***************************
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
A couple of weeks later, Alex and Kyle came into the Crashdown in the evening for a burger, before teaming up to study for a history exam. When they got into the diner, they saw Isabel sitting alone at a booth, and the two young men went over to join her.
"Hey," said Alex, moving to sit next to her.
"Huh," said Isabel, looking like she had just been awakened from some kind of stupor. "Oh, Alex. Hi."
They exchanged a quick peck on the lips.
"Hey," said Kyle.
"Oh, Kyle, you're here, too," said Isabel.
"Isabel, is everything okay?" asked Alex.
"Yeah, why?" asked Isabel.
"Its just, you looked like you were pretty out of it when we walked up," said Alex. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," said Isabel. "Look, I'm sorry. I can't stay. I've got to go." She kissed on the cheek and got up from the booth, Alex getting up to allow her out. "Bye," she said.
After Isabel walked away, Alex sat down and exhaled loudly. "Not again," said Alex.
"What?" asked Kyle. "What's going on? Something with Isabel?"
"I don't know," said Alex, with a tone of frustration. "Lately...I don't know, I can tell something is bothering her, but she is shutting me out of it. She won't let me in. I want to help her, but she won't even admit there is a problem. But it seems like every time I see her lately, even when we are out on a date, she is so...I don't even know how to describe it. Not herself would be the closest I could come."
"Could it be her Father?" asked Kyle. "He's been investigating Max and his secrets from what Liz has told me."
"No, that's not it," said Alex. "Its something else, something...I don't know."
"Maybe you should talk to Max or Michael," said Kyle. "They are her brothers, I mean...maybe they know what's wrong with her."
"I guess I should," said Alex.
**
Later that evening, Alex was over at Michael's apartment, talking to him and Max about Isabel, and how absent minded she's been lately.
"She hasn't said a word to us," said Max.
"You really think something is up with her?" asked Michael.
"I don't know," said Alex. "I mean...what do you guys think? When you've seen her lately..."
"That's just it, we haven't seen much of her," said Max. "You've probably seen more of her than we have."
"Yeah, but when I see her, its almost like a part of her isn't there," said Alex. "I'd almost say something is distracting her all the time, or maybe...maybe evening scaring her."
"Could someone be harassing her or something at school?" asked Michael.
"That could be it," said Max. "But...I'd have to believe she'd come to one of us about it."
"You know her, though," said Michael. "Sometimes, she has this feeling of being able to take care of everything herself."
"No, if someone was giving her trouble at school, she would have told me," said Alex. "She did when Max was...well, let's not bring up bad memories."
"Yeah," said Max. "But I think Alex is right."
"What do you guys think I should do?" asked Alex.
"I'd talk to her," said Michael. "Get it out of her. If she doesn't tell you, then we'll take a try. But in some ways, you are closer to Isabel than we are."
"Alright, I'll try my best," said Alex, getting up from the couch to leave. "Thanks, guys, for the advice."
"Let us know what happens," said Max.
"I will," said Alex.
***
Isabel lay on her bed, the lights in her bedroom out and her sheets covering her up. Normally, she would be trying to go to sleep at about this time. Now, she was trying not to go to sleep, even though she was exhausted.
She heard a knock at her window. On one hand, she was afraid that the knock might be someone who she is afraid to see, but on the other, she felt relieved because the visitor would, one way or another, keep her awake.
Isabel went to her window, and pulled back the curtain. She was relieved when she saw Alex standing outside, waiting for her to open the window. When she did, Alex smiled at her.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" asked Alex.
"No," said Isabel. "Come on in."
Alex climbed in through the window, and she closed it and the curtain behind her. The lights were still out, and Alex's form was painted in the shadow of the dark room. Isabel looked at him, waiting for him to say why he was there. Alex just stared back at her, trying to read her emotions from her facial expressions. Finally, he spoke.
"Isabel," said Alex. "I...I can tell when something is bothering you. And...I know, something has been. You haven't been yourself lately. You've been acting agitated, distracted, maybe even a little bit afraid of something. But you won't tell me what it is. Why won't you tell me? Let me help you, if I can."
