[u]Part35[/u]

Max knew that he had found Liz as he stared up at the cliffs rising out of the early morning mists. Their connection, which had been blocked somehow since Tarsus had thrown him back into the dungeon and had taken Liz, flared back to life suddenly, flowed through him, started his heart pounding in anticipation.

[I]Liz![/I] He called out to her through their link, which he now knew was the result of the official bond that had been created, at some point, by his Aunt Andrina. He still didn't know when or how, but there could be no denying that the relationship he and Liz shared was special and beyond anything any of their friends knew or felt.

Max did not regret the connection, but it did make it so that, sometimes, it was difficult to even think straight without Liz. As he became aware of her presence in the vicinity, her warmth - her very [I]soul[/I] - seemed to wrap itself around him, allowing him to truly feel [I]normal[/I] for the first time since they had spent the night together.

He had thought a lot about the bond while they had searched for Liz and Nasedo, had reflected on what it meant and why it was significant. He knew the strange connection he shared with Liz had to be consecrated by someone with royal blood. That much Jaxon, the Dernian shapeshifter, had been able to tell him. But why? Why was it important? What was its purpose? He had a feeling that if he could figure that out, he would know how to stop Tarsus.

Max frowned slightly when he felt a tremor of fear descend his spine. He knew that it had come from Liz and it caused his anger at Tarsus to ignite.

[I]He[/I] was not afraid, even though, is some ways, finding them had been almost too easy. It had been more than obvious as the members of the Royal Guard who had accompanied him found clue after clue, that Tarsus [I]wanted[/I] to be found. It couldn't be a good thing, this fact, but by this point Max didn't care. All he knew was that he wanted Liz safe once and for all and the only way to assure that was to kill Tarsus.

And to kill him, he had to be found, plain and simple.

It had been an easy decision to make, in the end. It did alarm him slightly that he was so looking forward to it, but it didn't mean he wasn't going to do it. This had to end sometime and he had known that he was going to have to do it sooner or later in order to secure Jennetta's throne. He was just sorry that Tarsus had turned it into such a personal thing. The planet would have accepted the shapeshifter's death far more easily if it had been in honorable battle.

But, again, at this point, Max didn't really care [I]what[/I] the planet was going to think. Which was why he knew, in his heart, that he was no longer meant to rule Illyria. Liz would always come first, before his people, before his duty. He knew he should be ashamed of this, but he wasn't, which only reinforced that he was right to abdicate.

Jennetta would rule and Max would be glad of it. Because [I]she[/I] wanted this - it was what she had been bred for in that pod and she would be lost without the chance. Max's destiny as King of Illyria had been changed by the crash in 1947 and he didn't care anymore. He had never wanted to be king and that was all there was to it. He was jut glad that no one on the planet seemed to care whether the succession was direct or not, or so his namesake Jaxon had affirmed on the journey to find Tarsus and Liz. Any child of mixed blood would do, as long as they were off-spring of the Royal Four, and Jennetta fit that criteria. It was the prophecy that was important, that the Chosen One match it and that he or she bring peace and prosperity to Illyria, things Max knew Jenny would do. It was also why Max understood that, in spite of his mother's determination and ramblings, the planet would never accept his half-brother Ren on the throne. There would be too many who would doubt his claim - particularly as Max would not abdicate in Ren's favour, in spite of his desire to end his reign. It would be Jennetta or no one.

It wasn't that Max necessarily had anything against Ren. He wasn't displeased to discover another sibling persay, but the fact that his brother had been podded, that he had been [I]cleansed[/I], meant that he was not the right person for the job. Max's mother was just going to have to accept that or she was going to spend the rest of her days in prison. He did not relish having to assure this - she [I]was[/I] his mother after all - but if he had to, he would make sure it was so.

But all those concerns would come in the future. For now, there was Tarsus to be dealt with.

