At long last! A new chapter! Stupid computer crash and virus infestation...
Chapter 10: To Train and Protect
Two sets of green eyes and a set of brown eyes gazed at the modest home that was currently in their sights. "When you suggested we hide Ben at your place, I thought the mansion at the outskirts of Bellwood would be obvious…I was not expecting a quiet place at the outskirts of Bellwood…" Gwen murmured.
"Well," Charmcaster sighed, "Uncle Hex didn't respond well to the concept of my becoming friends with you guys…he especially wasn't keen with my dating Cooper." Kevin smirked and patted Cooper's back, obviously proud of the younger male being considered as 'corruptive' by his girlfriend's uncle. "So I came across this place. It's not as extravagant to what I'm used to, but it's home." Charmcaster turned to her guests. "I suggest you head inside so that I can perform the concealment spell."
"Why would we need it?" Kevin quirked an eyebrow. "We're in a suburb; I doubt that ass could find us here."
"Considering Jason's obsession with Ben," Gwen stated, giving Ben a reassuring hug after seeing him shudder over the mention of his ex-boyfriend's name. "I think using the concealment spell as extra protection wouldn't hurt." The redhead led the entourage to the house door, leaving the silver-haired home-owner on the lawn; the anodyte turned her attention to the sorceress. "Do it."
Giving a mild head nod, Charmcaster's eyes began to glow magenta. "Valieris Mihi Occoltus Valieris Meus Amicitia Occoltus!" The silver-haired sorceress' body was emitting a pink magical aura as she began to spin around her home with a pink afterimage trailing behind her; a dome-like shield erected around the place.
"Is that spell goin' to be enough?" Kevin asked, sceptical about the spell's effectiveness.
"Protego Totalum!" Charmcaster stopped her spinning, rejoining her friends. "I'm not done yet." Her eyes glowing again, she chanted, "Caveō Inimīcus!" She released a sigh, trying to calm her body from exerting so much energy from the spell-casting.
"You okay?" Cooper asked, affectionately rubbing her arm.
"Yeah, I'm good." She smiled.
"Good," Kevin said. "C'mon, Coop. Let's head out and get some supplies."
"Would you mind passing by my place and get some stuff for me?" Ben asked.
Kevin looked at the brunette with sympathy. "Yeah, sure."
"While you guys are out," Charmcaster said, "Gwen and I will train Ben with his new powers."
Ben never knew that learning about his new powers would be so exhausting...especially when the instructors were highly skills sorceresses. Between meditation (the principles of this weren't too hard since he did meditate on his own occasionally) and learning spell incantations, Ben thought his brain might explode. How Gwen and Charmcaster were able to memorise so many spells was beyond him. He almost freaked out after saying "Tempestus Impaetus", which led to lightning flashing from outside through a window and almost striking Gwen. Charmcaster had to counter by chanting "Tempestus Erectum" to conjure a strong wind to block.
"Maybe we should take a break." Charmcaster suggested.
"Good idea." The Tennyson cousins agreed, still freaked out by the accident.
After picking up provisions (food and ingredients for spells) and dropping them off at Charmcaster's, Kevin and Cooper went to Ben's house. As they were about to knock on the door, Sandra opened it, obviously ready to leave.
"Kevin," Sandra greeted. "How's Ben?"
"He's okay, for now." He honestly answered. "Gwen and Charmcaster are with him. Ben asked me and Cooper to pick up some stuff for him." Sandra nodded in understanding. She thanked the boys for taking care of her son and left, knowing that Kevin should have a copy of the house key and would lock up for her. As the boys walked into the house, they were greeted by barking.
"Well, sounds like somebody's back to her old self." Kevin crouched down as Mila ran up to him. "Nice to see you too, girl."
Cooper crouched down as well to pet the German shepherd. "I can't believe that ass could hurt such a sweet dog just to get to Ben." Kevin only nodded and led Cooper to Ben's room. As he opened the door, what they saw left them shocked and made the dog yelp in fear. The room was filled with several bouquets of roses and lilies. Cooper cringed at the thought of Jason ignoring the restraining orders and sneaking in to place the arrangement without anybody's knowledge as Kevin found a note on Ben's desk. He began to read the letter for Cooper to hear, but started to regret it.
To The Future Mr. Tennyson-Henning,
My dearest Ben. How long as it been that you haven't been in my arms where you rightfully belong? Words cannot express how much I miss the scent of your apple-peach shampoo and the touch of your silky skin…
I must admit, I was pissed about your friends keeping us apart with the restraining order but I know that this test of our love will never deter me. I find myself imagining the day we will be wed and how our future offspring will look like…I am certain they will take after 'their mother', darling Ben.
You, my Kitten, are my soul mate and nothing will keep me from you.
Love eternal, Jason
Kevin and Cooper felt perturbed after reading the letter. It was obvious that Jason was one twisted sick fuck and Ben needed to be protected. No matter what.
"Should we tell Ben about this?" Cooper asked. Part of him did not want to tell Ben about the disturbing letter and flowers left in his room, but another part of him believed that Ben had a right to know.
Kevin just grabbed some clothes and shoved them into a bag. He looked towards Ben's dog and called to her, "C'mon, Mila. Let's get you back to Ben." The German shepherd barked and followed the boys out of the house and to the car.
