Part 19 - After Shocks

Dagmar looked at Valenti. "Thank you for helping to protect them, Sheriff. I know how much you've risked and sacrificed to protect them."

Valenti shook his head. "They gave me back my son. I owe them more than I can ever repay."

"You don't give yourself enough credit, Sheriff. It's made my job much easier, knowing that you were watching over them. I can only imagine that Rath and Lonnie were contacted by the Skins and they convinced them to turn on the others for the power and hopes of going home."

"I can't believe I caused all that," Isabel whispered. "I am so sorry."

"Enough," said Alex as he held her. "First of all, that was Vilandra, not you. I thought we'd been through all this." Isabel looked at him. "I don't care about all this past life crap. You're Isabel Evans, not some Vilandra. And secondly, it wasn't Vilandra's fault. She didn't have any control over what happened. It was Kivar. Think about it, Izzy. What did Vilandra feel and think when she came out of it?"

"My first thought was how sorry I was. I wanted to die if it would bring back Aveen," Isabel whispered.

"See," Alex said. "Vilandra was all about love, love for her family. Just like you. She would never have willingly betrayed the people she loved, and neither would you."

Isabel looked at Alex gratefully, then saw how Max and Michael were still refusing to look at her. She started crying again. Alex held her close as she let out her tears.

Michael looked down at his hands. He closed his eyes, and thought again about killing Pierce. Be honest with yourself, Tymrath. Michael. It was so easy to kill him. You enjoyed being able to end his pathetic miserable life. How dare he try to hurt your family? You can try to tell everybody that you only did what you had to, but you know deep down that you wanted to do it. Just like you wanted to kill....... Maria interrupted his thoughts when she gingerly placed her hand on his arm.

"Michael," she said gently.

Michael just looked at her for a second, then turned and ran out of the house. Maria stood there for a second. "Oh, no, you don't, buster. Not again." Maria followed him.

-------------------------------------------------------

Dagmar came over and crouched down in front of Tess. "How are you?"

"Who am I? I'm not one of you," she whispered.

"Yes, you are," Dagmar said gently. "You still belong with the others. Max, Michael, and Isabel will need you in the battles to come. And even if you aren't Aveen, you are one of ours. You're from our world and you're one of our people."

"And you're part of our family," Valenti said. Tess turned to look at him gratefully. "Kyle and I couldn't manage without you anymore."

"In some ways, things will be easier for you now," Dagmar continued, looking at Max.

Tess nodded. "What do we do now, Max?" she asked.

Max looked at her. "I don't know!" he exploded. "Why are you still asking me what to do?" He looked around desperately. "I'm not worthy to be the leader. I'm not worthy to be the king." He turned and addressed Dagmar. "You know what I did. I had my own sister killed. My actions led to the downfall of our whole planet. Everything I've done has led to more and more deaths." He finished by looking at Liz, who was just staring at him silently. Then he turned and ran out the door.

"Well, that's certainly productive," Dagmar muttered. "Liz, go after him."

"I can't," she protested. "I have no right to go after him."

"Of course you do," he said impatiently. "You're his teela-mei. You have every right."

Liz looked at him, then chased after Max.

Tess just sat there on the couch, between Dagmar and Valenti.

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