Zan crossed his arms and stroked his goatee as he listened to Liz tell him everything she could. Liz rubbed her legs through her leather pants, trying to fight the cold of the picnic table beneath her. She told him about the past year�s events; how everyone that knows about aliens found out and about how the others had died. Zan waited for the information about the Granilith but it never came. �Liz...�
�What? I told you everything.� She groaned.
�The Granilith.� He held his head up as he approached, placing his hands on either side of her body before leaning in. �Tell me how you know bout it.�
�Isabel found it. All I know is that it�s really powerful.� She whispered. His face was inches away from hers.
�There�s more. I know it.� Zan stared her directly in the eyes. �How you know it�s really powerful?�
�I just do.� Her voice dropped even lower.
�You never seen it. You said yourself. How you know?� He leaned into her even further.
�I can�t say.�
�Won�t say.�
�Can�t say.� Liz insisted but the heat coming of his body was distracting as was the proximity of his face to hers.
�What you hidin� Liz?�
�Nothing.� She shook her head as she pushed herself away from him, sliding back on the table, bracing her feet on the edge of the table.
�Then why�re you tryin�a run away?� He followed her progress across the table, keeping the intimacy of their bodies in tact.
�I�m not running away.� Liz gave him a half-smile even as she inched backward, stopping when she felt the edge under her back. She leaned on her elbows to keep from falling off the table.
�Then what you call what you doin�?� Zan tilted his head back to look down his nose at her. He was practically on top of her at that point. One of his knees was planted firmly between her thighs and his hands were fixed on either side of her body. Liz worked her mouth up and down trying to think of something to say. She let her eyes drift from his face. Her mind raced with some way to get out of the question. Then her eyes landed on a small hole in his shirt just over his ribs.
Zan caught the mischievous glint in her eye just a second too late. He let out a gasp as her fingers slipped through the hole in his shirt and tickled him. He leapt away as fast as he could, his shirt ripping in the process. As he stared down at the remains of his shirt, Liz�s laughter filled his ears. �I can�t believe it. Max is ticklish in exactly the same spot.�
�Ha ha. Funny.� He tried to scowl at her but the way her face lit up made him want to smile too. �You tore my shirt.�
�Poor baby. Just fix it.� She slid off the table, edging away from him.
�Whatever, you gonna pay for that.� Zan stared at her hard with a predatory gaze. �You got a five second head start.�
Liz didn�t wait for another warning. She took off running with a squeal. The moment he took off after her, she heard his chains rattling. Suddenly, she felt him grab her arm and spin her around. Before either of them could stop themselves, their mouths came crashing together. Tongues dueled until neither of them could breathe. Liz slowly opened her eyes to find Zan�s desire-filled eyes staring back at her.
--
�Where is the world is she?� Maria closed her cell phone and stared over the side of the Jeep. �She hasn�t gone home or even called.�
�She�s not at the school. I talked to Marcus just a minute ago. The school was dark when he passed by a while ago.� Alex added while scanning the streets. �With the way she dresses you�d think we�d have no problem finding her.�
�What does he want?� Isabel muttered. �We don�t even know who this guy is.�
�Hey, if they lied about him dying... that�s not the only thing they could have been lying about.� Michael tossed back and kept his eyes on the road. �We�ll just keep driving around and check things out.�
The Jeep began the Roswell Drag for the fifth time while its occupants hashed over the Zan issue.
�Okay, so they come here to tell us that the guy is dead. They take Max and Tess with them when they leave and all of a sudden this guy shows up.� Alex pondered aloud. �He tells your parents he�s your older brother and then disappears. And Ava is suddenly missing. You think they�re conspiring against us?�
�What ever it is... it can�t be good.� Isabel whispered. Her eyes watched the scenery fly by. She saw Liz running. She turned away and then snapped her head back. �Is that Liz? Omigod. She�s running. Michael, stop the Jeep.�
They all clamored out of the Jeep and took off in the direction that Isabel had seen Liz running. Michael was the fastest. When he found her, Zan had a hold of her arm. Without thinking, he grabbed Liz and pulled her away from Zan. �Take your hands off her.�
�Michael?� Liz gasped. �What are you doing?�
�That ain�t Max.�
�Damn, you look just like Rath.� Zan smirked as he looked Michael over.
�Liz, did he hurt you?� Michael called back to her.
�What?� Liz shook her head. �No. Michael, what are you doing?�
�I don�t know what you�re doing here but we don�t need you.� Michael growled. �You�re supposed to be dead.�
�Not this shit again.� Zan rolled his eyes. �Yo Liz, let�s bounce.�
She started to follow him but Michael wouldn�t let her. It was then she realized that everyone was there. Isabel stepped forward. �Liz... why don�t you come over here? We�ve all got something to talk about.�
�No. I think I know more about what�s going on than you do.� Liz shook her head and pulled away from Michael. �Guys, this is Zan.�
�How did you know that, Liz?� Alex asked stepping forward.
�Yo, I�m tired of this shit. I�m bouncing. Liz... you comin�?� Zan started walking backwards.
�I�ll catch you later.� Liz groaned but knew she would have to explain the deal to everyone.
�Whatever. You need me, you can find me.� He left without another word.
�What the hell is going on?� Michael never let go of Liz.
�You want to let go of my arm?� She nearly fell when he finally let go. �Look, I don�t know what you guys are thinking but he�s not a bad guy.�
�You are so na�ve Liz. Wake up. He�s here for something.� He crossed his arms.
�Have you spent the last 24 hours with him? No. I have. I know what�s going on.� Liz pulled out of the circle.
�How is he alive Liz? The others told us he was dead.� Maria followed her friend.
�I told Michael. Michael told Isabel. Rath and Lannie killed or tried to kill Zan. He was just following them to... I don�t know what he was going to do, he didn�t know what he was going to do when he found them.� Liz held a hand to her forehead.
�He�s not like Max.� Isabel shook her head.
�I know that he�s not like Max but he�s more like Max than you think.� Liz spun on her heel and walked off.
�This is going to be a problem.� Michael muttered.
�But we need her. She knows how to find him.� Isabel whispered. �I�ll talk to her.�
�No. I�m gonna talk to her.� Maria protested.
�No dice. You guys aren�t on the best of terms at the moment. Iz can get through to Liz better.� Michael cut in.
�He�s right.� Alex added. They stood around for a while before Isabel turned to follow Liz.
--
�This is not working.� Max held his head in his hands.
�You�re trying too hard.� Tess whispered, not wanting to attract Rath�s attention. �Just relax and let it come to you.�
�You�re gonna have to walk me through.� Max sighed.
�Lay down and close your eyes.� She motioned to the pile of pillows they had been sleeping on. �Just listen to my voice.�
Max lay down and tried to relax. He followed her soft instructions. He cleared his mind of all thought and let himself sink into the inner silence. Then just when he thought nothing was going to happen, a rush of images flew at him and passed him by. He tried to catch them as they made a return trip. They were there, though. That was enough cause for celebration. He had found them.
Part 9
�Quick. Before my parents wander in.� Liz rushed Ava. The pink-haired woman had shown up that morning without offering an explanation as to where she had been the day before.
�How short you want this?� Ava eyed the sweater that Liz had put on.
�Short but not too short. How about here?� Liz pointed to a spot between her ribs and her belly button.
�What color?�
�Um... black?�
�Hm. Let me guess, you and Zan hit it off.� Ava pursed her lips.
�We�re getting along, yeah.� Liz bit her lip. It wasn�t something she wanted to bring up at that particular moment.
�You do him yet?� The question made Liz�s mouth drop open.
�No.� She shook her head immediately.
�Wow. He takin� his time.� Ava nodded and completed the transformation on Liz�s outfit. �That ain�t like Zan.�
�You mean...� Liz didn�t want to say it unless Ava was saying what she thought she was saying.
