Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2007 00:45:53 -0800 (PST)
From: Silvenfox <silvenfox@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Chosen - 9

The following is a complete work of fiction.

Any resemblance between the characters and any real life person is
completely coincidental.  Please do not copy or distribute the story
without the author's permission.

Disclaimer:

The following story may contain erotic situations.  If it is illegal for
you to read this please leave now. Also expect blood, gore, incredibly
funny scenes and super-powered teenagers with a destiny to save the
world. If you're not a fan of any of these plus strong cursing and
violence than this is not your type of story.


Chapter 9


Okay.

So Kilian is a Chosen. I can deal with that. I hope.

I stared around the living room refusing to meet Nathaniel or Ryan's
gazes. It had only been an hour since we had cryptically told Killian to
meet us at Nathaniel's address and "all would be explained". Ryan wanted
to just bring him with us, but truthfully I needed some time to get my
thoughts together.

                         One: Killian is a Chosen.

              Two: We used to be best friends in our past lives.

                       Three: I barely like Killian.

I hung my head and resisted the urge to just cry, but I didn't want
Nathaniel or Ryan to think I was mentally unstable. I wasn't. I just had
issues. Hell, I had subscriptions. I mean anyone would right, if they
found out they had to be teammates with the person they disliked more
than anyone else in the world. I sighed. This was going to be a long
night.

The doorbell rang and I looked up. We all made eye contact coming to a
silent agreement. We would stay here and Nathaniel would answer the door.
The chances of him turning tail and running if I was at the door were
pretty high. I was still trying to decide if that would be a good thing
or a bad thing.

I heard voices in the foyer and I glanced at Ryan. He gave me a small
smile. Great. At least the both of us wasn't getting all teen agnsty over
this. I swallowed as the footsteps grew closer toward the living room. I
heard a gasp and I looked up meeting the green eyed stare of Killian.
Emotions flashed across his face so quickly that I couldn't catch them.
The most prominent one that stuck around and made its presence clear was
disbelief.

"Oh no," he said, disbelieving. "How can you be here! You can't be! Its
impossible." Killian eyes darted to Ryan and he shook his head, his
confusion visibly doubling. "Both of you are Chosen?"

I smirked. Seeing him so rattled was putting me back on familiar ground.
"I think we broke his brain."

"Chad!" Nathaniel barked out, leveling me with a scolding look.

I ducked my head, properly chastised, but the grin didn't leave. We
watched Nathaniel lead Killian toward a chair that circled the coffee
table. Well wasn't this just cozy. I took another look at Killian. Guilt
panged in my chest at the expression clouding his face. He was honestly
confused. Poor boy. I sighed. Here we go. We had to explain it to him
sometime.

"I'm Warlock," I began, speaking up, looking directly at Killian. "I am
the Champion of magic. In this life and the last. I used to be called
Emrys. I think we used to be friends. Best friends."

Killian grabbed his head, grabbing a tuft full of hair. He closed his
eyes and sighed. "There are memories in my head that weren't there
before. I can see flashes, images, but I don't know what they are. I
think I recognize you guys in them. Its you, but at the same time, not."

Nathaniel laid a hand on his shoulder, giving him a comforting smile.
"It's the memories from your past life trying find a settlement in your
consciousness. Soon they will assimilate fully and there wont be a
distinction from your past incarnation and your current self."

Killian looked at Ryan, his eyes squinting, as if he was trying to see
him properly. "I remember Aurek, the Exectioner." He shook his head. "You
look different. Younger, less intimidating."

I snorted. He obviously hadn't really seen Ryan when he transformed. His
shy persona vanished replaced by the warrior from eons ago that resided
in all of our memories.

"Why are we here?" asked Killian, turning to Nathaniel. "I always had a
feeling inside. Weird dreams. Flashes of visions. I don't know. Something
was telling me that I was different."

I thought back to Killian's diary that I `accidentally' read. The words
mirrored the entry I read. His response back at the club at my question
of releasing his powers made more sense. `Show me who I am. I've been
waiting for you'. He must had been having the same experiences I used to
have before I was awoken by Nathaniel all those months ago.

"I know you don't remember much," said Ryan. "But it will all make sense
later after you've had some time to process. What do you remember so
far?"

Killian shrugged. "It's like looking at pictures. Sometimes they turn
into videos and I can remember something. Like I know that Emrys was
Warlock, and he was the closest thing to a brother I ever had."

We met eyes and turned away.

"...For the most part random images is all there is," Killian continued,
after pausing. "I remember we were some type of soldiers. Warriors, who
protected people from...monsters?" He let out a small chuckle and ran his
hand through his hair. "Man this sounds fucking nuts."

Tell me about it.

"I will fill you in on the parts that you may not remember completely,"
said Nathaniel moving so he sat in the armchair.

He crossed his legs and looked very sophisticated, like a model scholar.
Someone must have had some etiquette classes growing up. I regarded my
own slouched form and straightened up suddenly, earning a strange look
from Killian and an eye roll from Ryan. Damn. Busted. I felt my cheeks
flush and looked down at the floor. I let Nathaniel's storyteller voice
wash over me.

