The Chosen

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 4

The tension in the air thrummed with a swell of emotions that emanated from everyone like heat waves that cling to dry deserts. Surprisingly, I was the first one to break the shocked silence.

"Nathaniel, do you know this woman?" I asked without taking my eyes of her. I wasn't taking any chances.

Smiling serenely she met my stare, and I found myself swimming in her startling blue eyes. They were hypnotically beautiful to gaze upon and I broke our stare with some effort. I wasn't attracted to her psychically, but the otherworldly beauty that surrounded her was impossible to ignore.

Nathaniel nodded his face a mixture of awe and apprehension. "This is the Emissary."

"We got that part," said Killian, still looking miffed that the woman had stopped his beam so easily.

The Emissary smiled beatifically. "My name is Celestinai Cemmeria Clistos-Lal Emuria De Talot. And as you know, I am the Emissary."

The words flowed from her lips lyrical and sweet, like honey. Her name was long but it sounded like quiet music as it lingered in the air. There was old power behind her name and age, a great age that spoke of times long gone, stars no longer alive, and empires that had risen and fallen all during her lifetime. I swallowed to clear my suddenly dry throat, feeling humbled to be in her presence.

"Well `Celeste'," I countered, ignoring the undignified gawking from Nathaniel. "I can't pronounce your name even on a good day, so Celeste will just have to do. I'm glad you and Nathaniel know what you are, but the rest of us don't know jack. So care to fill us in?"

`Celeste' laughed and I shrugged off the tingling sensation the melodious sound invoked. "I heard you were amusing," she smiled. "I am the Emissary of the They Above all."

Holy shit. My eyes widened and I took a step back. I didn't know what to say to that. Standing before us was an honest to God higher being from the upper planes of existence.

She nodded at me, seeing the wheels turn in my head. "I am the Voice of They Above All's will on Earth and throughout the universe. Just as you Chosen, represent their Hand."

"Are we in trouble?" asked Ryan hesitantly.

I hoped not. I wasn't sure if we could take her.

Celeste shook her head. "Not at all, champion of soul. I am here to act in the capacity as a senior advisor. They Above All have seen what is on the horizon."

"I don't remember you from Atlantis, so why now, and why does Nathaniel know you?" asked Adam.

"The database has many tales of the agents of They Above All," explained Nathaniel, who was for some reason still looking dazed and awestruck. I was beginning to wonder about him.

Celeste smiled kindly at Adam's questions. "There never was a time in the past that required my presence. Now things are different. You stand on the edge of a knife. The enemy you face is formidable. This time not only the Earth, but the entire universe faces annihilation."

I didn't like the way she said annihilation. The tone of was final. It was like a steel edged razor. It cut into me and left a sinking dread that filled me up and threatened to swallow me. The whole universe was in jeopardy? It was almost an impossible concept to fathom.

"The universe?" asked Ryan slowly.

The Emissary's tranquil face was now touched with grimness. "The skinwalkers you fought are a part of a greater force, an organization that is after the most powerful weapon in existence."

"Like a nuke or something?" asked Killian.

I turned disbelieving eyes on him. And he said I was dumb. Idiot.

Celeste only shook her head with a small smile. "Its power is beyond measure. This weapon is called Heaven's Trumpet. It can rewrite the laws of physics, kill time, and destroy a universe in one solar second."

"Oh," I said dumbly. "Is that all?"

"And these guys are looking for this weapon?" asked Adam, paling.

"They are seeking its power," she replied, moving to the monitor projecting the ever scrolling Atlantean glyphs. She gazed at the screen curiously and then turned back to us. "There are three Keys that hold back the weapon. When they are gathered in one place the lock will break and Heaven's Trumpet shall be summoned forth."

A sick thought formed in my head. "They Above All see this ending badly don't they? It's why you were sent here."

"You cannot tell the depth of the river, until you see the bottom," she Replied cryptically, her eyes suddenly shadowed and face blanking, devoid of all emotion.

I frowned. What the hell did that even mean? Was this her way of dodging the question? Whatever. If she didn't want to answer then it didn't matter. My mind had already been made up. We were fucked.

"Heaven's Trumpet is that dangerous?" asked Ryan.

