Chapter 14

"You know Nikki, we only have two more months of school and then total freedom! Can you believe that? I want to get as far away from this town as I possibly can! How about you?" asked Kristine. When there was no response from Nikki, she frowned and looked up from her position against the gym wall.

Nikki was standing on her tip toes looking out of the window of the gym doors. This time she had convinced Kristine to wait inside the gym, claiming that it was too hot to wait outside for the boys to come. As they waited, Nikki kept looking out of the window to make sure there was no sign of the gang.

"Nikki! I swear you seem to be somewhere else lately!" Kristine huffed.

Nikki turned to look down at her, "Oh! Sorry Kris, I was just trying to keep a look out." she sat down next to her friend, "You were saying?"

Kristine rolled her eyes, "Never mind, it's obviously not important."

"Of course it's important." she wrapped her arm around Kristine's shoulder, "Come on Kris, speak to me!" she said in a mock pleading voice.

Kristine laughed, "I was just saying that when the two months of school we have left are over, I want to get out of this town. What about you?"

Nikki nodded as she looked down at the floor, "I want to leave too."

"Really? So where do you think we should go? Up north? Or east? Or how about across the ocean?" Kristine asked, with excitement in her voice.

Nikki gave a hesitant chuckle, "Well, I was sort of thinking I'd go south."

Kristine made a face, "South? What the heck is so interesting about the south? There's nothing there but road kill and dirt!"

Nikki shrugged, "Actually, there's just this one place that I've heard about and..." she stopped as she felt the brush in her mind.

With a smile she leaped to her feet as Kristine asked, "Where did you hear about this?"

Nikki didn't answer, she was already looking out of the window again, her smile now beaming. As she pushed open the doors she said, "Kris, I think you have a visitor."

That remark made Kristine completely forget about the conversation as she too was on her feet and rushing out of the doors into Zachary's arms. He laughed at the way she threw herself at him, her arms wrapping around his shoulders as he lifted her up and swung her around. When he set her down, he leaned in and captured her lips in his.

Kristine returned his kiss just as passionately as he kissed her. She had missed him and she was glad that he seemed to have missed her just as much. As they finally pulled away, Zachary gave a sigh and smiled at her, "Man, I missed you!"

Kristine giggled, "I missed you too, Zach." She hugged him again, "So, are you going to stay for a while? Or do you have to leave right away again?"

As Zachary took her hand and led her away from the school, following behind Xavier and Nikki, he said, "I'm staying for a while, I figured we need to talk."

She nodded as she fell into step besides him.

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Xavier and Nikki walked quietly in front of the other two as Kristine continued to chatter about everything that came to mind. Outwardly it seemed as if they were listening to Kristine's chatter. Inwardly, they were talking mind to mind.

Well, I guess this means Zach is here to talk to her, huh? asked Nikki.

Yes. Xavier glanced out of the corner of his eye at Nikki before he went on, I've told everyone except my father about you. Everyone is eager to meet you.

Nikki's eyes widened, They are? How did they really take the news?

He chuckled, Well, Zach knew it was gonna happen, Kegan wanted to know if we'd consummated yet, Charles just congratulated me, Evelyn wants me to be happy, and my mother is eager to start planning the wedding.


Really?

At Xavier's nod, Nikki shook her head, Your friends are funny.

Xavier arched an eyebrow, Oh really? And what exactly does that make Kris?

Nikki did her best not to burst out laughing or Kristine would think she'd lost her mind. Instead, she leaned into Xavier's side and buried her face in his chest to muffle her laughter.

As they entered the barn, Zachary gave Xavier a nod and led Kristine up to the loft. Once more Xavier felt the invisible barrier go up as he and Nikki made themselves comfortable on the hay stacks.

Xavier waited until Nikki was comfortable before taking her hand in his. He leaned in and cupped her face with his free hand, bringing her lips to his. He kissed her slowly, savoring the taste of her as he slid his tongue over her lips. She parted them, giving him access to her mouth and he greedily took her offering. He slid his hand into her hair, holding her close as he continued to ravish her mouth.