"The world didn't start out with light. There was darkness. For eons,
demons, monsters, and soulless creatures, walked this Earth,
destroying and killing with no care. Humans were barely crawling away
from their primordial ooze when the demons had dominion over the Earth.
But unlike what history tells us, there was a predecessor of humans. The
first evolution of the humanity you would call them. Humanity's cousins,
if you will. They evolved and grew more advanced than even today's
humans. Hiding in their city of Atlantis, they hid and built, creating a
society away from the shadow of darkness. But the darkness grew and began
to spread into even the tiniest corners of the world. Then They Above
All, the gods of the existence stepped in. They imparted unto a select
group of Atlanteans the powers of gods. They beat back the darkness, but
at the cost of their lives. They sealed the evil away in another world.
But the seal has been cracking over time and monsters have started to
slowly reappear back into the world."

"We were reincarnated to finish what we started," realized Killian,
Coming to a sudden understanding.

"That's exactly right," nodded Nathaniel, pleased. "The city of
Centennial is a virtual hotspot for crossover activity. The seal that
separates us from the Ever After is extremely weakened in this area."

I blinked. "So you would say... we live at the mouth of hell? Like a real
Hellmouth."

All three looked at me with the most baffled expressions. Obviously there
were no Buffy fans in the audience. Figures.

"Nevermind," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

Damn. Wasted a good joke on these poor mortals ignorant of the true world
that is pop culture. Where was Kevin when you needed him? I tuned back
into the conversation as Nathaniel filled Killian in on our training and
our duties of patrolling and responding to preternatural threats.

"Do you know where to find Admerion?" asked Killian. "You guys knew I was
Chosen."

My head snapped up at the mention of Admerion. I could almost feel my
want to skip at the very thought of the man from my dreams that my soul
knew even though I didn't.

"Technically we didn't know you were Chosen," replied Ryan, sheepishly.

Fuck that. "What do you remember about Admerion?" I asked him, completely
ignoring the fact that he hadn't even had the chance to answer Ryan's
response.

Killian smirked at me. Ohhh I really didn't like him sometimes. "I
remember..." he paused. "You two were close."

"Go on," I urged him, practically hanging on the edge of my seat.

He shrugged. "That's it."

Defeated, I slumped down in the chair. "Oh."

Nathaniel smiled sympathetically at me. "I told you Chad that one day
your memories will return and you will remember Admerion on your own.
They Above All have a plan and this is it."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I said, waving my hand. "I know. `Everything in its
own time'. I've seen ten seasons of Stargate. They easily could have
rushed the Ancient storyline but they..."

I trailed off at being on the receiving end of the baffled expressions
again. Sigh. Could I ever get a break?

                                  *   *  *

        "You okay? You've been staring at Killian more intensely than
usual. Did something happen at his house the other day?"

I shook my head, registering the voice of Kevin breaking into my musing.
"No worries man. Just thinking. Nothing big."

I couldn't very well tell him I wondered how Killian being Chosen would
work with the current team dynamic. Even though the current team only
included Ryan and me.

It was Monday and it had been two days since Saturday. The day I awakened
Killian and gained a new teammate. After the meeting at Nathaniel's, we
were given strict instructions to return for team coursework. The
training Nazi was back. I'm really starting to think that with each new
Chosen, a new flexed training schedule will be enforced.

Mid day California sunlight beamed down us from above in the circular
courtyard, designated our lunch area. If my friends noticed the lack of
insults between Killian and I today, they didn't say anything. Kevin
obviously noticed and already voiced his suspicion. But he was starting
to act like Columbo ever since the Borders incident. No mystery was going
unsolved around him. Or so he liked to think.

Kevin nudged me with his elbow. I looked at him and those amber eyes of
his were sparkling. I didn't like it when they sparkled. I swallowed. He
wanted to ask me something. The last favor from him left me wearing
orange and picking up trash along the highway. Long story.

"Oh, bestest friend I love in the entire world," said Kevin in a
sickingly sweet voice, blinking quickly, wait, no, he was batting his
eyelashes.

I sighed. "What do you want, Montero?"

He gasped. A dramatic wheeze of air that was too loud and just made me
roll my eyes. "Really? Resorting to last names. I'm hurt. I just was
going to ask you to go on a double date with me tonight. Natalie has this
friend Paul... and she will only go if her friend goes."

Hmmm... "I don't know... A blind date Kevin?"

"Please, please, please," he pleaded, pouting. "I'll love you forever."

I turned my nose up at him. "You already have promised to love me forever
before. But I will do it, if only to get you to stop looking like that.
Now fix your face before people start to talk."

Kevin instantly sobered up, eyes narrowing and lips forming in a frown.
"I will so overlook that. I have you know-"

"Hey Ryan!" I called out, interrupting Kevin, waving to Ryan as he exited
the foyer carrying his lunch tray.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and suddenly my body was spun around. Kevin
glared at me and pointed his finger at my nose, thumping it lightly.
Ouch. Bitch.