Celeste's red, pouty lips thinned. Her eyes were deadly serious as she replied, "Heaven's Trumpet is the ultimate weapon and the ultimate failsafe. In the face of great evil it is programmed to-"

Her body unexpectedly erupted into a bright glow, and she looked up startled. "I'm sorry," she said to us, her blue eyes wide and concerned. "I wasn't supposed to tell you so much. It is against the Laws of Balance. We shall meet agai-"

She suddenly exploded into bright light, so pure and majestic that it awed my soul. The light seemingly was yanked backward, and up through the ceiling, leaving nothing behind. The afterglow that bathed the room faded, and we were left standing in stunned silence.

Killian turned to Nathaniel. "What the hell was that about? Why did she leave?"

Nathaniel was staring at the ceiling thoughtfully. "I would wager that she was only meant to lead us in the right direction. Anymore than that was overstepping her bounds, so They Above All must have recalled her back to the higher planes."

Shaking my head, I took a step back and flopped down in the nearest chair. "This is heavy. A weapon that can annihilate the universe? What the fuck!"

"We've never had the freaking universe to worry about," agreed Killian, following my lead in sitting down.

Adam shrugged. "You did destroy an entire dimension, love."

I raised my eyebrow. "The Ever After? That was so different. First I was hopped up on power from the Giga Annihilation Program, and second it was just a pocket universe linked to Earth. It probably wasn't any bigger than Europe, and maybe Africa."

They gaped at me and I rolled my eyes. Wow. A guy couldn't destroy a small dimension without it ever being forgotten about. I couldn't even begin to think about the power requirements that it would take to destroy an entire universe. It would require a power that is equal to or greater than the universe itself. That type of power was astronomical and innumerable to even form into coherent thought.

"Ryan can you start searching the database for Heaven's Trumpet and what its purpose is, and maybe a way to stop it if it is summoned," I said, feeling the urge to delegate once again. "Nathaniel, can you check with your contacts to see anything about what these Keys? Maybe we can get to them first and hide them or destroy them if we need to."

They didn't argue and I was thankful. I was starting to feel a headache form between my eyebrows. Great. This was an excellent way to start off Round Two of Chosen vs. This Round's Bad Guys. Defending the planet was hard enough, but now the whole universe rested on our shoulders. If this was a joke I wasn't laughing. Why was it always us? I was barely wrapping my head around Pre Calculus and now this...

Times like this I wish I was twenty one. I needed a strong drink.

In the end it was time to call it a night. The computer was set on automatic search, its systems going through its massive database combing for specific queries that Ryan inputted into its sub routines. Killian practically had to pry Ryan away from the computer. That boy was such a geek...Heh.

Nathaniel promised to contact his sources who dealt with the preternatural and that was all that could be done. The only thing to do now was wait. Yawning, I waved goodbye to Killian's car as he reversed his Eclipse and drove it out of the driveway. I leaned against Adam's solid chest, taking a moment to bask in the tranquil night and the calm serenity of the moment.

"We still have to have that talk." Adam's voice made his chest rumble and I could feel it against my cheek.

It succeeded in ending my basking and I looked up at him, taking a step back. "What talk?"

Adam chewed his lip. "You know... the one we said we were going to have earlier."

"Oh...Oh!" I said surprised, feeling the blush creep up my neck.

That talk! I had completely forgotten. Although it seemed crazy that I had forgot about our very hot, and very public make out session. If we were alone we more than likely would have jumped each other. There was no denying that. Considering that we haven't done anything sexual yet, a talk was definitely needed.

"This is awkward..." Adam muttered looking hard at the ground, as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

I nodded then realized he couldn't see it. "No kidding."

"I don't know what to say..." he replied, trailing off.

I swallowed. "Me either," I said softly. "Maybe...maybe we don't have to say anything."

He frowned and finally looked at me, eyes filled with confusion. "Aren't we supposed to?"

Shaking my head, I took his hand. "I don't think so. I like what we have, baby. We obviously want each other, but I feel like an idiot if we have to plan out our first time. I want it to be spontaneous, passionate, and memorable. I want it to be something special that when I look back on it I sigh and smile goofily."

Adam smiled, slow and sweet. "Some of the things that you say... I love you."