�He usually gets what he wants and he wants you.�
�What about you?�
�I�ve been entertainin� other prospects. Zan can do what he wants... or who he wants for that matter.� Ava ran her fingers through Liz�s hair, leaving blue streaks in the brown and purple already there. �Check it girl. He�ll like.�
�Why are you doing this?� Liz whispered. �You told me you loved him.�
�I also told you that I didn�t think he really loved me.� Ava moved to the window. �I think it was you he was waitin� for. I watched ya�ll yesterday. Ya�ll just clicked. Yo. I�m out.�
Liz stood there dumbfounded. Ava�s words rang in her ears, �it was you he was waitin� for.� No. It couldn�t be possible.
--
�What the hell are you wearing?� Michael shucked his shirt and wrapped it around Liz�s exposed waist.
�Chill. It�s a shirt.� Liz tried to push the shirt away but Michael held it in place. �So what? You�re my dad now?�
�We gotta talk to you.� He pulled her to the secluded table where Isabel was waiting.
�What�s going on?� Liz sighed and sat, shaking off Michael�s hands.
�Explain. I�ll listen.� Isabel nodded. �I have to know what�s going on Liz. My brother has not even tried to contact me, I�m sure. You say he went to the summit then what is he doing there?�
�I don�t know. I can only tell you what Ava and Zan told me.� Liz rolled her eyes once before she jumped into an explanation. When she was done, Isabel was near tears.
�They�ll kill him... won�t they?� Isabel�s bottom lip wavered as she gripped the table.
�We don�t know that but until Max contacts us... we don�t know how to get a hold of him.� Liz still hadn�t let it hit her that Max could die in New York. If she didn�t think about it then it wouldn�t happen. He was too smart to let something happen to him up there.
�Are you sure that it�s Zan?� Michael pressed.
�I�m sure.� Liz nodded.
�How sure?�
�Very sure.� She dropped her gaze.
�How sure?� He pulled on her shirt.
�How sure are you that Rath used me?� Liz shot back before standing up. She pulled off his shirt and tossed it to him. �I�m bouncing. Don�t come after me.�
�Liz.� Michael hissed, grabbing her arm. �How do you know it�s really him?�
�Do you know what it�s like to be run over by a three ton truck?� She glared at him. �I do because he does.�
�I don�t trust him.�
�You don�t trust anyone. Let go.� She yanked her arm back. �Michael, stay away from me. I don�t want any of your conspiracy theories. Did it ever occur to you that Zan didn�t want this kind of life either? Maybe he wants to be normal and now he�s got his chance.�
�And Max be damned?� Isabel jumped to her feet. �Is that how you feel?�
�No. All I�m saying is that Max and Zan want the same things. They are not interchangeable to me. This whole alien lifestyle has been an obligation to both of them.� Liz wrapped her arms around herself.
�Max has nev�� Isabel got cut off by Liz�s eyebrow rising. �He never told us that.�
�But it�s how he felt... how he feels. He never said anything because he knew that you would take it the wrong way.� Liz sighed and backed away from the table. �Sorry but it�s the truth.�
--
Max sat at the table and wanted to laugh. They kept on arguing like Max didn�t know anything. He had touched on his memories the night before but now as they talked, the memories came up unbidden. Hanar was pinning her grief on Sero and Kathana on Zan. Larek was taking everything in stride. He must have been the only leader in the room that noticed that Max�s silence was not because of confusion but rather amusement.
�To borrow an Earth saying. Max thinks this is bullshit.� Larek smirked.
�That would be correct.� Max laughed wryly and sat back. He had the table�s full attention.
�Do you have something to bring to the table, Max?� Nicholas sat back as well. He figured he was in for a good laugh.
�First off, Kathana... my people were not the ones that introduced the larros to your people. The larros came from a discovery of Khivar�s. Am I right, Nicholas?� Max clasped his hands together on the table.
�No comment.�
�That�s what I thought. Sero didn�t attack your people first, Hanar. We did and I�m sorry. You shouldn�t have lain claim to my throne... and don�t deny it. Larek can back me up.� Max glanced around at the bewildered faces. �I�ve been doing some thinking. I haven�t changed my mind about the Granilith but I have been thinking.�
Lannie and Rath exchanged glances. Things were not going like they had planned. Max was turning out to be more like Zan than they had counted on.
�We don�t need to be rehashing old news. I�ve missed out on happenings in the past 50 years... which wasn�t entirely my fault... was it Nicholas?� Max lifted his eyes to the child-like would be leader across the table.
�You should never turn your back on your enemies.�
�Even when those enemies were supposed to be my friends. I understand your logic completely. That is the past. We have a future to build. If we can�t concentrate on that... then you�re wasting my time.� Max looked each leader in the eye as he said this. The power shift in the room was almost tangible.
--
Liz hid herself under a tree in the park. She thought she had done a good job of hiding until she felt Michael. She had been so relaxed and all of a sudden she had felt incredibly annoyed. �Did you not hear me when I told you to stay away from me?�
�I just want to know how in the hell you can trust him after all that he told you.� Michael sat down at her feet.
�It�s called faith. Have a little. Broaden your social circle.� Liz scoffed.
�He killed his protector, Liz.�
�To save you guys. Did you happen to catch that part?� She sat up. �He killed the person who gave him back his life to protect you guys. No one knows about you. He wanted it to stay that way.�
�You don�t honestly believe that do you?� Michael snorted.
�He wasn�t lying to me. He has not lied to me yet.�
�How do you know that?� He knew if he kept pushing her then she�d crack.
�Because I got flashes. Okay?� She crossed her arms over her stomach and leaned back against the tree.
�You�ve known the guy for what... two days and you�re already making out with him.� He smirked at her. �Then again... you did Rath after what... 12 hours?�
�Shove it Michael. Rath used me to... get his rocks off. Every hour that passes I just feel more and more like... a whore. The spell or whatever that he had over me is going away.� Liz took a deep breath.
�You know... this pull between us is damn annoying and I can�t help but think that it�s not Rath�s doing but it wouldn�t have happened without him... you know?�
�I don�t know what you�re talking about.�
�You�re different now.�
�That�s what Ava said. But she said it was because Max changed me.�
�I think Rath did something to you. Now I feel I have to look after you or something. I don�t do the big brother thing so well... you know?�
�As long as it�s big brother and not raging hormones... I think we can deal.�
�Yeah.� Michael scrambled to his feet. �I�m just going to tell you to be careful. Don�t tell him anything.�
�Don�t worry. I didn�t tell him anything important.�
�And the flashes? You get them, he gets them.� Michael reminded her.
�I didn�t tell him about the flashes. I�m sure he would have said something if he got them.� She shook her head ever so slightly. Michael kept staring at her. �And I�m not going to tell him. That was something special with me and Max... the whole sharing of flashes.�
�I mean it Liz. Don�t trust him.�
�I�m a big girl. I can take care of myself.� Liz let out a breath when Michael finally got up and left her alone.
--
Ava watched Zan doing sit-ups as he hung from a crossbar in the soap factory. She had spent the past two days just watching him. It would not have mattered if she were noticeably in his presence or not, every second he spent with Liz took just a little more of his heart away from Ava. She had watched their camaraderie the day before and had almost died when she had seen him taste Liz. She knew that�s just what he had done because of how fast he pulled away.
�Someone a little frustrated?� Ava stepped into the main room.
�Don�t know what you talkin� bout.� Zan did one final sit up, grabbed the bar and dropped onto his feet.
�You remember when you started workin� out?� She hopped up on a box.
�Bout the same time you got boobs.� He smirked. �Nah, wait. It was before then cause that was a year ago.�
�Asshole.� She glared at him. �You know what I mean.�
�Yeah, I do, yo.� Zan hopped up and began doing chin-ups.
�Why you gotta be like this?� Ava pouted. He jumped down and crossed his arms over his bare chest.
�Nah. You ain�t puttin� this on me. Make up your fuckin� mind, Ava.� He scoffed. �You tell me that I�m eyein� her, you tell me to go after her and here you are makin� me remember what we had back in New York.�
She didn�t deny anything that he had said. She fiddled with her nose piercing and stared up at him.
�Either you want me or you don�t. I ain�t gonna play here.� Zan dropped his arms and shoved his hands into his pockets.
�She was the first person you approached when you got here. You was tryin� to hook up with her before you knew who she was.� Ava rocked from foot to foot, not really sure if she wanted to pace or stand still.