Nikki wrapped her free arm around Xavier's shoulder as she too tried to pull him closer. When he released her hand, she slid it up his chest, enjoying the way his muscles moved as she touched him. She tilted her head back and allowed him access to her neck.

As he kissed his way down her neck, stopping to suck the skin just above her pulse, Nikki curled her fingers in his hair to hold him there. Xavier wrapped both arms around her waist and pulled her into his lap, leaning her back even more to taste the skin of her throat.

Nikki wrapped both arms around his shoulders, sending both hands into his hair. She moaned when she felt his lips travel down the v of her shirt teasing the exposed flesh there. Nikki could feel her skin heating up again. She knew they were approaching dangerous heights again, but she couldn't stop him.

Xavier felt her begin to rock against his hips and he growled against her collarbone as he felt her widen her thighs, allowing her to rub her heat against him. Tightening his hold on her hips, he helped her grind against him.

Nikki lowered her cheek to the top of his head, trying to find a way to cool herself down. "Dimo agalo, idi kine' esu!"

Xavier moaned at her words. He needed her too. His entire being was roaring at him to claim her, devour her. It was his right to make her his. He slid his hands underneath her shirt and slid it up, exposing her skin.

As he twisted slightly, he began lowering her to the hay stack as he continued to lift her shirt off of her. With a long, low animalistic growl he began to lower himself over her.

Sense returned to Nikki the moment she heard that growl. Her eyes snapped open and she looked up to see Xavier's completely white eyes even as she felt his claws scrapping her skin as he lifted her shirt up. Without hesitation, she gently lifted her hands to cup his face as she looked deep into his eyes.

Xavier, esi mupei vosto isti! she whispered into his mind.

He answered with another softer growl as he continued to try to lift her shirt.

Nikki applied more pressure to her grip on his face, Xavier, she spoke more firmly now, Vosto isti! Stop this! This isn't the time or place!

Nikki's words in English managed to finally penetrate the haze of his mind. Immediately he stilled and stared at her, eyes widening and returning to their normal emerald green.

"Nikki! Oh no, I didn't mean..."

She gave him a gentle smile as he lifted her up, "It's okay, don't apologize. I got carried away too."

Xavier sighed as he ran his hands over his face. He turned to look at Nikki as she finished straightening her shirt. "I think I'm going to have to start keeping some distance between us." At the look Nikki gave him, he continued, "All I was trying to do was give you a simple kiss. A kiss Nikki. That was all and see what happened? It's getting to the point where I can't touch you without losing control."

Nikki frowned, "Is that a bad thing?"

Xavier closed his eyes. "Yes. No. I mean, I want things to be perfect for you when we finally make love." He turned to look into her eyes. "I wanted to wait until our wedding night to claim you."

Nikki nodded in understanding, "But we don't have to wait until then, right? That's why it's so hard to control, because your true self is ready to mate and you are trying to keep that from happening."

He gritted his teeth, "You're right and we don't have to wait. But I want to wait. I want this to be perfect for us, Nikki."

She stared at him for a few moments before she finally nodded as she let out a small sigh. "Okay. We'll wait."

He leaned his head back against the wall for a moment to collect himself before he slid his hand into his pocket. Lifting his head up, he turned to Nikki, "There's something I have to give you."

Nikki glanced up at him as he held his hand out to her. Her eyes lowered to his hand and she let out a little gasp as she saw the ring he held. It looked like several thin gold bands entwined into a circle. Where the bands came together was an opalescent stone that sparkled with all of the colors she knew Xavier's eyes could turn.

"It's beautiful, Xavier."

He smiled, "It was my mother's. Now it goes to you."

Nikki shook her head, "Oh Xavier, I couldn't possibly..."

Xavier took her hand in his, "Nikki, you are going to be my Queen, this ring is a symbol of that. An engagement ring as you would say."

As she looked into his eyes, she knew what he was saying. The ring was obviously handed down from one queen to the next, and she would be the next in line. She smiled as she extended her fingers, allowing him to slide it onto her ring finger.

