The Chosen - 3. The Need to Fight

[Chapter 3]

Nathaniel was officially on my bad side. After a week of training, I wanted Freddy Krueger to stalk my dreams and show me a good time. Okay, maybe not that far. That was a little dark. Sure the training was helpful and I was coming along at a decent pace but it was eating up time that I coveted. Usually, I spent free time hanging with Kevin and our friends, studying, reading, really just about anything that kept me active. Now training was monopolizing all that time not spent at school. I slammed my locker door closed and checked the time on my cell phone. It was almost four and the final bell had just rung ending the school day. I had twenty minutes to get to Nathaniel's house for training. Again.

Kevin slid in front of the locker next to mine like a goddam magician. He stared at me crossly, with his arms folded, and frown looking out of place on his usually smiling face.

"Did I do something to you?"

I immediately felt a wave of guilt. This confrontation was inevitable. "No, bro. Listen I know I haven't been around much for the last couple of days-"

"Try a week," he scoffed, cutting me off. He lost his frown and looked down at the ground, hiding the hurt on his face. "I just feel like you're mad at me or something. We never go more than a couple of days without hanging out."

That was not an exaggeration. Some people considered us twins since we acted so alike and could always find one with the other. A couple of days apart was like weeks to us. We were that close. And... when I thought about that it seemed like we were freaky co-dependent. Oh well. He's my best friend and will always be in my life.

I tugged on his shirt to get his attention. "I'm sorry, Kev-Kev," I said softly, using the nickname I made up when we were kids. "I just have a lot on my plate lately."

"I can tell. What's going on, Chad?" he asked, concern shining through in his voice.

I choked. There was no way I could tell him I was a Chosen, one of four reincarnated warriors from a millennia ago gifted with powers to fight evil. I knew it would be a hard conversation to have and I wanted to tell him because we kept no secrets from each other, but Nathaniel was adamant about being me secret identity boy. Nathaniel Ruiz strikes again. He was really screwing up my life lately.

"I just have stuff," I replied lamely, wincing at his crestfallen expression. Immediately, I felt guilty again so I formulated a quick plan. "Tomorrow's Saturday. How about we get together and go see that new pirate movie. I heard the captain is really a laugh."

He immediately brightened, hazel eyes practically lighting up as he beamed. "Sure dude! I'm there." He punched me in the shoulder. "I thought I was losing you for a minute there."

I shook my head, feeling a little better now that he was smiling. "Never."

I had to do 80 through town to get to Nathaniel's at a decent time. I was already five minutes late and I knew I was going to get the dedication and commitment speech. My eyes caught a pair of golden arches and I felt a churning in my stomach. I swerved into the drive-thru entrance of McDonald's narrowly missing getting hit by an oncoming SUV and cutting off a Volvo in the process. I drive a little reckless when the stomach starts making those talking noises.

Nathaniel lived just on the outskirts of Centennial. His grandparents passed away while he was in college and left their estate to him. If you ever saw X-Men in any of its incarnations then you have a pretty good idea as to what the house looked like. It wasn't even a house. It was a mansion. The Ruiz Estate was situated on a gated piece of land bordered by trees. Nathaniel, despite being a writer, was filthy rich. He had been born into wealth that went back for generations. The mansion was a two-story impressive brick structure complemented by a pool, garden, and basketball and tennis courts.

I entered my code into the security pad at the wrought iron gate. The gate swung open slowly and I drove the Blazer down the stone road leading up to the house. I parked the car in front of the garage that held a fleet of vehicles that would make car collector weep in joy. Thirty minutes late. Damn. I was really going to hear it today. Grabbing my Cherry Coke I jogged to the front door and used the key given to me the first time I came for training.

"You're late."

I barely crossed the foyer before I heard the clipped tone. I looked up at Nathaniel who stood near the stairs staring a hole through me. His green eyes flicked to the fries in my hand, my drink in the other, and the fry hanging from my lip. I gave him a sheepish grin.

"My bad," I said, shrugging. "I got a little hungry."

