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 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