Xavier lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the ring, "idi agalo esu, Nikki."

She blushed as she threw her arms around him, hugging him tight, "idi agalo esu, Xavier."

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Zachary grinned as Kristine continued to babble on about Nikki and Xavier. It wasn't until she began to tell him about school being over and her plans to leave town in two months that his smile began to fade. He knew it was now or never to let Kristine know the truth.

He waited until she finally took a breath and gently squeezed the hand he held to get her attention. "Kris, I need to talk to you about something."

Immediately Kristine went quiet. She looked up into Zachary's eyes and knew whatever he had to say was serious. Her first thought was about his family. "What is it? Is your father worse? Is someone else sick now?"

"No Kris, stop." Zachary sighed, "Listen, I need you to just sit and hear me out, okay? Just wait until I finish telling you everything before you ask questions, okay?"

She nodded, "Okay." She took both of Zachary's hands in hers and gave him a smile, "Go ahead."

Zachary closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before he looked at Kristine again and charged right in, "I haven't been totally honest with you. See, I haven't been taking care of my father. He died a few weeks ago and I've had to take over his job as the Chief Advisor of my world, that's the family I've been taking care of.

My world is actually another dimension that can be accessed from the portal in this barn. My world isn't that much different than yours, except for our government. And our people have special powers and we have our own language too. We are called Wahani and we can shape shift into a stronger form. One day Xavier will be the King of our world and I am the Chief Advisor, or second in command."

When he paused he looked at Kristine and saw that she was just staring at him with a raised eyebrow. He sighed, "You don't believe me, do you?"

Kristine rolled her eyes, "Did you smoke anything before you came here today? Or maybe you ate something bad and it's making you hallucinate?"

Zachary shook his head, "No." He looked into her eyes, "Kris, I'm telling you the truth."

"Yeah, oooookay."

Zachary stood up and began to pace, "You have to believe me, Kris. My father was the Chief Advisor and in our world, the first born always follows in the parents footsteps. So since I'm the only child, it was my duty to take over when my father died." He looked up at her as he continued, "I have been training for this since I was born, as all first born children train for whatever they will be one day."

"So, you are telling me that you are like the Vice President of your world now?"

Zachary nodded, "Yes, something like that."

She nodded, "Right, and Xavier is going to be the President some day?"

"In our world, the first born becomes the ruler on their twentieth birthday, which means he'll become King in about a month from now."

Kristine raised an eyebrow, "In a month?"

"Yes."

Kristine stared at him for a few moments, as if waiting for him to say something else. Finally she sighed and said, "Look, maybe you should head on home and get some rest? You have obviously been working too hard and..."

"Kristine! I'm telling you the truth!" Zachary stated, interrupting her.

"Zach, there is no such thing as another dimension."

"There is. The portal is here."

She laughed, "In this barn, right."

"I'm not kidding! I can show you."

Rolling her eyes again, Kristine got up from her seat, "Never mind, look I'm just gonna go..."

Zachary reached for her wrist, "Kris, wait." He sighed, "Look, sit down and I'll show you what I can do."

"Zach..."

"Kris, please? Just humor me, okay?"

"Fine. Okay." Kristine walked back to her seat and sat down. Folding her arms across her chest, she gave Zachary a bored look, "Go ahead."

Zachary began to chant the words in his mind as he tilted his head slightly.

Kristine stared at Zachary, wondering what he was up to. She was just about to tell him to get the sleep he'd been lacking when suddenly she noticed something about his eyes. As she squinted, trying to get a better view, she realized his eyes were now completely black. There was no pupil, no iris, nothing. When she scrambled to her feet, Zachary turned to look at her.

Zachary held up a clawed hand and said, "See? I am Wahani."

Kristine screamed. All she saw was the black eyes, claws, and fangs of some nightmare monster reaching out for her.

Zachary frowned, "Kris, it's okay. It's me, Zach."

When the monster took a step towards her, Kristine screamed again and ran for the stairs.