Nathaniel held his hand out toward me and the ring on his finger glowed silver for a moment and I gave out a cry as my food and drink vanished. I had paid good money for that! I narrowed my eyes wishing I could snatch his ring and crack his staff in half. Then he would have to spend time crafting new focuses for his magic. The time and energy spent working on new tools would show him not to dick with me, but I had a feeling that Nathaniel's anger would be a sight I didn't want to see, so testing my plan out was a no go. For now.

He walked forward, his steps quiet and light in the black Docs he wore. His slacks and silk blue button-down shirt made him look GQ and ready for a boardroom meeting. Nathaniel always looked like he stepped out from a fashion magazine.

"You told me you were serious about training?" he asked in that quiet voice parents used to make their children feel guilty. "I believed you but I'm starting to doubt your commitment."

I wanted to roll my eyes but I stopped myself. This was getting old fast. Its not like I asked for this. All I wanted to do was just be a normal kid. I never wanted this destiny to become a champion and save the world. A part of me wanted to tell Nathaniel this but I couldn't. He understood what I was going through already. He had a reincarnated soul too. In his last life, he was the advisor and mentor of the Chosen and he was again now. I met his hard stare a saw a young face, barely thirty and I realized that he was also giving up his life for our cause.

I looked down at the ground, feeling like a tool. "I'm sorry, Nathaniel. I'll try not to let it happen again."

His eyes softened. "Good. Now let's go."

I followed him down into the basement. I almost chuckled remembering the first time Nathaniel led me down here. I called him a perv and ran back upstairs. But it wasn't like that. Nathaniel walked past the stacked boxes and dusty old furniture stored around the room. He opened the fuse box and pressed the switches in a specific sequence that always left me confused. The wall next to the box split open revealing a brightly lit interior of an elevator. We stepped into it all the while not talking. I wasn't sure if Nathaniel was still miffed so I kept my thoughts to myself.

We descended down and then stepped into a lit corridor with reflective, silver blue walls. Did I mention that this place reminded me of the X mansion? I think that Marvel could really have a case if they sued the Chosen, maybe the producers of Charmed too if they ever heard my spells...

Nathaniel led the way to the training room. It was a huge dome-shaped room with windows mounted high near the ceiling that was part of an observation deck overlooking the room. It all reminded me of the holodeck from Star Trek. Except when the room went all holo-y once initiated it was powered by spellwork and not technology.

"So you watch a lot of X-Men?" I asked for the fourth time this week as I stopped in the center of the room. "Because I'm starting to get the feeling that you ripped a lot of stuff from Marvel."

Nathaniel smirked. "Whose to say that Marvel didn't steal from us? Do you really think Stan Lee has that big of an imagination?"

I gaped at him. Get out of town. "Are you trying to tell me that Stan Lee is a seer?" I asked in disbelief, remembering back to that meeting in my room when I learned of the Ever After and its hints in literature. "One of those people who looks into the Ever After but doesn't know it?"

He shrugged, still smiling. "No. More like we weren't the only ones reincarnated from our age."

"And what age is that exactly?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.

I still had no idea what time period I used to live in. All I could speculate is that it was thousands of years ago. Nathaniel's face closed off. He was very touchy about our past lives. My guess is something happened that left him still aching. His memories were more complete than mine, so events felt fresh to him while they were fuzzy and incomplete for me.

"All I will tell you today is," Nathaniel said quietly, eyes looking into the distance, into the past. "Atlantis is far from a myth."

I knew better to question him after that. He was way more intense than normal and that was saying something. I nodded and he began explaining the training exercise prepared for today. I readied myself as he left the room, then the intercom clicked on and Nathaniel's voice came from above in the monitoring room.

"Chad, transform into Warlock," he said, his voice loud and scratchy over the speakers.

I could use my powers while not transformed into my alter ego, but Nathaniel suggested it was better if I trained while transformed. He theorized it was beneficial if I trained while in the uniform I wore during combat so during actual engagements the added weight of my suit and cloak wouldn't screw with my balance. Nathaniel explained it in more detail but that British accent constantly made me zone out. I normally only got the basic gist of his speeches or advise.

With barely a thought, my clothes shifted and the familiar weight of my suit and cloak settled on my shoulders. I dropped my hood, running a hand through my hair. The hood was huge and hid my face in shadows, which was unnecessary since the uniform had a spell woven into it so glamour covered our faces, preventing anyone even a relative, from recognizing a Chosen while transformed.

