Michael woke up; his head felt like a raging thunderstorm was hitting its peak. He sat up, and noticed Max lying next to him, and then the cover that someone had draped over his lower parts.

Michael got up and grabbed his pants slipping them on, and his shoes. Then grabbed his shirt as he again glanced at Max. What had happened, apparently it had not been a dream. As much as he had wondered what it would be like, now he wished it hadn't.

He leaned down and placed his hand on Max's back feeling it rise. At least he was alive so he could kill him. Max moaned, and rolled over as his eyes popped open. He sat up and then when he saw Michael he jumped up, his anger rushing up making his eyes flash.

"You! Michael I trusted you not to… well you know. Not with my sister!" He swung a fist at Michael who ducked under his flying fist. He moved out of range.

"Max! Don't blame me. I thought it was a dream. When I found out it was too late. If I ever did anything with Isabel, I'd like to be fully awake, and her normal."

Max rushed, catching Michael with a blow to his shoulder, as Michael turned. Michael then blocked the next blow and stuck out catching Max with a left hook to his chin sending him to the floor with a thud.

"You want to do her! You took advantage of her!"

"I did not, Max. I am telling you the truth. Isabel showed up here, while I was asleep. I thought I was dreaming again…like those other dreams."

Max's eyes caught the hickey on the other guys' neck. He grabbed Michael by the shirt. "A hickey on your neck, knowing you screwed my sister. Michael I should kill you. You know better."

"I would never hurt her, Max. You know that. We have to find her and help her. Remember the necklace?"

"Yeah" said Max breathing hard as he released Michael, and stepped back. Michael took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Let's go find her, before she doesn't something we can't fix."

The two young men moved swiftly out of the apartment, and to Max's jeep. Max was still angry with his best friend. He never thought something like that would happen between the two he loved the most. His family. They weren't Rath and Vilandra, they didn't belong together.

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Isabel was at the cave, she had gathered the book, and the other stuff they had found. She went to the wall to the right, and found a round spot indented and she took the necklace off and pushed it against it. It began to glow. Then the wall began to open up. A glow came from the cracks as it slowly opened, and Isabel smiled. When it opened enough she entered the glow, and the wall closed up.

Michael and Max had checked around town, and then headed out to their secret spot. Seeing Isabel's car there they pulled up behind it. They began to walk up the steep incline. Headed for the entrance, neither of them speaking.

Entering the cave, they looked around not seeing any sign of the blonde girl. "Where could she be?"

"I don't know, maybe she is outside, or went up to the top."

"I don't know, let's go see." They both went out and climbed up the hill, small rocks rolling down the hill. When they reached the top, they saw it empty. Michael looked at Max.

"Max, she has to be here somewhere. Maybe there's more to our cave than we know. Something she knows."

Max looked at his best friend, a frown marring his forehead for a moment and then he nodded. "I guess we could have missed something.

Coming down the hill, they spotted Isabel walking towards her car. Both boys began to run and slide down the hill in their rush to get to her.

"Isabel!" Yelled Max and she turned and looked at them. They came to the bottom of the hill, and began to run towards her.

She stood there waiting, a smile that sent a chill down Max's back. They stopped a few feet from her. Her eyes bore into Max.

"Isabel, I want to help you. Let me."

"You? Help Me? I don't think so. Zan you are more suited to ruling earth rabbits. However, that might be too complicated for you. The night we died, it was your fault. We were warned that Kivar was coming that night, and his plans were revealed to us. You didn't believe it. Rath wanted to surprise Kivar and destroy him and his troops. You told him to wait, that Kivar would never attack. You had a special dinner planned with your bride, and that you would discuss it with us the next day. Rath argued with you, and you relieved him of duty, and had him locked in another room until you decided what to do about the whole thing. By the time, I released him, it was too late, and Kivar was there, in the castle and the land. Blood ran like rivers…though you had treated him bad, he tried to save you. He died, and I died at his side for I refused to leave him. You are no ruler, here or there. I hate you."

Max listened to the words that drove into him like sharp blades. Had he been that bad a leader was he responsible for them dying? He glanced at Michael who was watching Isabel with a thoughtful look on his face. Max had the feeling that he was remembering. Would he turn on him also?

