Ch 2
"I'm telling you Maria that we should never have let Max into the Manor."
"OK, I was wrong. I'm sorry."
"Now he keeps asking me about Grandma's trunk. He wants to know what I'm going to do with it."
"Tell him you got rid of it and hide it really well."
"Oh I've got it. I'll move it downstairs into my room and put that blanket Pheebs bought me for my birthday over it."
"Yeah, that'll work," Maria rolled her eyes.
"He's never going to see my room Maria."
"Correct me if I'm wrong but he was in your room yesterday wasn't he?"
Liz gave her a helpless glare
"Okay, okay, okay. I'll lay off. But you are going to have to figure out something to tell them cause Michael's already suspicious."
"Why?"
"Tess told him she sensed something magical when she healed Max."
"Why would that make him suspicious?"
"Liz, he's Michael! He's the president of Paranoia!"
"We just have to be smart about this. We just won't let them back into the Manor, ever again."
"That'll work," Maria rolled her eyes. "Liz, you're the smart one! Come up with a workable plan!"
"I had one. But this blonde ruined it by blackmailing me into letting our former friends into the Manor."
"If I ever meet her I'll give her a piece of my mind," Maria joked.
"Maybe Alex will have an idea," Liz said. "Let's find him."
"Okay. Lead the way."
hr
"Are you sure you're okay Max?" Michael asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Whatever Tess did worked."
Michael nodded. "Did you thank her?"
"Yes I thanked her. Is she really moving in with you?"
"What? She didn't say anything about that to me, just that Maria was driving her nuts."
"She said something about paying you for a month and a half of bills and living with you."
Michael winced. "It's a misunderstanding- I thought she meant if I got Maria to back off..."
"Aha. Well I suggest you straighten this out."
"Good idea. So any idea why that trunk reacted the way it did?"
"I kinda tried to open it," Max said sheepishly.
"That's all?"
"There was this wicked wind blowing- which was weird because the windows were closed."
Michael looked thoughtful. "I just remembered that I left something at home. I'll be right back."
"Michael, don't be a snoop," Max warned.
"Who? Me?" Michael said as he walked away.
hr
"Okay Max said the trunk was in the attic," Michael muttered to himself.
"What made you decide to bring me along on this joyride?" Tess asked.
"If I end up flying across the room I'll need you to bring me around."
"So it isn't for the pleasure of my company."
"Well, you know more about this than I do."
"Tell you what Michael. You let me live with you after I prove to Amy and Jim that it won't work and I'll help you any way I can."
"You'll do that anyway."
"True but I'd like it to be consensual."
"Fine whatever. Just follow me and don't break anything."
"Sure roomy."
He rolled his eyes. "Why me?"
"Cause."
"Cause why?"
"Amy won't let me live by myself, Max and Isabel aren't an option, and you're the other person here that I trust."
"Thanks. Okay you can live with me," Michael said as they got to the attic stairs. "Ready?"
"Sure am."
He opened the door. She shivered. "Oh, that's just creepy."
He gave her a look. "You're not going to go all girly on me, are you?"
"I am allowed to you know. Being a girl and all."
"Not around me," he said shortly. "Ask Isabel."
"If we start speaking in more than one word sentences I will. Let's go."
"Fine," he said.
They went up the stairs. "So where is it?" Tess asked.
"Over there," he pointed.
She looked at it. "Holy- look at that crest! That's the same one from that book in San Francisco."
"Where did you see this book?"
"I told you already," she rolled her eyes, exasperated. "San Fran, two years ago."
"Where in San Fran? In a house? A store?"
"I don't know," she said. "Nasedo brought it- it was sealed. He wanted me to try to open it. I tried- I wound up in worse shape than Max."
"What happened to it?"
"I don't know- I was unconscious, when I woke up it was gone," she stared at the trunk. "I think I remember the symbol- starts with a t. Means power of three," she frowned. "Titan? Tritan? Trick- no oh yeah, triquetra."
"What is Liz doing with something like this in her attic?"
"Better yet what are we gonna do with it?"
"Good question."
"Any answers?"
"No."
hr
"It was the weirdest thing Alex. I could have sworn I saw Isabel today with really short hair," Liz said as she put her books away.
"What do you mean? Like saw her, saw her, or saw her, you know, with magic?" he whispered.
"The first one. I was on the quad at lunch and I was waiting for you and Maria and I looked up and I saw Isabel looking like some kind of gang banger."
Alex laughed. "That'll be the day. Liz I think the heat is getting to you," Alex teased. "Isabel dressed like anything even remotely resembling a gang banger is insane."
