Ben

This article is about Ben from Legacies. You may be looking for Ben McKittrick, a character from The Vampire Diaries.

“

No. Unfortunately, monsters are the least of your problems now.

”

— Ben to Jed in I Can't Be the One to Stop You

Ben is a god, also referred to as a demigod, who first appeared in the ninth episode of the fourth season of Legacies.

Early History[]

Ben was born to a mortal mother and a divine father in a village at the base of the Caucasus Mountains, sometime around 3000 B.C. His village loved the gods, but he was living proof of that love. His birthright explained his invincibility in battle, which he fought to keep their village safe. Despite his father, he had no use for the gods. They had never revealed themselves to him, nor did he ever ask anything of them until the day that Ashur, his best friend and lover, fell ill.

The gods of their village lived atop the high mountain and Ben attempted to bring Ashur to the threshold beyond which mortals could not pass. Denied by his father, Ben took matters into his own hands. Leaving Ashur at the threshold as he crossed past the barrier, he claimed his birthright and stole the fire that mortals would come to know as magic, hoping it would save Ashur's life. Though it was too late and Ashur died.

Out of spite, he gave the magic he stole to the village, believing that the people could help themselves instead of worshiping fickle, uncaring gods. He was foolish, however, and humans sought the same power and privilege the gods abused. They didn't want to stop worshiping the gods, but, in turn, they wanted to become them and in their lust for that power, monsters were born, along with many of the world's ills.

At some point, he was cursed to this day by his father, Ken because he trusted them; cursed to heal and be attacked by monsters, forever. Another side of the curse is that he is forbidden from fighting against his family. To torment him further, he was chained to a rock to be eaten alive by monsters and then to come back to life and do it all over again. Sometime after the 11th Century, Jen came to him and told him that their father was asleep and she could finally set him free. However, the curse would remain for as long as their father lives. Instead she left him to be absorbed by Malivore.

Throughout Legacies Series[]

Season Four[]

LGC409-002-Ben — Ben badly charred in the road.

In Someplace Far Away From All This Violence, Jed and Kaleb come across a corpse which they assume to have been the doing of the Argus. After dispatching the monster, the corpse suddenly comes back to life with a severed arm, shocking the boys.

In I Can't Be the One to Stop You, night has fallen and Jed crawls across the pavement from Kaleb's burning car towards him. Despite his injuries, which he appears to have flayed flesh, he's alive. Jed notices he's got eyes now, but still no tongue. They need to get out of there before Kaleb returns, but it's too late. Kaleb is already behind him, wings outstretched. He approaches Jed and tells him this doesn't concern him and throws him into the air and away from them. Unable to defend himself, Kaleb unleashes his dragon fire.

Eventually, Jed manages to get him back to the Salvatore School. At least recovered from Kaleb's dragon fire, he's still barely more than a walking corpse. Mr. Springthorpe faints at the sight while Jed explains that they still have a monster problem, and it's Kaleb.

Jed, Cleo, MG, and Ethan bring the man into the gymnasium and Cleo bandages him. Jed explains that they don't know who he is and when he and Kaleb found him, he'd just been ripped apart by an Argus. Then he literally started putting himself back together. They were on their way back to the school to get answers from him when Kaleb blew up his car and burned the guy. Regardless, they won't be able to get any answers until his mouth heals. MG elects to go look for Kaleb and Cleo joins him. Jed will remain behind to watch over the man. Ethan decides to stay behind, too. If this guy is dangerous, then he'll help keep people safe.

Later that night, startling Jed, he's fully recovered and healed of all injuries. He apologizes to Jed for the unpleasant noises. It's always like that when his tongue grows back. Jed mistaken the man for a monster, but he tells Jed that monsters are the least of their problems now.

In The Story of My Life, Ben in the memorial library slumped over on a desk when Jed finds him. Believing him to be asleep, Jed rouses him to discover that he's been attacked and has several wooden quills sticking in his chest and neck, though he's not dead. Ben, gasping with each breath, tells Jed that the creature is still there. The creature appears behind him and attacks Jed with one of the quills stabbing him in the shoulder. Jed removes it and attempts to attack the monster, but it vanishes before them.

Later, Cleo spells Jed and Ben behind a barrier spell that should keep the monster out of the library. After some time, Jed wants to hear Ben's story. Ben scoffs at the thought, as he's living it now and nothing has changed. Jed reiterates his words from the previous night, that monsters were the least of their problems. Monsters are nothing compared to gods. Jed wants to know more and Ben decides to tell him his story.

