Ch 4
"Let's see what you got Parker," Michael challenged the next day.
"Why is this so important to you anyway?" Liz said as she moved some rocks across the pod chamber.
"I want to know what we can count on you to do if there's a crisis."
Liz gave him a look before she whirled a rather large rock around and sent it flying towards one of the pods. They heard a small ripping sound. "Oh Michael I'm sorry."
He waved a hand. "No- look. What is that?" he got on his hands and knees and began to examine it.
"Step back. Lemme see if I can make it bigger," Liz said walking over as well.
"No. Let me. Never know, it could be booby trapped the way your trunk was," Michael blocked her. He was ashamed of the feeling, but he was almost jealous that Liz had discovered something about their past, something about him that even he didn't know.
"Michael let me help you okay? Please?"
"I can do this," he said. "Call Isabel. She'll want to know about this, and she can call Max and Tess, since you seem dislike talking to them."
"No cell phone," Liz said before her head rolled down. A few seconds later she was back. "Oh that was close."
"What?"
"Mrs. Evans almost saw me."
"What- how- oh wait you did that astral thing."
Liz heard Michael's voice, but it was distant.
"Liz, are you okay? You don't look so hot. Liz!"
hr
"I think she's coming around."
"Prue?" Liz's eyes fluttered open. "How?"
"Your friend called," Prue explained.
"Michael?"
"Max, honey," Piper said. "How are you feeling?"
"Woozy. What happened?"
"Leo said it was because you astral projected so far. You have to do things slow Liz," Phoebe said as she helped her sit up.
"Why am I still in the cave?"
"Because honey. It was a lot easier than telling your mother you over extended yourself. She is unbelievably protective of you."
"True," Liz looked around. "Where are my friends?"
"Outside with Leo. Max is pacing or he was last time I checked," Phoebe said. "He loves you a lot."
"Please, please, please, don't say that. If one more person does I'll have to scream. It drives me crazy."
Piper smiled. "I know the feeling," she stood up. "I'm gonna go tell them you're okay. Do you feel up to seeing them?"
"Yeah and I should probably thank Michael. I think he caught me."
"He did. Can you explain why you're in a cave with a yummy looking guy while his best friend is in love with you? And it's a weird cave too- what are those things? Leo won't tell us," Phoebe pouted.
"Pheebs take a breath," Prue said. "Piper, go get her friends. They're probably worried out of their minds."
"I'll explain on the way home Pheebs. I promise. Then Leo can take you guys home."
"I'd love to hang around here for a while. We have so much catching up to do with your parents."
"Oh God Liz!" Maria shrieked. "Are you okay? By the way have you ever done that orbing thing with Leo? It's a total head trip," she hugged Liz.
Liz hugged back. "You let him orb her around?" she asked Prue. "Now she'll want to do it again and again and get even more loopy."
Prue giggled. "Sorry. It was the fastest way to get her out here. Just be glad Amy didn't see him."
"Liz you okay?" Isabel asked.
"I'm good Isabel. Did your mom see me?"
"No, just wondered why I was talking to myself. Wanna tell me what you and Michael found?"
"We're not sure. I passed out before Michael could see anything. By the way where is Michael?"
"No one's seen him," Maria frowned.
"I wanna thank him," Liz felt a breeze. "Okay did you feel that?" she asked Phoebe.
"Yeah," Phoebe nodded. "You know what it is, don't you?"
"Grandma."
"Or Grams."
"Or both," Prue said.
"Wait Liz your grandmother is dead. I was at the funeral," Maria said.
"Don't ask," Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and Liz said at the same time.
"Don't worry," Isabel, Tess, Maria, and Alex said at the same time.
"Where are Leo and Max?" Liz asked.
"Leo had to orb out for a few and Max is outside calming down. He's mad at Michael for this."
"It wasn't Michael's fault," Liz defended. "It was my own."
"Tell that to my brother."
"If he comes inside I will."
"Okay," Isabel went outside and dragged Max back in. "Now listen to the girl Max. Go ahead Liz."
"It was not Michael's fault. He could not stop it. Don't be mad at him."
Max sighed. "Are you okay?"
"Yes I'm fine. Did you meet my cousins?"
"Briefly," Max nodded at them.
"Max, Isabel, you have to see this!" Michael's excited voice echoed through the cave. He was nowhere in sight.
"How'd he do that?" Isabel said.