The smile and the emotion lacing his voice made my heart skip. "I love you, too."

"I'm glad you don't want to plan it out," said Adam, smiling warmly at me. "When we finally have sex it will be something special and I want it to be at the right time and at the right moment."

I couldn't help teasing him. "And what's the right moment and time, Casanova?"

His hazel eyes trailed over me and I shuddered under that heated gaze. "Trust me. We'll both know when that moment comes."

I nodded feeling my breath catch. Damn this boy could do things to me that I never thought was possible. I never would have thought such a feat existed until I met him.

"Suave, very suave, Romeo," I said slapping him on the arm, ducking my head to hide the blush I was sure tingeing my cheeks.

Adam winked, wrapping both his arms around my waist and pulling me into his much bigger and muscular frame. "Does that make you my Juliet?"

I snorted. "I ain't drinking any poison. They had to be on crack to commit double suicide."

"Crazy in love is more like it," smirked Adam.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, no... Please, don't tell me your one of those who thinks that twisted, little snuff tale was a wonderful, romantic love story?"

Adam grinned, shrugging. "I don't know. It was them against the world and in the end they only had each other. It was beautiful..."

I laughed and smiled at him enticingly. "What do you think of our own love affair? In love millions of years ago in other life, killed, and then only to be reborn and given a second chance at love."

Adam looked back down at the ground, stilling all movement. My eyes widened and I opened my mouth feeling like a fucking clown. I didn't mean to hurt his feelings. Usually, he was so good at telling when I was joking. He regularly cut off my teasing and hit me back just as hard, but in good fun. I reached out a hand and laid it on his shoulder.

"Adam?" I said softly.

He pursed his lips, then sighed and met my eyes looking up. I was floored at the emotion I saw swirling in his hazel eyes. They were completely open and easy for me to read. Love. That was all I saw swirling in his eyes, which were a dark green like the color of oak leaves. His emotions were laid bare and they were all for me. He would do anything for me. I could see it in his eyes. They promised me love, affection, honesty, devotion, caring... and so much more. They promised that whoever hurt me would suffer twenty times more and I believed it. Adam loved me completely, with his heart and soul. I was his.

I closed my eyes, feeling heat sear through my chest where my heart was. I rubbed at my chest feeling like it was going to burst. It hurt so much. I looked at him and I couldn't resist the tear that escaped. Touched beyond words didn't describe it. I was feeling his gaze in my very core. It embraced my soul and I welcomed it like the first rays of the summer sun shining on me.

With a smile so wide that my cheeks hurt, I beamed at Adam. He wiped away my tears smiling tenderly, with just a hint of shyness that sent my stomach turning over and over, like I was flying.

"Adam I..." I said, choking up. "Adam I love you so much, sometimes it's like I can hardly breathe."

Smiling glowingly, Adam shook his head with wet eyes and flushed cheeks. "And you say I say sweet things."

I wiped my tear tracks and replied, "I have my cool moments."

"That you do."

I rested my head against his chest again and wrapped my arms tighter around his firm torso. His heartbeat lulled me into a quiet, almost meditative trance. My eyes closed. I loved this boy so much. There was nobody else for me. I was sure of it. He was the one. The One. I knew he was my soul mate, but now I truly understood what that term meant. We were the better part of each other. I was complete, whole, when I was with him. I was ying and he was my yang. It was sappy, but it was true. I was loves bitch, and proud of it.

The quiet lulled me into such a lethargic state that I couldn't resist the yawn that erupted from my mouth. Adam looked down at me, coyly raising an eyebrow.

"You tired of me already?" he asked teasingly.

Smiling, I shook my head.

Adam ran a soft hand through my hair and I involuntarily moved into his touch. "I don't know about you, baby. Call me selfish. I'm not ready for you to leave. I always want more time with you."

"You sap," I said, my voice so thick with emotions that I could barely get it out.

Adam hummed happily under his breath and it was almost musical. I listened closer and thought about his voice. It was deep, but not really, perfect baritone vocal range. I looked at him, thinking curiously.

"Sing me something," I said suddenly.

Laughing lightly, Adam shook his head. "What brought that on?"