Despite his story Jed still wants to help him and though he can't uncurse him, he can offer him a place to stay. Jed gives him his vote. Ben is grateful, but can't accept it. Ben turns to leave, but Jed tells him he can't because of the barrier spell. Ben, however, simply walks through it. The blood of a god flows through his veins. Magic cannot hold him. He bids Jed farewell and leaves the school.

Out in the woods by the Old Mill, MG stumbles upon Ben, mistaking his heartbeat for the creature. Ben recalls that he voted against him, but old habits die hard. The monster appears behind MG and attacks, but Ben throws his hand out, stopping one of the quills. The creature lunges forward and grabs Ben and they both vanish.

Fending off the creature, Ben loses his right arm, though is found by MG. As Cleo warns MG about the monster, the creature attacks, throwing them in all directions. They refuse to leave Ben and Cleo clasps an enchanted bracelet around his left arm as Jed attacks the creature. The creature reappears before them, but Cleo's spell works and the creature submits to them; free from attacking them, it becomes docile and friendly.

Later that night Jed bandages his arm. Though it's reattached, it hasn't completely healed. Ben tells him that's the point of his curse but Jed already knows who he is; he's Prometheus from Greek mythology. Though he's excited about this revelation and the gods in general, from Ben's experience it's just bad. What he did was legendary, despite it not working out. As a result the gods punished him by chaining him to a rock so eagles could eat his liver and cursed him to heal by sunrise so he could feel that same pain again the next day. Forever. Ben is impressed, but some of the details of the myth are wrong and a gross oversimplification. For starters, Jed could never pronounce his real name, but he's come to prefer Ben. It's simple, like Jed, and he likes simple. Jed tells him he's his guy, but Ben can't stay. Jed sympathizes with him because, like him, he's cursed too and wakes up in chains once a month. Given his truth, Ben decides to give the school a shot.

In Follow the Sound of My Voice, at the Salvatore School, Ben prepares for his first day of classes, meeting up with Jed. He's overwhelmed, Jed tells him that if he sticks with him, he's a legendary first-day wingman. Ben wonders if anyone else knows who or what he is, but Jed reassures him that he'll fit in fine. They've got it all worked out. After Mr. Springthorpe's P.A. announcement, he and Jed make their way to breakfast.

Sometime later, Ben finds Jed in the gym, confused to see him leaving. He thought Jed was going to introduce him to the pack, though Jed tells him it's not a good time. He's fine with this, and wonders where they're off to next. Jed intends to go to the library, alone. Ben understands and questions where he should go. Jed becomes frustrated, telling him to go wherever he wants. Avoiding the topic, he explains that the blue calamus is freaking him out and he's afraid that he's going to say something stupid. Ben pushes for more of the truth, ultimately telling him that he doesn't want to be around him and just wants to be alone. Ben apologizes to intruding and lets him walk out of the gym.

While cleaning up one of the weights, he's confronted by Aurora, who's impressed with his strength. She wants to have a chat with him because she was inspired a vision with him in it and hopes he can tell her why. She brings him cemetery. She needs a solution to a problem, a way to kill the tribrid. Ben mocks her, though in response, she breaks his shin with her foot when she learns the blue calamus doesn't work on him. He laughs off the pain as he's kind of used to excruciating pain at this point. An occupational hazard. Aurora, however, decides to threaten the students of the school. If he doesn't start talking, she's going back to the school, killing every single student, one by one. Every death will be his fault.

He tells her the information she seeks and she shoves a knife into his chest, killing him.

Later that night, Ben recovers on Cleo's bed, having fulling healed. He thanks her for the healing spell, but she tells him that he healed on his own. She tried to heal him, but it hurts when she tries to perform magic now. Whatever Aurora did in her subconscious, she fears, has damaged her in a way she doesn't understand yet. She asks what Aurora wanted and he tells her she wanted information about the gods. He believes that she can use them to kill a tribrid. Cleo reassures him that they'll find a way to warn Hope. Ben doesn't think Hope is the only one in trouble. The gods have been sleeping for a long time and if Aurora does find a way to wake them up, they're going to need to warn the world.

In Was This the Monster You Saw?, Ben offers his assistance to Jed, struggling with a foam stake launcher they use for training. Jed believes he has things handled and converting it into a confetti cannon for Dr. Saltzman's return to the school. However, he soon relents and accepts Ben's help. Jed wonders if it's that obvious that he has no idea what he's doing, though, to Ben, it's quite obvious and takes over. Jed, however, decides to go cut the paper for the cannon.