I heard Nathaniel chant the incantation that initiated the spells inlaid in the room. I could feel a huge wave of something, energy or magic, fill the room almost like a veil had been lifted over my eyes. The room disappeared in a rainbow of colors. I now stood in a green grassy field. In the distance I could see Stonehenge. This was different than the usual creepy, Camp Crystal Lake forest filled with ghouls or desolate dessert with ferocious hellhounds.

I spun around hearing a rumble behind me. The ground began shaking violently making me stumble backward as the dirt rose up as if moved by giant invisible hands. The dirt swiftly formed into three piles, each taller than me, and then before I could even react the piles exploded outward. I bit back a scream. I was making peace with the fact that superheroes didn't scream like little girls every time they got scared. It was a work in progress.

I lifted an arm to shield my face from the dirt flying at me like torpedos. Standing amidst the rain of soil was three monsters made completely of dirt, roots, and rocks. Their eyeless heads turned toward me as one. They were freaking huge and had two sharp blades at the ends of their hands. I was so dead. I swear this motherfucking room better have some kind of safety spells built in. I suddenly felt a little stupid for tuning Nathaniel out when he was explaining the room's features.

"Listen guys," I said, smiling weakly, holding up my hands and walking backward. "We can talk about this can't we?"

I did scream as one of those blades narrowly missed lobbing off my head, but I ducked and rolled to my left. I gathered energy and my feet rose off the ground as I levitated backward with the speed of the wind at my heels. I dropped to the ground lowering myself into a fighting stance.

"Okay, you bastards lets see if you like this," I snapped challengingly. "Water around me. Water circling the land at be." I raised my arms skyward. "Poseidon Rhapsody!"

Wave after wave of water, peaking at twelve feet, rushed through the air separating the monsters and me. I directed my energy into the attack and the tidal wave backed by magic surged forth crashing into the earth monsters, drowning them in its crushing currents. I buffed my nails and shot a smug look in the general direction of the monitoring room. I got an eerie feeling and fell backward just in time as another blade swung at my head. These dudes were no joke! All three of them had survived my attack and were coming at me now.

I summoned a fireball and threw it in one of the earth monsters face, making it hit the ground with a low boom. Its head was covered in flames as if drenched in gasoline. I threw another fireball at it and its whole body exploded in flame. Couldn't gloat just yet. Still two to go. I ducked another blade and fell to the ground. One of the earth monsters leered over me. Eww... can we say Lifetime movie villain? Quickly, I brought my feet up and push-kicked it in the chest with all the strength in my legs. The monster went rocketing back a dozen feet. Thank you all those pickup games of soccer!

I did a barrel roll and shot to my feet. Another earth monster came at me its blades cutting through the air with loud swooshing noises. I racked my head for a spell. This was definitely a good time for me to get all possessed and kick ass. Fuck it. I'll just make up my own spell. I had will and enough focus. Easy as pie. I hope.

"Freeze bitch!" I yelled, blowing across my palm like I was blowing a kiss. Instead, my blow caused a gust of white icy air to rush forward.

The blast of subzero air hit the earth monster and covered it completely in its currents. Instantly its body hardened and went from brown to white, as ice covered it from head to foot freezing it in place. I stared at my hand, a stupid grin on my face. It actually worked! I was really starting to get the hang of this magic thing. I kicked the frozen earth monster in the chest and it shattered with pieces flying in a thousand directions. Let's see. That only left one more. Where did that thing go? I scanned the field looking for it.

I walked toward the Stonehenge. I kept my steps quiet and light, eyes constantly moving and my ears strained for so much as a peep. I leaned against one of the stones, taking advantage of the shadows to hide me. I peered around the stone. Where did this bitch go? I stepped into the middle of the ring of stones still searching. I flexed my hand and charged a fireball in my palm just waiting to be thrown. A weight crashed into my back and the fireball went out as I hit the ground on my front. My chest ached as the weight on my back pushed me further down. I managed to roll over and away as a foot slammed into the empty space my head just occupied. I kicked the earth monster in the shin, or what amounted to a shin, and it tumbled. Bad move. Since it fell right on top of me. I screamed like a girl, once again...