I shrugged. "Just thinking. I always hear you humming, like you want to sing, but you never do. I can tell you have a good singing voice."

He just raised an eyebrow. "You a talent scout in your free time?"

I snorted. "Nope, I just know sounds well. Portals are based off sound. The harmonics of a portal resonate on a certain frequency and each portal is attune to-"

"Okay, okay," conceded Adam, laughing. "You got me. No need to school me on magic. Some of us are null in that area, thank you. I can sing. You figured me out, Dick Tracy. I like musicals," he admitted, blushing. "I sing a lot of show tunes when I'm by myself."

What? How did I miss that one?" "You like musicals? Since when?"

Still blushing, he shrugged. "It's not something I advertise. Most people don't like them. They think they're stupid. But when I was blind I would listen to them all the time. It's hard to watch a movie when you can't see, but with musical's its completely different." His face lit up with unrestrained joy. "In a musical the whole thing is acted out through dialogue and the songs... the songs actually enhance and tell the story... and when I was blind I felt like... like I could actually see in those moments..."

Surprised, I shook my head. "I wish you would have said something earlier, baby. I never knew."

"Again, It's not something I advertise."

I pressed into him with my body. "Sing me something. Please."

Adam pressed a kiss on top of my head. "Since you insist," he said with fake annoyance. He paused, tilting his head thinking for a moment, and then sang, "Maybe I'm wise. But you've got me seeing, through different eyes."

"Nice," I chuckled.

He playfully rolled his eyes and swatted at my shoulder. "Somehow I've fallen, under your spell. And somehow I'm feeling, it's up that I fell..." He trailed off, staring at me with twinkling hazel eyes, and then started again. "Just for this moment, as long as you're mine."

"Only yours," I giggled, feeling light and giddy as his rich tenor voice washed over me.

His eyes shined with warmth and I sighed in content, as he continued singing, "Come be how you want to. And see how bright we shine. Borrow the moonlight, until it is through..."

He trailed off at that note winking at me devilishly, as I literally grasped a shaft of moonlight in my hands, folding it and twisting it with magic. I crushed it into its most basic form and blew the silver particles, resembling fairy dust, across my open palm. They danced in the air between us and Adam caught one on his fingertip as the rest fell to the ground.

"Stop distracting me. Let me finish for you," Adam laughed, light and quick. He grabbed my hands and I held on tight, enjoying the show that was only for me and me alone. He started to sing his last line, putting so much feeling into it that I stopped and stared. "And know I'll be here holding you. As long as you're mine."

I gaped at him, still feeling the energy from the song after he was done. "And you hid that from me. That was amazing."

Adam grinned, self consciously. "You think?"

I leaned in. "I know."

And we kissed.

Sighing, I fell onto my bed, sprawled over it like a cheap hooker invited back to a fancy hotel room. I salute you, Juliet Roberts. The events from the past few days were catching up to my weary body.

I never would have pictured that when we resumed our duties it would start off so hardcore 5000. Peace, truly eternal peace, just wasn't in the cards for us. As long as we were Chosen, there would be assholes clawing their way around in the dark ready to challenge the light.

"At least I was getting better at being leader," I mused aloud, smiling at the ceiling.

For awhile there I was beginning to think that I was the only Chosen that retained nothing from their past incarnation. Finally I was getting the pay off. It was a little late, but it was better than never. Now if I could just duplicate those fancy back flips the others could do so easily...

"Forking, fake Power Rangers," I muttered, slipping off my shoes and standing up.

With a strangled yawn, I yanked off my shirt and slipped out of my jeans. I hummed under my breath, remembering the sweet song Adam sang to me. I put on an old white t-shirt and blue mesh short, thinking back to that soothing tenor voice that held me mesmerized.

Oh Adam. I couldn't resist the giddy sigh that escaped my throat. I was definitely in love.

Another yawn escaped and I shook my head quickly, trying to shake off the exhaustion. My feet padded softly against the carpet as I made my way to the bathroom. I took out my contacts and with my blurred vision the blue in my eyes practically glowed, as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

A shower would be good, but that would have to wait till morning. I was feeling too weak to entertain thoughts of standing for much longer. I needed to wash the gel from my hair but sacrifices must be made in the name of sleep. Sorry my beautiful blond locks. Take one for the team.