"Yeah, I guess so..," Liz laughed at the mental image again, but she couldn't quite shake the feeling that this would be back to haunt her.
Maria walked up with Isabel. Both had a hold of one of Max's arms. They put him in front of them.
"Tell her Max," Isabel ordered.
"No," he stared at his shoes. "It's too ridiculous."
"What's too ridiculous?" Liz asked.
"Max, answer the nice girl," Maria prodded.
"I can't believe this," Max muttered. "Michael and Tess came up with the theory, I'm not going to insult Liz by saying it."
"Insult me please," Liz said. She was starting to feel a little apprehensive.
Max arched an eyebrow as he met her eyes. "You're lucky I'm a gentleman Miss Parker, there's a number of ways I could misconstrue that command."
"Max, do not make me hurt you. Trust me I had an entire summer to dream up ways I could. You do not want to know how many of them I am tempted to use to make you talk."
He smiled and pulled her in for a long kiss. As her hand rose to slap him he caught it and whispered something in her ear. "Tell me it isn't true," he said, a little louder.
"Tell you what isn't true?" Liz yanked her arm away.
"Liz are you some kind of a witch?"
Liz stared at him. "What makes you say that?"
"Because Michael and Tess are over at the Manor and they are convinced you are seeing some kind of symbol on your grandmother's trunk."
"What?"
"Michael and Tess-"
"I got that part. What the hell are they doing at the manor? Never mind," Liz turned around and raced down the hall out of school.
"You let Michael go over to the Manor? Nice going," Maria snapped, following Liz.
"Brilliant Max, just brilliant," Alex followed the girls.
"I don't let him do anything," Max said calmly.
"But you waited how long before you told Liz? C'mon. We'll be lucky if Liz doesn't have him arrested," Isabel said grabbing Max's hand and chasing after Liz, Maria, and Alex.
HR
"Michael Guerin where the hell are you?" Liz shouted as soon as she got in the door of the Manor. No answer. Liz scowled fiercely. So she did the only thing she could think of. She astral projected into the attic. "Get your ass downstairs now!" she yelled at Michael, who was hiding behind a box. "You too Tess wherever you are," Then she disappeared.
"Holy-!" she heard the expletives all the way downstairs.
"Liz you okay?" Maria asked once her friend was back in her body and sitting on the couch.
"When'd you get here?"
"Right after you went upstairs," Maria shook her head. "I don't think I am ever going to be able to get used to you being able to astral project."
"Sometimes me neither."
"Hey guys," Alex said coming in through the garage door. "So where are our burglars?"
"Coming downstairs about now."
"What about the rest of the pod squad?" Maria asked.
"Max and Isabel were right behind me."
The door opened with a clatter.
"It's official. The spit is hitting the fan," Maria moaned.
Liz gave Maria a look. "Gee ya think?"
"So what are you going to do?"
"The only thing I can. Tell them the truth," Liz said. "And I think I'll start with an apology to Max for yesterday."
"Good," Maria whispered.
Michael entered the room with a large banging noise. Tess glided into the room after him. He looked sheepish, her face was carefully blank of all emotion. "Shouldn't Kyle be here for the big announcement?" she almost purred.
"Yeah he should," Liz agreed. "Can you call him Tess?"
She shrugged. "Verbally or mentally?"
"Excuse me?"
"Do you want me to use a phone or mind warp him?"
"Whichever is easiest I guess. Would he freak if you mind warped him?"
Tess smiled a little. "Probably, but it'll be quicker," she closed her eyes. A minute later she opened them. "On his way," she gasped.
"Tess?" Michael asked with concern.
"I'm fine. I just sort of got him in a private moment."
"Oh," Michael smirked.
"Anyone else hungry?"
"I'm not," Max said flatly.
"Tess? Michael? Are you? I know how exhausting breaking and entering can be," Liz said in a snarky tone.
Tess arched an eyebrow. "If I said yes would you poison the food?"
"Not yours. Cause I just have this feeling that this wasn't your idea."
Michael shrugged. "So what? You have so much explaining to do."
"I have so much explaining to do?" Liz was beginning to get somewhat pissed.
Tess covered his mouth with a sparkling green energy field. She looked to Max for a prompt about what to say next.
"Liz can you just tell us what's going on? Starting with yesterday?" Max asked nicely.
She felt her anger subside partially. "When Kyle gets here."
"Fine what do we do in the mean time?" Isabel asked.
"Close the drapes."' Liz said going and doing just that.
"Why?" Michael asked snarkily, giving Tess a dirty look.
