~Chapter 14~
The doorbell rang. Michael. Victoria knew it before she even opened the door. She opened it a fraction, peeking her head out at him.
"I'm missing my favorite shirt - I was wondering if you'd seen it." -Michael.
Victoria smiled. She opened the door fully now and stepped back from the doorway. "Oh you mean this one?" She asked innocently - gesturing to the one she wore, with nothing else.
"That would be the one - you little thief." Michael stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
"Can I keep it?" -Victoria.
"No. You know it's my favorite." -Michael.
"Pretty please?" Victoria asked, backing away.
"Nope." Michael shook his head, coming towards her.
Victoria pretended to pout and all of a sudden dashed away. "Well you can have it back only if you can get it off me." She called back.
"No sweat." Michael called back in reply as he ran after her.
Just as Michael got to her down the hall, she locked the door. He unlocked it with his powers - but she was leaning against the door. His strength won and he pushed the door back. He then grabbed her where she stood and said smugly, "I won."
"No. I won." -Victoria.
Michael frowned.
"Yes, you see- your arms are better than a shirt." Victoria put her arms around him too.
Victoria continued, "Your shirt smells like you. Kind of feels like you. I need you near me. And I feel protected when your arms are around me. Your shirt can be a bit of a substitute."
"That's why you wanted my shirt." Michael frowned a bit - staring at her so intently she wasn't too certain he couldn't see down to her very soul in that moment. He took his shirt off of her and then he kissed her. Firm and strong. He moved her down on the bed, yet not taking his arms from around her. Then his dominance turned soft when he entered her. He stopped like that first time they'd made love and stayed utterly still cheek to cheek with her, his long hair falling about his face and hers. "You can have it." He said in almost a whisper.
"I'd rather have you." -Victoria.
A moment of silence passed and then trembling and not entirely still, he said, "You have me."
Do I really Michael?" -Victoria.
He nodded against her cheek, his eyes closed.
Victoria took his head in her hands, stroking his smooth cheeks and pushing back his hair to look at him eye to eye.
She smiled at what she saw there. Then she guided his lips and hers and they were united. Completely.
Michael stayed with Victoria some nights thereafter. This fact wasn't lost on Max who'd refrained from visiting her since she'd moved out of Michael's apartment. Something had changed with him since beginning those 'sessions' that Saelar had initiated. Or more so - something had been realized. Something had clicked in him. And he didn't want to analyze it because that would have him dwelling on it all too much. He had stayed away as long as he could or should and he felt that he should go see her for more answers about them all. And he had already learned some small bits every time. Just tiny fragments of a giant puzzle.
When Max knocked, Victoria opened the door half-expecting Michael.
"Hi.Max." Victoria stepped back for him to enter.
"I was kind of hoping-thinking, we should connect again. It's been a while and there's just so much we need to know." -Max.
"I know." -Victoria.
"When do you think we should?" -Max.
"We can now." -Victoria.
The ritual was almost becoming routine now. They went to the usual "place" in their minds where they were connected and saw at the same time what each other saw.
Just about every time the scenes and images were different. It was like they were inside a movie and couldn't control the events; only watch a world made up of their memories - rather like Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol"..
They were outside- night it seemed. A brilliant light show burned in the air. Two moons - one so huge it seemed to hover gigantic and low on the horizon - a million times closer to the planet than normal. The moon gave off a white haze of light so glowing on all. The sea - a red turbulent mass (though not frightening). White and blue and yellow lights played on the sky - a galactic spectacular.
The sea outside of the capital city of Zytheron. The city's skyline illuminated brilliant in the distance- most especially the central structure . the palace, a mass of crystal-like and metallic proportions.
People were gathered here in celebration perhaps? A large gathering observing the sky. The enormous moon's reflection over the sea reflected on the faces of the two central figures who stood closest to the shoreline. Everyone wore light, filmy garments - not the least of which was these two. Billowing gowns of the lightest airiest almost transparent consistency. Hair free and bedecked with green petaled flowers. A layer of glow - subtle yet awe-inspiring glowed around them. But it flooded to everyone else as well - a glow transparent like mist hovering over the spectators. The two central figures held hands loosely, their gowns swaying in the breeze. The male turned and his profile was recognized as that of King Zan. His hair was longer though, so that it was shoulder-length. He was beyond being a teenager in age, but still young. As he turned to the other - a female - young as well but fully grown, a bit more mature than before. It was Zenovia to be sure. Zan smiled at her softly and she returned it. He embraced her with a soft kiss and she then leaned her head on his shoulder and they turned back to the moon that reflected in their eyes and something like diamonds sparkled all in their hair. On both sides of them, several feet away - only what could be soldiers guarded them - but they too wore light garments now. All over the beach behind them, thousands of pairs of eyes glowed in the radiant night - surrounding their monarchs. The air was one of peace and reverence.