"Listen here you bastard," said Kevin, in what I like to call his "Prison
Kevin" voice. "No one interrupts me. I've taught you better than that. Do
I have to ball these fingers into a fist and smack you one? Do you want
to be my little jailhouse bitch for today???"

I shook my head. "Prison Kevin can you please get out my face before I
make you get out."

"I guess I should," he agreed, backing away from me. "I don't want to go
back to the joint for killing you. I only just now got parole."

Ryan sat down next to Liam. "Hey guys, any reason why Kevin was
manhandling Chad?"

"Have you ever been to prison Ryan?" asked Kevin slowly, his voice
deepening again. "Well I have."

"Oh no," muttered Killian, echoing the sentiments of everyone else at the
table. "Here he goes again."

Enough was enough. I cut off Kevin before he got into his little act
again. "Basically Ryan, Kevin is fucking nuts. He likes to pretend that
he has done time in prison and gets all gangsta and thuggish if he's in a
certain mood. We have learned to call that mood, pretendinitis. The
alternate personality is someone we fondly named `Prison Kevin'."

Ryan, after being my friend for three months, took it in stride. "How did
Prison Kevin originate?"

We all looked at each other. "Well Becky Abrams borrowed one of his
crayons one day in class. Kevin told her that borrowing was for pansy's
and that in the joint you didn't get to borrow anything, you had to steal
it. He took all her crayons and made her cry."

"How old were you guys?" asked Ryan, looking at Kevin in pity and awe.

I frowned. "We were nine..."

"And a half!" added Kevin, smiling proudly.

I sighed, the sound joining the others made by everyone else.

"You're lucky you are cute," muttered Kim, stabbing her meatloaf.


                              *   *   *


	The end of the day came quicker than usual. The last bell rang half
an hour after three and school officially ended for the day. After saying
bye to Kevin and promising to meet him later. I drove myself to
Nathaniel's. Killian had already offered to drive Ryan over, so that left
me riding alone. I don't know how I felt about that. No one offered me a
ride. One car meant one trip, which would have been a great gas saver. I
was keeping to the belief that Killian hadn't done that out of spite. It
was of course a hollow belief.

Speak of the devil. As I pulled into the Ruiz Estate, Killian's black
Eclipse was parked in front of the garage. Damn. The bastard had beaten
me here. I glanced guiltily down at the Slurpee sitting in the cup
holder. Maybe I shouldn't have made that stop at 7-Eleven.

I parked my car next to the Eclipse and entered the mansion. I took a
quick glance in the sunroom and found the three of them talking. I tried
to slip in unnoticed, but I misplaced my foot and stumbled stopping all
conversation.

"Nice of you to join us, Chad," greeted Nathaniel, his lips thinned
together in a clearly disapproving look.

I decided to look at it as a genuine greeting and waved at them over
exaggeratedly. I got an eye roll from Nathaniel, a disdainful sneer from
Killian, and a groan from Ryan. Most people would have been bothered by
their reactions, but for me it just put a smile on my face.

"Since we all here (looks were directed at me) we can go down to
Command," said Nathaniel.

I followed along behind obediently. I figured it was best if I didn't say
anything for awhile. Best not to get myself into anymore trouble and all.
It was weird, but the thought of going down the sub levels of the
building always filled me with excitement. It was very futuristic and all
sci-fi like, you know, my kind of place. But now it was just same old,
same old. Have I really gotten that used to this new life where my
passions and obsessions were so part of my daily events, that they have
become stagnant. God, I hoped not. First thing to do when I get home:
Watch Battlestar Galactica. My inner geek was getting to complacent.

I sang Under the Sea as we took the secret elevator down to Command. The
sleek, silver reflective hallway greeted us once we disembarked the lift.
We went into a nearby room that I like to refer to as the Power Chamber.
It reminded me too much of a power rangers episode with its glowing
consoles, and many monitors with its ever descending scrolling text
(which I later learned was Atlantean).

"This is incredible," whispered Killian, awed. "All this technology..."

Nathaniel nodded. "It's Atlantean. Our people built this place. This was
once a defense facility all those eons ago. When Atlantis fell it
remained untouched and hidden far below the surface. As the gods would
have it, my family had this house built right over the underground
structure. It's been apart of the Ruiz family for generations. When my
memories fully returned I installed the elevator to the sub levels."

"I have a vague feeling of what you're talking about. This place feels
familiar," said Ryan suddenly, intensely concentrating. He shook his head
after a moment. "I can't remember but I just have a feeling of knowing I
guess."

Nathaniel half smiled. "Which is better than nothing." He lost his smile
and got right down to business. "Today I plan on gauging how you do as a
team. After the training room scenario is completed Ryan and Chad will be
dismissed. I would like Killian to stay behind so I can test his power
levels and abilities."

No intense training today? Hell yeah! "So let's get started," I said
eagerly.