Jed alerts the study body that MG and Alaric are pulling up to the school and they turn off the lights and get into position. Ben hides with Jed behind the confetti cannon, Wade stands behind a large flower vase, while Kaleb and Cleo hide behind the table of food. Cleo questions if this surprise party is the best idea, given Alaric's current health. With their backs turned, Hope appears behind them, noting that Cleo is right and they're going to give him a heart attack. Cleo and Kaleb are surprised to see her and question what she's doing there. Though she's crashing their party, she's here for a business trip. She comes bearing an offer. Wade wants to know what the offer is, but Hope will only talk to Alaric, believing he'll be easier to manipulate.

After Hope's meeting with Alaric doesn't go as planned, she addresses the remaining squad members. Wade questions about the potential death should they help her, but Hope reiterates that some would die, or it could be all of them. Kaleb, however, demands her to get out while they talk in private. Hope quips that there is nothing super with the squad since she left, plus they're missing Lizzie, Josie, Finch, and Ethan. Turning to Cleo, she wonders if she can inspire a half decent question, but reveals that she is no longer capable of using her powers. They need to act now if they want to save Lizzie from herself because she's also working with an ancient and mentally unstable vampire. Jed tells her they've already learned a few things about the gods as well as having met Aurora. Passing over him, she questions who Ben is. He explains that the gods are his extended family and he knows them all too well considering they cursed him. He can also provide her with much useful information about them. She wants to know more about his curse. After they too refuse her, she takes his bangle and breaks it.

With no other option, Ben leaves the school, though Jed chases after him, concerned about the monsters that will still be after him. The alternative is that they'll be coming after him at the school and Cleo's already locking up Kaleb. People could get hurt if he stays. Jed explains that as much as they don't want monsters knocking at their door either, protecting innocent life is their first rule. This is as far as he needs to go. Ben pulls out chains and asks him to chain him up. Jed is confused. He'll be defenseless while he gets eaten alive. This is Ben's best option, but Jed refuses, believing it to be torture. That is his life though he will return no matter what any monster does to him, unlike the innocent people in the school. His plan makes perfect sense and questions Jed's hesitation. Jed's been meaning to talk to him at the right time and today at the confetti cannon would have been better but he chickened out. However, before he's able to explain himself to Ben, the monster attacks Jed from behind, biting into his shoulder.

Ben returns to the school with an unconscious Jed mumbling about Trey and his father. Hope reiterates to Alaric that it's time for him to man up and make the squad accept her proposal otherwise Jed will only get worse. Alaric asks Ben for another description of what attacked him and Jed. It was unlike anything he's ever seen before and admits that he would have let it consume him, if he wasn't for Jed. MG and Wade return with a picture book of a clown, asking if this is what attacked him. Ben confirms that it was. Ben questions how one kills a clown. But Hope quips that they don't because she will. Ben confronts Hope about being the one to hurt Jed and employs Dr. Saltzman to let him leave to protect the school. Hope, however, has trapped them all within the ground with a barrier spell and are stuck with the school. Ben reminds her that he's impervious to magic and she cannot hold him here. Hope has another plan and vamps to Ben and breaks his neck. Ben collapses to the floor dead.

Ben, having revived alone, finds Jed at the Old Mill. He had thought Jed would have been by his side and was hoping that maybe they could further their discussion from earlier. Though the monster may be dead, Jed can't stop thinking about the memories. Ben doesn't understand and Jed explains. His father was an abusive bully and he tried to make him hurt a friend. So he killed his father instead and that is how he activated his curse. Jed doesn't regret that. Ben assumes the friend was Trey, though Jed admits looking back, he might have been more than that, a childhood crush. However, after he turned into a werewolf, he ran off. Dr. Saltzman eventually found him, he never saw Trey again and that is the part he regrets. Ben believes that sometimes the true curse they carry is family. That makes sense to Jed. After he got to the Salvatore School, he became a bully too and it took him years to realize that's only who he was raised to be, but he's ready to let go of the person that his father wanted him to be. That's why he's been wanting to talk to him ever since Ben shared his story with him and to tell him how he feels. Ben tells him that it's all right if he's not ready, but Jed closes the distance between them and embraces him in a kiss as Ben reciprocates.

In The Only Way Out is Through, Wade and Rupert encode and everyone's powers for the Manticulum. Ben would also like to help, though he's forbidden from fighting against his family due to his father's curse. He offers that he can tell them what they would do in a fight and that he should play the side of the enemy in this game.

