[u]Part 41[/u]
"Stop here Alex. We can walk the rest of the way."
Alex pulled the rental car to a halt at the side of the motor-way. He and Isabel sat silently for a long moment, both staring out the front windshield at the great stone circle. It was dead-ahead, bathed in floodlights, slightly obscured by the chain-link fence surrounding it. And, yet, even that could not hide its magnificence.
It was the first time Alex had actually seen it in person. Isabel had told him once that Stonehenge looked smaller in real life than it did in pictures and he was inclined to agree with her. However, in comparison to the circle they had visited earlier that evening, it was imposing and extremely impressive.
"Are you scared?" Isabel's voice trembled slightly.
Alex turned his head and looked at her. Her expression was guarded, her frame tense. Whether he was frightened or not, he could see that she was. "Yeah," he admitted, knowing that she wanted honesty, not reassurance. "But I'm more scared [I]not[/I] to go. We need this Isabel. We need [I]them[/I]. Everything has been wrong since they left."
"I know," Isabel replied softly. "I miss them all so much Alex. Especially Max of course, but really, all of them." She sighed, running a hand through her long blonde hair in a way that made all of Alex's senses perk up. It was strange how occasionally he just zoned in on how beautiful she was. By now it was so much more that attracted him to her, but every once it a while, he was just forced to recognize it. "It's weird that even after everything we've been through together, none of us ever really acknowledged it. How much we all need each other I mean."
He reached out and took her hand, squeezing lightly. "Well, we know now. That's the important thing." He decided it was time to change the subject. "So, should we wait here or should we go case out the situation? Michael told me last time I talked to him that we're not bringing any humans with us, which means no mindwarpers. We're going to have to do this the hard way."
"Let's go look," Isabel suggested. "I can't just sit here." She glanced at her watch. "They might be a while yet anyway. I don't think they're going to be able to sniff out whoever's been mindwarping me very quickly."
"We're cutting it pretty close," Alex said as he joined her on the far side of the car and they started to wade through the long grass between the motor-way and the fence. "What if we don't."
His question was cut off by a sudden flash of light from the direction of the stone circle, which was blinding in its intensity. He heard Isabel shriek in surprise as he yelled, "What the hell?" He shaded his eyes, narrowing them as he stared uncomprehendingly at the bright red column of light beaming into the sky in front of them. He was forced to look away when spots began to dance in front of his face.
When he was finally able to see clearly again, Alex realized that Isabel's hand was back in his. "What the heck was that?" He demanded, his heart still thudding in his chest, although he already knew. He had seen one before after all, way back when Michael and Maria, followed by Max, had first disappeared to Illyria. He just wanted her to confirm that he wasn't seeing things.
It had come and gone so quickly.
Isabel was standing ramrod straight. He grimaced slightly as her hand tightened around his to the point of actually being painful. "It was a portal Alex! Oh my God! They're back! They have to be."
With that, she wrenched away from him and started to run towards the fence. "Max must have figured out the solstice stuff too! Alex, they're here!" She called this over her shoulder as she ran, her excitement clear in her voice.
"Isabel, wait!" Alex called, breaking into a run too. "Be careful! We don't know for sure." He trailed off as she raised her hand, cutting a hole in the fence with her powers. "That it's them," he finished, his voice soft when another bright flash from near the stones illuminated the black night.
Alex frowned, his heart starting to beat double-time again. That had [I]not[/I] been a portal. He knew that for sure. In fact, it had looked an awful lot like the light Michael produced when he was blasting something.
"Isabel! Wait!" Alex bellowed. She was already through the fence though. For the first time her desperation to see her brother again fully became clear to Alex. She still blamed herself for the fact that Max had gone to Illyria in the first place. He had known it, had thought her past it, but her complete lack of care at the moment was more than forcing him to reevaluate that conclusion. "Isabel!"
He finally caught up to her right on the periphery of the stone circle itself. It wouldn't have happened though if she herself had not stopped. He leaned forward panting, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. "Iz, you need to be more careful. We don't know for sure it was."
"It wasn't," Isabel whispered. Alex looked up at her. He could barely see her face in the darkness, but he could hear her fear. "Alex, look!"
He followed the direction of her finger and felt his heart stop, knew instantly she was right. Because there was absolutely no way any of their friends would have been capable of what his eyes were perceiving.
Lying not five feet from them, a hole in the shape of a silver hand-print burnt into his chest, was a young man in a security guard's uniform. The hand-print glowed, which was the only reason that he could see the dead man at all. The floodlights had obviously been short-circuited by the portal, because the whole area was pitch black. Alex straightened, grabbed Isabel by the arm, started to pull her back in the direction from which they had come. "We better get out of here Iz."
"Leaving so soon Mirana? And just when I was feeling touched to find a welcoming committee!"
Alex closed his eyes, counted to ten, prayed that he was hearing things. He [I]knew[/I] that voice though. He hadn't heard it in close to two years and, yet, he recognized it. After all, one didn't quickly forget the voice of the person who had first screwed everything up.
He and Isabel both turned slowly. Their eyes briefly met on the way around and he could see her fear written all over her face. When she spoke though, her voice was completely calm. "You're dead," she stated matter-of- factly. "You are a figment of my imagination."
"Sorry Princess. Your friend sees me too. Or am I mistaken Mr. Whitman?" His face was lit up by a hand held out before him. The same hand that had just murdered an innocent guard who happened to be standing near the wrong alien portal at the wrong time.