"I think that's a good idea," agreed Nathaniel looking at me
suspiciously, surprised at my overeager outburst.

We left the room and went down the elevator to the training room.
Immediately, we closed our eyes and our clothes shifted to our Chosen
uniforms. I dropped the hood that now covered my head and glanced at the
others. Ryan was adjusting his long black duster, his glasses gone, and
gray eyes piercing without the frames. Killian, Solaris now, ran his
hands over the black body armor and the hip-length jacket over it. He
took off the shades that materialized with his transformation and rested
them on the top of his head, revealing his amazed eyes.

"I didn't notice when I transformed before," began Killian. "But didn't
our uniforms use to be different. I remember silver armor and white
tunics? Now our armor look like the suits the X-Men wore in the
movies..."

I nodded. "That's right. I asked Nathaniel once. He said our uniforms are
mystical. They'll change with the times so that we'll blend in with the
humans. In a thousand years our uniforms will be different I guess."

He shrugged dismissing me. Why did I even bother? "I'm sure there's a
better reason than that."

"You really love to argue with me?" I asked him, knowing he would answer
the clearly rhetorical question.

Killian smirked. "Are your magical attacks just parlor tricks."

He worded it so it wasn't a question. That bastard. I stepped closer to
him, my fists crackling with blue electricity, which jumped and sparked
with my anger.

"You want to go, lightbright?" I said mockingly, hoping he would attack
me so I would have a reason to shove a fireball so far down his throat it
would vaporize his ass.

Killian glared at me, his eyes glowing hot, white, the color of a white
sun. "All you had to do was ask, Glinda."

Suddenly, there was a whoosh of air and the Executioner was standing
between us. Ryan's whole stance was tense and coiled, like an unmovable
wall of power. I could sense the spirit energy swell inside his body,
filling him with strength to knock us flat on our asses with only his
pinkie finger. Those gray eyes looked at Killian and then me, unreadable,
but challenging.

"You two want to fight each other?" he asked, his voice hard and
intimidating. "You'll have to get through me first. There is no way I
will let two of my teammates, my friends, just go at each other like
this."

Fuck. I hated when Ryan got all Terminator on my ass. "Fine," I said,
releasing the magic gathered in my palms so that it fizzled away. "Let's
just get this training session over with."

"If you two are quite done," called Nathaniel, his voice floating through
the speakers from the observation room above. "I'm ready to initiate the
program."

The room came to life in a shock of energy that left the hairs on my arm
standing on end. At once, our surroundings rippled like the waves of the
ocean. The lighted room vanished leaving us in a dark, dreary swamp
surrounded by towering trees and smelly bayous. I made a face as my feet
were ankle deep in the murky, decidedly green looking swamp water. Ga-
ross.

I gathered magic in my palm and whispered, "Fireball."

A fireball appeared in my open hand shining its flickering light into the
shadows, providing us some light to move by. I heard a snort and turned
to Killian, my eyebrow raised.

"Yes, Solaris?" I questioned, putting emphasis on his name.

He shrugged. It was meant to annoy me and it did. "I think I can do a
little better in the light department is all." I gave him a look and
Killian held out his hand, his fingertips charging with white light.
"Celestial light!"

Killian snapped his glowing fingers and the light jumped into the air,
creating a flare so bright that I had to cover my eyes. I blinked back
the spots and my jaw dropped at the large globe of bright, white, pure
light that shinned above Killian's index finger. I looked down at my
fireball and it faded away. The light had caused the shadows to fall,
leaving us with a better light to move by than my fireball provided. I
rolled my eyes.

"Which way do we go?" asked Killian, smirking.

"Maybe this way."

We looked ahead and there was the Executioner leaning against a tree, his
arms folded and watching us with a bored expression. He pushed himself
off the trunk and jerked a thumb in the direction behind him.

"While you two were busy playing flashlight cop, I scouted ahead. There
is a clearing a click away. There's actually enough moonlight to see by
once we get past the shade of trees."

Solaris frowned. "How could you see? It was pitch black."

"Heightened senses," Executioner responded.

We moved toward him and I shook my head at Killian. "He can see in the
dark."

We moved as one, not talking as we trudged through the swampy water, our
movements quiet and light. Well the Executioner's movements were. Ours
were probably loud and filled with heavy breathing. Being stealthy was
definitely not as easy as it looks on television. The line of trees ended
leaving us in an open space, filled with fallen logs and tree stumps. I
stared around looking for our target. Usually they never played hide and
seek. It was usually hard and fast, you know, like a gangbang. Or an
episode of Heroes. Solaris dissipated his lightball, since the moonlight
was enough to see by.

"Are all training programs this creepy?" questioned Solaris, gazing
around.

The Executioner nodded. "Yeah, pretty much." He suddenly stilled. His
whole body froze and it was kind of unnerving to see. He could have given
a mannequin a run for its money. He slowly placed his finger against his
lips, signaling us to keep quiet, and then he pointed to his ears.

"There!" The Executioner shouted, pointing.