"Vilandra, I love you. If you want you can rule, I don't care. I am sorry for what happened. He reached out a hand to her, and she backed up.

"Stay away from me. Kivar was right, you need to die." She raised her hand, and Michael stepped in front of Max. His eyes imploring Isabel to lower her hand. She looked into his eyes and hers softened.

"Get out of the way. Then we can go home together."

"No, you can't harm him. Why bother, he has given his throne up to you. He is not important any more. Let him stay here, a punishment most fitting."

"Leave him here?" Her eyes were strange, as they stared at him; her arm still raised her hand out. "We can finish Kivar and rule and live in peace. You and I can do anything."

Michael reached out his hand to her, as he took a step closer. His eyes never leaving her. "My love, let's go now. Just you and me." His voice soft and persuasive.

"Michael, I want to be with you, always have….I love…you." Her eyes started to close and then snapped open. She glanced at her brother and then dismissed him.

"Yes, let's go…." She shook her head. "Michael? What…?"

"Isabel?"

"Michael, I….help me."

He reached out a hand to her, and suddenly energy flew from her hand, and he flew backwards. "You are trying to trick me. Why would you help him, Rath? He is evil."

"Isabel." Whispered Michael as he got to his feet. Max was picking himself up behind him. As he turned around Isabel was in her car, driving away.

Max ran towards his jeep, and Michael jumped into the passenger side. Max drove off as fast as he could to catch her. She drove dangerous, the car bouncing as it hit things, and she jerked the wheel to avoid rocks and cactus.

Isabel drove away from town, as they followed her the jeep almost turning over as Max tried to catch her. Michael held on to the crash bar, and the other hand on the dashboard.

When they got closer, Isabel reached out her hand and blasted an energy ball at them, the jeep swerved to avoid it. Isabel lost control and the car caught air and was air born, as it began to flip.

Max pulled up and both jumped out as the car came to a stop upside down, wheels still spinning. Michael reached her first and pulled her out. He pulled her away from the car that was smoking. Max tried to pull her from Michael but he shoved him away with one hand. He sat down in the dirt holding her close.

Michael looked down at her, as she lay in his arms. "Isabel?" With shaky fingers, he brushed the hair from her face that had gone pasty white. "Isabel, please open your eyes."

Max put his hand on her forehead, and he closed his eyes. Michael called to her again as her eyes opened as she looked up at him.

"Michael…I'm…sorry." Her face showed her pain that cut through her as she fought for breath.

Tears flowed down Michaels face, as he caressed her cheek. "Isabel, please don't do this. Don't leave me. I cannot live without you. I love you."

She coughed and blood bubbled up, and she grabbed at his arm and shirt. "Michael, I….love…you…always. I…wanted…to..be..with…you…"

Michael traced her lips and then leaned and kissed them softly. Then looked at her, glancing at Max he knew. He tightened his arms around her. He heard Max beginning to sob, and ignored him.

"I love you Isabel. Please fight, stay with me." His voice broke as he saw a tear run down the side of her face. He watched as she arched into his arms. She raised a hand to his face, touching him. Then she relaxed and a soft sign came from her lips.

"NO!" Michael screamed, as he raised his head to the sky, and let out a piercing scream, as Max took his sister's hand and bowing his head cried brokenly. "No, not my Isabel! Come back!" He screamed again. Max put his hand on his best friends shoulder.

Minutes or hours past neither man knew as Max raised his head, as he looked upon the body of his sister still safe in Michael's arms. Michael sat quiet, his head bent over Isabel, one arm around her holding her to him, the other on her cheek.

Max touched his friends shoulder. They had to move Isabel to the cave. When his friend ignored him, he shook him again. "Michael! We have to go to the cave." His eyes opened wide when Michael collapsed over Isabel. Max grabbed him, and pulled him back. "Michael?" He put his hand to his friend's throat, searching for a pulse. There was none, he was gone. He had joined Isabel. Now they were together forever. Tears again tracked down his face, as he stood up, he picked up his sister and headed towards the cave, he would come back for Michael. He would cremate them together. Today he had lost the only family he had, his best friends.