"Goddess made you and me, plus this circle round," I screamed, words coming quick and without pause in my panicked state. "I summon lightning now to the ground!"

Thunder rumbled in the distance and the sky lit up as lightning split the heavens. The lightning hit the earth monster in the back and it shook and rolled around like a broken-back snake. The entire area lit up with blazing white light. I felt the tingly effects of the lightning but it didn't harm since it was my magic that summoned it. The lightning didn't ease up until the earth monster was a charred, blackened mound of dirt and rocks. I kneeled on the ground near the mound breathing hard,
feeling like I would never catch my breath back. Suddenly, the scenery literally wavered and the dome structure of the training room reappeared.

The doors slid open and Nathaniel entered smiling. "Bravo! Absolutely brilliant job, Warlock."

I rose to my feet and smiled shakily. "It was a little more hardcore than normal but I think I'm getting the hang of this whole magic thing."

"I knew you would," Nathaniel replied sounding immensely proud. "I know we normally work on your spell casting after a training room session but I think you have had enough for today."

Thank you, baby Jesus! I was ready to get out of here. Being cooped up all week had really messed with my social life. I gave him a hug that surprised the hell out of him. Detransforming, I jogged toward the elevator that led up from the basement sublevel. Well, the Command Chamber was its official name but really who cared? I know I didn't.

It was five minutes until eight and I made it home just minutes before my mom. It seemed she was working later and later these days. I changed into a pair of black track pants and an old shirt with a faded NASA logo. I entered the kitchen as mom was checking the mail. She managed a tired smile but still looked but amazing in her pleated white skirt and a blue blazer over a white top.

"Hi, honey," she said, kissing me on the cheek. "How did school go today?"

Morgan entered the kitchen, answering the question for me. "School was just fine Mom thanks for asking."

She smirked at the glare I was aiming her way. Who left the gates of Hell open and what the hell was the spawn of Satan wearing anyway? I looked at her outfit my lip curling into a disgusted sneer. She had on a pair of denim low cut shorts and a sports bra. Who was she trying to impress around here with her no assets?

"I'm going over to Kevin's for a minute, Mom," I said, grabbing my keys from the kitchen table.

She nodded at me. "Alright, just be back before eleven."

"Or be back never," Morgan muttered, biting into an apple all the while smirking at me. She looked like a meerkat.

"Hey, slut bucket how about you go and drink a tall glass of mind your forking business," I snapped, sprinting from the room before Mom could ring my neck.

Kevin lit up like Times Square when he saw me at his doorstep. I felt my heart break a little. He honestly thought I had been trying to distance myself. It didn't take us but a minute to get back into the groove of things. We were finishing each other's sentences and beating each other up like the miniature rift between us had never formed.

I lay sprawled on Kevin's bed staring up at the ceiling. The sounds of explosions and screams echoed through the room. I looked at Kevin who sat on the floor leaning his back against the bed. Deft fingers moved quickly over the controller and his eyes stared hypnotically at the video game he was playing.

"So you figure out which girl you're taking to Homecoming?" I asked.

Kevin shrugged. "Not sure yet. I'm thinking either Stella or Ashleigh. Stella has that whole dark bad girl thing going and Ashleigh looks so, so hot with those glasses. And you know I love me a sexy librarian." He grabbed at his heart and closed his eyes, swooning. "Of course any of them would be so lucky to go with me."

I rolled my eyes. "Vanity has a name and it is Kevin Montero."

"Hey!" Kevin pouted, turning his puppy dog eyes on me. "I'll have you know that I tried to change my name to Vanity already but my parents thought it was too Hollywood."

"How about just Vain then?" I laughed.

He nodded, rubbing his chin in thought. "Hmm that could work,, Chad old boy," he said putting on a British accent.

I snapped my eyes toward him. "Please never do that again," I said slowly, visions of Nathaniel and his grueling training sessions flashed in my mind. I smiled to take the edge from my words. Was I sweating?

A sock went soaring at my head and I barely dodged it. "I'll have you know I'm quite the actor and my accent was on point, thank you very much."