Alex was surprised to hear that the killer knew his name. When they had last known him, he had been entirely dismissive of humans after all.
"I see you," Alex admitted quietly.
He wished he didn't, but he did, and Isabel needed to know so.
It [I]was[/I] Nasedo. There was absolutely no mistaking this fact. Alex had actually only ever seen him once, the time that Liz had been having dinner at the Hardings, but his fear for his friend on that occasion had made it so that he had never forgotten him.
"You're dead," Isabel repeated. Alex could hear the slight note of hysteria that was beginning to creep into his girlfriend's tone. He squeezed her hand lightly, trying to reassure her. If there was one thing Alex knew it was that they needed to remain calm until they figured out what was going on here.
"Not dead, just missing in action for a while," Nasedo corrected. "At least in this form. But I've been around Princess. I have always been watching you."
"Shut up! Stop trying to scare her!" A new voice entered the conversation. Alex watched in amazement as a woman stepped out from behind one of the standing stones, where she had obviously been lurking. She was extremely beautiful, in spite of the fact that the first bloom of youth had faded from her countenance. She looked strangely familiar to Alex, although he couldn't quite put his finger on where he had seen her before. "You are a bastard beyond even my comprehension," she continued, her voice dripping with contempt. "How I ever could have thought I loved you."
Alex felt a spasm run through Isabel's entire body as she took in this new arrival. When she spoke, he understood abruptly. "Mother?" Izzy's voice was barely above a whisper, but the woman turned her head, a small smile lighting her face.
"Mirana."
Alex was surprised when Isabel did not move. Instead she backed up a step. He looked at her in confusion. This was supposed to be a dream come true for Isabel. To actually see her birth mother in the flesh.He knew that it had been one of her greatest wishes.
As he tried to work out was going on here, he suddenly remembered how Isabel had said that perhaps it wasn't a bad thing that she had been unable to reach her mother the last time she tried. They had become preoccupied fairly quickly after that and he had never asked her to elaborate. Was that the reason she seemed more upset than happy to see Milena now?
Alex sized Isabel's mother up suspiciously. "Why are you here?" He demanded fiercely. He didn't direct it at anyone in particular, just hoped one or the other would answer him. "Where are Max and the others?"
"Max kindly sent us ahead," Nasedo replied. "To prepare you all for their return."
"You're lying," Isabel accused, her voice trembling. "He would have come himself. Something's wrong! I know it!" Alex was in complete agreement and, yet, Isabel's composure was disappearing quickly. He didn't like it at all. Something was extremely wrong here.
"Izzy, calm down," he whispered. "It's okay."
"It's not okay Alex!" Isabel practically shrieked. "She's the one who has been controlling me!"
Alex jumped, stared at her. "What?"
"No, my daughter," Milena pleaded, reaching out her hands. "Please allow me to explain. I swear it is not what you think."
"Calm down Princess," Nasedo soothed, taking a step towards them. "I will explain everything. I know that my appearance is a shock, but please trust that I disappeared in order to protect you all."
"Bang up job you did of that," Alex muttered, unable to help himself. "What the hell is going on here?"
He blinked and felt a shiver run down his spine when Milena turned her eyes on him. Even in the darkn he could see how they glinted strangely. "This is all [I]your[/I] fault," she hissed. "You humans have ruined everything."
"What?" He was dumbfounded, took a step backwards, his heart thudding again. Her tone had been entirely threatening.
She continued to advance on him. Alex stared at her, realized why she had looked so familiar when he first saw her. The resemblance between she and Isabel was actually scary. The same long blonde hair, the same perfect features, the same full, statuesque figure. But her eyes were not the same as Izzy's. They were Max's eyes and, yet, that wasn't it either. Because they were missing one thing Alex thought inanely. He watched in fascination as her arm came up and her hand started to glow.
Sanity. No sign of sanity existed in that gaze at all. And while Max Evans had often been screwed up in the time that Alex had known him, he had never been crazy.
This woman was.
"Mother!" Isabel stepped in front of Alex, holding her arms out at her sides. "What do you think you're doing?"
"You are confused Miri," Milena exclaimed soothingly. "It will all be as it is meant to be once he is gone. He is clouding your emotions."
"[I]You're[/I] clouding my emotions," Isabel retorted. "Aren't you?" There was a long pause. Milena stopped walking forward. Alex could feel the tension in the air as mother and daughter stared each other down. "Just tell me the truth." Isabel's voice had dropped, was trembling. "Was it you?"
"Partly, yes," Milena admitted. "But I can explain. I did it for [I]you[/I] Miri. I swear I did!"
"Controlling my mind was supposed to help me?" Isabel demanded, her tone disbelieving. "Not on this planet Mother. And not on any planet I want anything to do with!"
Alex wanted to comfort her somehow. He could hear the pain in her voice, the betrayal she was trying desperately to hide. He wanted to tell her that she sounded strong, that Milena would not know the difference, that only he could see how hurt she really was.
He did not say anything though, knew that the last thing Isabel needed was for him to interfere at the moment. She was still standing in front of him, obviously protecting him bodily, and he could do nothing to help this situation. Because she had seen exactly what[I]he[/I] had seen. [I]He[/I] was the one in actual physical danger here. But the question was [I]why[/I]?
"Milena, you do not understand. A relationship with a human is not for you. You have a bonded mate. You were reborn together, you deserve your second chance with Tristandor. I was only trying to give it to you! I was helping you to remember what who you were born to be."