"They're up above," Max told Jaxon quietly. The Dernian was at his elbow, as he had been since he had freed Max from the Citadel's dungeon. Max had no idea what he had ever done to inspire this young shapeshifter's loyalty, but he was not going to question it. It was just nice to have someone to depend on.

"I do not think that you should go up there your highness," Jaxon replied firmly. "Tarsus is untrustworthy at best. I do not doubt that he will kill you on sight. Let [I]us[/I] go in and retrieve them." He was referring to the Royal Guard, who Max now eyed for a moment, a frown on his face.

"I'm the one he wants," Max finally sighed heavily. "He'll kill Liz before he releases her to anyone other than me."

"Why?" Jaxon asked, sounding exasperated. "I do not understand what it is about this girl that drives Tarsus to these extremes. I know that he has not been cleansed, but this is ridiculous!"

Max grinned despite himself. "Then you obviously haven't met Liz. She's worth it. It's the one thing I can't blame Tarsus for actually - the fact that he keeps trying to hold on to her."

Jaxon did not appear to understand, but he replied, "I look forward to meeting her then. But you still aren't going in there alone," he continued, having nominated himself royal bodyguard.

Max looked at him sharply, an idea forming in his mind, making his heart leap with excitement. He glanced past Jaxon, at the small army they had brought with them, made up of half Illyrian and half Dernian forces. He eyed the Dernians, a grin breaking out across his face. "You're right. I'm not," he told Jaxon, who looked surprised that, for once, the young king was not going to argue with him. Max lowered his voice. "This is what we're going to do."

******************************************************

[I]Liz! Can you hear me?[/I]

Liz sighed, clutching her hands together. She was trying desperately to shut Max out, hoping to convince him that he was being misled, that she was not here. Maybe he would just go away if he thought that.

She was on her feet, pacing. She didn't know how to stop Max from walking right into Tarsus's trap, but she knew that she had to. The shapeshifter's plan was still unclear in her mind. She knew it involved killing Max and then claiming his life, but she really didn't understand why he thought she would ever accept this. It was the one reason Tarsus was so difficult to predict. His thinking was never linear and rarely made sense to anyone other than himself. And, yet, he constantly came out on top.

Liz was beginning to understand one aspect of his method though. He constantly used Max and Liz against themselves. He was aware of how desperate they both were to protect each other and he took advantage of it. He had done it numerous times, not the least of which had been when he had forced Max to pretend to hate all his friends and when he had coerced Liz into leaving Earth with him - and he was about to do it again.

She was playing right into his hands by trying to keep Max away. The thought hit her so abruptly, she stopped pacing and stared at the shapeshifter, who was standing near the entrance to the cave, an almost gleeful expression on his stolen face.

Liz pressed her lips together and decided, for the first time in a long while, that she was just going to trust that Max knew what he was doing. Because didn't he usually?

Well, most of the time anyway.

[I]Max! I'm here![/I]

As she opened herself to him, she felt [I]his[/I] relief flood through her, bringing a smile to her face despite their present circumstances.

[I]Are you okay?[/I] He demanded, slightly abrupt, as though he hadn't expected her be able to respond to him this way.

The whole mental conversation thing was a little strange she admitted to herself. It was the first time she and Max had ever done anything like it. She knew that their bond had only been strengthened by making love, but she hadn't imagined that it would ever achieve this level. It didn't frighten her, but it did remind her how much she stood to lose if anything happened to Max. He was so much a part of her now. She knew that she would not be able to go on without him.

And, yet, the pact they had made before they had made love came back to her full force as she considered shutting him out again. They had promised that they would stop making the mistake of trying to protect each other at the expense of their own happiness. She couldn't be happy without him - she had just admitted it to herself. Pushing him away was an inherently stupid idea and she wasn't going to do it anymore.

