Chapter 290 - Two Hundred And Ninety: Get Saved Or Served
"Who are you?" continued Ben's odd question.
"What's with that question, Ben," His mother made his way over to him, "That's your father you're talking to that way,"
Ben thought his mother must be joking until she went over and hugged that man.
"Hi, honey," She pecked him on the lips.
No way, what the hell.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Benny? Come and say hi to your father you haven't seen in a long time.,"
"No, impossible! That is not my father....!" he pointed at him, "And you stay away from him," Ben snatched his mother from that person's grasp.
"Seriously, Ben!" His mother was exasperated, " What is wrong with -"
The man lifted his hand, stopping his mother Bianca from finishing her words. His gaze connected with Ben's, asking,
"You can see me?"
Ben was taken aback, "I can see what?"
"The real me, the one occupying this body," He answered.
"Wait, what? He can see you?" his mother Bianca was surprised.
Ben registered her words. He reflexively let go of her arm and took a step back.
"So the legend is true," The man mumbled, " Bianca, I think it's high time we told our son the truth,"
Goosebumps washed over Ben, what the hell was he talking about?
"You think so?" Bianca was teary-eyed.
"The day we dreaded the most has come and we have no other option than to tell the boy the truth,"
"What truth! " Ben was furious.
He didn't say a word, but before Ben's watchful eyes, that person split into two - a ghost and a human form.
"You can really see me," The ghost grey eye's scrutinized him.
Ben was shell-shocked, continuously taking steps back as the ghost approached him.
"I'm Eugene," The human said, drawing his attention.
" I'm Kingery," The ghost said, drawing his attention once more.
"What the fuck," Ben panicked, "Is my mom seeing this?"
"She can't see yet can feel him," Eugene answered as if this was a normal daily occurrence.
"Don't worry son, he's not going to hurt you," Bianca encouraged him.
"Which of them? Eugene or Kingery? You have a lot of explaining to do," Ben let out through gritted teeth.
"I'm going to tell you everything,"
"Well, do that while keeping a considerable distance from me," Ben cautioned the ghost.
"My full name is Kingery Acadia and I died in 1979 out of starvation. My family was very poor and couldn't afford to feed a family of six - the war and famine were a huge contributor to that.
"I watched my parents die in the scuffle for food and as the eldest, the responsibility got transferred on my shoulder. But what could I have done in a situation my parents failed to change? The war lingered, the poor masses bore the brunt until we were all dead. Even at death, I refused to accept my fate, I was cheated on and fate had to pay for giving me such a horrible life.
"I lingered on earth for a long time, waiting patiently for the right body to possess - after l learned we could do so. They never lasted; death and living must have no connection whatsoever, there's a huge line separating both or so everyone believed.
"I prevailed by discovering a loophole: getting tethered to something or better much, somebody. But then, my time was gone and there wasn't any relative to hold on to until I met Eugene. He was on the point of death, considering to take his own life when I suggested to him we pact… "He chuckled, which made the hairs on Ben's body stand on edge.
"It was a ridiculous move yet I never thought he would hear me and the rest was history. I possessed him and we lived as one personality until we met your mother, Bianca. It was love at first sight. After uncountable rejections - partly because of Eugene's low self-esteem - your mother agreed and we got married, "
Ben's mouth hung open, he looked around, pointing to his mother, "So you're trying to tell me that my mother… " He gulped," Knew you were a ghost yet she married you? "
"No, she didn't at first, but found out afterward," Eugene explained this time just as Kingery, or whatever he called himself, went back into his body.
"And she was cool with that?" Ben was dumbfounded. Now, he knew where he got his creepiness from because he was creeped out by all this discovery.
"I love your father, he never hurt me all those times of ignorance, so why now? It's not like I'm going around announcing that my husband is sort of a ghost,"
"Exactly. He could hurt you in fear of getting his secret known- as ridiculous as it sounds" Ben kept that thought to himself.
His mother continued," Besides, I'm helping your father fulfill his dream of getting rich,"
"Yeah, the dream of conquering the whole world with no care to the love their son needs," Ben sassed.
"Ben, I know this is difficult to comprehend now -" She tried to touch him but Ben jumped away from her.
"Wait a minute…" it dawned on him, "Who's your husband here, and who's my father?"
Silence reigned.
"Oh," Ben nodded, "So I'm the freak crossbreed between a human and a ghost,"
"I heard about mediums but I never thought it was possible. However, son, you're -"
"I am not your son!"
"Benny, you have to listen to him"
"No, you all listen to me," He warned them, "By the time I'm back, I want you out of this house or I leave here for you," He added, "For eternity," and ran out of there.
"Ben!" Bianca tried to go after the boy but her husband held her back.
"No, give him space. He needs some time to think," He grabbed her on the shoulder, rubbing her arms.
Ben ran without looking back, his emotions were on high and he needed to blow off some steam. All this time, he had wondered how he came to be this freak, tried all kinds of theories; a witch must have cursed him or something. Who knew the problem came from his parents and Mediums were just offsprings of a ghost and human.
He received this dark gift from Kingery, which made him all the angrier. He had lived, knowing Eugene as his father, during the short time they spent together. Ben had always thought about why his father was after money so much, who knew it wasn't his true motive but the dream of a ghost whose family died one hundred and forty-something years ago because of starvation.
That ghost was set on fulfilling his goal at the expense of his happiness. If it was just him and Eugene, things would have been normal and he would probably have time for him. No to talk of the fact he didn't know which to address as the father anymore, Eugene? Kingery? Or both in one body?
Ben was tempted to go back and expel the ghost out of Eugene's body but he couldn't, his mom would hate him for that. Fine, they can keep up with their wonderful life, he was not leaving here.
Of all creatures his mother would say "Yes'' to, she didn't see a vampire, werewolf, witch? That would have been much cooler than being a vessel for the dead - seeing gruesomely killed ghosts and the rest for the rest of his life. So great!
Ben ran to Lia's place, he couldn't tell if she was home but this was the only place he could think of going to. He didn't know where Devon lived - not that he would have gone there in the first place- they made a mistake yesterday and he wouldn't want it to repeat.
Daniel's pack? That was quite a distance - he was too lazy at the moment. Moreover, he stole, no, technically, the cub came to him - not that he has explained himself yet - but he wasn't sure he was welcomed there at the moment. Even if they do welcome him, what was the probability something much more precious than a cub would follow him home? He has learned his lessons.
Asher's place? That mansion was a den for vampires. Though he was sure Asher's vampires had firm control over their thirst for blood, one can never be too sure. He wouldn't go there to be saved but end up being served. Also, he saw the murderous gaze Asher gave him that day Raphael made the controversial statement, claiming he was another of Lia's mates. He would never want to experience that again.
Sabrina's place? Oh please, the last time he went in there, he ended up getting possessed by a necromancer and did crazy things. Even if Sabrina accepts him into her place once more - with the strict warning- he would never keep his hands to himself. Seriously, come on, that place was like an antique shop and needed exploring. In conclusion, he wasn't going, period.
Lia's was the best place to be, he could sleep and wake up comfortably without fear of being murdered in his sleep.
However, when he knocked on Lia's door, it was answered by her mother who said to him, "Thank God you're here, we need to talk,"
Maybe it was a bad idea coming here after all.