�She�s Max�s bitch. I cain�t just move in on her.�
�She ain�t his bitch anymore... just like I ain�t yours anymore.� She dropped her gaze. �I ain�t gonna hold you back. If she�s the one you want, she�s the one you want.�
�I don�t know what the hell I want. I hate this damn town but I cain�t leave �til we know how the Summit went down.�
�In the meantime you�ll fuck her. She wants you. You both are so damn cornball. I ask about you guys and you guys ask about me. I ain�t in this.� Ava backed away. �Don�t worry about me. I�ll entertain myself.�
--
�You didn�t wear the uniform again tonight... did you?� Jeff Parker groaned as Liz hung up her apron in the break room.
�I wore the apron and the antennae.� She shrugged.
�What is it going to take to get you back in uniform?�
�A less cheesy uniform. I showed you that catalog but you said... �There�s nothing wrong with the ones we got.� So I haven�t said anything.� Liz fixed her hair in the mirror. Jeff shook his head and glanced into the restaurant.
�Well, I�ll be damned. Looks like Max is back.� He crossed his arms. �You two plan this... new look?�
Liz tiptoed to look through the window and bit her lip to hide the smile that was itching to spread across her face. �That�s not Max, Dad.�
�It has to be. It looks just like him.�
�It�s his brother. His um... real brother. I�m gonna go say hi.� She started through the door but her father pulled her back. He wrapped a shirt around her waist. �Dad...�
�I�m sorry but that shirt is unacceptable. Either go upstairs and change or wear the shirt.� Jeff crossed his arms and watched as Liz shoved her arms into the shirt and buttoned the middle buttons. �Better.� He glanced out into the diner. �Are you sure that he�s a nice guy? He doesn�t look... like a... nice... guy.�
�Bye Dad.� She disappeared through the swinging door.
Jeff knew he should not begrudge his daughter her rebellious phase after how he put his own mother through hell but if she was going to be talking to guys like the one sitting at the counter... He took another look. Liz was leaning against the counter, parting the shirt he had made her wear, and showing the guy her... belly button?! �Dear Lord, what else has she pierced?�
He could feel all the blood rush to his face when the Max-look-alike gave Liz�s piercing a tug. He was going to have to keep an eye on this.
--
�Try the Men In Blackberry pie.� Liz leaned forward and whispered in Zan�s ear. �Pour a little Tabasco on it and I�m sure you�ll love it.� She motioned to a waitress to get a slice of pie.
�Yo, what is with this place?� Zan turned slightly on his stool. �Our people die and they make a livin� spittin� on us.�
She leaned on the counter to face him. �Not like any of them really believe in aliens. People are curious so my dad keeps up this alien theme. Tourists get a kick out of it and tip really well.�
�Your dad own this place?� He scowled. Then he looked her over. �What�s with the shirt?�
�My dad. But it�s a good thing he didn�t see this.� Liz parted the tails of the shirt to expose her belly button ring. �He would�ve hit the roof.�
�It�s pink.� He raised an eyebrow and reached out to give it a playful tug. When his hand brushed her stomach, Liz automatically sucked in a breath. That light tug had a pull that went much deeper than the flesh on her stomach; she felt it to the deepest part of her body.
�Yeah. Ava did it.� She nodded and ignored the urge to touch him.
�Now it looks good.� He gestured to the now pewter bead on the silver hoop.
�Um, thanks.� There was a thought tugging at the back of her mind. She could only get a vague idea of what it was. �Can we talk?�
�We talkin� now, ain�t we?� Zan�s face held that scowl that never seemed to reach his eyes. That look, Liz just knew was a product of years spent hiding his emotions. Liz gave a little laugh. The thought formed just a little bit more.
�It�s just... I have to know some things before I totally lose myself here.�
�So talk.� He leaned forward on the counter, forcing Liz to turn so she could look at him.
�Well, here�s not such a good place to talk.� She looked pointedly at the waitress who slid the pie in front of Zan.
�It�s as good as any.� He poured half a bottle of Tabasco on top of the pie.
�This is a small town. People are nosy and tune their ears to other people�s conversations.� She insisted, again looking at the waitress who raised her hands in surrender as she backed off.
�Don�t worry bout it.� He glanced at her as he took a bite of pie. �Ask away.�
�Are you going to pull a Rath on me?� Liz whispered, not even noticing that her father was working behind the counter a few feet away.
�You want me to?� He raised his pierced eyebrow at her. �Cause that can be arranged.�
�Oh no.� Liz shook her head at him. �I don�t think I could take that again. Physically or emotionally... well... maybe physically.�
�That an invite?� Zan let his eyes slide over her form once more. Neither of them even recognized the sound of a tray being banged on the counter a few feet away.
�Hold on, just a minute.� Liz pressed her lips together for a moment while she tried to find the right wording. �I just wanted to know if you plan on seducing me against my wishes the way he did.�
�I don�t do Rath�s thing. Messin� with innocent minds ain�t right.� He returned to his dessert.
�Okay. Now that we have that straight...� Liz absently stuck a finger into his pie and brought the Tabasco covered blackberry goo to her mouth, sucking it off before speaking again. Zan�s eyes never left her mouth while she did this. �Why do I feel like I�ve known you my whole life? I mean, Zan, I�ve known you for three days and I�m even more comfortable with you than I was with Max... am with Max.�
�I told you, you was different. You ain�t like these monkeys. You... have got to have a much higher destiny... than to marry one of these monkeys and have monkey children.� Zan watched her face pale. �What�d I say?�
�I don�t like that word.� Liz whispered.
�Monkey?� He laughed in confusion.
�No. Destiny.� She corrected then spoke to correct him again. �And that would have never happened.�
�What?�
�Marrying one of these losers and having babies.� Liz smiled brightly. �I am going to be a scientist. A molecular biologist. I am going to earn a Nobel Peace prize for the ground breaking work that will answer hundreds of questions and probably bring up hundreds more.�
�Oh. So you one of them brains, eh?� Zan pointed his fork at her, licking off the creamy mass that fell onto his hand. He noted the shiver that had run through her body as she watched him. �You think any of that will make a difference when my people come?�
�If there�s one thing that I�ve learned, you don�t rely on them.� Liz pointed up. �They don�t know a thing about what we�re capable of. Some of us already know what they can do.�
�And just what are you capable of?� Zan polished off his pie and sat back.
�You�re proof of what we can do. It won�t happen tomorrow but we have the potential to do everything that you can do. It might take a couple hundred years of evolution but it will happen.� Liz went on, unconsciously scooting closer, if possible, to Zan. �Granted that I don�t generally believe that all those kooks out there have so-called supernatural powers but it�s probably already started. People who can move things with their minds, people who get visions from touching objects, even see into other people�s dreams.�
�It�ll be too late. When the Antarians come, it�s all over.� Zan shook his head. A crash made both of them turn around. Jeff Parker was hunched over picking up the stack of dishes he had just dropped. He glanced up and caught Zan�s eye. Their eyes remained locked in confusion for several moments before Zan sat up. �Let�s go somewhere else to talk.�
Part 10
Isabel followed Liz and Zan from a distance. She was doing everything that she had warned Michael against doing. He would kill her if he found out. A few days ago when Michael had first mentioned this �pull� towards Liz, Isabel had just shrugged it off, not putting much merit into it. It wasn�t until after really watching Liz that Isabel began to feel something... familiar about Liz. It was so strange to describe but it was there.
When she had followed Liz home the day before, she couldn�t bring herself to go up on that balcony and demand answers. That�s why she waited to talk to her at school. Then it became fairly obvious that Liz was too wrapped up in this Zan character to help anyone out. So tailing Liz was the thing to do at the moment.
--
Liz drove out to the old soap factory. Zan hadn�t said a word since suggesting they go somewhere else to talk. When she pulled to a stop, Zan nearly jumped out of the car and headed off into the pasture just beyond the factory. Liz did her best to follow him; leaving the shirt her father gave her in the car. �Zan! Where are you going?�
�I hate this town.� He said, finally coming to a stop at a fence. He hopped up on it and stared up at the sky. �That�s where I was born. Then they sends me here. I was reborn. Now they wants me back.�
�What are you talking about?� Liz sank onto an overturned fencepost with a sigh.
