The Cygnus Game
By: JP Colter
Disclaimer: The author does not claim ownership to content related to the TV series, "Revenge" and "Arrow." Both shows are property of ABC and the CW, respectively, and are contingent to their copyrights. However, original characters not based upon either of these shows are under the ownership of the author.
[CHAPTER I: THE WORTHY AND THE MEEK]
Ben Hunter. How should she handle him? Emily sat in the living area of her lavish manor, drinking a glass of wine at 2pm in the afternoon. The sun was radiant, lighting up the room in a majesty unfolded. It was a nice quiet day for quaint leisure. Instead of that, she was pondering about the policeman she recently shacked up with.
When she approached his house, she honestly had no idea what she was doing. All she knew is she was looking for a fresh start. A new beginning would begin with him. The moment his face lit up when he answered the door and saw her, she was at loss of what to do next. Before she could have a bit of tact, she threw subtly to the wind and evidently herself at him. How odd for a calculating mind such as hers. Maybe that was all she wanted: some steamy, hot night of passion. Ever since Aiden died by Victoria's hand, she was never intimate with another man. It had been so long since she just let a man satisfy her carnal needs.
Emily smiled as she remembered the duality of Ben's tenderness and rock hard strength. He was truly a lawful man, ensuring he was gentle with his kisses and touch but firm with his chiseled body. Their naked bodies complimented one another in ways that she did not expect. Ben's broad frame felt just right around her slender form.
Was that the right way to start off their potential relationship? Emily sipped her wine again as she thought about what it actually meant. She knew that they knew each other for a while, and they did go on that first date when she was trying tofind out information from him. But was that the sensible way to start the fire? It is the millenial era. People jumped right into the sex all the time. Just look at Jack and his tryst with Kate, Malcolm Black's now deceased daughter.
Emily was not like other people though. It was not common for someone to trade identities with another woman, train with a Japanese martial artist, learn skills to dismantle someone's life from behind the curtain, and do battle with a global network of terrorists known as the Initiative. The path to revenge had transformed her into a cautious person who did not risk thinking like everyone else. So why did she take the fast lane with Ben?
Perhaps it was because she decided to do away with old habits. She was no longer motivated by revenge. Her father, David Clarke, by some miraculous error on Conrad Grayson's part, was given a second chance to be in her life. She only devoted revenge to him, just as her father did for her. Now, they were bonding, making up for the years that they had missed together. Therefore, even though she had asked her father to not expect her to resume her old identity of Amanda Clarke, she can forge her identity as Emily Thorne beyond the life of revenge. Ben understood the part of her about assuming an identity that was not innate, with his experience working undercover. Now, he could appreciate her forthcoming goal to create a life after clearing her father's name.
She was no longer in pursuit of revenge, but she still had Margaux LeMarchal to worry about. She had hoped that by making it clear that she still held critical information about Margaux's father, Pascal LeMarchal, in check, Margaux would consider not revealing Emily's identity as Amanda Clarke. However, as in all things involving revenge, she expected the unexpected. She had to be on guard, but with Ben into the fold, perhaps he can prove a valuable ally.
After the night of their sexual liaison, Ben told Emily that he did not expect her to commit to a relationship immediately. He encouraged that they both take it one step at a time. Such a sweet man. But, maybe that's what was needed in her life: companionship. As much as she loved Jack, her father, Nolan, Ben provided something that they could not. Aiden was gone. There was no longer that plan to escape from the world on the islands. So now, Emily had the opportunity to be a part of it, alongside someone who could have the patience with her adapting to it.
Her cell phone rang. It was Ben. Was he thinking about her as well? Giggling to herself like some schoolgirl, Emily answered. "Hello?"
"Hey. Emily." Ben said unevenly. There seemed to be a hint of nervousness in his voice. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing well, Detective Hunter," Emily responded coyly, caressing the cusp of her wine glass. "How are you faring in your first week in your new role?" Ben was promoted to Detective about a month back by Chief Alvarez, but upon his assassination by Malcolm Black, he was not officially handed his detective badge until last week. After an intense week of training, he was finally in the field in a shirt and tie, solving crimes at the helm rather than on the sidelines.
"I don't know, I'm still getting used to not wearing the uniform," Ben chuckled. "I think it was easier getting up every morning and knowing you're going to wear a government issued uniform. Now, it takes me a while to decide what to wear. My partner says my shirts and ties do not coordinate. I may need your fashion advice."
"Well, you are certainly welcome to it," Emily assured him. "A detective with color coordination is something a girl can get used to seeing frequently."
"I'm glad to hear that," Ben said. "What are you doing right now? I'm about to take a late lunch. Can you accompany me?"
"Why don't you come over to the manor?" Emily asked, not feeling up for going out in public at the moment. "I'll make some delicious gourmet sandwiches, some truffle fries, and a salad bowl for two. Sound good?"
"That sounds amazing," Ben answered. "I can be there in thirty minutes."
"Awesome. Just let yourself in when you arrive."
After getting off the phone with Ben, Emily finished her glass of wine and went over to the kitchen. Along the way, she disarmed the manor's alarm so her visitor can open the front door without setting it off. She immediately set to work, gathering the necessary equipment from the cabinets and food from the fridge and pantry. She started with the truffle fries, firing up a frying pan with olive oil. She tossed in some precut fries in the pan to let them fry while she prepared the salad. Using lettuce and spinach supplied by manor's gardens, she created a bowl of tossed salad topped with shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheeses and chopped cherry tomatoes. She lightly sprinkled some garlic croutons on top.