"Okay, what?" Isabel was shaking her head in disbelief. "That makes no sense! You are making me feel things for someone I regard as a brother! That makes no sense."
"He is [I]not[/I] your brother. He is your husband," Milena argued. "You achieved what I always craved - true love. I will not allow you to let it slip away." The older woman's voice was rising hysterically now.
Isabel's arms fell to her sides. "Mother, what you did was wrong. You were [I]not[/I] helping me. Whoever I was before, I am not her now. You've met Max. You must see that it's true. We are different people."
Milena shook her head. "He is the same my child. Jaxon has not changed a bit. He is still stubborn and completely uncontrollable. Last time all he cared about was the portal. And this time his entire being is focused on that girl. He has always been a lost cause."
Alex nodded slightly to himself. Well, she had that one right anyway. If there was one thing Max Evans was, it was a might obsessive. Especially when it came to Liz.
"He's a lost cause because you can't control him?" Isabel demanded, getting right to the crux of the matter as usual. "That's it, isn't it? You call him stubborn? Then what does that make you? You have been trying to turn me into the person [I]you[/I] want me to be, the person [I]you[/I] remember. I am [I]not[/I] Mirana any longer. And if you can't accept that, then we have nothing else to say to each other."
"My, my," Nasedo clucked. "It seems that your daughter has you pegged quite well Milena dear." He chuckled slightly. "I'm glad I came. This is all highly amusing."
"Shut up!" Milena whirled on Nasedo, her expression so frigid, it froze Alex's blood in his veins. He was just glad that it was no longer directed at him. He realized that he was seeing her quite clearly now, raised his eyes and saw that the floodlights surrounding the stone monument had come back on. "This is all [I]your[/I] fault. You betrayed me. I forgave you for killing them before, knew it was the only way to ensure Ren's ascension, but I will not forgive you for what they have become. This is [I]not[/I] my daughter!"
"Er, what?" Alex whispered this into Isabel's ear. "Why is she talking about Ren ascending anything? Isn't he just a bodyguard?'
"He's Nasedo's son," Isabel reminded him, her voice low. "Maybe they." She trailed off as the full horror of what her mother had just said penetrated. "You [I]forgave[/I] him for killing us?" Her voice rose. "[I]You[/I] killed us? The being sent here to protect us was the one who took our lives?"
Nasedo shrugged. "Ironic that." He looked back at Milena, sounded bored. "If you don't like her, kill her. You will have to do it anyway. None of them will allow your precious Ren to sit on the throne. They have their own Chosen One after all. Don't you remember the little brat you sent here with Jaxon?"
"Jennetta is insignificant," Milena replied. "She was a tool to take Jaxon through the portal so that Ren would follow. There was nothing more to it then that. His journey was necessary to fulfill the prophecy."
"Oh crap," Alex muttered. "Not another prophecy. Can't these people just live their lives?"
"Shhhh," Isabel ordered. Milena and Nasedo seemed to have forgotten their presence entirely. They were too busy arguing. And, yet, every word out of their mouths was helping to fill in the blanks they had all been living with for months.
"[I]The King will bind two worlds, his union healing the breach that exists?[/I]" Nasedo asked. "That prophecy? Milena, he cannot rule over two planets without a portal. [I]I[/I] am the one meant to fulfill the prophecy. [I]I[/I] control the link between the two worlds."
"You are a fool," Milena hissed. "The Chosen One must be of dual heritage. You are Dernian, even if your own people would reject you for your lack of cleansing. [I]You[/I] are not the Chosen One."
"Who chose the Chosen One anyway?" Alex murmured to Isabel. "Do we all get to choose our own? Because that really seems to be what's going on here."
Nasedo turned his head, eyed him. Alex gulped, but the shapeshifter seemed appreciative. Well, at least they had a good-humoured psycho on their hands, Alex reflected, still feeling a bit panicky. "The one with the power is the Chosen One Mr. Whitman. And I am he."
"You are [I]not[/I], you arrogant bastard!" Milena shrieked. "My son will rule!"
Isabel turned her head, looked at Alex, her eyes wide. He shrugged. As far as Alex knew, [I]her[/I] son already did rule. "Mother." Isabel said tentatively, "Max is king. I don't understand why you."
"The son she can't control is presently king," Nasedo interjected. "The son she [I]thinks[/I] she can is the one she wants. But I was the one who raised him and Ren is nowhere near the pawn she thinks he is. He was cleansed wasn't he? I certainly never told him to do that."
"But Ren isn't." Isabel trailed off. "Oh my God." Alex could hear the horror in her voice. "Are you telling me that you two." She gestured between the two of them. "He's both of yours?"
Milena's expression had calmed slightly. She met Isabel's eyes, nodded. "Ren is your brother Mirana. He is the destined king of Illyria."
[I]Oh great,[/I] Alex thought. [I]There's that word again. Stupid destiny.[/I]
"Excuse the lowly human for speaking up," Alex interrupted, when it was quite clear that Isabel was speechless. "But how does the fact that Ren is Max's half-brother make him eligible for the throne? Max's claim comes through his father, not you."
"Any child of royal blood may sit on the throne," Nasedo replied. "My blood, as you would say on Earth, is just as blue as that of any of the Illyrian royals. I was born into the Dernian ruling house, the same house from which emerged Tristandor and Sabrya. In fact, they are my nephew and niece. And what my worthless brother was incapable of completing, I will see accomplished. The House of Dernia will sit on the throne in their own right."