�You really don�t think you�re different than all those goons back in that shithole, do you?� Zan let his gaze fall from the sky to her brown eyes sparkling in the dark.
�You said I smelled different. How�s that?� She whispered, eager to get any information at all out of him.
�Humans smell like Earth.� He jumped down and bent to take a handful of desert into his hands. �Like this. And like that.� He pointed to the lone cloud wisp in the night sky.
�What do Antarians smell like?�
Zan closed his eyes and the hint of a smile crept over his face. He looked almost blissful. �Like green rain and short trees. Like lightning. Like thunder. Like space.�
�Really?� The curiosity built in her head; she just had to know more.
�Lannie and Rath, they smell like war. Electricity. Ava smells like... my bed. She always has. Our scents are different cause an Antarian soul been put in a monkey suit. I smell spice when I�m near those others back in town.�
�What do I smell like?�
�I don�t know. You smell like Earth, you smell like spice, you smell like green rain. What are you?� Zan thought back to the man at the Crashdown. They had locked eyes for what seemed like an eternity. He had been so wrapped up in Liz that he never noticed that the man had gotten so close. Liz could mean two things to Zan: extreme happiness or extreme distraction, which could be dangerous. Staring at that man... Zan just couldn�t believe it. It had only been a rumor but now it was true.
--
Max stretched his fingers out in front of him. Using minimal force, he sent a push across fifty feet and moved a vase first an inch and then two feet. Then he sent it all out and blew the vase to splinters of glass.
�No vase stands a chance against Duke.� Rath sneered as he strolled into the room.
�Do not... I repeat, do not talk to me.� Max muttered. A flick of his finger sent a board flying towards Rath. Rath managed to save himself by sending it flying in a different direction.
�She was just a fuck. What the hell is wrong with you?� Rath stormed after Max into the old subway tunnels.
�Didn�t I tell you not to talk about her?� Max spun around. �I believe I told you not to even think about her.�
�Don�t tell me you never tasted her. Maybe she didn�t think you knew what to do.� Rath pushed him a little further. �Didja know she�s got lungs like one of them fat bitches with the horns?�
Rath never saw the punch coming. Max�s fist connected with his nose, blood went spurting, hinting Lannie in the face. She had just walked into the room in time to see Rath hit the wall behind him. She ran a hand over her face. �Damn it. Can�t you keep your mouth shut for five seconds?�
�What the fuck was that for?� Rath shoved himself off the wall, fixing his nose. Max was on him in a heartbeat. His hand lay flat against Rath�s forehead. Rath fell to his knees and started gasping for air.
�What the fuck was that for?� Max smiled bitterly. �I�ll tell you what it was for. Liz. You are never to speak her name again. Don�t talk about her. Don�t think about her. If I ever hear that you�ve even once jerked off to a fantasy of her... I won�t hesitate to squeeze your brain like I�m doing now, only the next time... I won�t stop until it�s running out your ears.�
�Yo, Duke, cool it.� Lannie chuckled nervously. Max reluctantly let go of his hold on Rath�s mind. �Whatever he�s been saying, yo, he don�t mean it.�
�This is the last time I say this... to either of you.� Max looked from one to the other. �I�m the man now. What I say goes. The two of you are going to leave Tess and I alone until the Summit is completely over.�
�Whatever you say, Duke.� Lannie barely nodded, trying to hide how scared she had suddenly become. A statement like that could only come from Zan. She and Rath had pushed Max too far.
�Don�t even think you can try to get me in my sleep. I can go a month without sleep and function perfectly fine.� Max warned them. �I am sick of your shit.�
�Yo, just remember who the rejects are here.� Rath pulled himself together. Lannie closed her eyes and willed Rath to shut his mouth.
�Well... Yo...� Max watched Rath get to his feet. �I was entrusted with the Granilith. I was never told about you guys. Now. If I were the one making the decisions about a faulty batch and a perfect batch...� He rubbed at the stubble on his face. Then he cleared the stubble from his cheeks, leaving only the beginnings of a mustache and goatee. �I wouldn�t tell the originals. It would make them sloppy. I would keep the rejects as far away as possible and fill them in. Prepare them really well... just in case. I�m thinking you are the rejects here.�
Lannie narrowed her eyes at Max but didn�t say a word until he was gone. �Yo, this ain�t any fuckin� good.�
�No shit.� Rath lifted a hand to his throbbing head. �He�s getting more and more like Zan every fuckin� day.�
�Nicholas told me that this ain�t gonna last but two more days at this rate. Then we can kill him like we did Zan.� Lannie continued to stare off the way that Max had disappeared. She didn�t see that Tess was hiding just on the outside of the entryway. She didn�t see Tess slip off to find Max. �Then we�ll kill that annoying little bitch.�
--
Maria stared at the UFO Center. It had been closed all week. Brody hadn�t even gone in. She was starting to get worried. She was so lost in thought that she didn�t hear Sheriff Valenti stroll up beside her, hat in hand. �How much you wanna bet he�s involved in all this too?�
�Oh! You scared me.� Maria gasped. Then she thought about it. �You know... he once told Max that �they� had taken him and cured him of a brain tumor.� She paused. �He told me that he was losing time again.�
�Losing time?� Valenti shook his head uncertainly.
�It�s like... he�ll be doing something and then suddenly he�s doing something else completely in another place hours later, feeling like no time has passed at all.� Maria explained.
�Sounds fishy to me.�
�You mean spacey.�
�Liz told me that Max took Tess to New York. That true?� Valenti put his hand back on his head.
�She seemed confidant that everything was fine and that we shouldn�t worry about it.� Maria kicked at the sidewalk. �I think she�s lost her mind. She�s been hanging around those freaks from New York... and doing things that aren�t totally Liz-like. You know what I mean?�
�I think I do. Liz promised to keep me in the loop. You make sure that I am.� He strolled off down the street.
--
Isabel sat in the Jeep and watched the two of them talk as best as she could from as far away as she was. She squinted to see as they moved closer together. Suddenly her eyes went wide. Hurriedly she threw the Jeep into gear and sped away. She had just seen much more than she ever wanted to see of Liz Parker and someone who looked like her brother.
--
�Okay... so you�re wanting to know if I feel different since when?� Liz stood up so she could think.
�When you met these guys.� Zan leaned back against the fence.
�I practically grew up with them. They came to school in the third grade. The first real interaction came with Max�s healing me. Ava says it changed me. What do you think?� Liz crossed the distance between them.
�I think that woke up what�s inside you.� Zan just knew he had to be right about Liz. �You ever feel... un-human?�
�Well...� Liz couldn�t help the blush that crept into her face. �Last spring... Max and I got close all of a sudden. It was like a magnetic pull, it couldn�t be denied. I felt like some kind of chemical reaction had gone off in my body.� She stopped there although she knew she had already mentioned the orbs.
�You ever feel it again?�
�Now that you mention it...� Liz furrowed her brow and hung her head in shame. �When Rath... when he did what he did... afterward.... I uh... felt different. Not just in the obvious way, but um... I don�t think... I mean, those feelings I had have all gone away now.�
�That�s cause they wasn�t real.� Zan filled in as he stroked his goatee, listening intently.
�Michael said that he�s drawn to me now. Like he has to protect me.� Liz whispered.
�I think that it�s time for you to wake up.� He knew it was time. The rumors were true. Maybe Ava was right about Liz after all. Maybe she was right about Zan too.
�Wake up?� She questioned and started to say something else when she caught the predatory gleam in his eyes. It was the same one he had used to look her over in the Crashdown just a couple of hours before. �Zan?�
When he stood up straight, the distance between them was mere centimeters. One hand lifted to touch her cheek then slid back into her hair. �When you and Max was close, you didn�t finish it.�
�What?� Liz looked up into his face in utter confusion. �Finish?�
�I think we need to finish it.� His other hand slid around her bare waist, drawing her against his body.