Victoria was the first to open her eyes. She watched Max a moment with his eyes still closed. A sense of peace and happiness was radiating from his being. He opened his eyes.
"Not a great lot of information there." -Victoria.
"Maybe not," he said and frowned a bit as he stood up from the floor and sat on the sofa instead. "I have never felt that measure of peace before." He said, surprised. He continued, "Actually I don't think I've ever felt real peace before."
"Antar, I think - at it's best - peaceful and beautiful beyond imagining." -Victoria.
"But why aren't we able to see circumstances at its worst? We know it got bad. We've only been painted a picture of a great, ethereal planet." -Max.
Victoria nodded. "Maybe we're not able to handle all the truth yet."
"I felt my love for you then. It felt right," Max slipped.
Victoria looked at him, surprised momentarily. "And I for you," She said almost quietly.
"I think we had an ideal marriage for a while," Victoria commented almost absently. "Everyone thought perfect. But not even us or it could be perfect."
"For a 'while'?" -Max.
She shrugged, still absent and he thought his and her peace from their memory was dampened - by her thoughtful reverie, a temporary absence where perhaps she saw more than he knew. And his by her calm ominous tone - as if she had known past circumstances that had been bad. and known it for so long that it was summed up with an instinctual shrug.
"You see something bad don't you, Victoria. Why won't you share it with me?" -Max.
"Only bits - impressions, glimpses - that you can't understand yet." -Victoria.
"I know there was bad. Don't forget that Michael, Isabel and I know how it all ended - or at least that it did end for us. We died, prematurely. Antar was taken over by Khivar." -Max continued, "Besides I had dreams of blood and horror. And you knew what it meant."
Max stood when she remained silent. "What do you want in return for telling me?" He asked, frustrated but not overly angry.
"I wouldn't give you the answer for anything in the world. And I know perhaps there will come a time when you know all." -Victoria.
"So why can't you tell me now?" -Max.
"Because I don't want your image of our past to be marred from the beautiful image you have of it right now." -Victoria.
Victoria stood next to Max. She touched his face - cupping a side with her hand. And he didn't pull way. "And because now I've begun to see me in your eyes as - as something beautiful and perhaps wonderful. More and more I see it. It is reflected from the beautiful vision you have of me -of us - from our past memories. Because I am becoming enchanted with your image of me and I never want that beginning light in your eyes - of me - to ever fade."
"Maybe I am selfish in that regard," She whispered next to his cheek where she pressed a light, chaste kiss next to the corner of his lips.
He held still as she kissed his cheek and then he left.
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The doorbell rang. Michael. Victoria knew it before she even opened the door. She opened it a fraction, peeking her head out at him.
"I'm missing my favorite shirt - I was wondering if you'd seen it." -Michael.
Victoria smiled. She opened the door fully now and stepped back from the doorway. "Oh you mean this one?" She asked innocently - gesturing to the one she wore, with nothing else.
"That would be the one - you little thief." Michael stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
"Can I keep it?" -Victoria.
"No. You know it's my favorite." -Michael.
"Pretty please?" Victoria asked, backing away.
"Nope." Michael shook his head, coming towards her.
Victoria pretended to pout and all of a sudden dashed away. "Well you can have it back only if you can get it off me." She called back.
"No sweat." Michael called back in reply as he ran after her.
Just as Michael got to her down the hall, she locked the door. He unlocked it with his powers - but she was leaning against the door. His strength won and he pushed the door back. He then grabbed her where she stood and said smugly, "I won."
"No. I won." -Victoria.
Michael frowned.
"Yes, you see- your arms are better than a shirt." Victoria put her arms around him too.
Victoria continued, "Your shirt smells like you. Kind of feels like you. I need you near me. And I feel protected when your arms are around me. Your shirt can be a bit of a substitute."
"That's why you wanted my shirt." Michael frowned a bit - staring at her so intently she wasn't too certain he couldn't see down to her very soul in that moment. He took his shirt off of her and then he kissed her. Firm and strong. He moved her down on the bed, yet not taking his arms from around her. Then his dominance turned soft when he entered her. He stopped like that first time they'd made love and stayed utterly still cheek to cheek with her, his long hair falling about his face and hers. "You can have it." He said in almost a whisper.
"I'd rather have you." -Victoria.
A moment of silence passed and then trembling and not entirely still, he said, "You have me."
Do I really Michael?" -Victoria.
He nodded against her cheek, his eyes closed.
Victoria took his head in her hands, stroking his smooth cheeks and pushing back his hair to look at him eye to eye.
She smiled at what she saw there. Then she guided his lips and hers and they were united. Completely.
Michael stayed with Victoria some nights thereafter. This fact wasn't lost on Max who'd refrained from visiting her since she'd moved out of Michael's apartment. Something had changed with him since beginning those 'sessions' that Saelar had initiated. Or more so - something had been realized. Something had clicked in him. And he didn't want to analyze it because that would have him dwelling on it all too much. He had stayed away as long as he could or should and he felt that he should go see her for more answers about them all. And he had already learned some small bits every time. Just tiny fragments of a giant puzzle.