[I]I'm fine![/I] She replied, finding the connection easier to reach each time she tried. [I]But I don't like you being here.[/I] She had to be honest with him.[I] Tarsus has something up his sleeve. Max, he can get back to Earth without the main portal.[/I]

There was a long pause as Max seemed to digest this and then, [I]It doesn't matter. [/I]

She frowned slightly. He sounded confident. It worried her. [I]Max! What are you doing?[/I]

[I]I'm thinking ahead for once and it's damn frustrating, [/I] Max admitted. [I]How does he do it? Is that what he's planning? To take you back to Earth?[/I]

[I]He's planning to take over your life,[/I] Liz replied. [I]He looks like you Max. It's why I went with him in the first place.[/I]

[I]Ah.[/I] Max sounded amused. [I]We've never been very successful with more than one of me running around, have we?[/I]

[I]Max! This isn't funny![/I]

[I]I never said it was. But this time we have the upper hand Liz. Don't worry.[/I] There was another pause, and then, [I]How does he plan to open the portal? Because that is what he's going to do, isn't it? Do you know?[/I]

[I]He has a couple of orbs holding my grandmother's essence and your father's. He can use them to open it.[/I]

There was another long pause. Liz could almost [I]hear[/I] Max conferring with someone. [I]So that's it. Liz, I need you to get your hands on those orbs. Can you do that?[/I]

[I]I think so.[/I] Liz looked at Tarsus. He had both orbs in his hands. She wrinkled her nose.

[I]Now, just listen to me,[/I] Max continued. [I] I'm coming up there. Make sure that he doesn't open the portal until I get there. Oh, and you might not like all I have to say to Tarsus, but please just [/I]trust[I] me. Can you do that?[/I]

[I]Of course,[/I] Liz told him firmly. [I]I will always trust you.[/I]

[I]Okay then. Get those orbs and I'll see you in a few minutes. I love you Liz.[/I]

[I]I love you too.[/I] But she knew he was already gone. She felt the connection flicker out, making her shiver. She reflected ruefully that the only time she was at all warm on this planet was when she was with Max, in some way or another. She couldn't wait to see him again, in spite of the danger in which they found themselves.

She realized that Tarsus was staring at her. "Finished?"

"What?" Liz asked, looking away guiltily.

"Has he finished telling you what he is planning?" Tarsus asked pleasantly. "It doesn' t matter you know. There is nothing he can do that I haven't thought of."

He was moving towards her. Liz eyed the orbs in his hands. "What are you doing with those?" She demanded, pressing her lips together, trying to pretend that they frightened her. "I have no intention of going back to Earth with you."

"We'll see." Tarsus/ Nasedo smiled at her in the wolfish manner he always employed when he was wearing Max's face. It was so unMaxlike, it only reinforced that he was a fool to think that she would ever accept him should Max die.

"Can I see one?" Liz asked abruptly.

"What?" Nasedo asked, looking at her suspiciously.

"I just want to see one of the orbs." Liz moved towards him, reaching her hands up and placing them on the oval-shaped stones in his hands. "Let me see them."

He eyed her for a moment, seemed about to pull them away from her when they were both distracted.

"Tarsus."

The sound of Max's voice coming from behind her made Liz jump. She frowned slightly. Why hadn't she [I]felt[/I] him closing in on them? She didn't turn immediately though. Liz took advantage of Nasedo's distraction and took the orbs away from him. She balanced them in her hands, behind her back.

Liz finally allowed herself to look at Max. She was surprised when she didn't meet his eyes. He wasn't even looking at her, but past her, at Nasedo, his face expressionless. Liz reached out through their connection to assure herself that he knew what he was doing, but he was closed off from her. Was this what he had meant when he had warned her that she might not like what he was going to do?

She didn't. It felt wrong to not be able to access their bond. She shivered.

Nasedo's eyes were narrowed. "Hello Jaxon. I am glad you made our little rendezvous."

Liz stared at Max as he seemed to flinch slightly. He quickly regained his composure though. "It's well past time to end this once and for all," he replied mildly.