He put his arms around her, and gently reached up and caressed Isabel's beautiful face with his palm. "Talk to me, baby," said Alex. "Tell me what's wrong."
"I don't know if you can help me, Alex," said Isabel. "I don't know if...its all in my mind, or if its something real that is happening."
"Tell me," said Alex. "Real or not, we can try to work through it together."
Isabel broke from Alex's embrace and went over to sit on her bed. Alex pulled over the chair at her vanity, and sat down opposite from her. He waited for her to speak.
"Alex, I've...been having these dreams. Strange dreams. They seem so real, because they seem like memories. But, I don't remember the events in my conscious mind as being real events that happened to me. Its almost like they are a cross between memories of things that were, and foreshadowing of something that is coming. I'm thinking they could be memories of Vilandra."
"The person from Antar you were conceived from," said Alex.
"Yes," said Isabel. "Alex, in these dreams, there is this man there. He has some kind of hold over me. He tells me that I belong to him. I try to tell him I belong to you, and to myself. He just tells me that our love...what you and I have, Alex, is allusion. That reality will come to visit me soon enough, and he will be there to usher its arrival. And then...we're kissing. I want to stop on one level, but on another....I give myself to him. It was almost like I was hypnotized."
"Who is this man?" asked Alex. "Anyone you know?"
"Alex," said Isabel. "I think...I think it might be Khivar."
"Khivar," said Alex. "Isn't he the guy who killed Vilandra's family, whom Vilandra betrayed her family for, and who later betrayed her?"
"Yes," said Isabel. "Alex, what if it is Khivar, and he IS coming for me?"
"I doubt that, Isabel," said Alex. "If Khivar is even still breathing, he is on another planet across the galaxy from here. Why would he come here? How could he come here? Why now? It just doesn't add up."
"As far as we know," said Isabel. "Alex, those dreams are SO real. I want to believe they are nothing but strange dreams, but...what if they aren't? What if he does come for me?"
Alex moved to sit on the bed next to Isabel. He pulls her into his arms, and gently rubs her back. "Then, we won't let him get to you," said Alex. "Me, Michael, Max...we'll look after you. If Khivar does come for you, we'll stop him. I'll kill him if I have to."
"You really would...kill him, I mean," said Isabel. "I've never heard you say that...say you would kill someone before, or hurt someone."
"I'd do anything to protect you, Isabel," said Alex. "I told you that once before. I meant it then, and I mean it now. But I really do think these are just vivid dreams. No wonder you've been so tired, though. You haven't been sleeping well."
"No, I haven't," said Isabel.
"Come here," said Alex, laying down and pulling Isabel down with him. He pulled her to snuggle up against him, and lay her head on his chest. "You sleep, now. I'll be right here, and I won't let anything happen to you."
"I love you, Alex," said Isabel.
"I love you, too," said Alex.
****
She was walking through the large ballroom, empty of everything the white curtains flowing from being blown inward by wind through the open windows. On the other side of the room was the same man she had been seeing before in her dreams, smiling at her.
"Soon now, Vilandra," said the man.
"I am NOT Vilandra," said Isabel.
She was moving closer to the man, not being able to stop herself no matter how hard she tried.
"I can see your thoughts, Vilandra," said the man. "You have told your human lover about me. He has sworn to protect you. That was a mistake, Vilandra. For now, when I come for you, he may try to stand in my way. I shall have to kill him."
"NO!" said Isabel. "I won't let you."
The man put his hand to Isabel's cheek, and looped his other around her back. "You will," said Khivar. "You will be mine. Soon now. You will be mine."
End of Chapter Eleven. Chapter Twelve coming soon.
Is Khivar coming for Isabel? If he is, will Alex try to stop him, and will Khivar kill him when he does? To find out, don't miss the next installment. In the meantime, thank you for the wonderful reviews I have gotten so far, and please keep that feedback coming.