"Through Ren," Milena snapped.
"I think not," Nasedo replied, beginning to sound pissy. "After my death, perhaps. But I will have my chance to rule."
Alex glanced at Isabel again. These two were getting ready for a serious disagreement. Maybe they would take care of each other. Now wouldn't [I]that[/I] be convenient?
Nah, wouldn't happen. They had never been granted the easy way. Alex sighed, tuned back into the conversation.
"You've had your chance," Milena argued. "Illyria is in a greater state of disaster then it was under my incompetent husband and my even more incompetent son."
"Mother!" Isabel's exclamation cut through the bickering, the command in her tone unmistakable. Nasedo and Milena both looked at her impatiently. "I don't understand any of this. You were willing to see your own children dead to have your illegitimate child sit on a throne that doesn't even belong to him? How could you? How could you do this to Max?"
"You brother has exactly what he wants," Milena replied dismissively. "He never wanted to be king. If he did he would not have been so eager to find a way off the planet he was supposed to be ruling. He was always searching for something else. I want Jaxon's happiness and the throne of Illyria will not provide it. That girl is the only thing he wants."
"You are rationalizing," Isabel said, her voice trembling. "You betrayed him. You had my brother killed!"
"I did not have him killed," Milena insisted. She glared at Nasedo. "That was all Laren's doing. Besides, it was destined. He would never have met his Liz had it not happened."
"But what of Tristandor and Mirana?" Alex put in. He knew that this was where Isabel's real concern lay. She could not voice it herself, could not ask her mother to rationalize her own murder. And, so, he would get her answers for her.
"[I]That[/I] was a mistake," Milena said, sounding sad. "I had no desire to lose my daughter. I love you Mirana. Why do you think I have worked so hard to give you back your life?"
"Lucky me!" Isabel exclaimed, her tone entirely sarcastic. She looked at Alex. "I sure am lucky, huh Alex?"
"No, you are loyal," Alex replied, absolutely sure he was right. "You [I]were[/I] loyal. There was no way they could keep you alive with Jaxon gone. Neither Tristandor, nor Mirana would have rested until he was avenged." He met Milena's eyes. "Isn't that right? You knew all along that your plot for your other kid would only work if your first two kids disappeared. You might not have actually said it out loud, but he knew you were okay with it."
"I was the one who brought them back!" Milena shrieked. "I was the one who insisted that it be so."
"I don't think so," Alex said firmly. "I think that was the famous Lucianus Nestorian, the one we've heard so much about, but no one knows who he is. I don't think you had anything to do with it at all. Because if you had, you wouldn't have sent their killer with them in the first place. That was your final attempt to rid yourself of Jaxon and Mirana once and for all." And, suddenly, the truth was so crystal clear, Alex wondered how it had taken him so long to see it. "The Crash wasn't an accident at all, was it?"
"Well, well, well." Nasedo's clapping hands broke the silence that had fallen over the clearing after Alex practically yelled this last part. He had instantly felt horrible, wondered if he was completely off base, was staring at Isabel in dismay, hoping that his speculations weren't just making things worse. Because did either she or Max really need to know that their mother had cared so little for them that she had deliberately allowed their murders and then, when they had been given one last chance at life, had sent them off with the very being who had murdered them in the first place? Isabel's dream of her birth mother was turning more into a nightmare with every word out of his mouth! So much for helping.
"You have managed to hook a smart one this time Mirana," Nasedo continued. "I suppose one life with a good-looking imbecile was enough. I commend you." Alex wondered why he felt insulted, even though Nasedo seemed to be complimenting him. Oh right. If Tristandor had been the good-looking imbecile, then he was the ugly smart guy.
[I]Great Whitman. Focus on the one totally insignificant aspect of all of this.[/I] Alex smacked himself mentally. He really was going to have to have a talk with himself. Very soon.
"Michael is [I]not[/I] an imbecile!" Isabel glared at him. "God! How is it possible that anyone could be so selfish and evil, let alone both of you? Neither of you even knows what love is!"
"They both love themselves," Alex corrected gently. "And that's the whole problem."
Isabel snorted. Alex was relieved that she didn't seem upset at all, only disgusted beyond belief. "Poor Ren. It's probably a good thing that he can't feel any emotions. Can you imagine having to deal with the fact that these two are your parents? I'm having a hard enough time with the fact that I have to claim one of them."
"Um Isabel." Alex grimaced. Was Izzy not aware that Ren was dead? He realized that she might not be. After all, she had been pretty out of it when he had passed on. He glanced at Milena, his heart pounding with dread. That woman was going to completely lose it when she found out. There was absolutely no question.
Which brought to mind the thought that, in spite of the fact that they were both unfeeling jerks - ironic that in two beings who had not been cleansed - they were both also psycho. And perfectly willing to kill to get what they wanted.
And he and Isabel were all alone with them.
No, bringing up Ren's not-live status did not seem like the most prudent of routes at the moment.
"What Alex?" Izzy was eyeing him impatiently. He realized that all three of them were still waiting for him to speak.
Fortunately - or unfortunately depending on your point of view - he was not required to answer. Alex felt his eyes widen as he watched the air behind Isabel start to flicker. There was no other word for it.
Which could only mean one thing. Alex pointed at it, unsure whether this was a good thing or not. Because he couldn't say by any stretch of the imagination that the last one had been in any way positive.
But he told her anyway.
"[I]Portal![/I]"
To be continued.
