Part 31
Outside, Michael stomped through the mist towards the ship. He didn't give a damn what any of them said, not Max, or that Queen or God himself if he existed. He just didn't care. As he walked over the hill a flash of light along with an explosion, blinded him and knocked him to his feet. As the light faded he looked up into the pain stricken eyes of his beloved.
"Maria?"
Maria doubled over and screamed causing Liz and Jesse, who were by her side to grab her arms in support.
"I think she's in labor." Kyle said matter-of-factly to Michael.
Michael jumped up and ran to her side. Pushing Jesse out of the way, he lifted her into his arms. "It'll be alright." He soothed. "You're here now." He felt her stomach contract against him and knew that he had to get her to Max. With Maria in his arms he turned and ran towards the queen's residence.
After commanding the aliens to allow Michael to leave, Max marched out the door to help Michael get on his way. But he only walked a few feet before seeing Michael running towards him with Maria in his arms. Antarian guards were converging up the rear, ready to fight if the flash of light brought any new threat. As he took in the scene, he caught his first glimpse of the others trying to keep pace with Michael.
"Max!" Michael yelled. "They came in the granolith, she's in labor. You have to help her."
When his eyes found Liz, time slowed. He could no longer feel the breeze on his face or hear Michael's panicked voice as he yelled. The only thing that existed at that moment was the two of them and for that brief instant, Max felt euphoric, as if his heart had returned.
That feeling was fleeting.
When she finally returned his gaze he saw something unnerving. A hatred burned bright in Liz's eyes, a look he had never seen her wear. The loathing and rage was directed towards him. He knew he was the one to blame, giving up on their love and the possibility of ever seeing her again. But in that moment, he yearned to hold her, to be close to her, to beg for forgiveness and declare his undying love. Reality came crashing back to him as Michael, terrified that Maria and the baby were still in danger, rushed passed him yelling for him to follow. Max closed his eyes, pushing away his own needs, and turned back to open the door for Michael.
The queen had heard the commotion and was waiting inside, giving orders. As soon as Michael entered the residence she took charge. "Follow me. We will take her upstairs and make her comfortable. I have sent for the physicians. They will be here shortly."
The group followed the queen and Michael up the stairs and into a large bedroom area.
"Put her down." The queen ordered. "Rath you may stay, but the rest of you must leave!"
Michael turned towards the queen. "Max isn't leaving. He may need to heal her or the baby."
The queen shook her head. "It is not necessary. Max is not the only healer here on Antar."
"I'll stay." Max stated, knowing that his presence would, if nothing else, keep Michael calm.
The queen nodded her head. "If that is what you wish." She walked to the other side of the bed where Maria now lay and sat down beside her. "You and the babe will be fine." She said calmly, moving her hand to Maria's face.
Almost immediately the contractions subsided and Maria breathed easier. "Thank you," she said as she clasped the queen's hand that still rested on her face.
The older woman smiled down at Maria. "I will stay until another comes to help you with your pain. Rest now child, you will need your strength."
Maria nodded, squeezed the woman's hand once again and closed her eyes.
The exchange annoyed Michael but if it helped Maria, he would keep his mouth shut.
The queen looked over at Liz, Kyle and Jesse who were still in the room. "The girl needs to rest. You may wait outside the door if you wish or there are quarters being prepared for you where you may relax, but you must leave."
Without argument, Kyle and Jesse walked from the room, but Liz stayed firmly planted in her place. She gave up her anger for a time to look over at Max, pleading with her eyes to allow her to stay. In the few minutes she had been there, she had already seen how everyone deferred to him.
Max, feeling her gaze, found her eyes again. Part of him wanted her to stay, if not for Maria then just so he could be close to her but he also knew if she did he would not be able to concentrate.
Max was granted a reprieve when a female Antarian, followed by two others, entered the room. "A royal birth," the woman sung, "what a glorious day."
The queen stood when the woman came near and clasped the woman's hand. "Indeed."
"Come." The woman said to one of her subordinates.