Killian and Ryan were both blurs as they rolled away, but alas I was
always the weakest link. I stood there dumbly as a large tail cut through
the air, catching me in the stomach. The air left me and my ribs cried
out as I was hit. I fell backward, water splashing upward as I landed in
sheet of floating moss.

Groaning, I sat up. I shook my head clearing the dizziness. Hissing in
front of us was a creature I had never in my life seen before. Her hair
was black as night, long, going past her waist. Lips were the color of
scarlet that peeled back revealing glistening fangs. Her slitted yellow
eyes darted left and right, watching us carefully. Her pale upper body
held a pair of high and prominent breasts, the nipples the same color as
her lips. From the waist down she was far from woman. Scales of ivory and
black speckled her waist and continued down, adorning the long, hard tail
that she reared on. I gulped and her forked tongue flickered out of her
mouth to hiss at me.

The Executioner looked at me. "She can smell fear."

"How do you know what that thing is?" I asked, getting to my feet all the
while keeping my eyes trained on the creature.

"It was my job to know these things," he replied easily, reminding me why
he had the name the Executioner. "She's a lamia. Immortal and powerful.
They were always a bitch to kill."

Solaris made a move to get closer to us and the snake dived toward him.
He called upon his Dawn Bringer attack and shot light beams at her but
she evaded each one. Dammit. I had to do something quick. Killian
scrambled back keeping his beams going.

"Elios, keeper of dreams," I incanted quickly, calling on the power of a
lower deity to help me. Gold light gathered in my raised palms, that were
pointing toward the sky as if in benediction. "Help me defeat this enemy.
Twilight Ray!"

The light left my hands at the speed of sound, cutting through the air
and catching the lamia in the side full on. The attack knocked it off
course and hurtling into a tree trunk with a loud bang. Yes. Score one
for the home team. We raced to Killian's side to regroup.

"You okay?" asked Executioner to Solaris.

Solaris nodded, disoriented, slowing catching his bearings. "Yeah, I'm
fine man. Just surprised I guess. Didn't know this shit was going to be
so intense."

I nodded. "It goes there. Like Degrassi."

Confused looks. Blank faces. The blink. The dismissal. It happened in
that order. I've gotten so used to it that I could now step by step their
reactions to my randomness. It was a becoming a little hobby of mine. I
shook my head. This was so not the time for this. Had to get back on
track. There is a crazy, half naked snake lady out to kill us.

There was loud splash to the right of us. I pivoted and missed the tail
that almost hacked off my head. Fuck. That was too close. I caught the
glint of metal and watched as the Executioner's Spirit Staff collided
against her arm. They went back and forth as we scurried out of their
way. The Executioner would swing and swipe and the lamia would bat away
or dodge his staff. The force of the blows he landed had to be hard
enough to shatter concrete, yet she took the force and dealt the same
back. This creature was hella strong.

"Executioner, watch out!" yelled Killian. He aimed his closed fist at the
lamia, and the whole hand glowed bright white, with a tingle of yellow.
"Spectral Cannon!"

The beam split the air and the Executioner made to move, but the lamia
grabbed his arms and threw his struggling body into the beams path. There
was an explosion of light as the beam impacted. I screamed.

"Goddess made you, me and hound," I whispered, running quickly toward
Ryan's fallen form. "Force this creature-"

I didn't see the lamia dart forward till the tail swung at my back and
sent me hurtling forward. My chest hit the ground first and I cried out
as my sternum took the full brunt of the fall. I looked up just as
Solaris blinded her by throwing a light flare directly in her face. She
hissed and clawed at the air before her, her eyes closed in pain. Killian
ran to me, after checking on the Executioner.

"He's recovering," said Solaris, helping me to my feet. "He just needs a
minute. Ryan's armor and the safeties built in the room took away the
full effect of my attack."

I nodded, relieved. "We have to overload her with something powerful.
Something that will completely liquefy her ass..." I trailed off as an
idea came to me. I knew how to win. "I have an idea. I can use my magic
to boost your power. If we combine the two it should be enough to nuke
her ass."

"Let's get this scaly bitch then," he agreed, determined.

I went to my knees and brought my hands together, clasped before me as if
in prayer.

"Split the heavens and open to me the Power!"

I raised my hands upward and the sky opened with light. There was a sound
like thunder and the smell of ozone. Wind whipped around me as I called
upon the ley lines of power that netted the universe together and
surrounded the Earth in a grip of mystical force. Energy gathered above
turning and churning, like a contained globe of swirling silver light
that hovered in the air. I contained the power and manipulated it into a
huge disk of energy. My eyes closed I called out to Killian.

"Now! Do it now!"

He thankfully got the hint. Solaris aimed his fist at the energy.
"Spectral Cannon!"

The light zipped upward from his body and focused outward from his fist,
hitting the disk, and joining the two attacks. The powers mingled and the
ray of light continued on through the middle of the disk, like a lens,
turning the beam into a focused white death-ray. The ray hit the lamia
and its curdling scream reverberated as the attack hit her chest, super-
heating her organs and ripping her insides apart, till her body vaporized
in an explosion.

