Emerge Page 2

  Hell, maybe he was. Ben didn’t understand at the time, but he was learning, and he realized at that moment he wanted too. “Look, we get your life just got turned on its head. Problem is, we” Mark waved his hand between all the descendants “don’t have time to play around with what ifs or maybes. This is real, we are extremely real. You are one of us, Colbie is one of us.” Mark looked to Colbie with a softened smile.

  She was so beautiful and sweet. He wanted to get to know her too, since she was new to the group. He at least knew everyone except Deacon, and he knew the guys would make sure they got to know each other too.

  Ben remembered taking a bite of the burger he had been eating using the food as a distraction and giving himself time to think. He finally had just asked, “What do we have to do?” at the time he was worried it would hurt or revolve around slicing hands and doing that blood brother thing.

  “We kiss each other’s birthmarks.” That brought his head up so fast he hadn’t remembered to swallow his next bite of burger. Cam was on him patting his back, he felt a warmth go through him and instead of coughing up the hunk of food lodged in his esophagus, he felt it almost melt leaving him sucking in air, and able to swallow. “Did you do that?” he looked to Cam asking. Cam gave him a nod. “I have healing powers as one of my gifts, you will be able to share that gift to some degree, through the bond.”

  For the next hour, each person walked by and kissed his back, specifically his spine. He had never felt so loved as he did in that moment and time.

  He had honestly thought they were all crazy, until he felt it. Colbie was the last one in line to kiss him, what he felt was more from her. She had placed her hands on his hips, he heard her breath in, like she was smelling him. Then her lips were on his back, lingering much longer than the others.

  He felt like a teen boy right there and then; his body was firing on all cylinders showing his reaction through the extreme tightening of his jeans. He could feel she didn’t want to let go from her touch as well. When she did let go, he turned to have her staring up at him like she was feeling the same thing he was.

  The whole thing happened again where they each went down the line making sure Colbie was kissed as well. He remembered kissing each one of his friends…no, they were his family now. Even through the disbelief and confusion he knew they were family. Ben could feel them to his very core. Just like Colbie, he was last to kiss her.

  She had what looked like a bouquet of wheat and wildflowers on the inside of her right bicep. It was so pretty and sweet and when his lips met her flesh, he felt a whole lot of electricity flowing through him, making every hair on his body stand up and take notice. He held her arm gently, as his lips lingered, just as her lips did on him. Her green eyes held his and everything around him was silent.

  “Well, I would say another one bites the dust.” The chuckles that followed the comment brought him out of his shock. Although it didn’t stop he and Colbie’s direct eye contact.

  It was Cam’s firm hand on his shoulder that made him look away. “All right buddy, we all get It, but for now you both need time. You and she will have an eternity to figure out what we all just saw happen.” Fuck, no one could have missed what had just happened. He had never felt anything so all consuming.

  Ben finished off his beer and retrieved another. Back in his lounger he let his mind continue to wander. Years and years of nightmares. His parents had been told he had a nightmare disorder. Someone, when he was older, said night terror disorder. The difference is, one, you remember when you wake, and one, you don’t.

  He had nightmares he always remembered; even when he would tell his parents or anyone that slept in his bed that when they happened, he didn’t remember. How do you explain the vivid visions of blood and gore, torture of monsters, and humans? Things with nightmarish faces that taunted you every night, are not exactly something a man can save face with and not lose his proverbial man card.

  As a child he learned what sex was through nightmares. Fortunately, he had teenage friends that later when his body went through puberty, showed him porn. He almost laughed thinking about it because no one should believe that porn is the way sex always is.

  What it did do for him, was show him that sex was not meant to be pain, torture, and cruelty. He learned it was pleasure and happiness, and well, some pain but in a good way. If he had told his parents he knew all about sex when they wanted to discuss the birds and the bees, he would have been taken to a mental facility.

  His life growing up wasn’t the greatest, but it wasn’t all bad either. He did eventually leave his family home. He had been gone years when he found out he had been adopted and that was by accident. His dad had been in the hospital and the doctor was discussing transfusions with his mom, and their blood types were brought up. The doc wanted to possibly use Ben’s blood, and his mother’s reaction was to look like a frozen statue as she said, that probably won’t be possible. It had taken a few minutes of the constant replay of the words for her meaning to register in his brain while the doctor stood looking confused. His mom finally said the words, we adopted him as a new born. She didn’t even look at him, or try.

  It took three days before she finally told him that he had been left on the porch of a church that she and his dad were members of. They couldn’t have children and their pastor knew of their predicament. With the help of the church, they were approved to keep Ben. They didn’t want Ben to think he was unwanted by anyone, so they thought it best to keep the adoption a secret.

  He had barely told Cam only weeks before, when Cam pointed out that almost every descendant was adopted. Nat so far being the only one that hadn’t been, and even then, her parents were nothing more than evil pawns in a game.

  Maybe it was what drew him and Cam together so fast as friends. Hell, Cam was the only person until recently he could ever count on, to be honest. Although Cam had hidden his true self once he found out what he was, Ben totally understood it now. He was a Descendant of the Greek gods. “Fuck!” he wiped a hand over his face before upending his bottle of beer and swallowing every drop.

