Chapter 9

Davidson Residence, 22:00

After jumping roof to roof, Max and Liz brought Tess to Isabel’s roof that they jumped off of to land in her back garden. Fortunately it was so dark that nobody saw them on their approach. Inside the house, Isabel and Michael picked up on their presence and Isabel went to unlock the back door to let them in.

“What happened?” Isabel asked.

“Nacedo tried to attack her,” Max said.

“Tried to attack?” Michael asked as he approached.

“There was this ... raven. I thought it was one of you,” Tess said.

“No, we’re cats,” Max said. “As you might have guessed from our faces.”

On that, as Tess looked at both Max and Liz, their faces changed back to humans and they lost their feline features. Tess just blinked as she watched it happen before her.

“Besides, if there were any Fliers in town, dad would know about it,” Liz said. “What made you think it was one of us?”

“You mean aside from the timing? When ... it went after Nacedo, I heard this voice in my head. It told me to run,” Tess said.

“You don’t think...” Isabel asked as she looked at the others.

“It could be,” Max said. “More being in Roswell makes sense.”

“What?” Tess asked.

“Chimera. We found out that Isabel’s parents were another Lycanthrope tribe that we knew nothing about called the Chimera,” Liz said.

“Chimera?” Tess asked with recognition.

“What is it?” Max asked.

“When I asked Nacedo to fill me in on what was happening to me and told me about the Rulan ... that’s our word for Lycanthropes. He told me about a group of Rulan who had the ability to become all the animals of our world, he called them the Chi’emera,” Tess said.

“That’s pretty close,” Isabel said.

“Another coincidence?” Michael asked Max.

“That’s too many coincidences,” Max said while he looked at Liz who nodded, the more they learned about Antarian Lycanthropes the more they found they were similar. Not only in their creation myth, but now also a tribe with similar names and if the statue in the basement and the information in the chronicle they discovered was any indication, then they had similar abilities with regard to their changes.

“We need to find these people,” Liz said.

“Yeah but how?” Michael asked.

Liz shrugged.

“Well, I have a couch if you want to spend the night,” Isabel said.

“I thought you had an extra bedroom?” Tess asked.

“That’s mine now,” Michael said.

“No I mean...” Tess immediately stopped herself from saying it but it was too late.

“That’s my parent’s room. No one sleeps in there,” Isabel said almost biting Tess’s head off.

“Easy Iz,” Max said.

“Yeah ... sorry,” Isabel said.

“So am I,” Tess said. “Couch is great ... unless I can convince someone to give up their bed?” she looked at Michael with a smile.

“Hell no, that bed is a lot more comfortable than that slab at the trailer park. I’m not giving it up now,” Michael said.

“Oh I think I know of a more comfortable bed,” Liz said.

“Oh yeah, where?” Michael asked.

“Maria’s,” Liz said.

Michael rubbed the back of his neck and started to look away.

“Maria? You mean that friend of yours that showed up with the killer hairdo at school today?” Tess asked and turned to Michael, “I thought you two looked good together.”

“See Michael, even the new girl gets that faster than you do,” Max said with a smile.

“And Maria too,” Liz said.

“How is Maria?” Michael asked. He had been curious all day after only seeing her here and there around school and he had to admit there was a deep yearning in his soul to be near her.

Liz looked into his eyes and saw the spark there, she smiled, “Well, she is in love with you ... took her a while to admit it.”

“She ... she is?” Michael asked.

“And so are you,” Liz said.

“I am?” Michael asked, everyone stared at him as he looked at each one of them in turn, “I am,” he admitted.

Liz blinked, “That was easy.”

“Yeah,” Max said.

“You call that easy?” Michael asked.

“Compared to what it took to get Maria to say it ... yeah,” Liz said.

“Aghrrrrrrr ... okay, well then I’m the better person. I can admit it without fuss,” Michael said with a smug look on his face.

Everyone else looked at each other. “Oh boy,” they all said.

“This could get very interesting,” Tess said.

“You don’t know the half of it,” Liz said.

After a while Michael decided to pay a visit to his mate and let Tess have his room for the night. As he slipped out, Max went to his house next door as Liz changed into her animan body and ran through the streets to her home. Isabel showed Tess to Michael’s room and let her borrow some of her old sleepwear that she didn’t bother with. As the shorter blonde slipped into the bed she had a sense of security that she hadn’t felt before.