"Stop here Alex. We can walk the rest of the way."
Alex pulled the rental car to a halt at the side of the motor-way. He and Isabel sat silently for a long moment, both staring out the front windshield at the great stone circle. It was dead-ahead, bathed in floodlights, slightly obscured by the chain-link fence surrounding it. And, yet, even that could not hide its magnificence.
It was the first time Alex had actually seen it in person. Isabel had told him once that Stonehenge looked smaller in real life than it did in pictures and he was inclined to agree with her. However, in comparison to the circle they had visited earlier that evening, it was imposing and extremely impressive.
"Are you scared?" Isabel's voice trembled slightly.
Alex turned his head and looked at her. Her expression was guarded, her frame tense. Whether he was frightened or not, he could see that she was. "Yeah," he admitted, knowing that she wanted honesty, not reassurance. "But I'm more scared [I]not[/I] to go. We need this Isabel. We need [I]them[/I]. Everything has been wrong since they left."
"I know," Isabel replied softly. "I miss them all so much Alex. Especially Max of course, but really, all of them." She sighed, running a hand through her long blonde hair in a way that made all of Alex's senses perk up. It was strange how occasionally he just zoned in on how beautiful she was. By now it was so much more that attracted him to her, but every once it a while, he was just forced to recognize it. "It's weird that even after everything we've been through together, none of us ever really acknowledged it. How much we all need each other I mean."
He reached out and took her hand, squeezing lightly. "Well, we know now. That's the important thing." He decided it was time to change the subject. "So, should we wait here or should we go case out the situation? Michael told me last time I talked to him that we're not bringing any humans with us, which means no mindwarpers. We're going to have to do this the hard way."
"Let's go look," Isabel suggested. "I can't just sit here." She glanced at her watch. "They might be a while yet anyway. I don't think they're going to be able to sniff out whoever's been mindwarping me very quickly."
"We're cutting it pretty close," Alex said as he joined her on the far side of the car and they started to wade through the long grass between the motor-way and the fence. "What if we don't."
His question was cut off by a sudden flash of light from the direction of the stone circle, which was blinding in its intensity. He heard Isabel shriek in surprise as he yelled, "What the hell?" He shaded his eyes, narrowing them as he stared uncomprehendingly at the bright red column of light beaming into the sky in front of them. He was forced to look away when spots began to dance in front of his face.
When he was finally able to see clearly again, Alex realized that Isabel's hand was back in his. "What the heck was that?" He demanded, his heart still thudding in his chest, although he already knew. He had seen one before after all, way back when Michael and Maria, followed by Max, had first disappeared to Illyria. He just wanted her to confirm that he wasn't seeing things.
It had come and gone so quickly.
Isabel was standing ramrod straight. He grimaced slightly as her hand tightened around his to the point of actually being painful. "It was a portal Alex! Oh my God! They're back! They have to be."
With that, she wrenched away from him and started to run towards the fence. "Max must have figured out the solstice stuff too! Alex, they're here!" She called this over her shoulder as she ran, her excitement clear in her voice.
"Isabel, wait!" Alex called, breaking into a run too. "Be careful! We don't know for sure." He trailed off as she raised her hand, cutting a hole in the fence with her powers. "That it's them," he finished, his voice soft when another bright flash from near the stones illuminated the black night.
Alex frowned, his heart starting to beat double-time again. That had [I]not[/I] been a portal. He knew that for sure. In fact, it had looked an awful lot like the light Michael produced when he was blasting something.
"Isabel! Wait!" Alex bellowed. She was already through the fence though. For the first time her desperation to see her brother again fully became clear to Alex. She still blamed herself for the fact that Max had gone to Illyria in the first place. He had known it, had thought her past it, but her complete lack of care at the moment was more than forcing him to reevaluate that conclusion. "Isabel!"
He finally caught up to her right on the periphery of the stone circle itself. It wouldn't have happened though if she herself had not stopped. He leaned forward panting, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. "Iz, you need to be more careful. We don't know for sure it was."
"It wasn't," Isabel whispered. Alex looked up at her. He could barely see her face in the darkness, but he could hear her fear. "Alex, look!"
He followed the direction of her finger and felt his heart stop, knew instantly she was right. Because there was absolutely no way any of their friends would have been capable of what his eyes were perceiving.
Lying not five feet from them, a hole in the shape of a silver hand-print burnt into his chest, was a young man in a security guard's uniform. The hand-print glowed, which was the only reason that he could see the dead man at all. The floodlights had obviously been short-circuited by the portal, because the whole area was pitch black. Alex straightened, grabbed Isabel by the arm, started to pull her back in the direction from which they had come. "We better get out of here Iz."
"Leaving so soon Mirana? And just when I was feeling touched to find a welcoming committee!"
Alex closed his eyes, counted to ten, prayed that he was hearing things. He [I]knew[/I] that voice though. He hadn't heard it in close to two years and, yet, he recognized it. After all, one didn't quickly forget the voice of the person who had first screwed everything up.
He and Isabel both turned slowly. Their eyes briefly met on the way around and he could see her fear written all over her face. When she spoke though, her voice was completely calm. "You're dead," she stated matter-of- factly. "You are a figment of my imagination."
"Sorry Princess. Your friend sees me too. Or am I mistaken Mr. Whitman?" His face was lit up by a hand held out before him. The same hand that had just murdered an innocent guard who happened to be standing near the wrong alien portal at the wrong time.