  “You know you won’t find the answers in the bottom of that bottle.” Cam’s voice made him jump then relax as he sat the bottle on the table. Cam grabbed up his own and joined him on the other chaise before speaking again. “I stood there for almost five minutes, before I decided you were way too in your own head.” Ben moves his eyes to see Cam was looking out to the beautiful lush green forest that was his property.

  Ben really loved the serenity of the place. “Just really thinking on everything, I guess.” Cam’s head bobbed in understanding

  “When Nat saw that crystal on the ground, she recognized it instantly. Before she could move her lips or her body to try and grab it, it was crushed.” Ben was sure Cam was replaying what he was he was seeing in his own head. “Did she tell you she has one tucked away, hidden safe?”

  Ben nods his head but then tells Cam “Yeah, her grandmothers or something.” Cam nods his head, “yep! That’s why she knew. Her grandmother was an evil, underhanded, abusive bitch. As far back as Nat can remember her grandmother was cruel. Just like the rest of her family really. Right before her grandmother's death the old woman yelled out what that necklace was. That was why she knew when she saw it.”

  He had wondered how Natalia knew, “I have never been mean or cruel though.” Now he watches as Cam sits up, turning to sit on the side of the chaise facing him. “Hades used Natalia’s family to train her. He made them his minions and controlled all they did. They were nothing but slaves to do his bidding. His goal had been to make her as well trained, and as strong as he could before he made her his. Then he could use her as well.” Cam smiles with pride as he continues, “not my girl though. No, my beautiful goddess was stronger and more powerful than Hades realized, and most of all, smarter. I have been talking a lot to Nat about your necklace, and you. Why you had one at all. Our best guess is because of who you are a descendant. Each of us is honestly equally as powerful
. We just have different skills, and for different reasons.

  Ben you are the descendant of Ares, god of war. Dude, seriously you are a massive threat to Hades. I’m sure he tried with each of us. Somehow, he got to you though. Using that necklace he was able to hide your powers. He would have come for you eventually, making it impossible for you to deny his offer. Like dangling a carrot to a deprived rabbit.”

  Cam pulled hard on his bottle taking half of its contents, as Ben climbed up and grabbed a third bottle for himself and a second for Cam.

  Pacing around the patio he opened and downed half, once again. “Heath thinks I will learn everything fast now that my essence was returned to me. Like what was in that charm around my neck was only the power that was withheld, but that my body will just know what to do with it.” Ben tipped back the rest of the bottle finishing it off, as Cam opened his bottle taking a sip.

  He sat back down, only now, he sat on the edge of his lounger facing Cam. “Six weeks, and here I sit. My head is so fucked up by all of this.” Cam reaches out giving Ben’s knee a pat. “Of course it is, Hades wanted that. Don’t let him win brother.”

  Cam didn’t know the extent of his nightmares, no one did. He was glad they stopped, but as he’d thought earlier, he still remembered them.

  “You told me of the battles you all have gone through. Is it really bad where he took you? Like you said, he’s a sick bastard, but like…is he really that bad?” Cam downed his bottle and set the empty on the table. Ben gestured to the ice chest, but Cam shook his head no.

  “Think worst case everything, torture, rape, blood, whips, chains. I don’t mean the fun private let’s get our kink on either. I mean horrific awful depravity, that will make the strongest of people sick to see or live through.”

  Cam’s head turns away when Ben reaches out to him. Before he knew it, they were in a tight one-armed hug. “I didn’t mean to make you relive anything.” Ben whispers, as Cam shook his head pulling back to sit up right again. “Nat man, she is the strongest person I know. He made her life hell, and she lives her life to the fullest, and somehow doesn’t let her memories eat her alive. She has a nightmare once in a while, but usually I can help her shake it off.” Ben looks down at his hands, making fists then releasing, before repeating. Cam’s hand was suddenly over one of his hand’s. “Want to explain what you’re thinking?”

  Ben looks to the forest wondering if he could get the words out that he had never spoken out loud. He shook his head thinking he couldn’t, “sometimes we have found by speaking to each other what’s eating us up inside, it has no power to control us any longer.” Cam’s words of wisdom irritated him making him snarl out, “okay Doctor Freud.” Cam rolled his eyes, laughing.

  “You can get angry all you want, but whatever’s eating you up, won’t stop until you get it out. So be it me, or one of the others, find a way to make it happen. In the meantime, the guys expect you at my gym after closing. You have training, so you best have your ass there.” Cam stood placing is hand on Ben’s shoulder giving it a squeeze. “I love you man, you and me, we’ve been through a lot. You don’t get to wallow for long.” Ben watches his best friend in the world walk away, leaving him feeling like a complete asshole.

  Ben needed to get out of his slump, he couldn’t keep feeling like he was, and taking it out on the very people that he knew were there for him. Ever since that bonding kiss, he could feel them all. They even spoke in his head sometimes, which was still very weird. Most of all, if he didn’t get his shit together, how could he pursue the one thing he wanted the most. A light in his very dark world.