"Oh he found a way in," Liz stood up along with Phoebe. "Follow me," she went to the pod where she'd made the hole. "Michael?"
"Through the hole Liz- but send Max and Isabel first."
"Why?"
"Let them get an untainted view of it. Follow in a sec, if you're up to it."
"Okay," Liz backed away. "You heard the man. Go," Liz motioned. "Tess you too."
"When did Tess get here?" Michael asked.
"About five minutes after you disa- whoa!" Max's voice was heard.
"Oh my God," Tess sounded reverent.
"The granolith," Isabel whispered.
"Hey can the Wicca chicks come in or what?"
"Don't forget about us regular humans," Alex's voice called.
"Sure," Michael said.
"There isn't enough room for all of us. We can squeeze four more in, then we'll have to do a rotation."
"You guys go," Alex said.
"No, Liz, you, Alex, and Maria go. Prue go with them," Piper said.
"Why me?"
"You're the oldest."
"Is Kyle out there?" Tess' voice asked.
"No," Liz called back.
"Ok, you guys come on in," her voice sounded disappointed.
"Sorry Tess. I guess Leo forgot about him," Liz said as she climbed in. "Is that what I think it is?" she asked Michael. He'd filled her in on the granolith on the way here.
"The holy grail of an alien culture," Max murmured. "How many humans get to see that?"
"Alien?" Prue questioned.
"Lemme guess. You didn't tell her right?" Michael asked.
"I was planning to."
"Max, am I allowed to tape your mouth shut?" Isabel's voice dripped sarcastic sweetness.
"What did I say?"
"You blew the secret again," Tess informed him. "Guys, if you scoot a little that way, and we go this way I think we could bring in the rest."
They all did and then Prue called for Piper and Phoebe who made their way in.
"Whoa," Phoebe said.
"I have never seen anything like that before," Piper said.
"Nor will you," Tess said, pride in her voice.
Piper gave the blonde a questioning look.
"Tess, this is Piper Halliwell, my second cousin on my father's side."
"Father? Meaning she's a-"
"Warren witch, yes."
"Well, you're witches, and we're aliens. Only in Roswell," Isabel said.
"Now who blew the secret?" Max asked.
"Guys enough," Liz said. She checked her watch. "Oh we better go," Liz said. "Mom's gonna be worried."
"No, no, we told all our parents that we're camping with your cousins," Alex said. "We can take as long as we want."
"Good. Though I can't believe Mom bought the story. She knows Prue too well."
"Prue has magic powers that make camping more bearable," Phoebe deadpanned.
"True," Liz said putting an arm around Phoebe. "I'm really glad Leo went and got you guys. I missed you."
"We missed you too," Phoebe hugged her. "Now, I want to hear all the details."
"Let's go outside. I need some fresh air," Liz and Phoebe left.
"You know it's weird but Liz and her cousins look more like sisters than anything else," Tess remarked.
"They do, don't they?" Maria agreed. "What's this thing do?"
"We don't know but it's important," Tess said. "You know Liz was right. I need some air too," she climbed out of the chamber.
"Why'd she leave?" Maria asked.
Isabel gave her a look. "Isn't it obvious?"
"No."
"With the way you treat her she's scared to be in the same room as you," Isabel glared.
Prue and Piper looked at each other. They were unused to the role of 'grown up' to teenagers, but someone should probably step in soon.
"Maria, you and I haven't talked in ages," Piper said. "Let's go outside and catch up," Piper linked arms with the blonde and led her out.
"You know, Isabel I love that outfit. I bet we like the same designers," Prue said.
Isabel smiled. "Probably like them. Can't always wear them though," she gestured to Prue's daring shirt.
Prue smiled at the younger girl. "When I get back to San Francisco I'll clean out my closet and have Leo bring some clothes next time he comes to see Liz. I bet you'd love some of the stuff I have. Probably some of Phoebe's too,"
Isabel grinned in delight. Max frowned. "Isabel you already-"
"Shut up Max," Michael and Isabel said together.
hr
"So Max is an alien and you're in love with him but you won't be with him cause he supposedly belongs with Tess here," Phoebe motioned to the blonde who was sitting next to her.
"He doesn't want me at all, he's completely in love with her," Tess said. "But she's scared he'll jump planet and leave her all alone."
"You guys belong on some trashy talk show."
"I don't think our topic has ever been discussed in the public forum."
"Liz, you really should give him a chance."