�Finish?� She asked again. Liz felt heat where his hands rested on her body. His breathing picked up and his eyes fixed themselves on hers. Zan�s mouth descended on hers, she let out an excited squeal, allowing him access to her mouth with his imploring tongue. She melted into him, allowing herself to fully taste his mouth like she had been unable to do the night before in the park. Tonight she could taste him, taste his tongue piercing, and hear the clicking when their piercings met. Her arms when around his back, trying desperately to crush him to her.
Zan moved his mouth down her neck. She tasted so sweet, so not human. One hand slid down to her chest, rubbing over the mound of her breast through the sweater material. Impatient, he made both the sweater and her bra disappear as well as his own shirt. Liz gasped at the sudden skin-to-skin contact. His hot hand kneaded her breast, his searing mouth sucked on her shoulder and his goatee tickled at her other breast.
Liz knew exactly what she wanted to happen in the very near future, she needed to make love to the man holding her tight in his arms. As she realized this, her body responded in kind. Her nipples hardened painfully tight as they rubbed against his chest and arched her back up into his hand, her legs trembled and heated up where they touched his legs, a burning ran through her body and settled low in her stomach. That feeling had been there before but she and Max had never gotten the chance to explore it fully.
Zan bent her over his hand and leaned his head down to capture the hard point that had been stabbing into his chest just moments before. He continued his ministrations to her other breast as he sucked furiously. Liz moaned, throwing her head back even further. The fire in her body spread from the mouth wrapped around her breast throughout her entire body. She could feel Zan�s reaction to her against her thigh.
It was the squeal of tires that broke the mood. Zan almost dropped her but recovered in time to catch her. Liz immediately backed away, her arms crossed over her chest. They both stared in the direction of the road and saw nothing but taillights speeding away. Zan tried to pull her back against him but Liz had already been sobered by the shock of cold air on her bare chest. She kept going towards the car. She reached in and pulled the shirt out and onto her body.
�Liz.� He called to her.
�I should go.� She called over her shoulder.
�Liz.�
�I�ll... I�ll see you tomorrow or something.� She climbed in and started the engine. She took just a moment to realize what had almost happened. Liz kept her eyes off of his figure as she drove back to town.
--
Max stood bare-chested in front of a mirror he had found. Ironically, it was something he had seen once before in a Native American store back in New Mexico. It wasn�t a real mirror as much as it was polished silver. The design had been intricately carved around the edge. It was time for designs of his own.
Max raised a hand to the mirror. He took a chunk off one end and reformed it into several small pieces. First he lifted a hand to his ear, after a slight grimace he let his hand fall so he could admire the piercing. Then he did the same to his eyebrow and after a thought, he did it to the cartilage of his other ear and one of his nipples. He stuck the remaining bits of silver in his pocket.
Turning sideways, Max concentrated on the flesh of his outer bicep. His hand ran down his arm, branding him with symbols from Zan�s memories. Looking at the reflection, he decided that one arm was enough.
�Max?� Tess�s jaw dropped open as she stumbled into the room. �What are you doing?�
�Getting ready for a war.� He calmly answered as he pulled a chunk of silver from his pocket. He nudged the molecules with his mind and soon he had a ring with one word written on it. Liz.
�Max. They killed Zan. I just heard them talking.� She fought back tears. This was a horrible situation. They were supposed to trust two murderers and it looked like her mate was losing it.
�We gotta watch our backs.� He whispered. This didn�t seem like news to him. Those that had betrayed poor Zan were the ones he had trusted the most. Lucky for Max, he didn�t trust Lannie or Rath.
�I know. Rath and Lannie... they�re gonna kill us when the Summit is over.� Tess watched Max slip the ring onto the fourth finger on his left hand and stare at it.
�I�d like to see them try.�
Part 11
Maria trudged up the staircase to Liz�s room after work. She had had a horrible shift, Michael was being a pain in the ass and when she went to her locker there was a note that Liz wanted to talk. While Maria had finally accepted that nothing significant was going on between Liz and Michael, she still felt a little wary of the direction that Liz was heading.
Maria pushed open Liz�s door and found her sitting at her desk, doing her homework. �Okay, I�m here. What do you want?�
�Maria?� Liz turned slightly.
�Yeah.� She shut the door and sat on the bed. �What did you want to talk about?�
�Did you really think I would sleep with Michael?�
�Look, babe, you gotta admit that it looked really bad.� Maria watched as Liz nodded. �Then with that rumor going around that you slept with Kyle Valenti of all people and then Isabel told us that you slept with Rath. Rath? Rath?�
�Okay, I get it.� Liz held up her hands in surrender.
�So why am I here?�
�Because you�re my best friend in the entire world and I need your help.� She smiled hopefully.
�First... before I give any help... Please, please, please tell me you did not sleep with Kyle and Rath.� Maria pleaded.
�I didn�t sleep with Kyle.�
�And?�
�And what?� Liz dodged Maria�s pleading gaze.
�You slept with Rath?� Maria�s jaw dropped. �How could you? He was all... gross... but then you started dressing like him... so I guess that�s not too surprising.�
�Let me explain. He kissed me against my will. Then he did something alien thing to me that made me want to... you know... with him.� Liz�s hands flew around in the air. �I swear I would have never done it had he not used his powers against me.�
�Have you any idea how ridiculous that sounds?� Maria laughed.
�I guess, yeah.�
�Okay, so what�s the problem?� Maria rolled up her sleeve. �Maria DeLuca, advice extraordinaire, is at your service.�
�It�s Zan.� Liz admitted with a slight smile. �I know that this is totally out of character for me but...�
�But?�
�Last night...� Liz put her face in her hands and took a deep breath. �We... uh...�
�You didn�t?� Maria shook her head. �Liz!�
�We didn�t, I swear. Before anything could happen um... we heard a car speeding off and I freaked and I just left him out there.�
�Out where?�
�We were out behind the old soap factory. If it hadn�t have been for that car I�m sure... that something would have happened.� Liz could feel her entire body heating up at remembering his mouth on her body.
�Um, babe...� Maria stood up and pointed at her. �Are you sure nothing happened?�
�Yeah... well nothing that I haven�t ever done before.� Liz stared up at Maria in confusion. Maria looked like she was going to be sick.
�Liz, you�re glowing. And I mean like from head to toe. Like literally glowing. You know, like a lamp.�
�I am not.� She rose to her feet and strode over to the mirror. That�s when Liz realized that Maria was right. Her skin had a glow emanating from deep within her body. A knock at the door made her jump.
�Lizzie, are you in there? I need to talk to you.� Her father�s muffled voice came through the door. Maria clamped a hand over her mouth. Liz leapt over the bed and into the bathroom and shut the door carefully, a second later the water turned on. Maria was panicking. Then it clicked. She knew what Liz was doing. The door opened slowly. �Lizzie?�
�Um, hi Mr. Parker. Liz is in the shower.�
�Oh okay. Nice to see you, Maria. Could you tell Liz that I need to talk to her?�
�Uh-huh.� As soon as the door shut, Maria raced to the bathroom door. �Liz?�
�It stopped.� Liz called out.
�How?�
�Um... cold shower.� Liz came out wrapped in her robe and sank onto her bed. �Ava and Zan have some major explaining to do.�
�Uh-huh... what�s happening to you babe?�
�So far... I don�t know. Ava�s not sure and I haven�t even really seen her since like yesterday and then she was being like weird. Zan is being all cryptic and ugh! I have no answers to any of this.� Liz flopped backward.
�Okay, sorry but we haven�t been talking for like two weeks now. You�re gonna have to fill me in.� Maria sat down next to Liz. �Because you are making no sense right now.�
--
�Sit-ups, chin-ups, push-ups... you going for a 6 mile run next?� Ava teased Zan from where she lay on the old dirty mattress.
�Thought you said she wanted me?� Zan waved a hand over his chest, ridding himself of the layer of sweat that had formed during his work out.
�She does.� Ava sat up. �What happened?�
�We was talkin� and then we was kissin� and just when things was getting� good... this car burns rubber and she took off.� Zan raised his hand to a pillar, forming a layer of padding around it. He started using it as a punching bag.
�You was talkin�?� She laughed. �Since when do you talk?�
�I talk, aight?� He glared at her, sending a high-flying kick to his makeshift punching bag.