I snorted. "Don't quit your day job."

I rolled off the bed heading to the bathroom. When I was finished my stomach rumbled on the way back to Kevin's bedroom. I was so hungry. I hadn't eaten in, I checked the time on my cell phone, in about four hours. Yikes.

"Hey, Kev-kev I'm starving," I said loudly.

Kevin peeked up from over the bed, donut hanging from his mouth and powdered sugar around his cheeks. My jaw dropped. Son of a bitch. This was so like him! Of course, he would secretly hoard food. Kevin the human garbage disposal strikes again!

"You bastard," I muttered in disbelief. "You had food this whole time and didn't think to offer me any. I'm the guest here!"

Kevin raised an eyebrow at me. He chewed slowly and swallowed before saying, "Please. You stop counting as a guest the third time you ever spent the night over my house, and crawled into my parent's bed just because it was storming outside."

"Hey!" I said, feeling the blush creeping up my neck. "That was a long time ago and you promised never to bring that up."

"It was last week."

"You liar!" I shouted out in a war cry.

He made a noise that sounded like eep as I charged at him. Too bad I didn't notice the skateboard in my path and I tripped over it, falling to the ground landing flat on my face. Ouch. My middle name was not Grace. Kevin fell over laughing so hard that tears ran down his face. I rose to my feet feeling like my face was on fire.

I dusted off imaginary lint from my shirt. Turning my nose up I shot him a superior look. "I meant to do that."

"You mean kiss the floor?" Kevin chuckled, wiping at his tears. "Yeah, great plan."

I glowered at him. "Since I entertained you can I please have a donut. You know I'm a sweet slut."

He nodded sagely. "A big one, too. It's even in the boy's bathroom on the stalls. 'For a good time call Chad Summers. No cash needed. He's a candy ho. He'll do anything for something sweet'."

I faked a pretend gasp of astonishment. "Does not!"

"Does too."

"Does not,"

"Does not," said Kevin, eyes gleaming.

"Does too," I reported, then paused. Dammit that bastard tricked me. I bet this is going on his blog or Youtube channel. I smell a setup. I crossed my arms and turned my back on him.

He rubbed my back. "I know. It must hurt being the dumber of the two of us, but I've been doing some checking online and they have some cool self-help books you should really look into."

I growled low in my throat and tackled him.

I made a stop before returning home. It was cloudy tonight and the crescent moon barely showed from behind a cloud bank. Some people feel on edge or fearful when they entered a cemetery. I didn't. Did that make me strange? I don't know. Maybe. I walked the familiar path, past the mausoleums and old statues of sorrowful angels. Mom and Morgan came here too but I was here more often. I stopped by when I needed guidance or to just feel closer to him.

I replaced the flowers before the tombstone with fresh ones I bought on the way over. I picked at the growing weeds and wiped at the dirt on the marble stone.

Allen Chadwick Summers
September 7th, 1980 - December 12th, 2005
Son
Father
You Made the World Brighter

"Hey, Daddy," I said, softly. "A lot things have been going on lately. Recently, my life has turned into a template for a really bad anime show."

I told my father everything. I usually did. This was the place I came to when I was down or felt I couldn't go higher. Nathaniel told me I couldn't tell anyone about my secret life but he didn't say I couldn't tell the dead. My dad died when I was five and Morgan was three. I could remember him better than Morgan and I cherished the memories I had. He never should have died in the first place. A drunk driver took him from us before I even started elementary school.

"In the movies they make it seem so easy. Well except on Buffy and Charmed and Stargate... scratch that then," I said, chuckling. "Being a superhero is not what I had in mind when you always called me your special little guy, Dad. I know I have this big destiny but being normal is all I want to be." I sighed. "I'm already gay. Do I really need another secret on top of that one?"

The wind rustled the flowers and leaves scattering across the ground. A strange feeling went down my spine and my eyes narrowed. I didn't have Peter Parker's spider sense, but I could sense the otherworldly energy associated with the Ever After well enough. Right now I was feeling it. Big time.

"I'll talk to you later, Dad," I said, rising to my feet. "Looks like I'm on the clock."

