***********************************
CHAPTER TWELVE:
Isabel woke up with a start, exhaling loudly and bolting upright in bed. Alex, who had been laying with his arms around her, woke up instantly. He sat up and put his hand on Isabel's shoulder. She was startled for a very brief moment before she realized it was Alex. Then, she immediately clung to him for comfort and protection.
"I had the dream again!" she said, her voice full of fear. "He threatened you this time!! He knows about you, Alex! He said if you get in his way when he comes for me, he will kill you!!! Alex, I'm scared!!"
"Shh, its okay," said Alex, rubbing her back as he held her tight. "It was a dream, Isabel. I'm sure that's all it was."
"No, Alex," said Isabel. "I'm sure of the opposite now. I think it was real, I think he is coming for me, and I think it will be soon."
**
An hour later, in the early hours of the morning, Alex and Isabel were sitting in Michael's apartment. They told both Michael and Max about what had happened, about the full story of Isabel's dreams with Khivar.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" asked Max. "We should have been told!"
"Max, I'm sorry, but I wasn't sure whether it was real or not, and I was scared," said Isabel. "I've been battling with the demon of Vilandra ever since I found out about her, about what she did on Antar. Its like this ghost, in the background, and it haunts me. I...I know I am not her, but any possible connection with her makes me nervous. I don't want to betray you like she did."
"You won't!" said Michael. "It could never happen. We know you too well for that."
"Look, we should be focused now on what to do about this," said Alex.
"He's right," said Max. "But we don't know if Khivar is here on Earth, or when he will make his move, so planning for it is difficult."
"Do you know what he will look like?" asked Michael.
"Yes," said Isabel. "I feel like he will appear in the form of the man I see in my dreams. He's tall, brown wavy hair, tan complexion."
"If he is here on Earth," said Alex. "Isabel shouldn't be left alone for a moment. One of us should be with her, to guard her."
"Actually," said Michael. "Just the opposite."
"What do you mean?" asked Max.
"Look, if we stand guard over Isabel, its likely Khivar will not make his move," said Michael. "Instead, he'll wait for us to let our guard down, then strike. But, if we deliberately appear to leave Isabel vulnerable, then he will more than likely make his move. That will draw him out."
"No way!" said Alex. "We are NOT using Isabel as bait!"
"Agreed!" said Max. "I am not putting Isabel at that kind of risk."
"Think of the alternative," said Michael. "We keep guarding her? For how long? Isabel would go on living for weeks, months, maybe even years, with the shadow of Khivar hanging over her. This way, we end it, and Isabel can get on with her life."
"There's got to be a better way," said Alex.
"No," said Isabel. "Michael is right. I want this over. I think we should go with Michael's plan."
"I don't like to say it," said Max. "But it makes sense."
"No way!" said Alex. "I won't allow it!"
"Alex, listen to me," said Isabel, gently cupping Alex's cheek with her hand. "I know that your every instinct is not to put me at risk, to keep me safe. I love you for it! But Alex...I'm never going to BE SAFE, until this is over. This is the best way to do that. Please, I need you to support me in this. Will you?"
Alex was silent for a moment, before closing his eyes and giving a small nod of acquiescence. Isabel kissed him gently on the lips. "It will be alright," she said.
***
Four days later, the plan was being carried out. Isabel was left alone most of the time, with Alex, Max, Michael, and the others making themselves scarce, hoping that Isabel's apparent vulnerability would draw out Khivar. But Isabel only looked alone. In reality, she was kept under close surveillance by her friends, who took turns following her at a discreet distance, trying their best to look inconspicuous.
Jim Valenti was a great help in this area, using his skills he picked up when he was the Sheriff to keep Isabel under discreet watch. On this day, he and Kyle were following Isabel around in a truck as she walked around to different shops in Roswell, making sure to keep their distance but keep the target of their surveillance in sight at all times.
"So, Dad," said Kyle. "It must feel good to be back doing police stuff like this again, huh."
"Not really," said Valenti. "Not with Isabel's life in danger. I just hope this Khivar guy shows himself soon."
"What do you think we ought to do with him when he does show up?" asked Kyle.
"Easiest thing would be to kill him," said Valenti. "But that might be a viable option, considering that Khivar may have come here by taking over a human host, in the method Max told me about. This mental link thing. Killing the host would only break the link, kill the innocent victim, and Khivar would just find someone else probably."
"She's going into another store," said Kyle.
"I see her," said Valenti. "She's going into the lingerie shop."
"Lucky Alex," said Kyle. "Hey, maybe I should follow her in, keep an eye on her while she is trying on stuff. You know, just to make sure..."