�I thought the only thing you was good for was the fuckin�. Now I hear I coulda been getting� more outta this?� She continued to goad him.
�You are such a bitch!� He sent another kick into his bag�s �neck.� His punches became even fiercer. �Yo. What I ever see in you back then?�
�I�s loyal, that�s what.� Groaning she scrambled to her feet. �I�m bouncin�. Gonna get my lamp trimmed or somethin�.�
�What?�
�Long ass borin� story. Hope you get some. You damn annoyin� when you horny.�
Zan locked his jaw and shook his head. He called over his shoulder. �Bite me, bitch.�
�Get bent, asshole.�
--
�Yo, can I talk to you?� Lannie stayed just outside of the room just like she promised to.
�Bout what?� Max didn�t stop his sit-ups.
�This ain�t just about you. Rath and I got a stake in this. We wanna go home.� She crossed her arms. �We�ve stood by long �nough, watchin� you piss on our ride. I ain�t gonna do it no more. Tomorrow is the last day.�
�Wrong. We�ve got another week.� He sat up and crossed his arms over his knees. �Deadline is next week.�
�Khivar ain�t gon� wait that long. He wants his answer tomorrow.�
Max nodded and got to his feet. He had listened to what Lannie had said very carefully. �And you would know this how?�
�I know Khivar. Nicholas said as much yesterday.�
�Wrong. Nicholas never said that. Not at the Summit anyway.� Max crossed his arms and approached the entryway. �Which means that you aren�t what you said you were.�
�What you talkin� �bout, Duke?� Lannie smiled and looked away. �What you see is what you get.�
�I mean it. You try anything and I won�t hesitate to kill you.� Max growled. Lannie raised her hand but Max was quicker. Her energy bounced off his shield and knocked her to the ground. �That was a freebie. It�s the last one.�
�How�d you do that?� Lannie rose to her feet and stared at the green force field.
�Oh? Didn�t you know that Zan could do this?� He gave a wry laugh. �Guess he and I are more alike than you thought.�
�Think about this. If you and Zan are a lot alike... how much alike are me and Isabel? Ah?� Lannie clicked her tongue.
�You aren�t like her. She would never kill me like you did Zan.�
�What you talkin� bout?�
�I already knew you had done it but Tess overheard you and Rath talking. You should really be more careful.� Max let go of the shield. �You can forget about going back to Antar... and no more secret meetings with Nicholas. He�s much too young for you anyway, that�s statutory rape.�
--
�Lizzie?� Jeff looked around the door and found Liz getting into bed. �We really need to talk.�
�Can we talk tomorrow? I�m really tired. I�ve got a test first thing in the morning.� She sighed and sank onto the bed. She didn�t mention how she had just tried to explain two weeks worth of happenings that she didn�t even understand... not to mention the whole Kyle situation.
�Okay, but come home right after school. It�s kinda important.� He raised his eyebrows.
�Kay, Dad.� She nodded. �Night.�
�Night, Lizzie.� Jeff shut the door and went down the hall to his own room. Nancy sat waiting for him. She was on his feet before he got two steps into the bedroom.
�Well?�
�I didn�t tell her.�
�I thought you said you would never have to tell her.�
�I thought I wouldn�t have to either.�
�You said she would be normal.� Nancy sank back onto the bed, fighting back tears.
�I thought she would be.� Jeff closed his eyes. �I thought all that talk about �them� was just talk. Just a rumor. Mother even thought so.�
�God, I wish your mother was here. She�d know what to do.� She crossed her arms and bowed her head. Her husband sat beside her and took her into his arms.
�I couldn�t have known that she would get involved with �them�. I didn�t even know there was a �them�.� He kissed the top of her head. �I thought we were safe here.�
�What will they do when they find out what she is?�
�I don�t know.� He whispered. �We�ll tell her tomorrow. We�ll give her one more day of being normal.�
�Then what? Do we run away? Do we hide? Can we hide?�
�We�ll figure it all out tomorrow. Hopefully it won�t be too late.�
Part 12
Liz turned in her scantron as she made her way out of the classroom. Maria was by her side suddenly. �So...�
�I don�t know. Does it make me a slut if I do?� Liz sighed.
�I don�t think so. I mean, if the first time doesn�t count because it was against your will... this would be your first. Although I can�t see you and this Zan guy just settling down or anything.� Maria rattled on as they moved with the stream of students through the hallways.
�Whoa. Maria. I am not looking to marry Zan. I mean... I wouldn�t mind something like that happening in like the far future but... could you see him married to anyone?� Liz shut her mouth before she could say anything else to make herself look bad.
�Actually... I can�t see you married to anyone but Max. Did you forget about him?�
�Yeah... I mean no. Max has this whole destiny and I can�t be a part of that... Anyway. He obviously chose Tess. She�s the one he took with him to New York.� Liz didn�t want to think about what they could be doing in New York without any supervision.
�But he loves you. Besides... doesn�t Zan have the same exact destiny that Max does?� She pointed out to her blue, purple and brown haired friend.
�Well, no. Lannie and Rath think he�s dead. He�s like an extra now... and Ava has already told me that I could... have him.�
�It sounds fishy to me.� Maria wrapped an arm around Liz�s shoulders. �And Liz, babe, you�ve known the guy since like Monday. It�s barely been five days and already you�re contemplating giving yourself to him. Are you sure that he�s not doing some alien thing to you?�
�He said he didn�t like to things like that. Maria...� Liz pulled them out of hallway traffic so she could try to explain. �It�s like... I�ve known him all my life. You have no idea how comfortable we are with each other. It went from being totally awkward to natural to wanting to be physical.�
�What about Max? Aren�t you worried about him?�
�Yes and no. Yes because of what horrible people Lannie and Rath are... No because I know Max. He�s smart, he�s like steel.�
�Steel?�
�No one ever told you the secret of steel?� Liz almost laughed at herself for even bringing it up.
�Sorry, I don�t follow.�
�I know you�ve heard the saying. �That which does not kill us, only makes us stronger.�� She tilted her head at Maria. �My dad used to watch a lot of Conan movies.�
�So... what you�re saying is that Max is going to just bounce back from this... assuming he doesn�t... you know... die.�
�Of course he�ll be fine. I�m finding in Zan the qualities that I love about Max. There are some others there that I can�t tell if they were always there or if life in New York made him that way. The more time I spend with Zan... the more I believe that nothing will happen to Max. I really think I want to do this.� Liz finished and waited for Maria�s reaction but found Maria�s gaze locked over her shoulder. Slowly she turned to find Zan approaching.
�Just don�t start glowing in public.� Maria muttered once she realized that she had lost Liz�s attention for good. The warning bell rang. �You got study hall next, right?�
�Yeah.� Liz nodded and started off to meet Zan. Maria rolled her eyes and walked across the hall to her classroom. Liz gave him a shy smile. �Hi.�
�Yo.� His arm slipped around her waist. �Let�s bounce.�
�Hold on. We can�t leave campus now. We gotta wait until the hallway sweep is through.� Liz pulled him with her to the lounge area of West Roswell high. �I have some questions.�
�Yo, I thought I answered �em all.� He reluctantly followed her to a couch. When the people already there wouldn�t scoot down, she pushed Zan down onto the couch and sat on his lap.
�I�ve got more.� She leaned in to whisper in his ear. �Last night I started glowing.�
�Cool.�
�Cool? That�s all you have to say?� Liz absently adjusted her skirt, meeting the hand that rested on her thigh in the process. Zan captured her hand and turned his head to hers.
�For now. I�ll explain what I can but we cain�t do that here if people are as nosy as you say they are.� His breath puffed against her ear as he talked. Liz�s eyes fluttered closed as she felt his eyes rake over her body. She felt as if she were just sitting on his lap, nude, no cargo skirt that she had made herself, no sweater that she had taken a pair of scissors to, no boots with their three-inch heels. Their joined hands rubbed her bare thigh as he continued to breathe in her ear.
�You�re going to explain?�
�Yeah, when we finish what we started.�
�Finish... what... yeah. I�m sorry about leaving you out there.� Liz tilted her head at him. Zan just shrugged. He started to rise off the couch but Liz didn�t move. Instead, her mouth came down on his, finding his compliant with her wishes she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Their mouths gnashed and clicked for several long moments. They would have kept kissing had it not been for the catcalls from guys in the surrounding area.