Alex was surprised to hear that the killer knew his name. When they had last known him, he had been entirely dismissive of humans after all.
"I see you," Alex admitted quietly.
He wished he didn't, but he did, and Isabel needed to know so.
It [I]was[/I] Nasedo. There was absolutely no mistaking this fact. Alex had actually only ever seen him once, the time that Liz had been having dinner at the Hardings, but his fear for his friend on that occasion had made it so that he had never forgotten him.
"You're dead," Isabel repeated. Alex could hear the slight note of hysteria that was beginning to creep into his girlfriend's tone. He squeezed her hand lightly, trying to reassure her. If there was one thing Alex knew it was that they needed to remain calm until they figured out what was going on here.
"Not dead, just missing in action for a while," Nasedo corrected. "At least in this form. But I've been around Princess. I have always been watching you."
"Shut up! Stop trying to scare her!" A new voice entered the conversation. Alex watched in amazement as a woman stepped out from behind one of the standing stones, where she had obviously been lurking. She was extremely beautiful, in spite of the fact that the first bloom of youth had faded from her countenance. She looked strangely familiar to Alex, although he couldn't quite put his finger on where he had seen her before. "You are a bastard beyond even my comprehension," she continued, her voice dripping with contempt. "How I ever could have thought I loved you."
Alex felt a spasm run through Isabel's entire body as she took in this new arrival. When she spoke, he understood abruptly. "Mother?" Izzy's voice was barely above a whisper, but the woman turned her head, a small smile lighting her face.
"Mirana."
Alex was surprised when Isabel did not move. Instead she backed up a step. He looked at her in confusion. This was supposed to be a dream come true for Isabel. To actually see her birth mother in the flesh.He knew that it had been one of her greatest wishes.
As he tried to work out was going on here, he suddenly remembered how Isabel had said that perhaps it wasn't a bad thing that she had been unable to reach her mother the last time she tried. They had become preoccupied fairly quickly after that and he had never asked her to elaborate. Was that the reason she seemed more upset than happy to see Milena now?
Alex sized Isabel's mother up suspiciously. "Why are you here?" He demanded fiercely. He didn't direct it at anyone in particular, just hoped one or the other would answer him. "Where are Max and the others?"
"Max kindly sent us ahead," Nasedo replied. "To prepare you all for their return."
"You're lying," Isabel accused, her voice trembling. "He would have come himself. Something's wrong! I know it!" Alex was in complete agreement and, yet, Isabel's composure was disappearing quickly. He didn't like it at all. Something was extremely wrong here.
"Izzy, calm down," he whispered. "It's okay."
"It's not okay Alex!" Isabel practically shrieked. "She's the one who has been controlling me!"
Alex jumped, stared at her. "What?"
"No, my daughter," Milena pleaded, reaching out her hands. "Please allow me to explain. I swear it is not what you think."
"Calm down Princess," Nasedo soothed, taking a step towards them. "I will explain everything. I know that my appearance is a shock, but please trust that I disappeared in order to protect you all."
"Bang up job you did of that," Alex muttered, unable to help himself. "What the hell is going on here?"
He blinked and felt a shiver run down his spine when Milena turned her eyes on him. Even in the darkn he could see how they glinted strangely. "This is all [I]your[/I] fault," she hissed. "You humans have ruined everything."
"What?" He was dumbfounded, took a step backwards, his heart thudding again. Her tone had been entirely threatening.
She continued to advance on him. Alex stared at her, realized why she had looked so familiar when he first saw her. The resemblance between she and Isabel was actually scary. The same long blonde hair, the same perfect features, the same full, statuesque figure. But her eyes were not the same as Izzy's. They were Max's eyes and, yet, that wasn't it either. Because they were missing one thing Alex thought inanely. He watched in fascination as her arm came up and her hand started to glow.
Sanity. No sign of sanity existed in that gaze at all. And while Max Evans had often been screwed up in the time that Alex had known him, he had never been crazy.
This woman was.
"Mother!" Isabel stepped in front of Alex, holding her arms out at her sides. "What do you think you're doing?"
"You are confused Miri," Milena exclaimed soothingly. "It will all be as it is meant to be once he is gone. He is clouding your emotions."
"[I]You're[/I] clouding my emotions," Isabel retorted. "Aren't you?" There was a long pause. Milena stopped walking forward. Alex could feel the tension in the air as mother and daughter stared each other down. "Just tell me the truth." Isabel's voice had dropped, was trembling. "Was it you?"
"Partly, yes," Milena admitted. "But I can explain. I did it for [I]you[/I] Miri. I swear I did!"
"Controlling my mind was supposed to help me?" Isabel demanded, her tone disbelieving. "Not on this planet Mother. And not on any planet I want anything to do with!"
Alex wanted to comfort her somehow. He could hear the pain in her voice, the betrayal she was trying desperately to hide. He wanted to tell her that she sounded strong, that Milena would not know the difference, that only he could see how hurt she really was.
He did not say anything though, knew that the last thing Isabel needed was for him to interfere at the moment. She was still standing in front of him, obviously protecting him bodily, and he could do nothing to help this situation. Because she had seen exactly what[I]he[/I] had seen. [I]He[/I] was the one in actual physical danger here. But the question was [I]why[/I]?
"Milena, you do not understand. A relationship with a human is not for you. You have a bonded mate. You were reborn together, you deserve your second chance with Tristandor. I was only trying to give it to you! I was helping you to remember what who you were born to be."