"I have. I told him I'll be with him if he finds a way to stay on the planet," Liz said.
Tess shrugged. "Well there's the other set of us, so that's no problem," Tess pointed out.
"Tess no offense but I don't trust the other set of you. Except for maybe Ava. Alex, Maria, and Kyle all feel the same way."
Tess nodded. "Irony, isn't it? You don't trust me, but you do trust my evil twin," she held up her hands. "Okay, so she's not evil. I know what you mean. We don't trust them either, but if you're going to be selfish you should be satisfied."
"Selfish?" Liz looked offended, and scalded.
"You're hurting Max," Tess said simply. "For no good reason."
Liz made a face and seriously considered sending Tess to a distant place.
"Liz let's take a walk," Phoebe got up. "Personal gain rule, remember?" she whispered.
Tess sighed. "Think about it, that's all I want you to do," she turned and went back inside the cave.
"How can someone I dislike and don't trust be able to read me so well?" Liz whined.
Phoebe tried not to smile. "I don't know."
"Hey you guys hungry?" Maria and Piper walked up. "There's a diner a few miles that way."
"Starving, let's go. Collect the yummy looking guys," Phoebe suggested brightly. "Now, Maria, talk to me..," she grabbed the small blond and started chattering a mile a minute.
"Are you sure we don't have a DeLuca hanging on one the branches of our family tree?" Liz asked Piper.
"If we do, we are in so much trouble," Piper giggled.
hr
"Hey Michael wait a sec," Liz touched his arm and slowed him down as they walked towards the diner. "If you hadn't caught me, I'd probably have a nice bruise and possibly a few or more bumps on my head."
"So?" he shrugged. "It's no big deal."
"It is to me. Thank you," she said deliberately.
"No big deal," Michael said again before he walked in.
"Cute but hard headed. I remember the type well," Prue said from Liz's side.
"I know you do. You used to date them like there was no tomorrow."
"Who's he with now?"
"Maria, off and on."
"I'll talk to her, give her a few tips."
"Here's a tip for you. Buy stock in cypress oil. If they ever get back together she'll buy it in bulk."
Prue laughed as they sat down in the large booth next to Piper and Phoebe. "So what's good here?"
"Nothing," Maria said promptly.
Michael rolled his eyes. "If I were you I wouldn't touch anything except milkshakes."
"And the fries," Liz said. "I ate them here at the beginning of the summer. They weren't bad."
"They were horrible," Maria disagreed. "Much too spicy."
"Was that after you know?" Phoebe asked.
"Yes."
"Am I missing something?" Max asked.
"No."
"I feel like I am," he said.
"You're not Max," Maria said.
"Trust them," Alex said. "I think I'll go with a burger. They weren't all together awful."
"Isabel, could I borrow your cell?" Tess asked. "I've got this really odd feeling about Kyle and the Sheriff."
"Here," Isabel said handing it to her. "Think I'll join you in the burger Alex."
Tess dialed the phone impatiently. "Damn- we're out of range."
"I think there's a pay phone in back Tess," Liz said, pointing.
"Thanks," she dropped the phone on the table and nearly dashed to the booth. She breathed a sigh of relief when Kyle answered. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah we're fine. Where are you guys?"
"Out in the middle of nowhere," she answered. "I was worried- I kept getting this weird kind of vibe off of you. You're sure you're okay?"
"Tess I'm fine. And as far as I know so is Dad. When will you be back?"
"Soon I hope. If that Leo guy shows up I'll see if I can get him to orb me home. According to Maria it's a head trip."
"Orb? Leo? Oh no, is there some freaky alien thing going on?" he demanded.
"Alien and witch. Liz projected today and then she passed out."
"And no one told me," he sounded upset.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I assumed you knew. Look, I gotta go. We'll talk later, is that okay?"
"Yeah. Just be careful."
"I will, I promise," Tess hung the phone up and rejoined the group who were starting to order.
"Is he okay?" There was a note of almost concern in Maria's voice.
"He said there was nothing going on," Tess answered carefully.
"You don't believe him?" Isabel frowned.
"I believe he thinks there's nothing going on," she responded.
"Maybe we should forget eating here and get food at the Crashdown," Liz suggested. "Then I can bunk at the Manor with my cousins and you can check on Kyle."
"That's a good idea, Liz," Isabel said.
"I'm hungry," Maria whined.
"Here," Alex said, handing her a Snickers. "Eat this."