"Cause I have neighbors and if I'm forced to kill one of you, I don't want them to see it."
"Keep the blinds open," Isabel said.
"Nope. This is strictly a private showing," Maria said closing the blinds of the kitchen door.
Tess jumped up and pushed open the curtains. "Kyle just pulled up," she explained. "I want to see if he brought anyone with him."
"Did he?" Alex asked handing Liz a can of soda and then one to Maria.
She was obviously fighting laughter when she said, "No, but look," she pointed.
Alex joined Tess at the window. "Oh boy."
"What now?" Liz groaned.
"Tess, how private was that moment you interrupted?" Isabel asked.
"He was changing after gym class. He's still in his shorts."
"Oh Lord," Liz rolled her eyes.
"Better let him in," Maria told Alex. "Don't want Liz's neighbors to think he's some bordello fellow."
"He's your brother."
"Not yet he's not," Maria said in a pissed off tone.
"I'll get it," Michael offered.
"Stay where you are," Maria snapped.
"I'll let him in," Tess said. She got to the door just as Kyle was about to ring the doorbell. "That was fast," she grabbed his arm and yanked him inside.
"Yeah, well, you made it sound kind of urgent."
"It is. At least we think it is," Tess shut and locked the door before closing the front curtains. "We're in the living room."
"Who are we?"
"Everyone."
"Hey Kyle," Liz greeted.
"Hi Liz, everyone. What's going on?"
"That's what we're waiting to find out," Michael said.
"You waited for me? I'm touched," he said sarcastically.
"Well now that we are all here, Liz what's going on?"
"First I want to apologize to Max for what happened yesterday. Grandma Claudia didn't like nosy people and she protected her secrets at all costs."
"So you mean..."
"Yeah, there's a spell on the trunk."
"A spell? Your grandmother put a spell on the trunk? Why? How?"
"Like I said she didn't like nosy people and as for the how, that's the family secret."
"Which I think we guessed," Michael added.
"You're a witch?" Tess asked.
"Yes I am. One in a long line of Warren witches."
Max's eyes bored into hers. They were hurt.
"Don't look at me like that Max," Liz said.
"You lied," he said simply.
"So? I did it for protection."
"Whose? Or were you just scared?"
"My own so I guess you can call that just being scared."
"You have serious issues with trust," Max said slowly, sadly.
"Do you blame me?"
"No."
"Good. Are we done here?"
"No. What can you do?" Michael asked.
As an answer, Liz moved a can of cherry Coke to Max along with a glass.
Numbed with shock, he simply accepted the glass and can, and poured himself a soda. "That it?"
"No," Tess said, as she cast a speculative glance at Liz.
"She's right," Liz said walking into the next room and a few seconds later she called them all in. They all crowded in the doorway and stared. Liz's pillow was suspended in midair.
"More telekinetic tricks or is this something else?" Tess asked in a honeyed voice. "Like time maybe?"
"I can freeze time. I can also see the future."
Michael raised an eyebrow. "What about that thing when you were in the attic and screaming at us and then you weren't?"
"It's called astral projection. It's an extension of telekinesis."
Tess nodded. "Were you going to tell us when the time was right or just keep the secret forever?"
"I wasn't planning on telling you but I figured I had to before someone else got hurt."
"I'm leaving," Tess announced. "Kyle, Michael and Isabel are coming with me. Alex and Maria can do whatever, as long as they leave those two alone," she nodded at Max and Liz. "Fix whatever's going on- just talk for heaven's sake."
"There's nothing to say," Max said. "I trusted you more than anyone and when it came time to return the favor you couldn't bring yourself to tell me what you were."
"Max-" she protested.
"Sit," Isabel ordered. "You two have been through more in the past year than most people in the life time. You're still half in love with each other, if not more. Now talk! You're driving the rest of us nuts."
"Isabel you can't force someone to talk if they don't want to. Believe me I know," Maria shot Michael a glare.
"You can't. We can," Isabel inclined her head towards Tess.
"Fine," Max sat down on the couch and folded his arms.
"I'm leaving," Maria said. "Alex you coming?"
"I don't know. Would it be safe to leave them alone?"
"I can't turn him into anything Alex. I haven't gotten that far in the book yet."
"Book? What book?" Michael pried.
"Never mind him. We're leaving," Isabel shoved Michael out the door and was followed by Tess, Kyle, Maria, and Alex.
Liz looked at the floor. "So..," she began.
"You're a witch?" Max asked. "I'm sorry. I'm still trying to adjust to the fact that you have magical powers."
"Now you know how I felt last year."