The Antarian walked over to Maria's side and placed his hand on her face as the queen had done.
The queen hastily walked over to Liz. "Come, my dear, it will be a while now and she is in good hands. Rath will stay as will Zan. If she calls for you the physician will make sure you are brought here."
Liz glanced over at Max once again but he would not meet her eyes. Angry, but knowing that without Max's intervention she would have to leave, Liz followed the queen from the room.
As they walked into the hall, Liz noticed that Jesse and Kyle were no where to be found.
"They are fine. They have been shown to their quarters." The queen explained. "Would you like to go to yours?"
Liz shook her head adamantly. "I will stay here."
The queen smiled. "I knew you would want to be close to your friend. I have given you my room, which is right across the hall. The physician knows this and will send someone to get you if you are needed. But do not worry dear, your friend and her child will receive the best possible care and I promise you, they will be fine." The queen walked a few steps and opened the door to her room. "Go ahead," she gestured towards the room, "relax for a while and I will send someone to you with something to eat."
Liz nodded her thanks and walked into the room.
The queen, herself, walked into the room where Liz now lay on the bed, and handed her a tray of food. "It might be a bit spicy for your taste but we did try to add some ingredients that would dull the sting."
Liz nodded but didn't go for the food.
"You are not hungry?" The queen asked.
Liz shook her head.
"You are worried about your friend."
Liz nodded again.
"I have been in contact with the physician since I left the room. Everything is going well."
"I would feel better if I could see for myself."
The queen smiled sympathetically and took Liz's hand in hers. "You do not like to be in the dark."
Nodding again, Liz answered. "No one does."
"Sometimes it is for the best."
"I can't see how." Liz protested.
The queen smiled, knowingly. She loved this girl as her daughter, but she doubted anyone would ever believe that. And now the queen desired to talk to the girl as they had years before but knowing until she knew the truth she could not, the queen kept her thoughts to herself. She was glad the girl was still in the dark about her time spent on Antar, realizing the pain that would be inflicted upon her when she found out but she was also perplexed as to why Zan didn't allow her to know on Earth.
The queen's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "I have something that might distract you while you are waiting."
Liz watched as the queen opened the door and allowed an Antarian male to come into the room.
"Your majesty." The man said as he bowed slightly annoyed that the Queen had taken him from his self appointed mission on what was no doubt some trivial matter. "I was told you needed to see me."
The queen reached her hand to the man's face. "Rand, I think she is ready to meet you again."
Rand looked over the queen's shoulder at his friend from his former life. "Lizzie!"
Liz looked over at the man nervously. Why would some Antarian call her Lizzie? She asked herself.
Rand made his way over to Liz and engulfed her in a bear hug. "Liz, you don't remember me but I remember you!" He squeezed tighter. "I'm Alex."
Liz pushed the man away from her and looked up at him skeptically.
"I know . . . kind of strange . . . new body and all." When Liz didn't respond, Alex tried another tactic. "Remember when we were in 4th grade and you got into a fight with Tina Baxter," He smiled mischievously. "and you ripped the sleeve your dress and you were worried that your mother would get mad so I told her that I did it."
Liz nodded cautiously. "You told her that you were running after me and you grabbed the sleeve and it tore."
Alex smiled. "You mother never could get mad at me." He waited a minute and then tried again. "How about the first day of Junior High, you stuffed your bra because Maria had bigger boobs then you?"
"Oh God!" Liz exclaimed while turning beat red. "For the next month people asked me for toilet paper whenever they went to the restroom." She looked up, studying his face, trying to find something she recognized.
Alex rolled his eyes and grinned.
"It is you." Liz said cautiously at first then again with more feeling. "It is you!" She jumped up into his arms and squeezed him through the happy tears that now flowed. "How did this happen?"
Alex hugged her back for the longest time, happy to finally have one of his human friends with him. "I don't remember. I remember yelling at Tess, telling her that she had screwed up my mind and the next thing I knew I was being brought out of a deep sleep and the queen was standing over me. She told me they took my soul and had it brought to Antar where they combined it with Antarian DNA, much like they did to Isabel, Max, Michael and Tess."
