Chapter 26

Confused Memories

Isabel still felt so weak as Nicolas spoke her legs gave.  She fell against the door slamming it closed.

"Iz?"  Lonnie cried out.

Isabel rolled away from the door as Lonnie pushed it open.  Isabel looked up at Lonnie.

"Vilandra?"

"She's delirious."  Nicolas spoke.

"Nico," Isabel whispered as her eyes drifted toward the boy shaped alien.

"Or not."  Lonnie said, her eyes meeting Nicolas'.

"She has too much in there."  He said as he placed a cool hand onto Isabel's forehead, "and feverish.  We have to get her back in bed."

"Iz, can you stand?"

Isabel rolled over and crawled onto the bed letting the sneakers slip off and drop with a thud to the floor.  Nicolas wasn't sure what to do.

"I'll get V."  Lonnie announced.  "While I do that get a bowl of cold water and pat it on her forehead with a cloth or something."

"Will it help?"

"Works on TV," she replied as she left the room. 

As she neared Voldemort's room she heard voices.

"He said the bug died in Snape when the alien did."

"Interesting," the dark wizard hissed, "Anything else?"

"The boy, Rath says he will destroy the other bugs as well."

Lonnie felt betrayed, of course Rath would trade sides the second he got a chance.  Luckily though she didn't have a bug, but then neither did Lucius.  While Voldemort didn't bother her much, Lucius did.  He played the loyal second a little too well, not like Nicolas who could have been Kavar, but not as egotistical.  She knocked on the door and waited.

"Come in."

She opened the door.

"Lonnie?"

"It's Iz, somethin's wrong."

His red eyes burned brightly.  "Lucius, get your boys on it."  The dark wizard followed Lonnie out the door.

"It's alright, Isabel, you're safe."  Nicolas whispered, dabbing her forehead with the damp washcloth he found.

"You don't know what safe is, Nico.  Not without power, power to rule, did you see their faces?"

Nicolas was scared. Isabel was reliving Kavar's memory of the day he executed the royal four.

"Did you see?"  Isabel persisted.

"Yes, I saw."  Nicolas whispered, then he looked up to see the door opening.

"What happened?"  The wizard asked.

"She is reliving his memories."

"Not good."  Lonnie commented.

"Princess?"  The wizard asked quietly.

Isabel's eyes darted to the hooded figure.

"Princess, how are you feeling?"

"How do you think, you demonic snake?"  She hissed in a deep tone.

The wizard was taken aback, but then he noticed her eyes.  They weren't their usual clear blue instead they glowed with unnatural neon green.

"I think she's attained some of his memories."  Nicolas whispered.

Hearing his voice Isabel's attention turned back to Nicolas.  "Nico, this planet is primitive.  Why send them to a primitive planet?  They can't hide there.  You will find them."  Isabel rasped.

"Trippy," Lonnie commented.  "This is way too exorcist.  Her head ain't gonna spin, is it?"

Nicolas and Voldemort glanced at her.

"Sorry, muggle reference."

"No, her head won't spin."  Nicolas spoke.  "But I don't really know how to help her."

"Couldn't you just mind warp her."

"It could kill her in this state."

"Oh," Lonnie wrinkled her nose as she thought.  "Could-could I dream walk her?"

Again Nicolas and Voldemort looked over at her.

"It might work, but are you prepared for what you might see?"  Nicolas asked.

"I have Vilandra's memories."  She pointed out.

"This might be worse."

"H-how much worse?"

"Much."

"Get me a chair."

A chair appeared behind her courtesy of Voldemort.  Lonnie pulled it closer to the bed and sat.  She placed her hands on either side of Isabel's face, cupping her hands around Isabel's cheeks.  She closed her eyes and pushed her way into Isabel's clouded head.

Two figures stand in a dark hall kissing.  Lonnie feels rage, but also like she is intruding on something.  The figures pull away.

"Nico," a female voice breathes.

"Vilandra, what's wrong?"

"Kavar, he-he keeps talking about my brother.  I have a bad feeling."

"What has he said?"

"He says my brother is a fool, that his choices will harm him and not us, and other little things here and there."

Nico looked around.  "Be wary of him, my love."

"You know, don't you, please tell me."

"I only know that he is trouble."  He looks around again.  "You should go, my love."

Vilandra kisses him quickly and then runs from the hall.  Lonnie watches as a figure steps out from where she (Lonnie) is hiding.  She knows it is Kavar from Vilandra's memories.

"Bravo, Nico, lovely performance."

Nico seems uneasy, but unsurprised.  "Kavar."

"I especially liked the part where you warned her of me.  I will get the throne, Nico, and no one will stop me."  His ego was dripping from his tongue.

"You have no competition here."  Nico spoke casually as though he had no idea as to what Kavar was insinuating. 

"I thought not."

The scene melted away and Lonnie found herself in a large hall.  Vilandra was dancing with Rath.  As Lonnie looked around she realized that everyone was human and it was just the surroundings that where alien.  She saw Nico talking with Ava, while Zan watched them looking annoyed.  She watched as Kavar cut in and Rath walked away in a huff.  Lonnie walked over to the couple.

"I cannot believe you are to marry him?"  Kavar scoffed.

"Rath is a war hero and my brothers advisor."

"But you do not love him?"

"No, he is not you."