I stalked through the tombstones trying to feel out where the vibes were strongest. I let my senses guide my footsteps and I halted spinning around to my right. There. I cautiously walked forward and I felt the area buzz with contained energy. The ground suddenly before an ancient looking tombstone began to ripple. I mean literally ripple. The ground twisted and churned like the waves of the ocean. Two pale arms appeared from the phenomena and grasped at the hard dirt to pull the rest of itself up.

I stepped back as a balding man hoisted himself up and out of his grave. His torn clothes were covered in dirt and about a hundred years out of date. Why did I even notice that? This wasn't the time to play Fashion Police. His skin was yellow-white, cracking, and pealing in places revealing dead muscle tissue beneath. Only the thinnest strips of skin connected its jaw and it almost came off as he smiled at me, the ravenous look darkening his eyes.

"Fuck me," I blurted out slightly sick at the sight of the creature.

The creature. No, it was a zombie I realized that now. I've seen two seasons of The Walking Dead. I knew how this was going to play out. It was going to eat my brain. Fuck! I focused on my inner soul where my magic gathered and transformed into Warlock. I saw surprise flicker in its gaze and was that recognition? I didn't get the chance to find out before the undead zombie rushed at me like a freaking linebacker.

I had a spell on the tip of my tongue but syllable didn't get a chance to leave my lips before it crossed the meters separating us with astonishing speed. It slapped me and I went flying. My back hit a tombstone causing me to cry out in pain. White stars flared behind my eyes and my back felt like someone had tied a bomb to it. If I wasn't Chosen I'm sure that would have snapped my spinal cord in half. But being a destined warrior made me more durable than the average person.

Through my haze I glared at the zombie as it picked me up by the throat. Choking, I flailed my arms about. My toes scraped at the ground and I could feel its grip tighten around my windpipe. I swung my foot with all my might catching the zombie in the gut. It fell backward, not winded because it didn't breath, but the impact had obviously shocked it.

"You ugly son of bitch," I wheezed out, catching back my breath through my injured throat.

I levitated away to distance myself from it. I ignored the pain in my back putting it in the rear of my mind. I could already feel it lessen to just a dull ache. Did I forget to mention while transformed I had advanced healing? I was no Wolverine but it was faster than human.

I had to work quickly. The damn zombie had speed but that was its only advantage over me. Strength too but I digress. I lowered myself into a fighting stance and cupped my palms at my side. Words tumbled from my lips. They weren't English. I honestly don't know what the hell I was saying. It sounded foreign and ancient to my ears. In my heart, the lyrical words had a familiar cadence that resonated through me like a bell. This magic though made my insides go cold rather than warm like normal. I could fell the power pull parts from the darker recesses of my soul.

I brought my arms forward letting my instincts guide me. My palms glowed as red hot and pulsing light gathered and coalesced into a globular mass of whirling energy. "Revenge of Lucifer!"

I released the ball and it rocketed forward in a ruby ray of light. Midair the light split into numerous beams. They shot into the zombie, tearing into its flesh, making it jerk back and around like a wounded animal. Black blood flew into high arcs in the air and bits of flesh exploded outward in a grotesque manner. I cut off the attack and instantly felt better. My insides grew warmer and I breathed easier. I knew instinctively that the spell I just used was the darkest of black magic. If I was on a TV show I would be worried about whether my soul was in trouble. But this was real life and to me magic wasn't something that had a definition of light and dark. I was chosen to wield magic at its most primal no matter the associated stigma.

I looked at the zombie that had broken free from the Ever After. Or what was left of it. Its head had been practically liquefied leaving only a bloody stump behind. Its chest was just gone revealing its insides that had been turned into soup in the onslaught of energy. An arm was missing and its gut was open showing the small intestine slithering to the ground. Black blood pooled around the body and the smell of spoiled meat instantly hit my senses. I took a step back pressing a hand to my nose.

"I'm seriously too much of a wuss for this," I groaned. I bent over and vomited up everything I ate today. I swallowed and wiped at my mouth.

First step in being a hero. Learn to throw up away from the body. I stared at the vomit covering the mutilated corpse. My stomach made a grumbling noise.

And I threw up again.