�You got wheels?� Zan got to his feet, setting Liz on hers.
�Yeah.� She nodded, pulling her skirt down.
�Good. Let�s bounce before you start glowing again.�
--
Liz sank onto the old mattress and pulled him down beside her. �So explain.�
�I�ll show you.� Zan pulled her close and gently rubbed his lips over hers. �No talkin�, just feel.�
�Uh-huh.� Her fingers twined in the long hair at the back of his head as she allowed him to push her onto her back, their mouths never losing contact. Zan slid a hand under her upper body and let the other one come to rest on her thigh. Liz welcomed the invasion of his tongue into her mouth. She had stopped paying attention to the flashes she was getting from him. She clutched his shirt tight in her fist.
They both felt how her body was heating up and felt the glow emanating from deep within her body. It was coming to a peak. Liz knew something was supposed to happen but it was as if some sort of barrier was holding back a floodgate.
�Let go.� Zan rasped against her mouth. At first she thought he meant to let go of him but his grip on her body tightened. It was then that Liz realized she was feeling two sides to her emotions and urges: a human side and a different side. The latter felt restrained while the former was out of control. He pulled her tighter against his body. �Let go, Liz.�
Liz closed her eyes and suddenly found herself hanging from a bridge. Fog surrounded her and barred both ends of the bridge from view. Her grip on the bridge tightened until she heard Zan�s voice again telling her to let go. Taking a deep breath and saying a quick prayer, she let go.
Zan kept an eye on her as the struggle inside her went on. He slid a leg between hers, wrapping his leg around one of hers. Gently he moved the hand she had buried in his hair, clasping it tightly in his own. He was bracing them both for what was to come.
Liz kept falling and the longer it took the calmer she became. Odors hit her nostrils. Wet, warm scent of... something she couldn�t quite place. Whatever it was, Liz was sure she could stand in it forever and hope it never stopped... like rain. This was different though. �You smell like green rain.� She remembered Zan telling her that. Then the image became a reality. Liz landed on a sandy beach with a green ocean and green rain falling from the sky. Then another smell met her nostrils. Ozone. Not like Earth�s rainstorms, this was different.
Zan studied her face. She looked beautiful in this relaxed state. He knew the relaxation wouldn�t last but it was comforting for the moment. He had never witnessed something like this before but he knew what to do. He had to keep her from going into shock once she admitted what was going on inside her head and body. Then it would be finished.
Different wasn�t the right word, Liz decided. Being the true scientist she was, she used a term that many connotations attached to it. Admit it, Liz. The place she found herself in and enjoying was a place completely alien to her. Completely... Alien...
Zan held on tight as Liz�s body fell into a spastic paralysis. He knew she couldn�t move of her own volition but her muscles clenched and unclenched of their own accord as she accepted what she was. He didn�t want to look into her face but he couldn�t help it. Her eyes had rolled back in her head and her mouth hung open. Finally the tremors subsided, ceased, and he loosened his grip on her body.
Kneeling above her he watched her carefully but her chest wouldn�t rise and fall, as it should. Just as he resigned himself to try and heal her, Liz sat up. She gasped for air and her hand shot out to grip his arm tightly. Her eyes ran wildly around the area. Finally they locked on his amber eyes, she calmed and her breathing regulated. Her world fell back into place around her.
Liz remembered where she was. She was in the old soap factory with Zan. They had gone with the intention, she thought, to have sex. Instead, he had awakened something hidden deep inside her. While she knew what everything looked like, it was like seeing it for the first time. The old musty smell seemed to be fresher somehow, as if she had never smelled it before although she knew she had.
�You ok?� he asked softly. His harsh voice was music. She looked him over. He was absolutely beautiful. His skin beneath her hand was perfect.
�Yeah, I�m fine.� Liz whispered. Even her own voice sounded slightly different in her own ears. �That was just... wow.�
�You sure?� Zan raised an eyebrow at her. Then suddenly he felt like a meal. Her eyes raked him over from half-mast.
Liz nodded and took a deep breath; picking up his scent, his totally male scent, it was intoxicating. Her hand touched his face, his eyebrow piercing, the stud that ran just under his full lips, his goatee, light stubble, through his hair that stood up off his head. Wrapping her arms around him, she took his mouth, seeking entrance to his mouth with her tongue. Zan obliged her and followed her body back onto the mattress. The taste of the metal in both their mouths drove her crazy, as if it was something that she never knew she was going without all her life. She slid her legs around his waist, drawing him down on top of her. �I am absolutely sure about everything.�
�What do you want?�
�Everything but right now I�ll settle for just you.� Liz moaned as his hands trailed over her body, caressing and squeezing her curves. She felt as if a fire had been ignited inside her body. She didn�t even have to think about it. She was ready to dive into whatever it was she had with Zan.
�How do you want it?� He rasped against her neck then ran his tongue along her throat. A shiver ran through her body. Zan could feel her heat through his jeans, and her underwear. Just the knowledge that he would be deep inside her caused him to harden, not to mention he would be her first since her transformation.
�Hard, fast and right now.� Liz whimpered as she ran her hands down his body, obliterating his clothes before she concentrated on her own.
�You learning fast.� He slid down her body, burning kisses down her chest and between her breasts. She just tasted so sweet, that mixed with the metal taste always present in his mouth made an unbelievably hot combination.
�I�ve always been pretty smart.� She licked her lips and waited for his mouth to close around one of her already hardened nipples. She cried out when he sucked her tender flesh so far into his mouth that it touched his tongue piercing. Her back arched up, mashing their lower bodies together. Her damp curls pressed against him, soaking him with her heat.
They were both becoming impatient as they rubbed their bodies together to ease the ache. Liz snaked a hand down between them to stroke his impressive erection. Zan�s hand clenched her ass at the contact, bringing her closer if at all possible.
His body had been screaming for her since he first laid eyes on her. The ache had started from their close call behind the old soap factory. Now he was filled with fire. Everywhere their bodies touched, burned.
Liz latched her mouth onto his neck as she worked at his body, one hand still stroking his engorged member and the other teasing his nipple, lightly tugging at his piercing. His hisses and groans drove her to keep up her torture until he gave up on his.
Finally, as if in silent mutual agreement, they stopped the torture. Zan shifted between her legs. Their eyes locked as he slid into her hot wet center. Once fully sheathed, the feeling of completion was overwhelming for them both.
He pulled out and pushed back in, soon starting a rhythm that her body responded to. Her hands slipped through his arms, clutching onto his back, keeping the contact as full as possible. He fixed his hands on her thighs, squeezing with every thrust. He steadily worked up to the speed and force his body was demanding. The old tired mattress did nothing to cushion her body as his weight pressed her down into it.
Liz cried out when he reached the ferocity she wanted. Hard and fast was exactly what she wanted, what her body wanted. She let her eyes close to enjoy the sweet pounding of his throbbing cock deep into her body. The pleasure built and rose until she thought she might explode into a thousand pieces. She tightened her body in anticipation. His groan was the only preamble to the last round of frantic thrusting before they were both overwhelmed with orgasm.
Zan let out an animalistic growl as Liz scraped her nails down his back. Her mouth opened in a silent cry, and just let the sensations wash through her body. With her eyes closed, she felt Zan�s collapse on top of her after his release inside her. Her breathing returned to normal just as he rolled off her. Liz wanted to open her eyes but she was just so exhausted that she slipped right into sleep. Not even the chill on her skin as their combined sweat dried on her body brought her any discomfort.
--
Max rolled his eyes. This was ridiculous. �Obviously I�m the only one thinking of the well being of my people. Khivar has them enslaved but that can be rectified without me leaving this planet.�
�How�s that?� It was Nicholas� turn to roll his eyes.
�Tell Khivar to turn control of the Antarians over to Larek.�
�You�re not serious.� Larek protested. �Max, come on.�
�I trust you.� Max insisted. �This is the best that I can offer you at this point in time. Khivar must back down or else all our peoples are doomed to misery.�
�Khivar will never go for that.� Nicholas shook his head.
