...
So here's to new beginnings
And here's to breaking free
Let's chase a new horizon,
Chase who we're meant to be
..

Ben Speaks

It was difficult for me to open my eyes but I managed.
Lashes were stuck together with what felt like cobwebs, my head filled with stones as it refused to lift from the pillow.

So I stayed still for a little while longer, eyes closed as thoughts and images ran in front of me. It was strange waking up and not feeling any different, but just remembering a lot more than what I did before I went to sleep, half my life returned to me.
My mother, my father, why we moved so much, why my mother died of a broken heart and why I became a hunter. It was in me, I could see that now and I could see why he wanted to keep me from this life.

Warmth began to spread along my cheek and I looked across to the window, watching the sun steadily rise.
Another day, but today felt different, it would be.

A simple mental wall had kept all of that from me; watching a bright dawn as we floated in a boat in a hope to catch some fish, baseball games, school plays, pizza and video games night… it was all the small little things that you took for granted at the time that I could remember now. But there was also the major moments which could change your life forever.

I could remember my heart fluttering with fear as the men forced their way into our house. Demons, I know that now but at the time I couldn't figure out why the eyes were so important. I just felt weak; I could do nothing as they killed mums boyfriend and grabbed her. I wasn't even quick enough to get out the window before they snatched me up and for a few terrible hours, sat in silence.

The demons tried to speak with us, tease and taunt us about how Dean would never find us and not to worry, if he stayed away from their boss they would be alright. But how long did he have to stay away for?
I didn't even see the smoke bury itself in my mother, it still looked and sounded like mum, and knew things only she would know but it wasn't.

I shot my first person that day.
Well, demon but there was still a person in there right? Still a flesh and blood human suit with a family that was worried and loved them. It made me feel sick, like the world shrunk around me and my body became too heavy for me to be comfortable.
My cheek still stung where Dean hit me.
At the time I hated him for it, making me kill people and repeatedly asking me if I wanted my mother to die. What sort of question is that? I thought he cared more about my mother than he did me, I still do.

Then she lay dying, I couldn't speak to Dean.
All I wanted to do was hug him, beg him to stay with me, I didn't want to lose them both but with my mother gone, why would Dean want to stay? I was too much of a burden, I could hardly fire a gun straight or keep my room clean. No, my pride wouldn't let me seek comfort from Dean.

And I sat there, thinking of how numb my life was going to be from here on out; no mother no father and how much I hated the world and all things in it, including Dean, until I forgot.

Just like that I forgot everything that had happened over the past three years that included Dean and the supernatural.
Now my life was the supernatural and I would never be able to thank Dean, to apologize to him, tell him everything that had happened the last nine years or more, actually be able to call him Dad.

A warm tear slipped down my cheek as I closed my eyes from the sun. It breached the window now, bleeding through the blinds and across the floor. Wouldn't be long until I had to get up, had to put on a brave face and get on with everything. I didn't want to, I was more than happy to lay here and think of my mother and the war and my life, if that is what happiness is.
Hot breath huffed on my cheek now, followed by a sticky moist tongue that licked up my tear.

I groaned, holding the dog's head away from me as she panted, excited at this new game I had created.
'What do you want you mutt?' I growled playfully as she continued to try and get free from my hands, pushing harder against me to finish cleaning the rest of my face.

Surrendering I let her leap up to me, paws pinning my chest down as she attacked skin with tongue.
'Great, now I'm going to smell like dog.' I muttered to her, rubbing her long ears.
'Bit of an improvement don't you think?'
Pushing Pearl to the side, I met with Claire's eyes straight away as she leant on the door frame, yawning before she stretched her back and arms. I smiled as she relaxed into a chair across from me, Pearl suddenly bored of my face and pawing Claire's leg for a pat.
'What my smell or your hair being curly?'
She grabbed a handful of her hair, tugging it around so she could see it. With a shrug of her shoulders, Claire smirked at me, 'Your smell, dumbo.'