Zachary tried to follow, hoping she would listen to his voice, "Kris! It's me! I'm still Zach! I'm not going to hurt you! Kristine, wait!"

As Kristine began scrambling down the stairs, Zachary waved his hand, immediately dispelling the invisible barrier before Kristine could smack into it.

Kristine climbed down the stairs still screaming, "Help me somebody! There's a monster up here trying to eat me! Help me please!"

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Xavier and Nikki had been talking about their future plans when they heard Kristine screaming for help. They came to their feet just as she came scrambling around the corner and launched herself into Nikki's arms.

"We have to get out of here! There's a monster up there and..."

Nikki exchanged glances with Xavier as Kristine continued her hysterics. I'll try to calm her down. Can you keep Zach away for a few moments? She asked.

Done.

Nikki watched Xavier disappear up the stairs before gripping the sides of Kristine's face, "Kris! Listen to me, okay? There's no monster up there."

Kristine whimpered, "Yes there is, I saw it and I think it ate Zach..."

Nikki sighed, "Kris, please! Calm down. Take a few breaths and sit down, okay?" Nikki led Kristine to the haystack and sat down next to her. She took Kristine's hands in hers and spoke softly, "Okay, now listen to me carefully, okay?"

Kristine nodded, "O-o-okay."

"Good. Now, what you saw up there wasn't a monster."

"But Nikki!"

Nikki squeezed Kristine's hands gently, "Kris, listen. I know it sounds weird, but Zach is not a monster. He's just different. What you saw was his other form. He's not anymore dangerous than you and I are, Kris. He comes from another dimension where they have these powers they can use.

You remember watching cartoons, with all the superheroes right? You know how some of them could change shape? Well, that's what Zach and Xavier do, okay? They change shape and use their powers to protect themselves and others."

Kristine looked up towards the stairs as Xavier came back into view. He gave her a gentle smile. "It's okay, Kris. Nikki is telling the truth. Zach won't ever hurt you. He cares about you too much to ever hurt you."

Kristine swallowed her fear and nodded shakily, "He won't hurt me."

Nikki agreed, "That's right, Kris. He won't hurt you. Xavier has never hurt me."

Kristine's eyes went wide as that sunk in. She turned to stare at Xavier, "You can look like that too?"

Xavier nodded, "Yes. Everyone from our world can change into that, but some of us can make the change easier than others can."

She turned to stare at Nikki. "Have you seen what it looks like?"

Nikki nodded, "Yes. It's not that bad Kris. It's just a physical change, Xavier and Zach are still the same on the inside."

Kristine just sat there looking at the stairs, but Nikki could see that she was processing all of the information she was getting. Suddenly Kristine snapped her head back to look at Nikki, "Wait! You knew they weren't human!"

Nikki nodded.

"You knew! All this time you knew about their world and their powers and you never said a word!" she shrieked as she came to her feet, fists curled at her sides.

Nikki grimaced, "I can explain, Kris."

"Explain! How long have you known this?" she demanded.

"For about a month."

"A month!" yelled Kristine, "You kept this from me for a month! I thought I was your best friend!"

Xavier stepped up to Nikki's side, "Kristine, Nikki and I thought it would be better if you heard the truth from Zach, the way I told Nikki the truth."

Kristine glared at him, "Oh you did, did you! So, it was okay for Nikki to know, but not me huh?"

Nikki sighed, "Kris, no that's not it."

"Then why didn't you tell me!"

"Kristine, would you have believed me if I came to you and told you that Xavier and Zachary came from another dimension and have these special powers? Think about it." As Kristine stared at her, Nikki continued, "You would have thought I'd gone crazy, especially since I wouldn't have been able to prove it to you."

Kristine sighed, "You're right." She closed her eyes, "I even thought Zach was crazy, until he showed me."

Nikki nodded, "Exactly. That's why I didn't tell you. And Xavier and I thought maybe you'd handle it better if it came from Zach since you already know him. That's why I was never scared of Xavier when he changed for me. I already knew him and I knew he would never hurt me. Even though he changed physically, he was still Xavier. He was still the man I trust."