I watched in amazement as the sky rained blood and mutilated insides. I
think I was going to be sick. I held in my vomit and staggered over to
Ryan who was getting to his feet. The landscape wavered and vanished
replaced by the domed training room.

Instantly, all my hurts disappeared as my power sped up the healing and
the combined efforts of the safety spell the room was woven with. Wow.
Now that was more intense than usual. That crazy bitch could have killed
us. Or faux killed us, since we couldn't die within the program with the
safeties activated.

"Now that was funtastick," I said with a sarcastic laugh.

The Executioner, half smiled. "I would have gone with grueling."

"We handled ourselves pretty well," said Solaris, crossing his arms and
turning away from us. "At least I think I did damn good."

My jaw dropped. The little asshole. I was about to lay into him when the
doors swished open and Nathaniel briskly walked in. I detransformed
followed by Ryan and then Killian.

"Your target was destroyed," said Nathaniel. I could tell there was a but
coming. "But your goal of working like a team was not met. First, you two
failed to realize that Ryan held the advantage and could have helped when
you found yourselves in the dark. Second, when faced with the lamia there
was no plan immediately formed. You all started to just randomly attack.
She had you divided and could have easily conquered you if Chad hadn't
come up with that plan at the last moment. Which only worked with
teamwork. It was your combined powers that defeated the creature."

Killian ran a hand through his strawberry blond hair. "I think it's
because we didn't have any actual leadership. Since we have no leader at
this moment..."

Oh no, I thought. I had a feeling what he was about to say.

"...I nominate myself."

I knew it. "I object!" I snapped instantly. "Why do you nominate
yourself?"

Killian looked at me as if it were dumb question. "It was my attack that
killed the lamia. Oh, and I did take out all those vampires at the club
by myself."

Son of a bitch. I spun around toward Nathaniel. "Nathaniel, tell him he's
being an asshole! He can't be the leader! He's only been in one fracking
fight!"

Nathaniel blinked. "Killian you cannot be leader."

What? Well that was easy. Wait. That was too easy.

"What you don't remember is you already have a leader," continued
Nathaniel, looking at us patiently. We all perked up at the already
having a leader bit. "In our previous incarnations when you each were
discovered as being Chosen, you were immediately elevated to noble
status, each becoming lords. One of you was already of noble blood,
royalty in fact, when they were chosen. So leadership fell to that one
naturally."

"And who is it? I don't remember," said Ryan, frowning. He looked at
Killian and then me, both of us shrugging in confusion. "I don't think
none of us remember."

Nathaniel smiled widely. think he was enjoying this just a little too
much. "Why your leader was second in line for the throne of Atlantis,
behind his brother Crown Prince Gaius."

"Can you please get to the point?" I asked, sighing. He was really
playing this up.

"The leader of the Chosen was Prince Emrys." Nathaniel looked at me
seriously, all smiles gone. "You Chad are the leader. In this life and
the last."

The sound of crickets could probably be heard if somebody cracked a
window. It was that silent. I didn't know what to say. We all stared at
one another, amazement washed over our features. Me? LEADER? What kind of
sick joke was this? I immediately started looking left and right,
searching for cameras. I was getting Punk'd. I had to be. There was no
way I was leader! I barely could get through a fight without tripping
over my own feet, yet I was expected to be leader. My mind was telling me
Nathaniel was right. I felt almost like a weird tugging in my belly,
urging me to accept the facts. He was right. I knew it. There was no
reason to deny it, or try and disagree with him. The rest of what
Nathaniel said caught up with me. I was the Prince of Atlantis.

I hung my head. "Fuck me."

                              *  *  *


        I think I looked real nice in my jeans and black button up shirt. I
jumped over a water puddle. It would suck if I got these new pairs of
shoes dirty. They were so white and new they practically gleamed. I
glanced at the time on my phone. I was right on time. I was sure that
training would have made me late. But in light of today's revelation,
Nathaniel didn't take offense to my getting the hell out of there. I'm
sorry but being a reincarnated warrior, now prince and leader was going
to take a fucking while to get used to.

I laid a hand across my eyes to block out the bright light of the setting
sun. I easily spotted Kevin standing near the doors to the mall. He was
wearing jeans as well and his fitted white shirt showed off his muscles
nicely, and contrasted against his sun kissed skin.

"You looking good, man," greeted Kevin happy, winking one hazel eye at
me. "You ready for your date."

I cleared my throat. "Blind date. Don't get the two confused."

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Just technicalities. I told them we would meet
them on the third floor where the theater is."

I nodded as we entered the mall, dodging a gaggle of giggling preteens.
"This `Paul' character better not be a jerk," I said, as we jumped on the
escalator. My experiences with gay boys were limited. And the times I had
dated were not memorable.

Kevin nudged me with an elbow, shooting me a sly grin. "I know a good
icebreaker. Talk to him about that show you watch so much. Queer as
Fuck."