�Well, you seem pretty sure of yourself. You�re stuck here just like me.� Max sat up.
�Your sister and brother-in-law have brought some acceptable offers to the table.� Nicholas nodded to each in turn. �They are willing to go with Khivar�s plan.�
�They can if that�s what they want but I won�t.�
�Max?� Tess whispered. Max motioned for her to be quiet.
�How sad is it to be betrayed by your family twice in two lifetimes?� Max stared down at his hands. �Sometimes it helps to remember the first to protect yourself against the second.�
�What are you saying?� Sero leaned forward.
�That I strip Vilandra and Rathard of their authority. They can make all the deals they want but I won�t back them up.�
�What if they give us the location of the Granilith?� Hanar asked, eyeing the pair fuming behind Max.
�They can�t.� Max met each leader�s eye. �Tess and I are the only two with knowledge of its location.�
�I see you have wizened up, cousin.� Larek smirked and shook his head.
�If I don�t watch my back, no one else will.� Max stood up. �Nicholas. When I leave here, will you send someone to kill me? I was told that I could expect today to be the last day of the Summit.�
�What?� Three others snapped their head around to face Nicholas.
�We will have one more week to finalize our decisions.� Kathana growled. �These things take time to work out.�
�You have no right to make threats. The purpose of this meeting is peace.� Larek brought a hand to his forehead. �I will accept Max�s offer. I will protect what I can of Antar in his absence.�
�Khivar will never allow it.� Nicholas shook his head.
�After the way he stabbed me in the back, he had better.� Max sat down.
�You don�t know who you�re dealing with.� The child-like leader sat back in his chair.
�You tell Khivar that he doesn�t know who he�s dealing with. I know more than he thinks I do about what went on in the weeks before I died.� Max took a deep breath. �I will not air my family�s dirty laundry here but he will know what I�m talking about.�
�He won�t like this.�
�He won�t like this? He killed me, took my throne and enslaved my people. Don�t tell me he won�t listen to what I have to say.� Max stood up and motioned for Tess to follow. �You arrange for he and I to speak directly to each other or no progress will be made on that end of our deal. I am going sight seeing. I�ve never been to New York before.�
--
Liz woke up with a pang in her stomach. She was starving. Slowly she sat up, savoring her aching muscles and new awareness of self. While she still didn�t understand what had happened to her before she had made love to Zan, she accepted it as if she had always been the way she had just become.
�Bout time you woke up. I thought I had fucked you to death.� Zan whispered. She knew his choice of words should have upset her but the way he said them didn�t match the derogatory connotations usually associated with them.
�How long was I out?� Liz lowered her eyelids, hoping he didn�t notice how she was looking over his naked body beside her. The Antarians sure knew how to pick out human genes; Human perfection lay next to her in the form of rippling muscles and just plain gorgeousness. Zan was a truly beautiful specimen of a being.
�A while. You okay?�
�Yeah, I feel great.� She raised her arms over her head and stretched, falling back beside him and rolling onto her stomach. She was perfectly comfortable with her naked state. So much had changed for her in the past two weeks, most of which had occurred that morning. �What have you been doing while I was asleep?�
�Watchin� you sleep and ignorin� your snorin�.� He smirked and rolled onto his side to face her.
�I do not snore.� Liz protested.
�Yo, check it. I did this.� Zan lifted her hair from her neck to reveal a small butterfly wearing a crown.
�I can�t see it.�
�Then look at it later.� Then he slid his hand down her back, rubbing her bare ass for a moment before pointing to a mark on her outer thigh. �That�s my mark. See.� He turned his wrist in so she could see the mark near the crook of his elbow. �I�m the only one who uses it.�
�So you�ve been tattooing me in my sleep?� She gave him a wry grin.
�I wanted to do something else but you was asleep and I ain�t that kinky.� Zan sat up and fended off her swats. �So you�ve experienced two biological instinctual acts...�
�Being?� Liz sat up and drew her knees up to her chest, shielding herself without looking like she was trying to do that.
�First there was the reaction to a male to which you were attracted to. Then came the need to sleep.�
�Now, we eat.� She blushed as her stomach growled. She scrambled to her feet. �Let�s go.�
�Hold on a minute.�
�What?�
�As much as I�m enjoyin� the view...� Zan rocked backward and jumped to his feet. �I don�t want anyone else enjoyin� it.� Without even a wave of his hand and clothes appeared on his body. �You�d get arrested walkin� round like that.�
�Right.� Liz willed clothes back over her body without even a second thought. �There. Now. Let�s go.�
--
Maria looked up when she saw Liz enter the Crashdown and sit down on Zan�s lap at the crowded counter. What really caught her attention was the way that Liz was sitting on his lap. �So that�s why she wasn�t at school.�
�What?� Michael squinted at Maria over the walk-up window.
�Nothing.�
�You said something. What did you say?� Michael glared at her.
�I said nothing but if you would like to know... Liz is here... with Zan.� She gestured over her shoulder.
�What the hell is she doing with him? Is that legal?� Michael pointed.
�What?� Maria turned around to find a sight she wished that she could spare herself. Liz and Zan were playing a fierce game of tonsil hockey at the counter. �Oh god... I can�t believe her.�
�What? I mean besides the disgusting PDA in progress.� Michael shoved two plates over the sill.
�They did it. She went and she did it. And with him.� She ranted at him. �I�ll bet they�ve been at it all day.�
�Who says? It�s four o�clock. She could have gone to him after school, done the deed and then come here.�
�Like you said... it�s four. They wouldn�t have had time.�
�Half an hour. That�s plenty of time.�
�Not to do it well.� She glared at him. �I�m serious. If... big if... if we ever reach that point it had better not be less than half an hour to get started, do it and recover.� Michael rolled his eyes after her swift departure.
Zan pulled Liz as close as he could, seeing as she was already straddling his legs and kissing him senseless. His hands caressed her thighs on either side of him. Liz�s mouth left his to burn down the side of his throat. His hand whipped out and caught Maria by the arm. �Yo, she�s hungry.�
�Obviously.� She tried to pull away.
�Yo, just get her what she likes. Ain�t you her friend or somethin�?�
�Liz, babe. Please tell me that I am not a witness to your total break down.� Maria pleaded.
Liz stopped kissing on Zan and looked over at Maria. �Trust me, I�m not breaking down. I feel absolutely fabulous. Could you just get us a couple of burgers with extra jalapenos and... Ooh, some of Jose�s fried burritos?� She turned to Zan. �What did you want?�
�Same thing.� He shrugged.
�So two burgers and two burritos.� Maria shook her head.
�No, Maria. That�s total four burgers and four burritos.� Liz corrected. �Oh! And cake.�
�We worked us up an appetite.�
�Whatever.� Maria jotted down their order and walked off to tack it to the board. �Michael... this is really serious. We need Max here.�
�You are a genius. Why didn�t I think of that before?� He deadpanned and handed the order sheet to Jose.
�Can�t Isabel do the dream walky thingie?� Maria pleaded.
�Don�t you think she�s tried that? She does it every night and every night nothing. He�s too far away.� Michael turned away so he could throw some meat on the stove. �I think he�s blocking her out too.�
�You can do that?� Maria furrowed her brow. �Wow, wish someone had mentioned that sooner because I stopped sleeping for a week because I thought she would kill me in my dreams.�
�How�s it going Michael?� Jeff Parker suddenly appeared at the young man�s side.
�I�m doing good. No problem, boss.�
�That�s good.� Jeff patted the fry cook on the back. �Maria, have you seen Liz? She was supposed to come straight home after school.�
�Um...� Maria tried to think of some way to keep him out of the dining area but he had already glanced over her head.
Several alarms went off in his head for several different reasons.
1) His daughter was wearing clothing that barely covered areas that needed to be covered.
2) There was a tattoo on his daughter�s thigh.
3) There was a strange guy touching and kissing his daughter in ways that shouldn�t be done in public.
4) She wasn�t fighting him.
5) The tattoo was a marking of property belonging to the King of Antar.
6) The strange guy was the King of Antar.
7) One more thing... he could swear his daughter had been awakened.
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