When Max knocked, Victoria opened the door half-expecting Michael.
"Hi.Max." Victoria stepped back for him to enter.
"I was kind of hoping-thinking, we should connect again. It's been a while and there's just so much we need to know." -Max.
"I know." -Victoria.
"When do you think we should?" -Max.
"We can now." -Victoria.
The ritual was almost becoming routine now. They went to the usual "place" in their minds where they were connected and saw at the same time what each other saw.
Just about every time the scenes and images were different. It was like they were inside a movie and couldn't control the events; only watch a world made up of their memories - rather like Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol"..
They were outside- night it seemed. A brilliant light show burned in the air. Two moons - one so huge it seemed to hover gigantic and low on the horizon - a million times closer to the planet than normal. The moon gave off a white haze of light so glowing on all. The sea - a red turbulent mass (though not frightening). White and blue and yellow lights played on the sky - a galactic spectacular.
The sea outside of the capital city of Zytheron. The city's skyline illuminated brilliant in the distance- most especially the central structure . the palace, a mass of crystal-like and metallic proportions.
People were gathered here in celebration perhaps? A large gathering observing the sky. The enormous moon's reflection over the sea reflected on the faces of the two central figures who stood closest to the shoreline. Everyone wore light, filmy garments - not the least of which was these two. Billowing gowns of the lightest airiest almost transparent consistency. Hair free and bedecked with green petaled flowers. A layer of glow - subtle yet awe-inspiring glowed around them. But it flooded to everyone else as well - a glow transparent like mist hovering over the spectators. The two central figures held hands loosely, their gowns swaying in the breeze. The male turned and his profile was recognized as that of King Zan. His hair was longer though, so that it was shoulder-length. He was beyond being a teenager in age, but still young. As he turned to the other - a female - young as well but fully grown, a bit more mature than before. It was Zenovia to be sure. Zan smiled at her softly and she returned it. He embraced her with a soft kiss and she then leaned her head on his shoulder and they turned back to the moon that reflected in their eyes and something like diamonds sparkled all in their hair. On both sides of them, several feet away - only what could be soldiers guarded them - but they too wore light garments now. All over the beach behind them, thousands of pairs of eyes glowed in the radiant night - surrounding their monarchs. The air was one of peace and reverence.
Victoria was the first to open her eyes. She watched Max a moment with his eyes still closed. A sense of peace and happiness was radiating from his being. He opened his eyes.
"Not a great lot of information there." -Victoria.
"Maybe not," he said and frowned a bit as he stood up from the floor and sat on the sofa instead. "I have never felt that measure of peace before." He said, surprised. He continued, "Actually I don't think I've ever felt real peace before."
"Antar, I think - at it's best - peaceful and beautiful beyond imagining." -Victoria.
"But why aren't we able to see circumstances at its worst? We know it got bad. We've only been painted a picture of a great, ethereal planet." -Max.
Victoria nodded. "Maybe we're not able to handle all the truth yet."
"I felt my love for you then. It felt right," Max slipped.
Victoria looked at him, surprised momentarily. "And I for you," She said almost quietly.
"I think we had an ideal marriage for a while," Victoria commented almost absently. "Everyone thought perfect. But not even us or it could be perfect."
"For a 'while'?" -Max.
She shrugged, still absent and he thought his and her peace from their memory was dampened - by her thoughtful reverie, a temporary absence where perhaps she saw more than he knew. And his by her calm ominous tone - as if she had known past circumstances that had been bad. and known it for so long that it was summed up with an instinctual shrug.
"You see something bad don't you, Victoria. Why won't you share it with me?" -Max.
"Only bits - impressions, glimpses - that you can't understand yet." -Victoria.
"I know there was bad. Don't forget that Michael, Isabel and I know how it all ended - or at least that it did end for us. We died, prematurely. Antar was taken over by Khivar." -Max continued, "Besides I had dreams of blood and horror. And you knew what it meant."
Max stood when she remained silent. "What do you want in return for telling me?" He asked, frustrated but not overly angry.
"I wouldn't give you the answer for anything in the world. And I know perhaps there will come a time when you know all." -Victoria.
"So why can't you tell me now?" -Max.
"Because I don't want your image of our past to be marred from the beautiful image you have of it right now." -Victoria.
Victoria stood next to Max. She touched his face - cupping a side with her hand. And he didn't pull way. "And because now I've begun to see me in your eyes as - as something beautiful and perhaps wonderful. More and more I see it. It is reflected from the beautiful vision you have of me -of us - from our past memories. Because I am becoming enchanted with your image of me and I never want that beginning light in your eyes - of me - to ever fade."
"Maybe I am selfish in that regard," She whispered next to his cheek where she pressed a light, chaste kiss next to the corner of his lips.
He held still as she kissed his cheek and then he left.
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