"Okay, what?" Isabel was shaking her head in disbelief. "That makes no sense! You are making me feel things for someone I regard as a brother! That makes no sense."
"He is [I]not[/I] your brother. He is your husband," Milena argued. "You achieved what I always craved - true love. I will not allow you to let it slip away." The older woman's voice was rising hysterically now.
Isabel's arms fell to her sides. "Mother, what you did was wrong. You were [I]not[/I] helping me. Whoever I was before, I am not her now. You've met Max. You must see that it's true. We are different people."
Milena shook her head. "He is the same my child. Jaxon has not changed a bit. He is still stubborn and completely uncontrollable. Last time all he cared about was the portal. And this time his entire being is focused on that girl. He has always been a lost cause."
Alex nodded slightly to himself. Well, she had that one right anyway. If there was one thing Max Evans was, it was a might obsessive. Especially when it came to Liz.
"He's a lost cause because you can't control him?" Isabel demanded, getting right to the crux of the matter as usual. "That's it, isn't it? You call him stubborn? Then what does that make you? You have been trying to turn me into the person [I]you[/I] want me to be, the person [I]you[/I] remember. I am [I]not[/I] Mirana any longer. And if you can't accept that, then we have nothing else to say to each other."
"My, my," Nasedo clucked. "It seems that your daughter has you pegged quite well Milena dear." He chuckled slightly. "I'm glad I came. This is all highly amusing."
"Shut up!" Milena whirled on Nasedo, her expression so frigid, it froze Alex's blood in his veins. He was just glad that it was no longer directed at him. He realized that he was seeing her quite clearly now, raised his eyes and saw that the floodlights surrounding the stone monument had come back on. "This is all [I]your[/I] fault. You betrayed me. I forgave you for killing them before, knew it was the only way to ensure Ren's ascension, but I will not forgive you for what they have become. This is [I]not[/I] my daughter!"
"Er, what?" Alex whispered this into Isabel's ear. "Why is she talking about Ren ascending anything? Isn't he just a bodyguard?'
"He's Nasedo's son," Isabel reminded him, her voice low. "Maybe they." She trailed off as the full horror of what her mother had just said penetrated. "You [I]forgave[/I] him for killing us?" Her voice rose. "[I]You[/I] killed us? The being sent here to protect us was the one who took our lives?"
Nasedo shrugged. "Ironic that." He looked back at Milena, sounded bored. "If you don't like her, kill her. You will have to do it anyway. None of them will allow your precious Ren to sit on the throne. They have their own Chosen One after all. Don't you remember the little brat you sent here with Jaxon?"
"Jennetta is insignificant," Milena replied. "She was a tool to take Jaxon through the portal so that Ren would follow. There was nothing more to it then that. His journey was necessary to fulfill the prophecy."
"Oh crap," Alex muttered. "Not another prophecy. Can't these people just live their lives?"
"Shhhh," Isabel ordered. Milena and Nasedo seemed to have forgotten their presence entirely. They were too busy arguing. And, yet, every word out of their mouths was helping to fill in the blanks they had all been living with for months.
"[I]The King will bind two worlds, his union healing the breach that exists?[/I]" Nasedo asked. "That prophecy? Milena, he cannot rule over two planets without a portal. [I]I[/I] am the one meant to fulfill the prophecy. [I]I[/I] control the link between the two worlds."
"You are a fool," Milena hissed. "The Chosen One must be of dual heritage. You are Dernian, even if your own people would reject you for your lack of cleansing. [I]You[/I] are not the Chosen One."
"Who chose the Chosen One anyway?" Alex murmured to Isabel. "Do we all get to choose our own? Because that really seems to be what's going on here."
Nasedo turned his head, eyed him. Alex gulped, but the shapeshifter seemed appreciative. Well, at least they had a good-humoured psycho on their hands, Alex reflected, still feeling a bit panicky. "The one with the power is the Chosen One Mr. Whitman. And I am he."
"You are [I]not[/I], you arrogant bastard!" Milena shrieked. "My son will rule!"
Isabel turned her head, looked at Alex, her eyes wide. He shrugged. As far as Alex knew, [I]her[/I] son already did rule. "Mother." Isabel said tentatively, "Max is king. I don't understand why you."
"The son she can't control is presently king," Nasedo interjected. "The son she [I]thinks[/I] she can is the one she wants. But I was the one who raised him and Ren is nowhere near the pawn she thinks he is. He was cleansed wasn't he? I certainly never told him to do that."
"But Ren isn't." Isabel trailed off. "Oh my God." Alex could hear the horror in her voice. "Are you telling me that you two." She gestured between the two of them. "He's both of yours?"
Milena's expression had calmed slightly. She met Isabel's eyes, nodded. "Ren is your brother Mirana. He is the destined king of Illyria."
[I]Oh great,[/I] Alex thought. [I]There's that word again. Stupid destiny.[/I]
"Excuse the lowly human for speaking up," Alex interrupted, when it was quite clear that Isabel was speechless. "But how does the fact that Ren is Max's half-brother make him eligible for the throne? Max's claim comes through his father, not you."
"Any child of royal blood may sit on the throne," Nasedo replied. "My blood, as you would say on Earth, is just as blue as that of any of the Illyrian royals. I was born into the Dernian ruling house, the same house from which emerged Tristandor and Sabrya. In fact, they are my nephew and niece. And what my worthless brother was incapable of completing, I will see accomplished. The House of Dernia will sit on the throne in their own right."