I chuckled lightly, sitting myself up right and wiping at the slobber that was left on my face. My chin was prickly with hair and next to the dog smell, I smelt bad. Scratching my hair, I could feel my head spin slightly but it was nothing that I haven't suffered before. Tossing the blanket aside, I rested my arms on my legs, watching as Claire leant forward.
'Are you comfortable here?'
Raising an eyebrow, I looked at the smoldering embers in the fire place that still managed to keep the place warm and my chin rested in my palm; I was pretty comfy.
'Not that way.' She sighed and rolled her eyes, my hands splayed now as I shrugged. 'I mean do you trust them?'

Her voice had dropped to a whisper, Pearl curling up as though she didn't want to hear this. I glanced around Claire to make sure no one was listening in before I shrugged again.
'I, I guess so. They helped me get my memories back. Did they for you?'
Her face turned sour, and I sat back in case she was in the fighting mood but she shook her head.
'But have you asked yourself why?'
I had not really thought about it. Of course, some part of me was hesitant and I never let anyone poke around in my head before when all I know is their name but something was different here, I didn't need to be on edge all the time, ready to fight or lie. They were human but they could easily lie.
'They know so much about us…'
'You don't find it weird? They know practically our whole lives better than what we do.'

Floor boards creaked beneath some ones weight and Claire sat back in her chair, myself tensing incase; my body involuntarily ready for a fight.
'We have only pure intentions.'
The figure stepped from the shadow of the hall way, clothes neat but hair a mess. Pearl yipped, happily moving to greet her master.
Adam smiled weakly at us, a sort of disappointment in his eyes that was like he was tired of telling his children off.
'I would like to know what they are.' Claire snarled, standing up straight, almost challenging Adams own height. He moved into the room, throwing another log into the open fire, adjusting the coals around it.

Jesse appeared suddenly, standing beside Claire who, to me, seemed all too comfortable in his close presence. No, I am not jealous. It may sound like it, but that scrawny, well not so scrawny, tall, blonde haired, baby eyed guy was not good enough for Claire. No! I know what you're thinking, at least I think I do, and it is not like that at all. I respect Claire. For a female to be in this hunting game on her own for so many years, it is amazing. I'm not sexist either, I love the female species, trust me.

Anyway, there wasn't much I could do or say before Adam coughed viciously, holding his head in his hands tightly. He was in pain and he trembled violently as Jesse stepped forward, bringing out a few small white tablets that Adam washed down with scotch.
'All in good time. Right now, Ben needs to gather his wits.'
Claire shared a glance with me and I shook my head.
'No, I think now is a good time. If I had any more wits I might scare myself.'

I gave Claire a reassuring grin and she returned it with a quick smile herself. Jesse tensed and moved away from Adam as he finally sat down in his chair, Pearl waging her tail as she lay down beside the chair, Adam dropping his hand to rub her ear.
'Oh, where do I start?' He groaned, closing his eyes for a minute. Claire took that time to sit beside me and I was grateful that she was comfortable being so close to me also. I mean, we had to be by now with all the travelling and the motel rooms and-
I was getting distracted but luckily Adam dragged me back from my overwhelming thoughts of Claire with a sharp cough.

'You three are... unique.'
I rolled my eyes and I could feel Claire sigh heavily but there was something about the way he said unique that made my hair stand on end.
'Because we're hunters?'
'Because of who you are.'
'Stop speaking riddles and just tell us.' Claire huffed, and Adam chuckled.

'Like I said before; aspirant, vessel and cambion. Figured out who is who?'
Claire tensed beside me; she knew which one she was. Me? I wasn't sure what a cambion was, wasn't that something along the lines of an anti Christ?
'Ben Braeden, the aspirant hunter.' I felt my skin crawl and all attention focused on me. I took it into my stride though, sitting up and waiting to find out who I was. It wasn't hard, I always knew who I was... up until last night anyway. 'Son of Dean Winchester who was the greatest hunter I ever knew. You longed to fill that gap and now that you have, do you see yourself giving up hunting?' I shook my head and Adam nodded as though he already knew my answer. 'Now you want to be greater, like your father. There are things in your past that you would much rather forget about but they are the things that keep you human, keep you needing to hunt.'