Tess slept soundly that night although her thoughts reached out and connected with Isabel’s. They shared the same dream, they saw a room in the Antarian palace and in the silk adorned bed they watched as two women made love to each other. The closer they moved to the bed the girls saw that it was themselves. Neither felt any confusion at what they were seeing; in fact as they watched themselves in bed they felt at peace.

Upon Michael’s arrival at the Deluca household, his heart beat a thousand times faster. Maria came out of her room and felt the exact same thing as her blood pulled her toward her mate. Amy was the one who opened the door and could only stand to the side as the two teens came to each other. Amy smiled as Michael picked Maria up in his arms and started to carry her to her bedroom, kissing her as they went. That was when Amy decided to turn in herself, she remembered doing that exact same thing years ago before her mate turned to a Wild Pack.

Living Room, Parker Residence, 23:00

Liz arrived home and changed back into her human form before she started to climb the stairs into her home. As she reached the door Liz felt a slight headache but it passed as she entered. She found her parents sitting and relaxing by the window.

“Hey honey. How was your night?” Jeff asked.

“Well, it was interesting,” Liz said.

“How so?” Nancy asked.

“Well, we think there is another Chimera in town,” Liz said.

“What?” they asked, which was rapidly becoming the favoured question of late.

“Tess was saved tonight by a big raven that told her to run. There aren’t any Fliers that have recently arrived in town are there?” Liz asked.

“No. The only one was with the Council and she left with the others,” Jeff said.

“Well then there is something around then and it’s probably Chimera,” Liz said as she rubbed her head.

“You okay?” Jeff asked.

“Yeah, just a headache,” Liz said. “Anyway, there has to be a way to track this thing?”

“Not by any way we know. We’ve always done our tracking like animals in the wild, scent, sight and hearing. But a creature that can mask its scent ... if we can’t smell a difference between them and normal animals then it could blend in completely. We can’t see it or hear it,” Jeff said.

“Mmmm ... this is impossible,” Liz said. “How am I supposed to lead a pride and save the world if I can’t even find one person?”

“Only time can answer that one. Speaking of your pride...” Nancy said.

“Tess. Max and I are discussing how to turn her while still making sure that this isn’t some sort of elaborate plan of hers and Nacedo’s. For all we know this could be what they both want instead of it just being Nacedo’s plan,” Liz said.

“I thought you trusted her?” Nancy asked.

“I do ... sort of. I want to but I just need to be sure,” Liz said.

“In that case why not let Michael do the honours,” Jeff said.

Liz looked up, “Hey,” she said with a smile, “I know he wouldn’t complain.”

“No doubt,” Jeff said. “But I wasn’t referring to Tess. She’s the only other alien ... but number eight?”

“Still no idea who it is,” Liz said. “I guess it could be a human. Dr. Mallory said that the life forms in Max’s blood could pass it on ... but only one in five hundred million humans? Needle in haystack much. How am I supposed to find that guy? That’ll be even rarer than a Chimera.”

Liz rubbed her head again. She decided to get a glass of water and stood up to walk to the kitchen. That was when she felt dizzy and fell to the floor. Her parents jumped up and ran to their daughter, only to stop midway as they saw her body. From her exposed skin, Liz’s veins were glowing. It was as though her blood had become luminous and as a result her veins could easily be seen from the blood red light.

Then everything in the room started to levitate a few feet off of where they were resting. Jeff and Nancy looked around at everything as their daughter looked up. The chronicle they had found in Isabel’s basement levitated over. In her head Liz saw the language used by all the lycanthropic tribes. The symbols floated around in her field of vision like disjointed animations.

“Liz?” Jeff said.

“Aghhhhhhh...” Liz cried out and then everything stopped.

The symbols vanished, her blood stopped glowing and everything that was up in the air fell back down.

“Liz, are you alright?” Nancy asked.

“Yeah,” Liz said as she picked up the chronicle and opened the pages. Now, in addition to the text she was seeing smaller letters, “Wow.”

“Liz?” her mother asked.

“What’s a ... Narada?” Liz asked.

“How’d you know that word?” Jeff asked.

“Because it’s written here,” Liz said.

“Liz, we’ve been all the way through that book. The Narada isn’t mentioned,” Nancy said.