Professor Vardemus summons a battlefield for their practice session while Hope's humanity continues to appear to her. Rupert explains to Alaric, Hope, and Ben that vampires can move across the board in one turn and the speed of the gods varies. He has four hidden figures covered in sheets. He took the liberty of creating some automatons for the purposes of their game, using magic to sculpt them. The four automatons are Aurora, Jen, Ken, the father of an entire family of gods, and Lizzie. While Alaric is sure that Lizzie wouldn't fight against them, Rupert explains that to be sure of victory, they must plan for the worst-case scenario. Lizzie is a wild card. Wade comments that he's scored her loyalty to the gods pretty low, and believes that she can still be flipped back to their side. For the game, the two sides will alternate turns, with the Manticulum declaring success or failure of the moves based on the scores they've fed it. Rupert offers to Hope to draw to see who makes the first move. Her humanity appears, offering for her to take the left handed one. Hope, however, goes right and wins the first move.

Alaric and the others proceed with their simulation. Alaric believes that if they could talk to Lizzie, they can flip her back to their side. He believes their first move is getting her to safety. Her humanity tells her that she should listen, and though she believes they would be wasting their first strike, she goes with it. MG vamps to Lizzie though the manticulum calculates that Aurora would attack and kill him. His death turns Lizzie back to their side and she attacks and kills Aurora in a rage. Ben explains that Ken would attack Lizzie and she'd die. With her death, their probability of success drops to zero percent and they lose. Rupert finds this situation fascinating. As soon as Lizzie died, there was simply no move they could make that would lead to victory. He presumes there's a reason she is invaluable to winning. Hope now believes they have to save Lizzie first and wants to run the simulation again.

Rupert and the others run through several more simulations, each time they fail against the gods. Hope's humanity tells her she's going about it all wrong because they've already lost before they made the first move. Analyzing their enemies, Hope realizes the problem is that they're going first. They're facing them all at once and they should be forcing the gods to fight them. Hope declines the first move and Ben sends in Aurora to attack Hope first. Hope creates a barrier that throws Aurora off her feet. Hope sends in Kaleb, using his dragon fire. Aurora is killed and Hope has MG vamp to Lizzie. Ben has Ken attack MG, but Wade reads from the manticulum that he's just fast enough to save Lizzie.

Hope has rejoined the others with Ken, the last remaining on the field. Alaric thinks this is the point that Hope steps in, but Hope would rather send in her pawns first. Hope sends in Kaleb though Ben states that Ken would strike with lightning. Wade concludes that he dies. MG attacks next, though, again Wade explains that he dies. Ben advances Ken to Hope, who sends in Cleo. She too dies. Hope steps up to face Ken, though when pressed about the outcome, Rupert states that the manticulum calculates that she will still lose.

Wade has adjusted Hope's stats for her humanity, though doesn't see how this is much of a battle upgrade, though Rupert believes much remains to be seen. Listening to her humanity, Hope wouldn't send everyone in to weaken him. She'd put herself in danger first because she can take it. She can hold the line for as long as she can, giving them the best chance. She attacks Ken alone. Wade tells her that she does damage to Ken, but he's still standing. Ben believes that his father would call down lightning. Rupert tells her that she's wounded and her life force is down to 70%. Hope continues to attack, drawing his fire, distracting him. Ben's father keeps striking and she's hit again. Her life force drops to 40%. Hope moves into close-quarter combat, inside the reach of his lightning. Wade tells her that her blows do damage, but she's too weak to block his attacks, dropping her down to 30%. Wade tells her that she has to get out of there, but Hope refuses to run. Her vision begins to blur at 20%, but she gets back up. Rupert tells her she has one move left. Kaleb, Jed, MG, Ethan, and Cleo come to her side, taking the next hits for her.

Wade tells them that they score another hit on Ken, but he's confused about what's changed. Rupert believes that Hope is giving them all courage, a belief they can win. Ben believes his father will retreat and ultimately they win, attacking as one. Her humanity tells her that they can win, all she has to do is just turn it back on. She wants her to let her out before she loses control. Hope closes off her humanity once again. All of this isn't real, it's just a stupid game. They're all pathetic and just little boys role-playing war. She calls them all disposable and that they mean nothing to her. She addresses her humanity, calling her a liar and a martyr. The others look on, confused about who she's talking to. Her powers continue to grow unstable, enough that she tells them that they need to do something because she's about to kill them all. She pleads with someone to take her out and Alaric breaks her neck.