I blinked. "That's not the name of the show, Kevin. It's Queer as Folk."

He scratched his head, baffled. "What did I say?"

I exhaled noisily giving him a look. I had to listen to him exclaim,
"What? What did I say" over and over as we finally ascended to the third
floor. There was never a big crowd for the theater. Many people preferred
to go to the bigger theater up the street, but the mall theater was more
secluded and less crowded. Better for dates. I gazed around looking for a
guy and girl around our age.

"Natalie, hey!" yelled Kevin, waving suddenly, looking like a total fool
in my opinion.

A pretty, Hispanic brunette jogged up to us, straight brown hair bouncing
and smile bright and beaming. "Hi, Kevin!" They hugged and then she
smiled at me. "Hey, Chad. Look I brought my friend Paul."

She moved and a small girl, maybe 5'3 stood there, with curly black hair
and ice blue eyes. Those eyes looked me up and down as if I was the next
course on the menu. I gulped.

"Why Paul..." I started, my voice coming out scratchy and almost squeaky.
I cleared my throat, this time sounding normal. "...Paul is a usual name
for a girl." I directed the statement more to Kevin, who I glared at with
so much fire I was shocked he didn't explode.

"It's short for Paulette," she said, licking her lips... seductively.

I was about to vomit.

I forced a smile, it was empty and false, and grabbed Kevin by the shirt.
"Excuse us ladies." I jerked him away till we were at a distance where
they wouldn't be able to hear us. "This is how it's going to go down," I
told Kevin before he could even start speaking. "I'm going to go
downstairs and wait in the arcade. When you finish come and find me and
I'll take you home."

Kevin pouted. "What about Paul?"

"Paulette," I corrected him. "...will be fine. Tell them I'm gay, I don't
care. Tell them whatever you want. That girl has been eyefucking me since
she laid eyes on me and there is no way I'm sitting through a movie with
her giving me the come fuck me look. I mean, eww."

He sighed, half smiling. Kevin gave me a teasing smirk. "I guess this
means there is more for me."

I rolled my eyes. "I'll be in the arcade, you perv."

I should have known something crazy like that was going to happen. It was
a plan that Kevin came up with. And those never went accordingly. This
was like a bad FOX sitcom or even worse a CW sitcom. I shuddered. God, I
think my heart almost skipped a beat there. I jumped off the escalator
and headed to Galactic Games, the arcade, pizza place, smoothie bar, and
hang out all rolled into one. It was a large area with about a dozen
tables clustered near the door. Off to the side was a bar and further
back were the glowing and beeping game machines. I spotted a kid getting
too into a game of Dance Dance Revolution, his tongue was out, and his
eyes were all focused and intense. Giggle. I do love my people watching.
It was pretty full today. Hmm... there was even barely enough room at the
bar top. I slid onto the last empty stool beside a guy with dark glasses.
Shades, in doors? Well someone was just too cool for school.

I studied the huge menu tacked to the wall above the smoothie machine.
Strawberry smoothies were my favorite. My eyes strayed from the menu and
fell on the moving person behind the bar. I literally did a double take.
It probably would have been funny if I hadn't drooled on my hand. I
hurriedly wiped it off all the while staring at the eye candy before me.
He was my age, maybe a year older. He had long hair tied back in a
ponytail. It was a light brown, mahogany. His eyes were beautiful. They
were violet, like the color of Elizabeth Taylor's famous eyes. His
triangular face and dainty nose gave him an almost feminine appearance
but his towering six foot height and muscular physique was anything but
girly. The throbbing erection warming up my leg was telling me he was all
man as well.

He approached me beaming, his smile lighting up his face. "What can I get
you?"

I let that deep, smooth voice wash over me and I sighed dreamily.

"Wasawasa."

He blinked, confused at my incoherent response. I could have kicked
myself. I blushed to the roots of my hair, feeling like a total
schoolgirl. I stared down at the counter, hoping that I didn't just
embarrass myself into an asskicking.

"I don't know what that is, cutie," he responded back easily.

My head snapped up, my cheeks flushed as I registered the term of
endearment. Sweet Abercrombie! Please, please, please let this dream of a
male be gay. Or at least gay for me.

"Could I have a strawberry smoothie," I requested, smiling shyly.

He gave me that bright smile again. "Sure. I'm Danny by the way. Why
haven't I seen you before? I'm sure I would remember that face."

He was flirting. He was gay! I felt my body still and fireworks go off in
my brain. At least I like to think that was the reason why I mumbled
something unintelligible and nodded stupidly.

"I don't come here a lot," I tried again, this time making sense.

Danny laughed. "You are just too cute. Give me just a minute and I'll be
back with that smoothie."

I sighed happily, smiling like a dope. "Okay."

I watched that perfect ass swish away and I giggled insanely inside my
head. This was turning into a good fucking day after all.

"Do you always come off so dumb?" said a voice next to me. It had a
southern Texas drawl to it, not pronounced but there all the same.