I hung my head. That was it? Who I was, was just a wannabe hunter trying to prove himself to his dad?
Adam gazed at me, something in his eyes that made me calm, that made me realise that it didn't matter who I was, all that mattered was that I was doing the right thing. I was needed, I had a purpose and if I clung to that, I wouldn't fall into darkness like everyone else.

'Claire Novak.'
Again she went rigid beside me, ready to pounce or trying to hide I couldn't be sure but either way her blue eyes were reflecting back the cold hatred that was deep in her soul.
'The abandoned vessel. Daughter of Jimmy Novak. You should be grateful that Castiel spared your life, for now you are the most important person to him.'
She scoffed beside me, crossing her arms and leaning back. She didn't say anything though, which was unusual. I wanted to ask who Castiel was, why he spared her life and why she hates him so much but I bit my tongue. All in good time.
'You hunt to find him, but I can tell you from my own experience, it is hard to kill an angel. Not impossible, just difficult but don't you think it would be easier to have an angel on your team?'

Again she said nothing and I looked at her to make sure that she was still sitting beside me, just silent. She had blonde hair covering her eyes that were filled with an anger that could eat her alive. I put my hand on her knee and she didn't even flinch.
I thought my childhood was bad, but dealing with angels? Of course I knew they were real but part of me never wanted to accept it. But Claire, she was searching for one?

'If I ever meet him I will kill him. No matter what it takes I want him to hurt.'
We all shared a glance as Claire kept her eyes focused on the floor; I was waiting for the smoke. Adam closed his eyes and when he opened them, made sure that dark brown met stormy blue.
'He was a part of Deans team. And trust me, he suffered more than anyone.'

Claire's face softened She had blonde hair covering her eyes that were filled with an anger that could eat her alive. I put my hand on her knee and she didn't even flinch.
I thought my childhood was bad, but dealing with angels? Of course I knew they were real but part of me never wanted to accept it. But Claire, she was searching for one?

Claire's face softened as did her posture and she lowered her gaze, a grin growing on her face.
Everyone was in silence for a few more minutes, myself thinking of how angels could be responsible for ruining so many lives, you know like fluffy wings and halos; Michael Landon, virtuous and loving.
An abandoned vessel?
Does that mean Claire was a vessel, like a person was for a demon?

I gripped her knee tighter; how long had she been a vessel for? How many day or months or years had she forgotten about? In almost an instant I felt myself shift from neutral about angels to, not quiet hating them but doubtful. So many things in this world were evil, and the one thing that I thought would be the saving grace this world needs, turns out they are nothing but demons fighting in the name of God.

As I thought, Jesse moved slightly and I watched him carefully.
'So what's your story? You're not American are you, Australian accent?'
Jesse looked at me and I felt pain grow in the back of my head. Adam lifted his hand, Jesse stepping back and the pain stopped. I glared up at him, Claire slowly coming round from whatever she had been thinking of to watch all of us carefully.

'Uh, Jesse Turner. Where shall I begin?'
Jesse shared a nervous glance with Adam and I leant forward, taking my hand off Claire's knee.
'What you have to understand is that no matter what, I am a hunter, a good one.'
I raised an eyebrow.
'Jesse here is different from all of us. He is American but ran to Australia when he was a boy because circumstances arose that he was not old enough to interpret.'
Claire burrowed her eyebrows in thought and I did the same.
Cambion.
'Hence my accent.' Jesse sighed, crossing his arms as he stepped closer to us all.
'Throw another shrimp on the Barbie ay? I've always wanted to hear that...' I laughed, hoping he would say it but he just rolled his eyes.