"Not a prayer, son," said Valenti with a smirk. "That door only has one entrance accessible from the outside, and we can see it."
"Hey, Dad," said Kyle. "See that guy there, the one in the red shirt, going into the lingerie shop. He matches Isabel's description."
"No, no, I recognize him," said Valenti. "That's Tony Peterson."
"Oh," said Kyle. "Must be going in there to buy something for his wife or girlfriend."
"Wrong, Sherlock," said Valenti. "He's shopping for himself."
Kyle turned to slowly look at his Father. Valenti smiled.
"When your Sheriff, son," said Valenti, "you tend to learn things about people, sometimes unwittingly."
"I don't even want to know," said Kyle.
Isabel came out of the shop a little while later, a small bag in her hand.
"Alex Whitman, you are indeed a lucky man," said Kyle.
They continued to follow her as she made her way down the street. Isabel headed towards the park, and went into the gazebo at the center. She sat down, pulled out a book, and began reading. Kyle and Valenti continued to watch from their truck.
Ten minutes later, a younger guy in a blue t-shirt walked up to Isabel in the gazebo. Valenti pulled out his binoculars to get a better look.
"No need," said Kyle. "This one I know. Its Brad Caulfield. He's been trying to get in Isabel's pants since sophomore year."
Isabel looked up once at the young man, said something, then went back to reading her book. Caulfield walked away from her quickly, an irritated look plastered on his face.
Kyle and Valenti both chuckled.
But then, another man walked up to Isabel. This one neither Kyle or Valenti recognized. The Father and son watched as the man walked up to Isabel. She looked up at him, dropped her book, and got up from her seat. Valenti watched her through her binoculars.
"She's getting agitated," said Valenti. "She does not like this guy."
Then, Valenti saw it. Isabel scratched her right cheek. That was the pre-arranged signal.
"There's the signal," said Valenti.
Kyle immediately pulled out the cell phone, and pushed the speed dial button. A few moments later, Kyle spoke into the phone.
"Max," said Kyle. "He's here. The park. Hurry!"
End of Chapter Twelve. Chapter Thirteen coming soon.
Well, a nice little cliffhanger for you. Are you breathless with anticipation? Are you dying to find out what happens next? Well, you will just have to tune in for the next installment to find out. In meantime, please do post a review and tell me what you think of the story so far. I have really appreciated the feedback I have gotten so far, and would love to see some more.
CHAPTER TWELVE:
Isabel woke up with a start, exhaling loudly and bolting upright in bed. Alex, who had been laying with his arms around her, woke up instantly. He sat up and put his hand on Isabel's shoulder. She was startled for a very brief moment before she realized it was Alex. Then, she immediately clung to him for comfort and protection.
"I had the dream again!" she said, her voice full of fear. "He threatened you this time!! He knows about you, Alex! He said if you get in his way when he comes for me, he will kill you!!! Alex, I'm scared!!"
"Shh, its okay," said Alex, rubbing her back as he held her tight. "It was a dream, Isabel. I'm sure that's all it was."
"No, Alex," said Isabel. "I'm sure of the opposite now. I think it was real, I think he is coming for me, and I think it will be soon."
**
An hour later, in the early hours of the morning, Alex and Isabel were sitting in Michael's apartment. They told both Michael and Max about what had happened, about the full story of Isabel's dreams with Khivar.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" asked Max. "We should have been told!"
"Max, I'm sorry, but I wasn't sure whether it was real or not, and I was scared," said Isabel. "I've been battling with the demon of Vilandra ever since I found out about her, about what she did on Antar. Its like this ghost, in the background, and it haunts me. I...I know I am not her, but any possible connection with her makes me nervous. I don't want to betray you like she did."
"You won't!" said Michael. "It could never happen. We know you too well for that."
"Look, we should be focused now on what to do about this," said Alex.
"He's right," said Max. "But we don't know if Khivar is here on Earth, or when he will make his move, so planning for it is difficult."
"Do you know what he will look like?" asked Michael.
"Yes," said Isabel. "I feel like he will appear in the form of the man I see in my dreams. He's tall, brown wavy hair, tan complexion."
"If he is here on Earth," said Alex. "Isabel shouldn't be left alone for a moment. One of us should be with her, to guard her."
"Actually," said Michael. "Just the opposite."
"What do you mean?" asked Max.
"Look, if we stand guard over Isabel, its likely Khivar will not make his move," said Michael. "Instead, he'll wait for us to let our guard down, then strike. But, if we deliberately appear to leave Isabel vulnerable, then he will more than likely make his move. That will draw him out."
"No way!" said Alex. "We are NOT using Isabel as bait!"
"Agreed!" said Max. "I am not putting Isabel at that kind of risk."