"He certainly is not."

"Kavar, you do love me, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

Lonnie's eyes widened as hit all crashed into place, this was the night that Kavar had tried to kill Zan and instead started a riot.

"ISABEL!?"  Lonnie yelled out.  "Iz, I know you're in here. Reliving the past won't do any anything, just let it go!"

Kavar turned and looked directly at her.  "Why do you care?"  He hissed in Isabel's voice.

"You're my sister."

"Liar, clone, ussselesss."  Kavar/Isabel hissed.

"Isabel, this isn't you."

"What would know of it?"

"I have Vilandra's memories, remember?"

Kavar blinked.

"Isabel, he used and abused her, you're better than that let him go!"  Lonnie yelled.  She reached deeper into Isabel's mind.  "Remember Alex, Kyle, Jesse. They wouldn't want you as Kavar."

Alex suddenly appeared in place of Vilandra wearing a tux.

"Alex," Isabel's voice whispered.

"Isabel, let Kavar go."

The image of Kavar began to fade and Isabel appeared in his place.

Lonnie opened her eyes to find Isabel trying to sit up.  Isabel looked at Lonnie with tears in her eyes.  To Lonnie's surprise Isabel embraced her in a hug.

Kyle was in Potions, when images of Alex flashed in his mind.  The bottle he held slipped and exploded as it hit the floor.  The liquid began to foam and sizzle as it seeped across the floor.

"Mr. Valenti!"  Snape exclaimed.  When Kyle cried out in anguish, Snape rushed to the boy's side.  "Mr. Valenti?"

"Isabel," Kyle whimpered.

Isabel felt Lonnie hold onto the image of Alex as she pulled Isabel to the surface of her mind.  Isabel saw an image of Kyle and suddenly wanted to be with him.  She opened her eyes and saw Lonnie, Nicolas, and Voldemort.  As she hugged Lonnie, she yearned for Kyle; his witty remarks and comforting voice.  Images of them together floated through her mind.

Kyle had no idea how she was doing it, but he felt like he was in a reverse dream walk.  Isabel had pulled him into her mind.  He saw Nicolas, Lonnie, and Voldemort.  The wizard looked at Isabel with admiration.  Kyle could faintly hear Snape yelling his name, but Isabel wouldn't let him go.  He then heard Michael yell his name.

"Isabel," Kyle cried out, "let me go."

((Gasp))  He opened his eyes to see Snape's panicked face looking down at him.

"Kyle?"

"Sev-Snape, Isabel's, too much power, it's too much."  As he spoke he felt energy course through him.  He knew the sparks were emerging.

"Kyle, calm down."  Snape commanded.

"Too much," Kyle whispered.

Snape glanced around, he waved his wand and a potion floated toward him.  He grasped it and handed it to Kyle.  "Drink."  Kyle did as he was told and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.  "Michael, take him to the hospital wing.  Rath, see me after class.  Return to your potions, you will be finished by the end of class!"  He yelled the last part to the class.  He slid into the chair behind his desk as the door closed behind Michael and Kyle.  This was too much, he was beginning to care for this bvoy that admired him.  Sure he cared about all of his students (to some degree), but Kyle was so much like himself.  Except he would not let him be seduced as he was.  Then there was Rath, as irritating as he was, for some unknown reason Rath wanted to turn his life around.  Severus admired him for that.  As the class cleaned, handed in their results, and filed out, Rath made his way over.

"Professor?"

"How strong was Kavar?"

Rath blinked, "'bout as V."

"Damn," Snape slammed his fist on the desk as he glared downward.

"Iz, won't be able to control 'erself.  She's strong, but K. killed Vilandra.  Iz can't handle that."

"Is there anything we can do?"

"Not until she comes back."

Snape looked up.  "Rath, over the break I offered to tutor Kyle to bring him ahead of the first years, and to where the second years currently are.  I want to extend that offer to you, as well."

Rath seemed surprised, "uh, thanks."

Isabel awoke the next morning to see Lonnie and Nicolas curled up together next to her.  She never would have imagined a time, when these two would be fighting to keep her alive and with them.  It was amazing and kind of scary.  Why dids they want her around so badly?  She slid out of the bed and snuck out of the room.  As she walked down the hall in her bare feet and Lonnie's clothes, the few Deatheaters who were currently living in the house watched her.  They weren't wearing masks, but their hoods still covered their faces.  She ignored them as she stepped out the front door and closed it behind her.  She stood there and looked out at the woods surrounding the house.  As she stepped off the steps and into the cool, dewy grass, she noticed something.  There were no noises, no birds chattering or rustling of leaves.  She kept walking until she came to the magical barrier.  She touched it lightly.  It opened spreading away from her fingers.  She smiled, but then stopped and pulled her fingers back.

"So you choose not to simply leave?"  Voldemort asked.

"Yes," she spoke without turning around.

"Why?"

"I don't want you to strike out at them, because of me."

"Never because of you, princess."

"Can you just leave me for a while?"

"Sure, princess."

Isabel inwardly cringed at his pet name for her.  Once she knew he was gone she sighed.  The memories were finally beginning to separate in her mind.  But one thing was very clear.  Kavar loathed Voldemort, and Isabel couldn't keep that emotion contained for very long.  One day it would explode and that will probably be a good thing.