“It is now,” Liz said.

Jeff and Nancy looked at the book but they couldn’t see anything different. “Liz ... there’s nothing new there,” Jeff said.

“You mean you can’t see it?” Liz asked.

“See what?” Jeff asked.

“This ... the writing. It’s literally written in between the lines of the old stuff,” Liz said.

Her parents still couldn’t see it.

“So? What’s Narada?” Liz asked.

“Narada is a term that hasn’t been used in a long time. In fact it’s as much a myth to us as we are to humanity,” Nancy said.

“Basically it’s tied to the creation story. The big blue star. It goes that it chose the best of human kind and remade them as Lycanthropes,” Jeff said. “But the other part of the story is that to a few of those who changed, their offspring were fully human and not Lycanthropes. When those children reached puberty, well according to the stories they were cast out of the sanctuary, or they willingly left ... it’s not exactly clear. They supposedly stayed nearby as protectors to the path to the Sanctuary.”

“Oh god,” Liz said.

“What?” Jeff asked.

“Genetic rejection,” Liz said.

“What?” he asked.

“Um ... think about it like this, it’s like when a person has an organ transplant. There is a chance that the body would reject the organ but in this case, from the sound of it, their bodies rejected the Lycanthrope DNA,” Liz said. “The more and more I hear that creation myth it sounds like we’re talking about genetic manipulation. Changing human DNA so that it becomes Lycanthropic.”

“The Narada are born of Lycanthropes but they are human. After thousands of years...” Nancy pondered.

“Even after all this time they could still carry the DNA markers from the original Lycanthropes that were changed. Max, Isabel and Michael could change him the same way as I did for them. It’ll just be a matter of strengthening what’s already there,” Liz said.

“We still need to find them. Unless Tess is destined to mate with a Rakas you’ve yet to meet but from the way you’re describing this then...” Nancy said.

“We’re not talking about gods ... we’re talking about somesort of aliens. Thousands of years ago to anyone around at that time, beings with that kind of power could have seemed like gods. Great, just when things calm down ... grrrrr,” Liz said. “Okay, if he shows up he shows up. I’m not going to go all out to find these Narada but the Chimera ... those guys I have a few words for.”

Outside...

Flat against the brick wall against the high window into the living room, Larallen Ho’rus was there. He was floating, there was nothing beneath his feet as he listened in and pressed his glowing hand against the brick.

“Good Liz, good girl,” he said as his hand stopped glowing. When it did, Liz’s headache stopped but the new symbols in the book rippled across the pages and became visible to everyone.

Larallen floated down to the ground and hid in the darkness as he pulled out a green glass cube. He held it in his hand and he focused on the device that then started to glow.

“Report 3-4-1. As indicated by previous research, Liz Parker is progressing. Her new Antarian abilities are emerging thanks to the infusion of energy from Max and as expected it has activated the dormant knowledge in her mind. Without any lessons, she knows the words of her people. Out of curiosity of her status I used my abilities to access her emerging ones. I projected information onto the pages of the Chronicle that should eventually lead her to Philip Evans as well as data on the Narada,” he said.

A noise off further down the alley caused the ancient being to look up and put the cube away. Soon he was engulfed with light and vanished.

Alex’s Bedroom, Whitman Residence, 06:50 The Next Morning

As Alex slept soundly in his warm and toasty bed, his new kitten and companion pushed his head against the door to the bedroom and pushed it open. The little black cat walked over to the bed and looked up.

“Meow.”

There was no answer so he jumped up onto the bed and felt the softness under his paws. The kitten trotted up and walked over Alex until he was at Alex’s face.

“Meow.”

Still nothing. Alex was not planning on waking up any time soon so the kitten rolled onto his back and pressed against Alex. He purred away contently as part of him disappeared under Alex’s duvet. The warmth called to the kitten and could have stayed there all day sleeping. Alex felt the kitten press against him and woke up. He looked down at the black fur ball and smiled then yawned loudly,

“Hey little cat ... I guess I should start thinking of names for you. Any ideas?” Alex said.

“Meow.”

“I’m not calling you Meow. Oh I know ... you look like a Jack ... no ... a Jake. Jake,” Alex said.

“Meeeeeeeooowwwwww...”

“Okay Jake, I’m going for a shower,” Alex said.