'I am a cambion. A child of a demon and a human.'
There was a heavy silence that fell over all of us and I was nervous that this would strangle us before Claire cleared her throat.
'Like an anti-Christ?'
Jesse nodded and Adam smirked slightly.
'Saved my ass from the pit. His powers rival that of any angel or demon, which is why he left. Great member to have on a team like this.'
'Why did you run?'
Jesse looked at Claire and then me; sadness in his eyes that I could only guess that meant even with all these powers he had, his life was not one to be jealous of.

'Your father, Sam and Castiel came to find me. They wanted to help me but the demons wanted me for a different purpose. I can hide from them, and I didn't want anyone else to die because of me.'
The silence returned and I rubbed my stomach, slowly growing hungry with all this thinking and listening.
'So why are we here Adam?' Claire groaned, 'so we all have a horrid up-bringing and our relatives knew each other. So what? Half of America is like that.'

Adam moaned as he shifted in his seat and pinch the bridge of his nose.
'I thought this would be easier.'
Gradually he opened his eyes and as Claire huffed, getting to her feet, Adam lifted a hand to stop her.
'Sit!' he growled.
'I am not a dog, Mr Milligan. You already have two and I will not become the third.' I gently grabbed her hand, not wanting her to leave me just yet. She calmed and smiled down at me, taking her hand back as she looked at Jesse.
'How do I put this Pearl?' Adam sighed, rubbing the dogs ears. 'How do I tell them that they are so much more than others, how they are what the world needs? Them and them only?'

Pearl rolled onto her back, wanting a tummy rub but Adam lifted his hands to his lap and frowned at all of us.
'Ben,' I sat up straight at the authority in his voice, 'you're the wood; strong, dependent. Without you there would be nothing to sustain and control Jesse, the air.' Now Jesse dropped his arms and his gaze, listening to Adams words carefully. 'Important and constant in more ways than one. With you two you are nothing but wood and air, now Claire,' Beside me she huffed, crossing her arms as she watched Adam, interested in what part she was of this. 'Claire is the spark. It ignites both of you, creating the fire. Each of you are so important, so special but together you are something far greater.'
'Fire?'

Claire smacked the back of my head, grumbling and Jesse rolled his eyes ever so slightly. With a chuckle I rubbed the now aching back of my scalp, not missing Adam say something about me being as thick as wood.
'Fire, yes. You three carry on the duties of those before you. Though the times have changed, that fine line between good and darkness will always be there and it needs to be guarded. Right now there is something far more concerning than his aussie accent, his preference of curly hair or your pasts. Right now you three are here because of whatever you want to call it; fate, luck or destiny. You three are to become the future.'

'Who says?'
We turned to Claire who cross her arms angrily.
'Excuse me?'
'We're supposed to give up everything right now because of you? So we can become a team like our daddies before us? I'm sorry, I'm not buying it.'

'I never said it was for sale. This is your life isn't it? And what do you have that you're going to give up?'
This made Claire silent for a moment, myself sharing a cautious glance with Jesse.
'My own control. My life, my soul, my mind, my will and what I had decided would be my future, not some hunting group made up of a couple strangers.'
She looked as though she was ready to cry, and I stood up, getting ready to comfort her but Jesse beat me to it, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She welcomed it before she shrugged away from him, unfolding her arms.
'Why are you scared Claire? What do you know?'

I could see it in her eyes, the frightened Claire that had been shown her future not that long ago was biting her lip but she vanished under the tough Claire I first met.
'Whatever. I'm not scared, just cautious.'
'Good.' Adam sighed, rubbing Pearls head as she dropped it in his lap.
'So, the aspirant hunter, an abandoned vessel and a reluctant cambion, the next generation of freedom fighters. Want to know what it is that you are up against?'

Those titles rang around in my head and I was sure it was in the others as well.
'What is it we're hunting, old man?' I growled, smiling as Adam frowned at me. It soon softened, concern etching into the lines around his eyes.
'He calls himself Zeno.'