When she was done with the salad, she returned to the fries and laid them on a shallow plate covered with a napkin to drain. While that was in process, she began to put together their sandwiches, creating two hoagies with peppered roast beef, sliced provolone, chopped bell peppers, and some strands of cilantro. She placed each sandwich on a serving plate then turned her attention back to the fries. She dumped the fries into a mixing bowl and tossed them in truffle sauce. She then divided the fries equally between the two plates and took them to the dining table along with the salad bowl.
After making sure everything was set up neatly, she glanced at her watch. It had been forty minutes since Ben had called. He should arrive any minute. All that was left to do was to wait for his beaming smile to come through the door.
"That smells delightful," a voice suddenly said from behind. Emily whirled around and saw a man dressed in a dark grey tactical outfit standing there with his arms behind his back. He seemed to be in his thirties. His muscles ripped from underneath his broadcloth shirt. His jet black hair and neatly trimmed goatee complimented the balefulness emanating from his smile and brown eyes. "I'll have some to go."
"Who are you?" Emily inquired sternly.
"It does not matter," the man shrugged. "My objective is to take you to my boss. How that occurs is completely up to you."
"Who's your boss? Malcolm Black?" Emily demanded, taking her guarded stance.
"That common bandit?" the man scoffed. "No, I work for someone with a higher pedigree than Black. You'll see very soon what I mean. Let's get this over with before your lunch date arrives."
"Yes, let's!" Emily said defiantly.
She made the preemptive strike, charging at him with a punch. The man quickly dodged her blow. She deflected an incoming kick and followed up with one of her own, causing him to stumble back a bit to avoid getting hit in the head. He laughed in amusement and approached her again. Emily jabbed at him, initiating an exchange of blocks and attempted blows. The man was very skilled, easily countering every move she made. He moved fast and fluid, forcing Emily to use her upmost concentration to keep up with him.
Suddenly, the man managed to pen her in a full nelson. "Heh, a rich socialite who knows how to fight! I like you already. It's about time I had some fun."
Emily struggled to escape the grapple. She elbowed him in the ribs and lurched forward to put some distance between them. The assailant kicked her in the back, knocking her down to the floor. He got on top of her and attempted to subdue her, but she was quick and turned over, thrusting her palm into his nose. The stunning hit gave her the chance to slip away and run toward the courtyard. The man was right behind her, cackling with delight.
Before she reached the doors, there was a gunshot. Instinctively, she crouched down to the floor. She looked back and saw the man lowered behind a lounge chair. She looked over in the opposite direction and saw Ben standing there with his gun at hand. "Emily!" Ben exclaimed. "Stay down!" He trained his gun toward the man and shot his gun repeatedly. The bullets piercing the chair forced the man to roll out of hiding. In a quick move, he grabbed the nearby décor porcelain lamp and expertly hurled it at Ben. The detective reflexively shielded his face with his arm. The lamp shattered upon impact, knocking Ben down onto his back, disorienting him. His gun fell from his grip a few feet away.
The man went to Ben's location quickly. He grabbed the gun and dismantled it before Ben could recover. The detective groaned and saw the pieces of his gun tossed aside. He made to stand back up, but he was swiftly kicked in the stomach. He cried out in pain as he lurched forward, placing him in the vulnerable position to the man. The man grabbed him by the throat, poised to thrust a switchblade in his jugular.
Emily intervened and quickly disengaged the man from Ben. In the process, she was cut on the shoulder with the blade before she managed to disarm their attacker. That momentary bout of pain was all the grey clothed man needed to take her by surprise and tackle her to the floor. Ben was still reeling from the pain in his stomach, unable to act to support her. The man overpowered Emily's struggles, subduing her successfully this time. "It's time for a nap, your highness." The man said. He turned her over and grappled her into submission, using a technique to immediately render her unconscious.
The man got up and slung Emily over his right shoulder. He turned to Ben, who was on his knees, and flung a small dart into the detective's neck. "In fifteen seconds, you'll be unconscious for twenty minutes. When you wake up, I highly advise you to keep this between us. You don't want anything to happen to this precious woman would you?" He winked at him and headed for the front door. Ben groaned and reached out in desperation, calling out Emily's name before succumbing to the darkness.
"Oh my god, Ollie! That guy is abducting that woman!"
Oliver Queen observed the events unfolding in the immaculate manor through binoculars. In the circular drive way in front of the manor, a man in a dark grey tactical hoisted an unconscious blonde woman in the trunk of a black car, tying her up before closing the trunk door. His little sister, Thea Queen, was beside him with binoculars as well. The black car drove past a midnight blue Escalade and ventured away from the manor.
"We should help her, Oliver!" Thea pleaded, putting down her binoculars.
"I know, Thea," Oliver responded, frustrated. "But, we can't. This may be a trap. That man is not Darwin, but we tracked Darwin here. I can't see him anywhere. He may have initiated the abduction to distract us. We need to be alert in case he decides to ambush us."
"What about the guy?" Thea inquired.
"He'll be fine," Oliver said. "It was a tranquilizer. I've seen it used by A.R.G.U.S. He'll be awake in about fifteen minutes. He's a detective, though. We cannot approach him."
"How do you know?" Thea questioned, confused.
"He dresses like Captain Lance," Oliver stated. "We need to avoid law enforcement as much as possible. Our presence need to be low key here. We –."
Suddenly, a slender dagger grazed between the two of them and impaled the tree behind them. Oliver and Thea both looked at the silver-hilted blade. Oliver looked back toward the manor and notched an arrow to his bow, ready to fire if something came their way. But, no movement occurred. Just the faint clashing of the waves against the beach from afar.
"Darwin knows we're here. We need to go." Oliver instructed. Cautiously, they made their way from the scene.