Suite 518/520, Monday morning

[demonbelthazor]

Despite not having class until fourth period, Bel was up earlier, waiting for Isabel to come by. He'd fed the cats, made breakfast, and was now lounging on the couch, flipping through the channels on the TV until he found Enchanted reruns. The fact that it was the vampire episode didn't influence his decision to stay on that channel, not at all.

[For izzyalienqueen, but open.]

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Fighting an incredible desire to just call the whole trip off, Isabel knocked on the door.

[demonbelthazor]

Bel got up and walked over to the door. "Hey, come on in," he greeted Isabel as he opened it.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Thanks, and thanks for doing this," she said. "I don't think I could deal with sitting on a plane for hours waiting to get there. Plus they'd want me to stay longer. How are you doing? How's Phoebe?"

[demonbelthazor]

"No problem," Bel said. "I'm glad I can help again."

He glanced toward the closed bedroom door. "I'm trying to convince Phoebe to go to class this morning, but I'm not having any luck so far," he said. "She just wants to hide in our room."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Ouch. I didn't find out she was involved until lunch Thursday," Isabel replied. "And even up until Wednesday night I thought it was just Lana. God, what she did to Jack and then to Cedric. But at the same time, that was kind of the tip-off that it wasn't her. I mean Lana? Make someone her love slave?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Yeah," Bel said, nodding. "Phoebe seemed off, too, but the witch hit me with a spell to keep me from figuring it out. Then she just froze me and left me up here until Parker found me."

He twitched a little at the mention of "love slave." He still had Anders to deal with.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel noticed the twitch and frowned. "Yeah, about that," she said, thinking of the voicemail about Anders and Phoebe Dawn had lefter for her. "Whatever happened, you can't kill him."

[demonbelthazor]

"Phoebe wasn't in control but he knew what he was doing," Bel growled.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"He got played just like everyone else this week," she said firmly. "They were master manipulators and knew exactly what buttons to push to get what they wanted."

[demonbelthazor]

"He knew better," Bel said stubbornly, unconvinced. "I told him to keep his hands off her. He knew how I'd feel and he did it anyway."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"He probably did," Isabel agreed, but at the same time grateful that everything happened before she warned him. Because she'd have to kill him. "Just like you probably knew better when you first fell for Phoebe. Did that stop you? No."

[demonbelthazor]

"She didn't have a boyfriend or anyone claiming her," Bel said. "Especially not someone who was supposed to be a friend." He faltered a bit on the last word, because he wasn't entirely sure what he and Anders were.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"And again I'll remind you, master manipulator." She knew it was kind of a low blow, but she couldn't help adding, "Pretty much just like the Source was. I'm willing to bet she played on every feeling he has for both of you until the poor guy didn't know which way was up."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel did flinch at the mention of the Source. "I'm sure he was thinking of me the entire time," he said flatly. "He knew I'd be pissed. I told him it wasn't gonna happen again."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You might have said that, but again, head games. He got played." Isabel shook her head, fairly certain they could argue all day and not really resolve anything. "Look, yell all you want. But don't hurt him. I think he'll be hurt enough after all, once again, he's the one that's left alone."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel tried to ignore the twinges of guilt he was feeling, that ultimately this was all his fault and he probably deserved it. "I can't trust him," he said gruffly.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Which is completely understandable and something the two of you are going to have to deal with," she nodded, patting his arm. "But it's kind of hard to do that if you kill him."

[demonbelthazor]

"I won't kill him," Bel admitted with a sigh. "But I'm not going to do nothing about it, either. He knew damn well what he was doing was wrong and did it anyway."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

It was about the best Isabel could hope for, given the situaion. "Okay. That's all I can ask. Now I guess it's time to get his show on the road," she said, her face going pale.

[demonbelthazor]

Bel didn't fail to notice that. "What's going on?" he said. "Are you okay?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I told you how I went back to Antar," Isabel said, walking over to stare out the window. "It wasn't a good trip. The only reason I'm back is because I got incredibly lucky. I've been home almost a month now, but I haven't called my parents because I didn't know what to say. They finally realized I was home and called me this weekend. They've got lots of questions. And I don't think they're going to like my answers."

[demonbelthazor]

"You sure you want to go there alone?" Bel asked. "Do you need me to stand by for emergency evacuation again?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I have to. Anyone else that turns up with me is going to get interrogated as well and I don't want to put anyone through that," she replied, fairly certain the Bel glowering at anyone giving her a hard time would not go over well. "Can you come get me tonight? Around seven? I'm pretty sure I can cope if I know what time the calvary's coming."

[demonbelthazor]

"Sure, no problem," Bel said, almost disappointed because he could glower so well. "And you have my cell if you need to get out of there sooner. I don't have any plans for the day other than my class fourth period, but I can even shimmer out of that if you need me."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you," Isabel said, taking a deep breath and walking back to stand beside him. "So how does this work? Same as the last time?"