He slipped out from under the duvet and the kitten stayed there, well almost. Where Alex had been laying the kitten moved over it to get the heat. Alex shook his head at the little cat. He could have sworn that the kitten was smiling as he purred away. Alex disappeared into the bathroom for his shower.

10 Minutes Later...

Alex came back into his bedroom to see the kitten curled up onto a ball on one of Alex’s pillows with another almost pulled completely over him.

“Well ... okay,” Alex said, just accepting the situation.

Alex dressed and headed out. He went to the kitchen and poured himself some cereal and then poured some milk over it. At the dinning table he started to tuck in when all of a sudden he heard Jake climbing up his chair, and then himself. The next thing Alex knew was that there were a couple of paws and a head hanging over his shoulder. Alex looked to his side and the kitten looked up at him.

“Meow.”

The kitten turned back and looked at the bowl, he swiped his paws out to try to reach to the milk. Alex smiled and put down his spoon, he picked Jake off his shoulder and carried him through to the kitchen and rested him on the worktop. Alex rummaged through the cupboards and found a small bowl that he put in front of Jake before he took out some milk. Soon Jake was lapping away and Alex stroked his head before he went back to his own breakfast.

It didn’t take Jake long to finish the milk and as soon as he was done he started running around like a nutcase. Alex just sat back and watched him, he couldn’t help but smile but as Jake aimed straight for the curtain Alex jumped up. Jake had latched his claws into the fabric and started climbing up but Alex pulled him off.

“Oh no you don’t. Trust me, mom is not very forgiving of shredded curtains. If you don’t tell her you were up that far I wont,” Alex said.

Jake looked up at Alex and reached out a paw, scraping it on the underside of Alex’s nose, “Meow.”

“Morning Alex, you’re up early,” his mother said.

“Mom,” Alex said, suddenly startled as he turned around.

“Scare you?” she asked.

“Little bit. Dad up?” Alex said as he stroked Jake.

“Yeah, he’s in the shower just now. So how’s our little friend today?” she asked.

“Jake’s fine,” Alex said.

“Jake? Nice. Have you fed him yet?” she asked.

“Little bit of milk,” Alex said.

“Alex...” his mother said.

“I know, he needs a proper breakfast,” Alex said. “That’s coming up. Come on Jake.”

Alex carried Jake through and picked up a small tin off kitten food that his father picked up on his way home last night. He dished out the food and left Jake to eat it as he returned to the living room.

“So have you thought about what you’re going to do with him today? You can’t leave him here alone while we’re at work and you can’t take him to school,” she asked.

“I was thinking about asking the Parkers. I mean technically Jake is a part of the pride and it’s Mr Parker’s job to look out for the pride members,” Alex said with a smile.

“Alex ... doesn’t exactly work that way but if you ask he’ll probably say yes,” his mother said as Jake brushed up against her leg, “He eats really fast ... reminds me of you.”

“Why thank you,” Alex said.

“Go on, start the day, you have your room to clean up before school and I have my own stuff to do,” She said.

Alex picked Jake up and carried the kitten into his bedroom. He proceeded to straighten up his room before he went on with the rest of the day.

Crashdown, 1 Hour Later

There was still some time before the café opened that day so everyone decided it was a good place to meet. They had a lot to discuss, especially Tess’s induction to their little group. When Liz relayed her parents’ suggestion, Michael smiled and so did Maria when she added her own suggestion of her aiding in the seduction.

When Alex arrived, Jake was in toe. The kitten jumped off him and landed onto the table, Jake immediately loved all the attention he was getting as Liz and Maria stroked and scratched behind his ears. He rolled over and Isabel immediately scratched his belly.

“He’s so cute,” Maria said.

“Where’d you find him?” Liz asked.

“Actually he found me, out in Fraser Woods,” Alex said. “You know ... I swear he’s smiling.”

“What you think humans are the only ones that smile?” Michael asked.

“No, but then if you’re any indication...” Alex said. “So, what’s with the meeting?”

“This,” Liz said as she focused on the pen in front of her. In seconds it was floating in mid air and soon started to spin around. It was slow at first, its end simply moving horizontally around on its axis.

Everyone watched it; eventually it started moving faster and faster. As Liz focused, she lost herself in this until the pen was a blur as it span around.

“Liz,” Max said.