"This doesn't even compare," Max said stubbornly. "When I saved you, we weren't friends. When you found out you were a witch, you and I had been to hell and back."
"Not back, just to hell," she clenched her jaw.
"Alright I'll give you that. My hell started the day you left me. What about yours?"
"Ditto," she whispered.
"Then why don't we let ourselves out?"
"Max I'm a witch. I'm a telekinetic, time-freezing, future seeing witch. You however are an alien. Those two things don't normally go together."
"This is Roswell. Anything can happen," he pleaded.
"Ugh!" Liz moaned. "Why are you making this so difficult?"
"Because I happen to love you."
"I love you, too, you idiot! That's not the point!"
"Then what is?" he asked.
"The fact that our futures aren't going to be on the same path. My path is to destroy demons and warlocks and to protect the innocent. Yours will take you home."
"We can't know that for sure- Liz, give us a chance."
"I did."
"If I can prove that I can stay here will you try with me?"
Liz rolled her eyes. She blew out a breath through her teeth. "Okay fine."
"Good."
hr
"I'm telling you Rath this Max guy is a boy scout. Total cornball," Lonnie said into a pay phone.
"Yeah, whatevah- just get him here for the summit."
"I'm gonna need some help. He won't come just cause I ask nicely."
"Whaddya mean? Tell him that millions is in danger- if he's a boy scout that should attract him, right?"
"He's too much like Zan. Same brick head."
"Damn... what about luring him away with Ava?"
"No dice. Ava's twin is here and he doesn't seem to be too fond of her."
"Oh? Then he is different from Zan."
"Well he seems to have this thing for some doe eyed brunette."
"If he don't like Ava's clone, maybe she does like him. You could use that- she must have the same power."
"Look Rath just get yourself and Ava down to New Mexico. As in now," Lonnie ordered.
"What da hell? Why? You can handle it Lonnie."
"You. Here. Now. What about that don't you understand?"
"Fine. We'll be there as soon as I can lift a car."
"Make it soon lover," Lonnie hung up the phone and put her sunglasses back on before going towards the Crashdown for a little more spying.
hr
"Order up," Michael said.
Maria grabbed the plates. "Finally."
"So how long did you know about Liz?"
"Know what?" Maria played innocent, not wanting to discuss this subject in an environment where they could easily be overheard.
"Maria."
"Michael, look around you. We can't talk about this here."
"Fine. When?"
"Why do you want to know how long I've known?"
"So I can know how long you've been lying to me."
Maria considered slapping him, screaming, and strangling him.
"I have no allegiance to you anymore Michael. You love me too much to be with me remember?" she hissed at him before whirling around and stomping away.
Michael grimaced. "Women," he muttered.
hr
Closing time.
Liz sat in a booth with her chemistry book while Maria locked the front door. Michael was behind the counter and Alex and Isabel were sitting on stools. Tess and Kyle were picking out music.
"Where's Max?" Isabel finally voiced the question on everyone's mind.
"He was tired so he left," Michael said.
Tess flinched. "Let's dance."
"Okay," Isabel got up and Maria joined them.
The guys watched as the girls started to move to the music.
Michael sat down across from Liz, while keeping an eye trained on Maria. "So how long has Maria known about you?"
"That's for her to tell you," Liz's eyes didn't leave her book.
"Is this how it's gonna be with all of us from now on?"
"Like what?"
"You, Maria, and Alex freezing us out with Kyle and Tess as the go-betweens."
"You and Isabel started the trend."
"Don't pull that crap," he snapped.
"Why not? Truth hurt?"
"Isabel didn't actually push Alex away- he pulled away. And maybe I did push Maria away- it was for her own safety. How healthy would it be for her to live with a murderer?"
"You are really beginning to piss me off Michael."
"The feeling is more than mutual."
"Yes but you can't freeze me when I piss you off. I, on the other hand, can freeze you."
He smirked. "You sure your powers work on aliens?"
"Let's find out," Liz threw up her hands and the entire room stopped, except for the music. "Gee I guess they do," The door swung open and Max stumbled in.
Liz waved her hands and everything jumped back into motion. "Max?" she cried.
"He's dead. He died in my arms."
"Who?" Tess was in front of him. How did that happen? Liz thought with a twinge of annoyance.
"Nasedo."
"What?" Isabel demanded. "Max, what happened?"
"He said that the Skins were among us now."
"The Skins?" Tess' face turned a pasty color. "Anything else?"
"No," Max shook his head.
"Where is he?" Michael asked.
"My room," Max mumbled. "He's in my room."
Tess touched his face. "Bad week for you," she commented before she healed him.