"Really? I'm glad you think so," Nasedo said. Liz scowled at him as he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her against his side. She almost dropped the orbs. He didn't seem to notice that she still had them.

Max, meanwhile, did not react, merely smiled slightly. "So you [I]do[/I] want her?" He asked, sounding pleased.

"Yes. I finally understand what you see in her. She is marvelously entertaining."

"So the price for you to leave my planet in peace is Liz then?" Max asked, his eyes narrowing. Liz did not like the tone of his voice. He sounded actually amenable to the idea. She knew it was all a farce and, yet, the expression on his face. "Very well." Liz blinked. Did Max just agree to give her up?

"Well, and your life," Nasedo told him, his voice suddenly cold.

"Hmmmm," Max snorted. "I think not."

"I don't think you have much to say about it Jaxon. Your powers are underdeveloped and weak in comparison to my own. If I choose to kill you, I will do it."

"That may be," Max allowed. "But I think your powers may be slightly weakened before you kill the [I]real[/I] me."

And with that, suddenly the cave was full of Maxes. Liz looked around in amazement. They were melting out of the walls and a few were coming up behind her boyfriend, all deadly serious.

She couldn't help it. She started to laugh.

She heard Tarsus snort with disbelief. "So you turned them all then."

"Indeed," the first Max said. "It's very handy to have a full fortress of shapeshifters at your disposal."

"It doesn't matter Jaxon. I'll just kill you all." But Liz could tell from the tone of Nasedo's voice that he knew that there was no way he could win this battle. There were far too many of them. They would shoot him down long before he could even figure out which was the real Max.

Liz thought she knew. There was one standing close behind the Max addressing Nasedo who was trying a little too hard [I]not[/I] to look at her. That [I]had[/I] to be Max. He would do his best not to bring attention to himself by staring at her like he always did in her presence. Because when they were together, they never could quite keep their eyes off each other after all.

"So, we're at an impasse then." Nasedo was trying to modify his voice, but Liz could hear a tiny note of panic beginning to take over.

"It would seem so," the original Max agreed. "But I am willing to let you leave."

"You are?" Nasedo eyed him quizzically. "Why?"

"I'm not a killer."

"You know I'll just come back. This is a very silly route to take Jaxon."

"Maybe so, but it's the one I choose." The faces of all the Maxes remained expressionless, seemingly in agreement.

"And you are willing to allow me to take Liz with me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I like being king," Max replied. "My people will not accept her. I know that now. I'll just go back to Sabrya. It will be easier in the long run."

Liz knew he was lying - knew that this wasn't really happening - and, yet, it still hurt. She instantly reprimanded herself though. She didn't quite understand what the plan entailed, but she knew that Max had to have a good reason for allowing it to be said.

Nasedo didn't seem convinced either. "This makes very little sense Jaxon."

"I don't care if you think so or not," Max told him. "It is the truth. And you know that I don't lie."

"Very well then." Nasedo looked back at her. "Are you ready to go my sweet? I'm expecting you won't want to stay where you're not wanted. I told you that soon enough I'd be the only one for you."

Liz tried not to look over at the Max she thought was the [I]real[/I] Max, but she couldn't help herself. He was watching her steadily. She wondered why he didn't connect with her, didn't tell her what he wanted her to do. He had to have wanted the orbs for a reason.

Her heart was thundering in her chest as she moved closer to Nasedo. "Which one do you need?" She asked. He took the orb that he wanted and closed his eyes, started to power it up.

Liz could feel tears pricking her eyes, which was probably a good thing, because although Nasedo wasn't paying any attention to her, pretending she was upset had to be helpful to Max. Even though she wasn't really pretending. She trusted Max, but he hadn't been kidding when he had said she wasn't going to like this plan. She looked over at the original Max and asked, "How can you do this to me?"

His face remained expressionless and he didn't answer.

It was only then, when Tarsus was distracted, that Max's voice entered her thoughts.