I spun around in my chair and faced the mysterious speaker. It was the
guy with shades I noticed earlier. He couldn't have been more than a year
older than me. His hair was brown and in the light the strands gleamed
gold with hints of copper. I couldn't see his eyes but he had high
sculpted cheekbones and a firm jaw. Dimples on his cheeks softened the
lines of his face. His brown hair fell in a wavy mass around his
shoulders. He was handsome and could easily give Danny a run for his
money.

"Were you talking to me?" I asked politely.

The guy smirked at me. I narrowed my eyes. I was getting really tired of
people smirking at me lately. When they smirked they never had anything
nice to say. I had a feeling this wasn't a different situation.

"Nevermind. You just answered the question."

What the hell. I frowned. "Do I like owe you money or something, because
I could have sworn I don't fucking know you."

"I was just making an observation," he said casually, as if talking about
the weather and not my intelligence. "No need to throw the f word around,
Nancy."

I saw red. Anger bubbled deep within my gut and I clenched my hands into
fists. "You may want to shut the fuck up. I'm really resisting the urge
to take this chair and slap it across your face."

"Oh, you have got some balls," the guy replied, laughing. "I was just
messing with you. No hard feelings. My name's Adam. Adam Caine."

Wow. Can we say split personality disorder? "I'm Chad Summers," I said
grudgingly, after debating a moment. "Any particular reason for the jerk
improv?"

Adam shrugged. "You seemed like a good kid. I respect a person who can
stand up for themselves. I wanted to see if you would be good for Danny."

"What? You know Danny?" I couldn't help it, but I think I said his name a
little breathy. If the snort Adam let out was a clue, I think he picked
up on my awed tone.

Danny appeared in front us, the same bright smile on his face. His violet
eyes flicked between us. "My cousin isn't filling your head with bad
things is he?"

Cousin? I looked at Adam and then Danny, and then repeated it several
times. I guess I could see the resemblance. Almost. They both had long
hair. That was the only thing I could see similar between the two. I was
staring to figure out why I was always the person picked last when
pairing up for teams at Pictionary.

"I didn't know you two were cousins," I decided to settle with. Be cool
Soda Pop. Had to be more suave than my bashful stutter persona of
earlier.

Danny nodded, winking at me. "I know we don't look much alike but I
promise we're blood.

"Danny you might as well throw yourself at him," said Adam tiredly, his
southern drawl more pronounced the slower he talked. "You are doing some
major flirting."

I blushed. Danny merely laughed and wagged his eyebrows at me, making me
just blush harder. Damn this fair skin of mine and my Germanic heritage.
I shrugged at Danny, giving him an embarrassed smile.

"Well, what do you say," grinned Danny. "Will you go on a date with me
sometime?"

I stared at him dumbly. It took me two tries to talk. "Yeah. I would like
that a lot."

"Great," replied Danny, laughing. "I know a great little place we can
grab a bite to eat. How about Friday night I meet you at your house
around seven?"

I nodded quickly. Too quickly. I slowed down the movement mid nod and
almost gave myself a crick. Ouchy. I jotted down my address on the
coaster my smoothie sat on and slid it across the bar top. Someone
flagged Danny for a refill and he promised to be right back.

"I think I've had enough of Dawson's Arcade for today," said Adam,
jumping off the stool. He towered over me, easily standing almost six
foot. "You stay tough, fireball."

I rolled my eyes. "And you leave the asshole attitude where you found it.
And here's a tip: Sunglasses at night is so 80's."

Suddenly, there was a flicker of white and a loud snap and a cane was
held at Adam's side. The cane extended out and I paused. I looked at his
sunglasses, the cane, the scowl on his face. Oh shit. I hung my head and
mentally kicked myself.

"I'm sorry if my being blind is not trendy enough for you," said Adam
scowl firmly in place.

I didn't know what to say. "Sorry," I squeaked out, feeling like the
biggest asshole in the world.

Adam suddenly smiled. He shook his head and his wavy hair slid fluidly
across his shoulders. "You really are kind of cute."

With that he walked out, cane extended before him, moving with more ease
than I would have initially guessed when learning his condition. I
sighed. At least he didn't hold a grudge.

"I'm baaack," singsong Danny, appearing again, slinging a towel over his
shoulder.

All thoughts immediately left my head. He licked his lips and my eyes
traced the movement like the answers to life would be revealed with that
one simple motion. I was really crushing hard. Now I knew how Donna
Martin felt on every episode of Beverly Hills 90210.

This day had turned out pretty great after all.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I know. It's been too long since time I updated but I just now got my
internet turned back on and upload this was the first thing I've done. We
are finally initiating the romance! I didn't want to rush it but at the
9th chapter I figure that its way past time. Next Chapter: Chad has a
date. The boys go on a class field trip. Normal field trip, except for
the army of demons.


I love the feedback that I get. Your emails rock and all the people who
read this story are pretty much awesome. I heard you guys lots. If you
want to get in touch with me you can email me at Silvenfox@yahoo.com