure that Lizzy had not died in vain.
Michael placed his hand palm down on the glowing symbol and the hidden gateway slid open. Mary heard Alex's sharp intake of breath. That her brother could still be amazed at the wonders of which their friends were capable surprised her. Mary was astonished by nothing now.
"Be careful," she commanded as the two boys melted into the shadows.
Mary truly had intended to stay where she was. Really. But when the yelling began and strange blasting noises emerged from within the pod chamber, she found herself running towards them rather than away. It was only later that she realized that were her friends to lose then she wanted to be with them. There was no way that she was going to stay alive alone.
She broke through into the chamber proper, stopped abruptly, unable to understand immediately what her eyes were telling her.
The first thing she saw was Lord Edmund's body, a dagger sticking out of his back. Michael was in front of her, his hand raised, pointed in the direction of the glowing pods. Isabel was on the ground, Alexander on top of her, Mary's brother obviously having shielded her friend with his body. Max was across the room, sitting cross-legged at Elizabeth's side, his eyes closed and his hands on her face.
And Elizabeth was glowing.
"What happened?" Mary exclaimed. She was still looking around, unsure what was wrong with the tableau presented here - other than the obvious fact that her best friend had never glowed before. Something was [I]different[/I] from the last time she had been there, but she could not put her finger on it.
Michael's head whipped around at the sound of her voice and he glared at her. "Did I not tell you remain outside?"
"Yes," Mary allowed, waving her hand in the air as though brushing aside a pesky fly. "I did not do so however. Now tell me what happened!"
"Tess tried to kill Elizabeth," Alexander said. He was on his feet and was helping Bella to join him. Isabel's expression was resigned. "Michael killed her." When Mary looked around for a body, her brother said quietly, "She is completely gone Mary."
Mary glanced at Michael, decided not to touch that one with a ten foot pole. Michael did not look the least bit sorry, but Mary knew that would not last long . He had killed the girl that he had considered a sister, however justified. He would need her.
"I thought Lizzy was already dead!" Mary felt her heart speeding up with joy as she moved forward to join Max at her friend's side. How could it be? But Lizzy must be alive, for why else would Tess try to kill her again?
"She is not." Mary could see that Max's eyes were now open. His tone was grim, which did not match his words. Shouldn't he be overjoyed?
"I am sorry Max," Isabel said quietly. "There was no choice. I know that you wanted information, but she came out and saw Elizabeth and knew that she lived. She was going to kill her."
"It is not your fault Bella," Max replied, sounding inexpressible weary.
"But we won't be able to go home," Isabel reminded him, although Mary did not think she sounded particularly regretful of this fact. She saw Alexander's arm tighten around Isabel's shoulders.
"It does not matter," Max said, shaking his head. "If they truly want us, they will come for us someday." He did not sound exceptionally interested in whether [I]they[/I], whoever they were, came or not.
"Max, what is it? If Lizzy lives, this is wonderful news! Tess is gone and so is Lord Edmund! You are free!" Mary did not understand the expression on the young king's face. What was wrong?
"Elizabeth lives but she will not wake up," Max said, his tone even. "There is only one way to do it and my wife would never allow it. Were I to sanction it, she would not forgive me." Mary felt a frisson of dread descend her spine.
"Max?" She whispered. "What?"
"If I kill the baby, then its essence would revitalize Liz." His voice was dead. "But I cannot do it. She would not want to live that way." Mary started at the news that there [I]was[/I] a baby. This was getting worse and worse by the minute.
"Max!" Isabel sounded horrified. "There must be some other way to wake her! There must!"
Max closed his eyes, took a deep breath and replied, "I believe there must be as well." But to Mary's ears he did not sound convinced. "We will try the healing stones, but I fear all of their power was used to revive Lord Edmund." Max grimaced. Mary knew that he was thinking that if they had never healed the shapeshifter, it was unlikely that any of this would have happened.
"What about the baby Max?" Isabel finally ventured. "Can it still be born?"
Max lowered his head. "It is why Liz lives. Our child saved her life when our [I]guardian[/I]," this last was said as a curse, "Hurt her. But he is still far too little to do anything else. He will be born if we take care of Liz. And when he comes, she will slip away.permanently."
"How do you know all this Max?" Michael demanded.
"My son.he told me." Max's voice cracked. Isabel hurried away from Alex and threw her arms around her brother as Max finally broke down.
There was a long silence as Mary, Michael and Alexander all stared at each other in dismay. Mary glanced helplessly around the room, wishing for some sign of hope. It was then that her eyes lit on the pods. One was now dark, obviously Tess's, no longer glowing because it's former occupant did not live anymore. But it wasn't that which caught Mary's attention.
Resting on the floor, bathed in the otherworldly glow of the pods, was a silver book.
"Michael?" Mary whispered. "What is that?"
Michael looked where she was pointing, moved towards it and picked up the slender volume. Mary could see from where she stood that it was made of some metal she had never before beheld.
Michael frowned, flipped through the book impatiently. He stopped abruptly as something seemed to catch his eye. He then turned back to the beginning and stared down at the first page carefully.
"Oh my God."
"Michael! What! What is it?" Mary demanded, going to stand beside him and staring at the book in his hands. It was engraved with a series of squiggles and strange symbols of which Mary was incapable of making heads or tails.
But Michael ignored her. "Maxwell! Bella!"
Isabel was still embracing Max, trying to comfort her brother, who had stopped crying, but was still holding onto his sister as though she was the only thing keeping him sane. However, they both turned and regarded Michael at the urgency in his voice.
"What is it Michael?" Isabel asked, clearly distracted and uninterested.
Michael held up the book and told her, "I can read it!"
"What [I]is[/I] it?" Isabel demanded, this time impatient.
"It is a way home."
To be continued.