[I]Liz, you don't really believe any of this, do you?[/I] Max sounded slightly amused that even after everything they had been through together she would doubt him. He also sounded a little hurt. Liz felt instant contrition.

[I]Of course not,[/I] she told him firmly. She glanced around carefully, hoping to meet the real Max's eyes. They all looked identically bored though.

[I]I'm a little offended you can't tell which one's me,[/I] Max teased.

[I]I'll make it up to you,[/I] Liz said. [I]Now stop being so smug and tell me what to do.[/I]

He did. Liz felt her eyes widening. [I]And you think this will work?[/I]

[I]I know it,[/I] Max replied. [I]I remember a lot about what I knew when I was Jaxon. He knew how the portal worked and so do I because of it. Tarsus's portal is a false one, but this should work.[/I]

[I]But I don't know if I can do it Max.[/I] Liz trailed off uncertainly.

[I]You can,[/I] Max said. [I] Liz, I know it. It's part of the bond. It has to be. There's no other point to it even existing. It's the only explanation for why Nasedo can even open the portal now, captured essences or not. It's the connection that he created with your grandmother that lets him do it. I just [/I]know[I] it[/I]

[I]Okay,[/I] Liz replied. [I]I'll try.[/I]

The orb she still held was heavy in her hands. Liz brought it out before her, stared down at it, her heart beating irregularly.

Max wanted her to use it. He thought that she could open a portal if she tried, even though all they had ever known about the portals said that he and Isabel - the Blue Prince and the White Lady - were the only ones who could do it. But Max seemed certain that he was right.

She glanced at Nasedo, could see that the orb in his hands was starting to glow. It was almost time.

Liz closed her eyes, concentrated on the weight she held. She had no idea how to even go about doing anything. She just willed it to [I]start[/I] somehow.

And, then, amazingly, it did. She felt it heating up against her palms. She didn't dare open her eyes, worried that if she lost her concentration, she would lose control of the orb.

[I]Good job! You're doing it Liz! Just one more second. [/I] Max's calm voice was reassuring in her mind, making her heart slow down. [I]It's almost time sweetheart. I'll tell you when.[/I]

Liz focused all her attention on the orb, tried not to think about the fact that Nasedo might open his eyes at any moment, might see what she was doing. But he seemed to be finding it necessary to concentrate just as hard as she was. It wasn't their natural gift to be able to do this after all.

[I]Almost Liz.[/I] She could feel Max's excitement running through her own veins. [I]Just another second.Okay.NOW![/I]

Liz's eyes snapped open and she watched in astonishment as the orb in Nasedo's hands lifted into the air, sending a stream of light hurtling towards the ceiling of the cave. It was as red as blood. The orb that still sat in Liz's hands was beginning to rattle, as though attempting to do the same.

Nasedo's eyes snapped open just in time to meet hers as Liz got ready to throw her orb directly at the portal that had been created by the shapeshifter. She saw the instant knowledge of what she was about to do cross his face and then, resignation.

For one exhilarating moment Liz was sure that they had really won. Even Nasedo knew it. She brought her arm back, felt like everything was moving in slow motion.

It was only then that she realized that panic was running through her body.and it was coming from Max.

"Liz! Stop! Don't do it!"

She whipped her head around in astonishment, towards the sound of his voice. It was definitely the real Max yelling. She had been right. He [I]was[/I] the one standing directly behind the original spokesman. She followed his gaze and realized what had freaked him out.

Milena Falconer - Max's mother - had melted out of the wall of the cave and was standing directly behind Nasedo.

Liz watched in disbelief as Milena reached out and pushed the shapeshifter as hard as she could. Nasedo stumbled, still apparently in shock from the realization that Max had actually almost bested him. He fell into the column of light and instantly disappeared.

Milena looked right at Max and said, "Forgive me my son." And, then, she stepped into the portal as well and was gone.

To be continued.