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
A couple of weeks later, Alex and Kyle came into the Crashdown in the evening for a burger, before teaming up to study for a history exam. When they got into the diner, they saw Isabel sitting alone at a booth, and the two young men went over to join her.
"Hey," said Alex, moving to sit next to her.
"Huh," said Isabel, looking like she had just been awakened from some kind of stupor. "Oh, Alex. Hi."
They exchanged a quick peck on the lips.
"Hey," said Kyle.
"Oh, Kyle, you're here, too," said Isabel.
"Isabel, is everything okay?" asked Alex.
"Yeah, why?" asked Isabel.
"Its just, you looked like you were pretty out of it when we walked up," said Alex. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," said Isabel. "Look, I'm sorry. I can't stay. I've got to go." She kissed on the cheek and got up from the booth, Alex getting up to allow her out. "Bye," she said.
After Isabel walked away, Alex sat down and exhaled loudly. "Not again," said Alex.
"What?" asked Kyle. "What's going on? Something with Isabel?"
"I don't know," said Alex, with a tone of frustration. "Lately...I don't know, I can tell something is bothering her, but she is shutting me out of it. She won't let me in. I want to help her, but she won't even admit there is a problem. But it seems like every time I see her lately, even when we are out on a date, she is so...I don't even know how to describe it. Not herself would be the closest I could come."
"Could it be her Father?" asked Kyle. "He's been investigating Max and his secrets from what Liz has told me."
"No, that's not it," said Alex. "Its something else, something...I don't know."
"Maybe you should talk to Max or Michael," said Kyle. "They are her brothers, I mean...maybe they know what's wrong with her."
"I guess I should," said Alex.
**
Later that evening, Alex was over at Michael's apartment, talking to him and Max about Isabel, and how absent minded she's been lately.
"She hasn't said a word to us," said Max.
"You really think something is up with her?" asked Michael.
"I don't know," said Alex. "I mean...what do you guys think? When you've seen her lately..."
"That's just it, we haven't seen much of her," said Max. "You've probably seen more of her than we have."
"Yeah, but when I see her, its almost like a part of her isn't there," said Alex. "I'd almost say something is distracting her all the time, or maybe...maybe evening scaring her."
"Could someone be harassing her or something at school?" asked Michael.
"That could be it," said Max. "But...I'd have to believe she'd come to one of us about it."
"You know her, though," said Michael. "Sometimes, she has this feeling of being able to take care of everything herself."
"No, if someone was giving her trouble at school, she would have told me," said Alex. "She did when Max was...well, let's not bring up bad memories."
"Yeah," said Max. "But I think Alex is right."
"What do you guys think I should do?" asked Alex.
"I'd talk to her," said Michael. "Get it out of her. If she doesn't tell you, then we'll take a try. But in some ways, you are closer to Isabel than we are."
"Alright, I'll try my best," said Alex, getting up from the couch to leave. "Thanks, guys, for the advice."
"Let us know what happens," said Max.
"I will," said Alex.
***
Isabel lay on her bed, the lights in her bedroom out and her sheets covering her up. Normally, she would be trying to go to sleep at about this time. Now, she was trying not to go to sleep, even though she was exhausted.
She heard a knock at her window. On one hand, she was afraid that the knock might be someone who she is afraid to see, but on the other, she felt relieved because the visitor would, one way or another, keep her awake.
Isabel went to her window, and pulled back the curtain. She was relieved when she saw Alex standing outside, waiting for her to open the window. When she did, Alex smiled at her.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" asked Alex.
"No," said Isabel. "Come on in."
Alex climbed in through the window, and she closed it and the curtain behind her. The lights were still out, and Alex's form was painted in the shadow of the dark room. Isabel looked at him, waiting for him to say why he was there. Alex just stared back at her, trying to read her emotions from her facial expressions. Finally, he spoke.
"Isabel," said Alex. "I...I can tell when something is bothering you. And...I know, something has been. You haven't been yourself lately. You've been acting agitated, distracted, maybe even a little bit afraid of something. But you won't tell me what it is. Why won't you tell me? Let me help you, if I can."