"Think of the alternative," said Michael. "We keep guarding her? For how long? Isabel would go on living for weeks, months, maybe even years, with the shadow of Khivar hanging over her. This way, we end it, and Isabel can get on with her life."
"There's got to be a better way," said Alex.
"No," said Isabel. "Michael is right. I want this over. I think we should go with Michael's plan."
"I don't like to say it," said Max. "But it makes sense."
"No way!" said Alex. "I won't allow it!"
"Alex, listen to me," said Isabel, gently cupping Alex's cheek with her hand. "I know that your every instinct is not to put me at risk, to keep me safe. I love you for it! But Alex...I'm never going to BE SAFE, until this is over. This is the best way to do that. Please, I need you to support me in this. Will you?"
Alex was silent for a moment, before closing his eyes and giving a small nod of acquiescence. Isabel kissed him gently on the lips. "It will be alright," she said.
***
Four days later, the plan was being carried out. Isabel was left alone most of the time, with Alex, Max, Michael, and the others making themselves scarce, hoping that Isabel's apparent vulnerability would draw out Khivar. But Isabel only looked alone. In reality, she was kept under close surveillance by her friends, who took turns following her at a discreet distance, trying their best to look inconspicuous.
Jim Valenti was a great help in this area, using his skills he picked up when he was the Sheriff to keep Isabel under discreet watch. On this day, he and Kyle were following Isabel around in a truck as she walked around to different shops in Roswell, making sure to keep their distance but keep the target of their surveillance in sight at all times.
"So, Dad," said Kyle. "It must feel good to be back doing police stuff like this again, huh."
"Not really," said Valenti. "Not with Isabel's life in danger. I just hope this Khivar guy shows himself soon."
"What do you think we ought to do with him when he does show up?" asked Kyle.
"Easiest thing would be to kill him," said Valenti. "But that might be a viable option, considering that Khivar may have come here by taking over a human host, in the method Max told me about. This mental link thing. Killing the host would only break the link, kill the innocent victim, and Khivar would just find someone else probably."
"She's going into another store," said Kyle.
"I see her," said Valenti. "She's going into the lingerie shop."
"Lucky Alex," said Kyle. "Hey, maybe I should follow her in, keep an eye on her while she is trying on stuff. You know, just to make sure..."
"Not a prayer, son," said Valenti with a smirk. "That door only has one entrance accessible from the outside, and we can see it."
"Hey, Dad," said Kyle. "See that guy there, the one in the red shirt, going into the lingerie shop. He matches Isabel's description."
"No, no, I recognize him," said Valenti. "That's Tony Peterson."
"Oh," said Kyle. "Must be going in there to buy something for his wife or girlfriend."
"Wrong, Sherlock," said Valenti. "He's shopping for himself."
Kyle turned to slowly look at his Father. Valenti smiled.
"When your Sheriff, son," said Valenti, "you tend to learn things about people, sometimes unwittingly."
"I don't even want to know," said Kyle.
Isabel came out of the shop a little while later, a small bag in her hand.
"Alex Whitman, you are indeed a lucky man," said Kyle.
They continued to follow her as she made her way down the street. Isabel headed towards the park, and went into the gazebo at the center. She sat down, pulled out a book, and began reading. Kyle and Valenti continued to watch from their truck.
Ten minutes later, a younger guy in a blue t-shirt walked up to Isabel in the gazebo. Valenti pulled out his binoculars to get a better look.
"No need," said Kyle. "This one I know. Its Brad Caulfield. He's been trying to get in Isabel's pants since sophomore year."
Isabel looked up once at the young man, said something, then went back to reading her book. Caulfield walked away from her quickly, an irritated look plastered on his face.
Kyle and Valenti both chuckled.
But then, another man walked up to Isabel. This one neither Kyle or Valenti recognized. The Father and son watched as the man walked up to Isabel. She looked up at him, dropped her book, and got up from her seat. Valenti watched her through her binoculars.
"She's getting agitated," said Valenti. "She does not like this guy."
Then, Valenti saw it. Isabel scratched her right cheek. That was the pre-arranged signal.
"There's the signal," said Valenti.
Kyle immediately pulled out the cell phone, and pushed the speed dial button. A few moments later, Kyle spoke into the phone.
"Max," said Kyle. "He's here. The park. Hurry!"
End of Chapter Twelve. Chapter Thirteen coming soon.
Well, a nice little cliffhanger for you. Are you breathless with anticipation? Are you dying to find out what happens next? Well, you will just have to tune in for the next installment to find out. In meantime, please do post a review and tell me what you think of the story so far. I have really appreciated the feedback I have gotten so far, and would love to see some more.