"They're coming out with the food now," she pointed out.
"Perfect. We'll take it on the road with us," Michael said.
"Tess here," Max handed her the keys to the jeep. "Be careful."
"Are you sure?"
"Go."
"Thank you," she said gratefully. "Anyone else coming?"
"I'll go with you," Michael said, grabbing his food. "Maria?"
She made a face. "I-"
"Stay, I'm sure you and Liz's cousins have a lot to catch up on," Tess grabbed her purse. "I'll try to call Isabel's cell when I know what's going on. Do you want me to drop by your house to check on your mom?"
"Uh yeah. If you don't Liz might try to AP again," Max said. "And we don't need that."
Liz frowned.
"He's right honey we don't," Piper said.
"Well Prue's here now," she shrugged.
"Tess will check on Mrs. Evans and the rest of us will go to the Manor. Tess call there when you're done," Alex said.
"Sure," she said, tossing her hair. "Michael, you need anything else before we go?"
He shook his head no, because his mouth was full.
"Okay then let's go," Tess dragged Michael out of the diner while everyone else gathered their food into take out boxes and then piled into Liz's car and Alex's van.
"Is she psychic too? I mean, does she get premonitions? What does she do?" Phoebe babbled happily.
"I don't know. Michael got sort of a premonition thingy last year," Maria said to her as they ate in the back of Alex's van.
"Next question: What's the story with Alex and the tall blonde?" Phoebe whispered.
"Ice Princess runs hot and cold. She plays games, but he's so in love with her he can't see straight, so he lets her."
"Think he'll wake up anytime soon?"
"Nope."
HR
"So Max, how long have you known Lizzie Beth?" Piper asked the brown-haired boy sitting next to her in the back seat of Liz's car.
"Lizzie Beth?" he grinned. "Third grade. We met in third grade."
"Really? And you just started being friends last year?" Prue inquired.
"He's shy," Isabel said in a moderately clipped tone. "Plus there's the whole-"
"Let him talk," Prue interrupted. "You were saying?"
"She said it basically," he smiled a little. "But-"
"He's been hopelessly in love with her since the first time he saw her," Isabel rolled her eyes.
"Aw how sweet," Piper said.
"You know if I could freeze the two of you, I would. Often," Liz said.
"You can't freeze them?" Isabel questioned.
"Nope. I can't freeze other good witches."
"You learn something every day," Max said. "We know Liz's powers work on us, but would our powers still work on you?" he frowned as the thought occurred to him. "I mean, could I still heal you if you were hurt again?"
"I would think so," Liz said as she pulled into the garage of the manor. "Let's see," she held out her hand. "I got a paper cut at school today. Try me."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
She nodded.
He took her hand in his. "Look at me," he said in a low voice. "It won't work unless you look at me."
Their eyes locked. He concentrated. The cut vanished, but a dot of silver stayed on her palm.
Isabel frowned. "We'll have to get rid of that. Do any of you have concealor?"
Prue handed her a bottle, watching with interest.
Isabel dabbed the concealor over the silver and used her powers to make it stick. "It won't come off till the silver mark does."
"Elizabeth?"
"Yes Prudence?" Liz got out of the car in a hurry. Prue only used that tone when she was about to cross-examine someone. She and Phoebe were very familiar with it.
"Has Max ever had to heal you before?"
"Once."
"When?"
"I take the fifth," she let them all in and turned on the light. "There are some rooms upstairs that are made up."
"I'll show you," Isabel offered. "Liz said that you're a photographer?"
"Forget it, Lizzie Beth. You are so not getting off the hook that easily. When did Max have to heal you?"
"When I was shot," Liz said softly.
"Liz-" Isabel looked afraid.
"They'll keep your secret. I mean, they've already seen you use your powers, hell you've even used the 'a' word around them," Liz pointed out.
"You keep our secret and we'll keep yours. Trust me, we have had a taste of being in a fish bowl. None of us want to revisit that point in time," Piper said.
Max swallowed convulsively. "Did they bring you to a white room?" he asked Piper. He seemed to sense a kindred spirit in her.
"Something like that. Then there was the tabloid reporter and then there were the monkeys."
"You sound so flippant about it," Max remarked. "I don't think I'll ever be able to just brush it off like that."
"They've never been in your kind of white room but there was one time they were in a hospital," Liz offered.
"You should rest," he changed the subject. "Isabel can show the girls their rooms. I'll get in touch with Tess."