Charmcaster began to feel unsteady under Ben and Gwen's playful stares as they sat together and ate in the kitchen. "You're starting to creep me out..." She tried to keep her gaze low, focusing on the pint of bubblegum ice cream in her hands.
"Come on, Charmcaster, dish!" Gwen pleaded, taking her fill of chicken wings. "Only one of us here is in a healthy relationship; it gives me and Ben hope!" Ben could only laugh at his cousin, almost choking on the Chow Mein he was eating; her trying to play gossip while her face was messy with barbeque sauce was too funny.
Hearing Ben finally laugh made Charmcaster lose her resolve. If her talking about Cooper could bring a smile to the brunet, then she can't refuse. "What can I say? Cooper's everything anyone could want in a guy." She had a dreamy look in her eyes that made Ben smile and Gwen squeal. "Smart, sweet, attentive..."
"Young." Ben quipped, making Gwen giggle.
"What else could a girl want? Plus he's ten times a man in comparison to my ex."
Ben and Gwen shared a look then stared back at the silver-haired sorceress. Charmcaster took the expression as a nod to describe the jackass. "That ass was a total pig; he acted like God's gift to women, taking advantage of me..." she seethed. "No one knows this except for Cooper, but I was pregnant for that ass until I miscarried..." Ben gasped while Gwen rested her hand on Charmcaster's shoulder out of sympathy. She tried to perk up slightly, "You know what though? I'm glad that I broke up with him when I did; also, I hope that curse I placed on him worked...Michael deserves whatever comes to him, ten-fold!"
"Michael?" Gwen questioned.
"As in – Michael Morningstar?" Ben asked.
Charmcaster raised an eyebrow. "Wait...how do you know Michael Morningstar?"
"Gwen dated that arrogant prick briefly before hooking up with Kevin!" Ben exclaimed.
"That ass tried to drain my powers and kill Ben and Kevin!" Gwen seethed. "I'm glad that I regained my senses quickly to get my powers back!"
"Don't forget the power drain weakened him to the point he looked like a zombie."
"Good! My curse worked!"
Gwen huffed slightly. "Who would have ever thought that we would have dated the same jerk?"
"And curse him..." Ben added.
"Let's face it, men are jerks!" Charmcaster exclaimed. Ben gave her a fake indignant look. She giggled uncomfortably. "Umm...present company excluded." Ben smiled; as painful as the memory of her miscarriage was, Charmcaster was glad that she finally had friends to talk to and she was able to help them. This support system has helped her deeply for the last few months, and she was more than happy to give the support back, especially now.
"We're back!" Cooper called out, as he and Kevin returned. As he joined his girlfriend and their friends in the kitchen, he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "So, how did training go?"
Charmcaster, Gwen, and Ben shared a look, remembering the lightning incident before they started their break. "Fine." They answered together, even though Cooper could tell, by the way the answered in unison, something was up; he wasn't going to press for details, he'll ask Charmcaster to tell him the truth later...
A barking sound interrupted them; soft steps were heard running towards the kitchen to reveal a German shepherd, jumping near Ben and stretch to lick his face. "Mila!" Ben exclaimed happily, hugging the friendly canine. Kevin finally entered the kitchen, a small smile developing after seeing the dog and her master reunited. "Thank you for bringing her, Kevin." As Ben looked at Kevin, even though he was smiling, Ben knew that Kevin was trying to hide something. "Kevin, what's wrong?"
Gwen and Charmcaster looked at Kevin, curious as to why he seemed hesitant to answer; Charmcaster turned to Cooper, giving her boyfriend an expression as to say 'Tell me the truth.' Instead, Kevin moved towards Ben, pulling out from his pocket a letter and giving it to him. Ben started to read the letter, shaking as his eyes moved across the paper. He threw the paper down on the table, where Gwen picked it up and read it with Charmcaster. The girls shuttered. "Where did you find this?" Gwen asked.
This was the moment of truth...as much as Kevin didn't want to tell them, it was the right thing to do. "In Ben's room when me and Coop went to pick up his stuff." Kevin sighed wearily. "The room was also filled with several bouquets of flowers." This made everyone in the room freak out. The fact that Jason was violating the restraining orders had the group alarmed. "Ben, I don't know what to say..." Kevin murmured, embracing Ben as a means to comfort him.
Ben didn't say a thing. He didn't know what to say...one thing that he was certain about was that he needed to learn about his new powers quickly. They might be the only thing to save him from Jason's obsessive ways...
Author's Note: OMG, finally got this chapter done! At least I stayed true to my word by having it posted within a month...
Poor me...my computer crashed when I tried to write this. Stupid motherboard picked the wrong time to keel over! This stupid contraption was in the shop for about a week and a half for a new motherboard to be installed and get detected viruses erased. Lesson #1 about computer purchases, get the extended warranty! It comes in handy for such emergencies (Although it doesn't cover the virus erasing).
I think I rushed this chapter a bit...oh well, the story has gotten much longer than my original notes (this was supposed to be a 7-chapter fic!) but I'm having too much fun getting into this. :P Poor Benji and his creepy stalker boyfriend - don't worry, he'll eventually get his (in another chapter, can't say which one...)
Reviews and constructive criticisms are much appreciated. ^.^