Kristine nodded. "I get it."

Nikki smiled, "I'm sorry Kris. I wanted to tell you so badly. But I knew you wouldn't believe me."

"I know, Nikki. It's okay."

"Are you sure?"

Kristine drew Nikki into a hug, "I forgive you, chica. I understand why you did it." She pulled away and smiled at Xavier, "I would have done the same thing if the roles were reversed."

Xavier grinned, "So, do you think you could forgive Zach too? 'Cause he wanted to tell you from the moment he first saw you."

Kristine laughed, "Oh he did, did he?"

"Oh yeah! I think he would have told you long before I would have told Nikki."

She arched an eyebrow, "Then why didn't he tell me?"

Xavier sighed, "He didn't get the chance to because he had to take over for his father."

Kristine gasped, "Oh my God! That's right! He was telling me that his dad died and it didn't sink in at the time and I just freaked on him and he must really be upset and now he's got all this responsibility and..."

Nikki laughed as she grabbed Kristine's shoulders, "Kris, you're babbling again."

"Right, right." She took a deep breath and let it out before looking towards the stairs, "Is he okay?"

Xavier answered her, "He's afraid that he scared you away permanently. He's just waiting to find out if you will still talk to him."

Kristine swallowed, "Is he still in that other form?"

Xavier shook his head as Nikki spoke, "Kris, I know you think it's scary, but maybe you should take another look okay. I mean, if you want to continue to be with Zach, you should know that he will sometimes change to that form. He's the Chief Advisor, Kris. And in his world, that means he's like the commander of an army. So, he'll be changing to that form when he has to fight or protect others."

Kristine frowned, "Does everyone go around looking like that in their world?"

"No," answered Xavier, "We only change to that form when we need it. We still have access to our powers in either form, but they are the strongest in our wahani form."

"I see."

Nikki took Kristine's hands in hers, "Kris, think about it for a moment. Did Zach try to hurt you before? In all this time you've known him did he ever give you any indication that he wanted to hurt you? They were the ones who protected us from the gang that day we met them. That's why we didn't see them again until the next day. They made sure the gang didn't follow us. That's why they came every day after that to walk us home, to protect us."

Kristine turned to look at the stairs. As she did, she thought about everything they had told her. She knew they were right. Zachary had never once tried to hurt her. She had never once been afraid of him, until today. And she knew she had just reacted to what she saw, not what she knew. Deep down inside, she knew Zachary would never hurt her. No one who went out of his way to make sure she got home from school safe every day could be a monster. No, she knew now that the real monsters were humans like the Mayor and the Hell's Angels gang.

She sighed, "I really owe him a big apology for going hysterical on him don't I?"

Xavier chuckled, "He understands Kris. All he wants is to know you will still talk to him. He doesn't want to lose you, no more than I want to lose Nikki."

Kristine nodded and walked over to the bottom of the stairs, "Zach?" she called, "Can you come down here?"

She waited until she saw him descend the stairs. He was back in human form again, but even she could see the hesitation and hurt in his eyes. Waiting until he had reached the bottom floor, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for freaking out like that. I know you won't hurt me. I knew better and I still hurt you anyway."

Zachary hugged her back. "It's okay Kris, you don't have to apologize."

She pulled away and looked into his eyes, eyes that were the light shade of brown she was so familiar with. She smiled, "I know I don't, but I'm going to anyway. And I'll keep apologizing until I see you smile again."

Zachary grinned, "Okay, Kris."

She laughed and led him to a haystack, "Okay, then, now that I'm over my hysterics. Why don't you and Xavier fill me in on everything." She narrowed her eyes in mock seriousness, "And I mean everything! All the gory details! No more secrets, Zach! If I find out you kept something from me, I will hunt you down like the wild animal you can be and skin you alive! Got it?"

As he took a seat next to Kristine, Zachary answered with a chuckle, "Yes, ma'am!"

Translations
dimo agalo - my love
idi kine' esu - I need you
esi mupei vosto isti - we must stop this
vosto itsi!  - stop this!
idi agalo esu - I love you