“Liz,” Isabel repeated.

She wasn’t able to get her attention either.

“LIZ,” Everyone called out.

Liz snapped out of it and the pen went flying through the air until it was buried almost two inches into the wall across from them.

“Wow,” Maria said.

“No kidding,” Michael said as he turned back to look at Liz who was rubbing her head, “You okay?”

“Yeah ... headache ... it’s gone,” Liz said as she looked up.

“I guess we need to teach you control,” Isabel said.

“Please do,” Liz said.

“I remember when we started to use our powers and went overboard,” Max said.

“Yeah talk about strain. I don’t think I could lift anything for nearly two hours,” Michael said.

“So you can use their powers now?” Maria asked.

“Yes, and ... well...” Liz stammered out.

“There might be the possibility that you and Alex could use them as well,” Max said.

“Way cool,” Maria said. “When?”

“Don’t know. Could be a while, could be tomorrow,” Isabel said.

“I take it that means we could accidentally blow things up?” Alex asked.

“It’s a possibility. That’s why we’re kind of thinking about setting up lessons for you if or when the powers come out to play,” Isabel said.

“Oh, and would these possibly be private lessions?” Alex asked with a smile as he leaned over the table closer to Isabel.

Isabel also leaned over, “Maybe,” She said seductively.

“Uh guys. Children present,” Maria said as she pointed to Jake who looked at them.

Then Jake’s tail caught his attention and started to try and catch it, he moved in circles as fast as he could until he fell down dizzy.

“Yeah ... dude, your cat’s weird,” Michael said.

“He’s just playful,” Alex said as he stroked the kitten.

“And not allowed in here,” Jeff said as he entered the room.

“Sorry Mr Parker. I didn’t have anywhere else to take him ... uh I was actually wondering if you could watch him upstairs while we’re at school.”

Jake looked up at Jeff with wide eyes, “Meow.”

“Ahhhh ... if he wasn’t a companion ... okay, but he stays upstairs and Liz disinfects that table. The last thing we need is Health and Safety to make a visit,” Jeff said.

“Sure dad,” Liz said.

“I’ll be upstairs when you’re ready to bring him up,” Jeff said as he left with a clipboard with the orders he needed to make to his suppliers that day.

“So what’s next?” Isabel asked.

“There is something else you guys need to see,” Liz said as she stood up.

She went over to the drink dispenser and activated the same switch her father did when he first showed her this. She nodded to Max who pressed his hand into the back of his seat. There was a loud click and the trap door down to the Chronicle Chamber opened.

“What the hell...” Michael said as he looked around at the chamber.

“That Chronicle we found in your basement Isabel, that was only one and that belonged to the Chimera. All of this is the Rakas history. The other tribes have similar rooms,” Liz said proudly.

“So why show us this?” Michael asked.

“Because if Liz is to take us all back to Sanctuary then the answer to where it is, is in here,” Max said.

“That and one day we will be at our own gathering and we’ll all be written in the next Chronicle,” Liz said.

“Hey Liz, is this the prophecy?” Maria asked as she looked over a stone tablet.

“That’s it,” Liz said.

“It looks so ... simple,” Maria said.

“But its not,” someone said from behind them.

“Grandma!” Liz said happily as she turned to see Claudia Parker.

The two moved closer and they wrapped their arms around each other in a tight hug. “So how’s my beautiful granddaughter?”

“I’m good,” Liz said. “But what are you doing here?”

“Do you really think I wouldn’t show up for you while going through all this?” Claudia asked.

“But I changed over a month ago,” Liz said.

“I know, I’m sorry I didn’t come then but phones in the middle of the Amazon are a little hard to come by. I didn’t learn of your change until a week ago, and then there were my other duties,” Claudia said,

“Your duties? I thought you studied other cultures?” Alex asked.

“Oh that’s just my day job ... so to speak. With the Rakas I have more of a spiritual role.” Claudia said as Jake jumped out of Alex’s arms and ran over to her. The elderly woman saw the kitten and smiled as she picked him up. “Well, I see you received my gift. Which of you did he seek out?”

“Uh ... me. But gift ... you sent him?” Alex asked.

“Well he was born to my companion, Akea. I instantly knew he was meant to be here so a friend brought him to town to find where he belonged,” Claudia said as she scratched behind Jake’s ears before handing him back to Alex and then looked at Max

“So this must be the Romeo I’ve been hearing about?” Claudia asked.