"I wanted to wait for Pheebs and Maria. See which one was sleeping in my room. Oh Max, Is, there are some rooms downstairs. The beds aren't made up but there are sheets in the closet and the rooms are dust free."
"Thanks, but Liz, we're not kicking you out of your room," Piper protested.
"They wouldn't be. My bed's huge."
Isabel discreetly nudged Max and he shot her a 'Shut up' look.
::Ding-Dong::
"Alex doesn't knock and Pheebs and Maria have keys," Liz said. "So who is that?"
"Let's see," Prue checked. "Um, Liz."
"It's Kyle," Isabel said.
"Let him in," Liz said as she dug. "Piper, you and Prue have keys right?"
"Yeah," Piper said.
Kyle stalked into the room. "Are you okay?" he demanded.
"I'm fine," Liz assured him.
"Good."
"Kyle, take this," Liz handed him a key. "It's to the front door of the Manor. Isabel and Max these are yours. The other two are for Tess and Michael."
Kyle stared at the key in his hand for a long moment. When he looked up, there was something noticeably difference in his posture. "Thanks," he finally said. "Tess was by the house, she told me to drop by over here."
"That's probably her now," Liz said. "Is, why don't you get it?"
"Okay," Isabel picked up the phone and the doorbell rang again while Maria, Alex, and Phoebe came in the side door from the garage.
"Don't answer the door," Alex ordered.
"Why?"
"Cause it's Rath and Lonnie."
"How do you-"
"Premonition. God Liz, you're getting way to good at getting into messes," Phoebe commented.
"I learned from the best," Liz commented cheekily.
"Pheebs what did you see?" Piper asked.
"First you three hide. I don't want Rath and Lonnie to know my cousins are here and Prue no funny stuff. They don't know I'm a witch and I'd like to keep it that way. Now go. Study. Faster."
The bell rang again, louder, and more urgently.
The Halliwell sisters locked themselves into the study and once everyone looked natural, Liz opened the door. "Hi."
"What took so long?" Lonnie demanded arms crossed. Her body language radiated aggression.
"We were having an orgy," Liz said with a serene expression. "Would you like to come in?"
"Haha," Rath shouldered past her.
"You're a funny one," Lonnie said following Rath.
"I try," Liz said as she shut the door.
"So, fearless leader, you got a decision made yet?" Rath asked.
"Let's go outside and talk," Max said leading them both to the back door of the house and stepping outside. Lonnie and Rath exchanged looks before following him. Lonnie shut the door behind them.
"I so don't trust Lonnie," Liz remarked. "No offense Isabel."
"I don't trust her either. She's evil," Isabel answered.
"I still say Ava's the one we can trust," Alex said.
"I have to agree with you," Liz nodded. "She seemed so..."
"Scared of them, but there was more to it than that," he said with a frown.
"She seemed vulnerable to me- like she just wanted someone to love and trust," Kyle threw in his two cents. "One thing's for sure, she was really in love with Zan, but she said she thought he was waiting on someone else."
"What if he goes?" Liz asked as she made hot chocolate. When she was nervous that was what she did.
"He won't," Maria assured her.
"He'll tell us first," Isabel said. "I mean he would have to, right?"
"He is the leader, Isabel. He really doesn't need permission," Liz pointed out.
"But I'm still his sister. He'd tell me." I hope. A small voice in the back of her mind added.
"Hey guys," Michael called as he 'let himself in' using his powers. "Where are you?"
"Back here," Maria called.
"Where's Tess?" Kyle asked.
"I thought she was here already. The jeep's out front."
"Are there any other cars out there?"
"Yeah, a beat up old Chevy," Michael said. "Where's Max? Oh, Tess and I checked on everyone- they're all fine, but she's still insisting something freaky is happening. I think her brain's just gone into overload."
"The Chevy belongs to Mrs. Grim across the street and Max is supposed to be out back with Rath and Lonnie."
"Well he's not," Michael said. "I checked."
"When did you last see Tess?"
"At the Evans'. She dropped me off so I could run back to the apartment. She said she was coming straight here. The Jeep is here. Are you saying you haven't seen her?"
"No. Prue, Piper, Phoebe, you guys can come out now," Liz called. "Is, call your house and see if Max is there. If he's not, have your mom tell him to call us as soon as he gets there."
"Liz what's going on?" Phoebe asked.
"Pheebs what did you see?"