  He had barely had any words with the woman, hell, she was a demigoddess. When he saw her at Crave eating at the counter, he had thought to sit with her. It had been more than a week ago, but he could see it in his mind like it was yesterday.

  Her honey blonde hair shining in the morning sun that beamed through the window of the diner. Instead of sitting next to her like he should have, Ben took a booth in the back corner like some stalker. He almost forgot to look at the menu because he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Shirly had broken the spell on him with her teasing that he was burning a hole through her pretty back side.

  He was, or had been always confident where woman were concerned. Being the Hunt part of The Dane Hunt Experience made woman flock. Prime example…the wedding reception.

  Since he laid eyes on Colbie at the wedding, he had zero interest in anyone, but her.

  Deacon had walked into the diner while he sat staring. Ben watched the man stop by Colbie, lean down kissing her temple. He wished it had been his lips. Shirly handed Deacon a bag with food to take with him, then Deacon walked over and sat down uninvited in the booth opposite Ben.

  Ben’s eyes finally moved from Colbie, to meet with Deacon’s super dark blue eyes. They were like midnight, and full of stars and mesmerizing, catching his attention. Shit, he realized that it was a part of Deacon’s powers, and Deacon had done it on purpose.

  “Good, I have your attention now, so listen up brother.” Deacons deep voice commanded attention. Deacon leaned in keeping his voice low enough for the others around not to hear. “You are a descendant of one of the more powerful gods, Ben. Get your shit together, grasp it as it’s the new you, and then pursue that beautiful goddess. Until you can figure you out, you can’t help her. She is not ready, and neither are you. If you push it and jump the gun, you will only hurt you both. None of us will allow that!”

  He knew Deacon was trying to help, but as an adult, no one likes feeling like they are being reprimanded like a child. He was about to lash out when Deacon’s extraordinarily strong hand was suddenly around his throat. Deacon’s large body blocking his action from everyone’s view. “Do not think you can best me! Maybe someday soon when you pull your head out of your ass. Not today kid, that shit won’t fly with me. Even when you learn to harness all you are, you still won’t best me, so don’t try!” His hand loosened but didn’t release.

  “I am your brother, not your enemy. I look forward to getting to know you better; right now though, you are making it difficult for everyone who is trained to help you. This needs to stop Ben.” Deacon’s hand released, letting Ben lean back in his seat. He was smart enough to stay quiet, take a drink of his coffee, and flounder in his stupidity.

  “I feel so fucking lost Deac.” He finally said the words almost in a whisper, because of the shame he was feeling. Deacon didn’t make him feel stupid with his next words, however.

  “I can’t even imagine not knowing your entire life or at least most of it. You already know most of us knew we were way different than others from the time we were all rather young.” Ben gave a single nod, “Here’s the thing though, you are different and in a good way. You now have the power to help, to guide, and to protect.” Deacon looked over his shoulder to see Colbie chatting with the waitress Shirly, before his attention returned. “and if you get yourself on the right track, you could love like you have never loved before, and real soon too.” Deacon’s finger popped up to stall what Ben would have said, “but make sure your clear here and now. Not one of us will allow that,” Deacon waved his finger between Ben and Colbie, “until we see both of you are ready to handle it. We are bonded now brother, I may not know you well in the daily life sense, but your inside of me now, like I am you, and I do love you and her. So step up and let us help you find your way.” With his parting words Deacon stood, knocked his knuckles lightly on the table, grabbed his food and left.

  Holy shit his head was everywhere, maybe getting his ass kicked in the gym would help. Ben wasn’t a weak man. He was fit, had well-honed muscles and strength; that was all before the necklace broke and gave him what apparently was indeed his real true life back. He was tall at six foot six inches. Should have been a sign when he was growing up, since no one in his adopted family was tall, he thought. He had thick broad shoulders he had worked his ass off to build growing up, which came to mind as an afterthought.

  Especially being on
stage, they used a lot of energy jumping around putting on a show for the masses. He always believed in a good diet and strong body being key to how he was able to do so much. Ben had to believe that was still true. Granted he did love him a good old pizza, or a messy loaded burger, but they were treats more than something he partook in often.

  Each descendant, his friends, had all lectured him since his new revelation. Maybe just maybe, he could start to believe in himself again. Maybe use the wisdom they had all shared, but regardless, he needed to step up as Deacon had said.

  Ben needed to own up as Cam once told him. He needed to recognize he was a demigod as Heath had pointed out, and not be some basic human any longer. The ladies were much nicer with their words, but he knew, they all meant the same things.

  Ben stood, cleaned his beer bottles, and caps up before taking one more look out to the forest. “Fuck you, Hades!” His voice was filled with the sound of anger that he couldn’t even hide from himself, let alone anyone else.

  “Guess I best get my ass to the gym. Time to become this demigod I’m apparently supposed to be.”

  Chapter Two

  A new sun meant a new day for Colbie; her head tilted back, her hands resting in a relaxed state on the railing that let her face the most beautiful forest she had ever seen. Six weeks of memories slowly coming back to her. Heath and the others all had told her it was probably for the best. Slow and easy, verses being emersed in a flood of memories that could overwhelm her.