"Through Ren," Milena snapped.
"I think not," Nasedo replied, beginning to sound pissy. "After my death, perhaps. But I will have my chance to rule."
Alex glanced at Isabel again. These two were getting ready for a serious disagreement. Maybe they would take care of each other. Now wouldn't [I]that[/I] be convenient?
Nah, wouldn't happen. They had never been granted the easy way. Alex sighed, tuned back into the conversation.
"You've had your chance," Milena argued. "Illyria is in a greater state of disaster then it was under my incompetent husband and my even more incompetent son."
"Mother!" Isabel's exclamation cut through the bickering, the command in her tone unmistakable. Nasedo and Milena both looked at her impatiently. "I don't understand any of this. You were willing to see your own children dead to have your illegitimate child sit on a throne that doesn't even belong to him? How could you? How could you do this to Max?"
"You brother has exactly what he wants," Milena replied dismissively. "He never wanted to be king. If he did he would not have been so eager to find a way off the planet he was supposed to be ruling. He was always searching for something else. I want Jaxon's happiness and the throne of Illyria will not provide it. That girl is the only thing he wants."
"You are rationalizing," Isabel said, her voice trembling. "You betrayed him. You had my brother killed!"
"I did not have him killed," Milena insisted. She glared at Nasedo. "That was all Laren's doing. Besides, it was destined. He would never have met his Liz had it not happened."
"But what of Tristandor and Mirana?" Alex put in. He knew that this was where Isabel's real concern lay. She could not voice it herself, could not ask her mother to rationalize her own murder. And, so, he would get her answers for her.
"[I]That[/I] was a mistake," Milena said, sounding sad. "I had no desire to lose my daughter. I love you Mirana. Why do you think I have worked so hard to give you back your life?"
"Lucky me!" Isabel exclaimed, her tone entirely sarcastic. She looked at Alex. "I sure am lucky, huh Alex?"
"No, you are loyal," Alex replied, absolutely sure he was right. "You [I]were[/I] loyal. There was no way they could keep you alive with Jaxon gone. Neither Tristandor, nor Mirana would have rested until he was avenged." He met Milena's eyes. "Isn't that right? You knew all along that your plot for your other kid would only work if your first two kids disappeared. You might not have actually said it out loud, but he knew you were okay with it."
"I was the one who brought them back!" Milena shrieked. "I was the one who insisted that it be so."
"I don't think so," Alex said firmly. "I think that was the famous Lucianus Nestorian, the one we've heard so much about, but no one knows who he is. I don't think you had anything to do with it at all. Because if you had, you wouldn't have sent their killer with them in the first place. That was your final attempt to rid yourself of Jaxon and Mirana once and for all." And, suddenly, the truth was so crystal clear, Alex wondered how it had taken him so long to see it. "The Crash wasn't an accident at all, was it?"
"Well, well, well." Nasedo's clapping hands broke the silence that had fallen over the clearing after Alex practically yelled this last part. He had instantly felt horrible, wondered if he was completely off base, was staring at Isabel in dismay, hoping that his speculations weren't just making things worse. Because did either she or Max really need to know that their mother had cared so little for them that she had deliberately allowed their murders and then, when they had been given one last chance at life, had sent them off with the very being who had murdered them in the first place? Isabel's dream of her birth mother was turning more into a nightmare with every word out of his mouth! So much for helping.
"You have managed to hook a smart one this time Mirana," Nasedo continued. "I suppose one life with a good-looking imbecile was enough. I commend you." Alex wondered why he felt insulted, even though Nasedo seemed to be complimenting him. Oh right. If Tristandor had been the good-looking imbecile, then he was the ugly smart guy.
[I]Great Whitman. Focus on the one totally insignificant aspect of all of this.[/I] Alex smacked himself mentally. He really was going to have to have a talk with himself. Very soon.
"Michael is [I]not[/I] an imbecile!" Isabel glared at him. "God! How is it possible that anyone could be so selfish and evil, let alone both of you? Neither of you even knows what love is!"
"They both love themselves," Alex corrected gently. "And that's the whole problem."
Isabel snorted. Alex was relieved that she didn't seem upset at all, only disgusted beyond belief. "Poor Ren. It's probably a good thing that he can't feel any emotions. Can you imagine having to deal with the fact that these two are your parents? I'm having a hard enough time with the fact that I have to claim one of them."
"Um Isabel." Alex grimaced. Was Izzy not aware that Ren was dead? He realized that she might not be. After all, she had been pretty out of it when he had passed on. He glanced at Milena, his heart pounding with dread. That woman was going to completely lose it when she found out. There was absolutely no question.
Which brought to mind the thought that, in spite of the fact that they were both unfeeling jerks - ironic that in two beings who had not been cleansed - they were both also psycho. And perfectly willing to kill to get what they wanted.
And he and Isabel were all alone with them.
No, bringing up Ren's not-live status did not seem like the most prudent of routes at the moment.
"What Alex?" Izzy was eyeing him impatiently. He realized that all three of them were still waiting for him to speak.
Fortunately - or unfortunately depending on your point of view - he was not required to answer. Alex felt his eyes widen as he watched the air behind Isabel start to flicker. There was no other word for it.
Which could only mean one thing. Alex pointed at it, unsure whether this was a good thing or not. Because he couldn't say by any stretch of the imagination that the last one had been in any way positive.
But he told her anyway.
"[I]Portal![/I]"
To be continued.