"People who looked like your alien buddies in a car discussing desperate measures."
"Oh God," Liz groaned.
"Yeah, that about says it," Maria concurred.
"Kyle, what exactly did Ava tell you?"
"Not to go into the street unless you looked both ways and not to tell Lonnie and Rath where the granolith was. But that's not a problem since you guys don't know where it is," Kyle looked around at his friends. "What am I missing?"
"Liz and Michael found it this afternoon," Isabel rubbed her forehead. "Max isn't there but there are things missing from his room."
"Damn," Alex said succinctly.
"Kyle does Tess have things at your house that she'd take if she left town?" Liz asked.
He frowned. "Yeah, but we'll have to go there to check. My dad's working."
"Go. Isabel we're going to your house," Liz said.
"Why?"
"Cause the best place to get a premonition is around Max's stuff."
"Honey, you can't force a premonition. It's a non active power," Phoebe reminded her.
"I know but I have to try Pheebs. If Max is in trouble we need to know so we can help."
"Maybe we should send Leo after him," Piper suggested.
"Can we do that?" Liz asked.
"We can try," Prue said. "Piper, call him."
"Why me?"
"Cause you're the one he's in love with. He'll answer you more promptly."
"Uh Alex I need to confer with you for a moment," Liz said pulling him aside.
"What?"
"Do you still have all those fake identities you made for us when the whole Topolsky return happened last year?"
"Maybe. What are you planning?"
"We're going after them. How much time would it take to make three more?"
"I don't know. If I started like this second maybe eight hours."
"Eight HOURS?"
"Liz we're talking a lot of work."
"Okay go and take Pheebs with you. She's good with computers."
"All right," he gave her a quick hug. "Pheebs come with me to my house. I'll explain on the way."
"OK," she trotted after him.
"Kyle, we're going to your place."
"We should check her house and my apartment too," Michael said. "Liz, you're a wreck, you shouldn't be driving. Neither should you Kyle, you might do something stupid. Prue, follow Kyle's directions, get to his house. Maria, come with me. Piper, can you drive Liz to Tess' house? It hasn't sold yet so there might be some of her stuff there still."
"What about me?"
"Go home, search Max's room, and then pack a bag," Liz said. "In fact everyone pack a bag. Isabel would any of your clothes fit Prue?"
Michael's eyes communicated something else.
"What?" Isabel asked.
Michael pulled her to him to whisper in her ear.
"I'll try," she shivered. "But how would we know that Ava didn't leave with them? And I need a picture to dreamwalk."
"Use a picture of Tess. That could tell us where she is and who's with her," Michael suggested. "And Liz is right, packing is good too."
"Don't worry about any sort of ID or money. Alex is taking care of that," Liz said. "Just tell your folks we're meeting Tess and Max up in Fraiser Woods to go camping."
"Maria, don't forget your long johns. We don't want to tip off your mom," Prue said as she took Kyle's keys.
"And everyone keep an eye out for Ava," Michael said.
The group disbanded.
HR
"You're sure you want me to come with you?" Tess whispered to Max.
"Yeah I am," Max smiled.
Tess smiled back. "So where's Ava?" she asked.
"She decided to stay in Roswell."
Tess' eyes clouded for a second. "Oh," she said. "Is that why you wanted me to come?" she asked Max.
"Every king needs a queen," he said playfully. "Besides, you know more about this than I do, and I trust you more than I trust Lonnie and Rath."
"Where are they anyway?" she asked, ignoring the twinge that reminded her he hadn't said that he really trusted her...
"I don't know. They said they were hungry and that they had to use the bathroom. They should be back in a sec."
She nodded. "OK, what did they tell you about the summit so far?"
"Nothing. It's like pulling teeth to get an answer from them. Any luck with getting Kyle on the phone?"
"No," she said, with a little pang of guilt. "I left a message for Michael."
"How?" Max asked, worried. "You have to be-"
"If you say 'careful' leader or no, I will be very upset with you. I survived eight years without telling a soul. You told four humans and four witches the secret."
"Fine. Sorry."
"It's okay. What about Isabel?"
"No luck at home, the Manor, or the Crashdown."
"Do you think they're worried?"
"I doubt it, I mean, they'll guess where we're going."
"That's what I think will worry them. It worries me," Tess said, almost sarcastically.
"Michael's rubbing off on you."
"I'm not quite sure how to take that."
"I'm not quite sure how I meant it."