“Grandma, this is Max. Max this is my grandmother.” Liz said.

“Mrs Parker,” Max said.

“Max, call me Claudia ... or at the very least Grandma since you are part of the family. Now I know what all the fuss is about,” Claudia said as she looked at her granddaughter, Liz looked away and blushed.

“Grandma, this is also Isabel and Michael,” Liz said.

“Isabel, Michael. It’s good to meet you all,” Claudia said. “Now, don’t you all have school or something?”

Everyone’s eyes went wide as they looked at their watches. They still had a little time but not much, so they had to run. Maria said hi and bye right after each other as she kissed Claudia’s cheek. The three aliens followed the girls and Alex took Jake upstairs to his kitten-sitter.

Claudia smiled as she watched them move as fast as they could. “Teenagers,” She sighed as she shook her head.

As the chamber cleared out, Claudia looked around and then closed the carved doors before sliding a massive bolt across to seal it from the inside. She moved over to the pedestal that held the prophecy tablet and turned its base 180 degrees clockwise. The stone brickwork parted, opening up an alcove in the wall. Claudia approached the alcove and pulled out a book that she kept in there. On the cover of the book was an etching of the statue in Isabel’s basement.

“Still here,” She said.

“Of course it is,” a voice whispered behind her.

“How did you get in here?” Claudia said.

“Same way I always do.”

Claudia turned around and saw Philip right behind her. She smiled as she saw him sitting on the table. “But you know you can’t be here. If Jeff came down right now...” she said.

“He won’t and you locked the door,” Philip said.

“So ... your son and my granddaughter?” Claudia said.

“Yeah,” Philip said. “And I have to admit it, they look very good together ... and their destinies are equally powerful but by the heavens, they are loud when they make love.”

“I know, well ... the destiny part at any rate. So tell me, how are the others these days?” Claudia asked.

“Pissed, to put it mildly. The kids found the first chronicle in the Davidson’s basement,” Philip said.

“Oh dear,” Claudia said. “They must love you right now.”

“You have no idea. And they were already having issues since I married Diane,” Philip said.

“Well, she is human. At least I married a Rakas,” Claudia said.

“Hell we’d both be outcasts if it wasn’t for who we’re connected to,” Philip said.

“So I was a little vocal about coming clean with the other tribes. Is that a crime?” Claudia said.

“For us, yes it is, big time. Mom always did think I listened too much to you. The others even went so far as to call you a trouble maker,” Philip said.

“Yeah I know. I was her best friend after all. Does Diane know ... you know?” Claudia said.

“No. And that’s the hardest part of all this. I know she’d be fine with it ... at least after the heart attack I’d cause if I told her ... and the screaming ... and objects heading through the air to my face,” Philip said.

“My husband was the only one who ever knew that I wasn’t a Rakas. Not even Jeff knows,” Claudia said.

“I know, but you were the one who made it possible for Liz to be born. Because you are Chimera you were able to put whatever was missing back into that family and made it possible for a girl to be born,” Philip said.

“Hmm ... still the others would never have agreed to it, they probably think that it negates the prophecy because of my ‘outside’ tampering. Okay, I’m yabbering on now ... so what do I owe the pleasure?” Claudia asked.

“I had an encounter yesterday. A visit from someone ... well someone. I need to tell you about it,” Philip said.

“Talk away,” Claudia said.

Philip then proceeded to tell the woman of his encounter with Larallen Ho’rus.

“Oh,” she said. “The others don’t know about this?”

“No. And I don’t plan on telling them. Larallen trusted me with this and I think he would trust you.”

“You’re right. I would have,” Larallen’s voice spoke from nowhere.

Both looked around and saw nothing. Philip smiled but Claudia had a hint of fear in her eyes.

“I told you I would be nearby when you needed me, I always will be. As for you Claudia, you took the mate we intended you to. Liz was always meant to be who she is,” Larallen said before fading away.

“So what do we do?” Claudia asked.

“Neither of our families knows what we are. That is going to change soon ... we both need to be ready. This time of darkness is coming,” Philip said.

“I’ve tried to chart our emigration course through the years, hoping to get even close to Sanctuary but I can’t. How is Liz meant to do it?” Claudia said.