He put his arms around her, and gently reached up and caressed Isabel's beautiful face with his palm. "Talk to me, baby," said Alex. "Tell me what's wrong."
"I don't know if you can help me, Alex," said Isabel. "I don't know if...its all in my mind, or if its something real that is happening."
"Tell me," said Alex. "Real or not, we can try to work through it together."
Isabel broke from Alex's embrace and went over to sit on her bed. Alex pulled over the chair at her vanity, and sat down opposite from her. He waited for her to speak.
"Alex, I've...been having these dreams. Strange dreams. They seem so real, because they seem like memories. But, I don't remember the events in my conscious mind as being real events that happened to me. Its almost like they are a cross between memories of things that were, and foreshadowing of something that is coming. I'm thinking they could be memories of Vilandra."
"The person from Antar you were conceived from," said Alex.
"Yes," said Isabel. "Alex, in these dreams, there is this man there. He has some kind of hold over me. He tells me that I belong to him. I try to tell him I belong to you, and to myself. He just tells me that our love...what you and I have, Alex, is allusion. That reality will come to visit me soon enough, and he will be there to usher its arrival. And then...we're kissing. I want to stop on one level, but on another....I give myself to him. It was almost like I was hypnotized."
"Who is this man?" asked Alex. "Anyone you know?"
"Alex," said Isabel. "I think...I think it might be Khivar."
"Khivar," said Alex. "Isn't he the guy who killed Vilandra's family, whom Vilandra betrayed her family for, and who later betrayed her?"
"Yes," said Isabel. "Alex, what if it is Khivar, and he IS coming for me?"
"I doubt that, Isabel," said Alex. "If Khivar is even still breathing, he is on another planet across the galaxy from here. Why would he come here? How could he come here? Why now? It just doesn't add up."
"As far as we know," said Isabel. "Alex, those dreams are SO real. I want to believe they are nothing but strange dreams, but...what if they aren't? What if he does come for me?"
Alex moved to sit on the bed next to Isabel. He pulls her into his arms, and gently rubs her back. "Then, we won't let him get to you," said Alex. "Me, Michael, Max...we'll look after you. If Khivar does come for you, we'll stop him. I'll kill him if I have to."
"You really would...kill him, I mean," said Isabel. "I've never heard you say that...say you would kill someone before, or hurt someone."
"I'd do anything to protect you, Isabel," said Alex. "I told you that once before. I meant it then, and I mean it now. But I really do think these are just vivid dreams. No wonder you've been so tired, though. You haven't been sleeping well."
"No, I haven't," said Isabel.
"Come here," said Alex, laying down and pulling Isabel down with him. He pulled her to snuggle up against him, and lay her head on his chest. "You sleep, now. I'll be right here, and I won't let anything happen to you."
"I love you, Alex," said Isabel.
"I love you, too," said Alex.
****
She was walking through the large ballroom, empty of everything the white curtains flowing from being blown inward by wind through the open windows. On the other side of the room was the same man she had been seeing before in her dreams, smiling at her.
"Soon now, Vilandra," said the man.
"I am NOT Vilandra," said Isabel.
She was moving closer to the man, not being able to stop herself no matter how hard she tried.
"I can see your thoughts, Vilandra," said the man. "You have told your human lover about me. He has sworn to protect you. That was a mistake, Vilandra. For now, when I come for you, he may try to stand in my way. I shall have to kill him."
"NO!" said Isabel. "I won't let you."
The man put his hand to Isabel's cheek, and looped his other around her back. "You will," said Khivar. "You will be mine. Soon now. You will be mine."
End of Chapter Eleven. Chapter Twelve coming soon.
Is Khivar coming for Isabel? If he is, will Alex try to stop him, and will Khivar kill him when he does? To find out, don't miss the next installment. In the meantime, thank you for the wonderful reviews I have gotten so far, and please keep that feedback coming.