"Let's go and see what we can do," Isabel said anxiously.
"Can we help?" Alex asked.
"Stay here- act like nothing happened," Tess encouraged. "One of us will be back soon to tell you what's what."
"But-"
"Stay," Michael ordered while he and Isabel hustled Max out the back, following Tess.
"Damn it!" Kyle exploded. "This sucks."
"I wanna know something though. Max just like appeared out of nowhere," Maria said suspiciously. "Liz what did you do?"
"I was kind of experimenting, seeing if my powers work on Czechoslovakians."
"And?"
"They worked."
"You froze us all? Damn this is even worse than those freaky mind warps Tess does."
"Sorry Kyle. I'm not giving you guys immunity just in case you happen to piss me off one day."
Kyle groaned. "Well I'm not just staying here."
"What are you going to do?" Maria demanded.
"You're not going after them are you?" Liz asked.
"Admit it Parker. You want to too. You're afraid you'll get a taste of your own medicine and they won't tell you anything."
"Kyle, look how you reacted to the alien thing. If I told you that I was a witch and I had a whitelighter and that every blood related female on my dad's side was a witch how would you have reacted?"
"What's a whitelighter?" Alex asked.
There was a tinkling sound and Leo orbed in. "That would be me," he said.
"Oh goody. Am I in trouble?"
"Sort of- this is more a warning. You're in danger."
"Does it have to do with Nasedo?"
"Can't tell you," he said, voice filled with regret.
"When you get back to Halliwell Manor tell Piper to freeze you once for me, would you?"
"Rules are rules," he said. "I can tell you to watch out for weird people who look like friends."
"What does that mean?"
"Liz the gang banger," Alex said.
"Oh God. She was real?"
"Gang banger?" Maria demanded.
"Isabel look alike," Liz said, chewing on her lip.
"Who is that guy?" Kyle asked.
"Kyle this is Leo, he's my whitelighter."
"I knew I should've just walked away, left it all alone," Kyle mumbled. "I'll bite, what's a whitelighter?"
"Guardian angel for good witches."
"Oh," somehow that made perfect sense. "I need a drink."
"Milkshake?" Maria offered.
"Make it strawberry," Kyle said.
"Liz when did you see this uh gang banger?"
"Earlier today while I was at lunch."
"So she looked just like Isabel?" Alex repeated.
"Except for the clothes, hair, and tattoos, yes."
"Tattoos?" Alex yelped.
Kyle guzzled his milkshake. "Anyone else want anything?"
"Ice cream with lots of hot fudge," Liz requested.
"Something unbelievably greasy," Alex said.
"Leo?"
"I don't think so," he said. "You look like you're dealing really well."
"We live in Roswell and until a few months ago dated or had crushes on aliens," Maria said. "This is nothing."
Leo closed his mouth. "Do you still have root beer floats?" he finally asked. "I think I better stick around and meet these aliens."
"Yeah actually we do. Liz's dad liked to make them when he and Mrs. Parker were dating so Liz's grandpa added it to the menu."
"Great," he sat at the counter. "What are you guys going to do?"
"Deal, what else can we do?" Maria asked, with an astonishing degree of rational practicality.
hr
"It won't work," Michael finally said, voice rough.
"I'm sorry Tess," Isabel said to the shorter blonde.
"It has to work," she said. "He knows how to kill them- I don't! I don't remember!" she sounded desperate.
"It'll be okay. We'll figure something out," Max said.
"You don't know either," Tess lashed out. "None of you! You don't remember anything, not even the feelings. How can we tell who is a threat? How will we know what to do?"
"We'll study. We'll learn," Michael said in a calm voice. "But first we'll get out of here."
Tess shivered. "What will we study? The book? I memorized it already. Nothing was written about the Skins in any of the languages I know."
"What do you know about the Skins?" Isabel asked.
"They are the enemy."
"That's helpful," Michael said.
"They're the ones who killed me in the other lifetime," Tess offered. "That's really all I know, except that they're looking for something called the granolith."
"Do you know where this granolith is?"
"No," she said. "Neither did Nasedo. They didn't trust him with that information. It made him furious. He couldn't feel anything the way humans do- the way we do- but that made him furious."
"This isn't good."
"It just got worse," Isabel said. "Look."
Nasedo's body turned to dust.
Tess gasped and turned her back on the sight.
"We better go," Max said. "Tess you can sleep at our house tonight. Mom won't mind."
"No," she said. "No, I'll stay with Michael. We don't need to draw any extra attention to ourselves- besides that won't help you with Liz."
"Thanks," Max said solemnly before they all headed out.