Liz nodded her understanding and hugged him again. "I don't care how they did it – I'm just so glad that you are alive."
Determination in his stride, Alex marched down the long corridor towards his room. Now that Liz had filled him in on all that had happened since he had slipped out of the meeting earlier, his plan seemed all the more important. He knew Max and Michael needed to be with Maria right now but, that didn't change the fact that the woman he loved was being held captive by a madman and now, to make matters worse, he felt she was no longer even safe from physical harm. He could wait no longer. If no one else was could do anything about Isabel's plight, then he was set on doing something alone.
Deep in thought about his mission, Alex was surprised when a human he had never seen before emerged from a room nearby.
"Excuse me." Jesse hesitated for a moment while the Antarian turned towards him. "I have been asking about my wife and I can't seem to get any answers."
Although he knew the answer before he asked, he still spoke the question. "And who, may I ask, is your wife?"
"Isabel." When the Antarian they called Rand didn't answer he tried again. "Vilandra."
Alex knew this day would come and now, for the good of Isabel, he buried any feelings he might have for the man who had taken his place at Isabel's side. "She is being held at the Royal Estates, now Emperor Khivar's Castle."
Concern washed over Jesse's face. "We need to rescue her!"
Alex shook his head. "We?"
Jesse stood firm. "She is my wife. I have a right to be involved in any rescue attempt."
"You are human." Alex pointed out.
'Does every alien think that humans are beneath them?' Jesse asked himself before answering. "I don't care. I can't stay here and do nothing. I want to go with you."
"You are not trained for it. If you went with me, failure would be assured."
Jesse considered that for a moment, but remained unconvinced. "Something has to be done. Max and Michael are busy with Maria so you are the only one available to do anything. You either take me or I will follow you. I would think it would be better if we worked together."
Alex nodded only to pacify the man.
Jesse smiled smugly and turned towards the door to his room. "Let me close up before we go."
Alex reached over and pressed his hand lightly on the back of the man's head. Jesse's eyes rolled back as he slumped to the ground.
Alex quickly looked up and down the hall, and then pulled the unconscious man into his room. As he walked out the door he turned back and looked at him. "You sleep now. When you awake, Isabel will be back in your arms," Alex winced a bit, "where she belongs."
The sudden stop woke Isabel from her nap. She looked up to find Khivar already jumping out of the carriage. She straightened herself a bit, getting her bearings, before standing to exit the coach. Instead of acting the complete gentleman as he had the last few times they stopped, Khivar walked away from the door leaving Isabel to jump down on her own.
She watched as Khivar walked over to the guards that stood at attention. "You will take the prisoner to her cell until I decide what to do with her!" He bellowed with anger.
Isabel felt a shiver run up and down her spine. Khivar had never called her a prisoner nor her room a cell. She wanted to ask what the hell was going on but, one look at his face and she realized that it was best for her to keep her mouth shut.
A guard held out his hand politely but, as Isabel went to take it Khivar barked once again. "No need to be so gentile. She is not Vilandra anymore."
Isabel jumped at the venom in his words. "Khivar?"
Khivar turned towards Isabel and grabbed her face angrily. "You will be silent or I will kill you where you stand! The only reason you still live is because that family of yours still believes that you are their long lost daughter." He laughed sardonically. "They will soon realize their mistake."
Khivar turned and walked into the castle, leaving Isabel to the guards as they took her to her room.
Alex was finishing up packing his gear when a servant entered his room.
"Sir." The man began. "One of the humans has gone off on his own."
Although he knew the answer, Alex asked anyway. "Which one?"
"The tall, darker one. The one who claims to be wed to the princess."
Kicking himself for not incapacitating Jesse more thoroughly, Alex picked up his gear and headed for the door. But then as an afterthought he turned back to the servant. "Do not bother anyone else about this." He ordered. "I will take care of it."
The servant nodded as Alex stormed out. Now he not only had to save the woman he loved but, the man whom she had made her life with.