I only managed to bump into one wall on the way back to my bedroom. It was a miracle that I didn't fall and kiss carpet. When my head touched the pillow, with the blankets tucked around me, it was almost heaven. A little happy smile curved at my lips as I closed my eyes, surrendering to the pull of sleep.

Darkness. A mind numbing dark towered above, below, and around me. Clutching at my sight like a monstrous entity from a never-ending nightmare. Everywhere I looked there it was. It clung to the farthest corners and the deepest pits of thought. It surrounded me like a cocoon and I was trapped in its tendrils.

Light broke the through black veil, piercing through the darkness, and shinning light upon the ocean of crawling dark. The light struck me and my eyes closed automatically at the intense illumination.

When I opened my eyes what greeted me was worse than total darkness. Destruction. The city of Centennial lay in ruins. I stood on top of a building, one of the few that were left standing. The sky was blood red with thick clouds tinged with gray, and ash fell silently across desolate the scene. My mouth dropped open as I gazed at the toppled buildings. Most were barely standing, some were reduced to rubble, and everywhere I looked devastation met my gaze.

That took second place to the thousands of dead bodies that covered the street. The bodies were broken, bloody, with rotting skin, revealing inner muscles and bits of pearl, white bone.

"Oh, God," I muttered, my head swimming as nausea overcame me.

What was this?

What was going on? Was I dreaming? Yes. I was. I knew that. But this seemed, and felt so real. I looked at the sky, shuddering at the malevolence that reeked from the hidden depths behind the clouds. They shifted, swirled, and churned above my head. I knew without a doubt that something evil looked behind their folds. I couldn't turn away, couldn't run, I knew whatever lurked above could find me anywhere. I didn't know how I knew. Something in the back of my head, that ancient part that was programmed to sense predators, warned me, screamed that if it saw me, I would die. I knew it as surely I knew this was the end.

The end?!? This was Judgment Day. I was witnessing Armageddon. Something slithered against my soul and I turned around.

"Not the end. Only the beginning," said Prince Emrys, staring stoically into my panicked face.

"What's going on? This is Armageddon!" I screamed at his blank face.

His royal highness didn't flinch or even blink at my raised voice screaming not more than five inches from his face. He stared at me calmly his mouth turned in a barely perceptible frown. If he wasn't me, I wouldn't have even noticed.

My past incarnation, with his older features, said cryptically, "Blood, blood, blood, blood. My blood. Your blood. His blood. One, two, four, all into two, back into one."

"What?" I asked frowning, as his meaningless words echoed in my mind. "What is this?"

"The end of a beginning," Prince Emrys answered, emotionlessly. He pointed to the horizon. "Angels are singing. It comes."

I followed to where his finger pointed. "What comes!"

"Heaven's Trumpet."

From the east light exploded in a brilliant display of silver luminescence. Silver light rushed across the land in a sea of blinding, holy light that burned everything it engulfed, and liquefying anything it touched into nothingness. The light raced toward us and I threw up my hands to shield myself.

Darkness rolled over me, engulfing me once again in its folds.

A Voice thundered through the ocean of blackness and it hammered against my mind, inside my very being:

"FROM THE VOID IT RESTS, IT COMES, IT CONQUERES. ALL SHALL TASTE FEAR. THE UNIVERSE SHALL WEEP IN DESPAIR."

I jolted awake screaming, screaming so hard that my throat roared in agony. Blood spill from my nose and I shook away my mother's hands, and insistent, concerned questioning. The horrors of my dream gripped my waking thoughts flooding my body with remembered sensations, and haunting images of the end of the world. I thought it earlier. But now I knew it for sure.

We were screwed.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Well that was a rather touching and dramatic chapter. It's just the start of bigger things to come. The song in the chapter is from the musical Wicked, and is called As Long as You're Mine. It's a very moving song, and I think describes Chad and Adam's relationship pretty well. Next Chapter: The Keys

I have created a message board in light of missing emails. If you want to post a comment or drop a line you can copy and paste this link into your browser. http://www.quicktopic.com/39/H/fXmyJ3NcYt7Z or if you want to email me you can do so at Batmanhater@aol.com