Jed and Ben celebrate theoretical victory at the Old Mill. Ben is happy that it's over. Thinking like his father is one of the more unpleasant things he's ever done and it felt awful. Jed playfully mocks him for being a downer, however for the first time, however small, he saw a chance that someone could stop his family. Likewise, Jed had a crash course reminder in how short and unpredictable life can be. It made him want to appreciate all the good things, and the good people, while they have them. Ben believes Jed is making him a better person. Jed knows the feeling, though decides to leave to check on Finch and the wolves. After Jed leaves, Aurora confronts Ben. Last time they met, he didn't put up much of a fight, but promised her that he won't be so easy to defeat this time. Aurora already knows this and why she has help. Lizzie appears behind Ben and siphons from his head. Ben falls to the ground unconscious.

In Everything That Can Be Lost May Also Be Found, Ben is held captive and chained to a tree by Lizzie and Aurora. He eventually recovers and wakes, chiming in on their conversation. He explains that his half-sister is far more intelligent than she appears. Lizzie begs to differ because she's named her metal shop "Torch 'n Toke." Aurora points out that they don't trust each other, let alone him since he doesn't have any skin in the game. Ben begs to differ and believes they can work together.

Ben is sure that their plan will never work. Jen is a god and as docile as she may seem, she will surely crush them. He believes the better plan is to take the key out of him and destroy it. Ben believes they want it to raise his father, but he's wrong. They want to raise the time god, Chronos, as they'd know him as. He questions why they want him and Lizzie explains that they want to go back in time and fix all of the mistakes they've made. Permitting they allow him, he too wants to go back as well, to the time when his lover, Ashur was alive. Lizzie sympathizes with him and attempts to convince Aurora to let him join. Aurora doesn't trust him, though Ben tells them that they're trying to trick a god. He's only ever seen it done once by the very person they're trying to trick. He believes it to be worth the risk, if they can get past Jen. He's sure that manipulating her is the one part of this plan that he's certain he will help them achieve. Aurora mocks Lizzie's trustworthiness, telling her to throw caution to the wind.

While Lizzie deals with Jen, Aurora has removed and dissected one of Ben's kidneys, finding the key they're searching for. With the worst behind him, he asks for her to unchain him, though she doesn't. Ben claims they had a deal, though she points out that his deal was with Lizzie, which she opposed. Ben claims that she won't know which sarcophagus to open without him, but she's taking it one problem at a time. Aurora believes that she should kill him, to make sure that he won't follow her, however she reasons that would hamper her personal journey from villain to savior. She likes Lizzie, but she always wants to be the one who makes the decisions and when that decision involves using the boon of a god for anything, she doesn't know what she'll do. Ben tells her that his father is the only one that can grant a Boon and begs her not to do this, to wake him. Aurora simply tells him that he'll just have to trust her and vamps away. With Aurora gone, Ben dislodges the knife in his abdomen and begins using it behind his back.

Ben manages to try Aurora back to Jen's workshop and knocks her out from behind. Without Jen and Lizzie to stop him, he takes Aurora and loads the sarcophagi into a semi truck.

Later that night, he stopped alongside a road. Getting out with Aurora unconscious, he opens the back and unlocks one of the sarcophagi. Opening it, he's enveloped in a bright, white light.

In I Wouldn't Be Standing Here If It Weren't For You, Ben returns to Mystic Falls with the intention of burning it to the ground, drawing his friends away from the school. However, before he can do anything he encounters Kaleb. He asks what he's doing here which is also his question. Kaleb explains that Cleo had a vision, the town in flames. With that new information, Ben knows why he's ahead of schedule. This alerts Kaleb that Ben intends to set the town on fire. Ben explains that he's trying to save as many of them as he can because his father is heading to the school. He knew that they would try to stop him, and they would lose. He needed a way to keep them occupied until his father got what he wanted. Kaleb tells him that he could have just come to them and warn them, but Ben is skeptical that they would have believed him. Regardless, the town is empty and tells him he can go ahead and burn it down. He's returning to the school since there's no one in town that needs saving. Ben doesn't see another way and rips off a parking meter and swings it against Kaleb, knocking him to the ground.

Ben tosses Kaleb to MG and Ethan's feet at the Town Square, declaring that he's not going to stop and they'll need all of their friends to face him. MG instructs Ethan to get Kaleb out of there and he'll handle Ben. MG rushes Ben, but is easily thrown away. Jed approaches Ben and Ethan and has Ethan get both MG and Kaleb to safety; he'll handle Ben. Ethan grabs Kaleb and runs him over to MG and teleports them away.

Jed faces off against him, though he ignores him and tries to avoid him. Ben can't fight him and Jed wants to talk. He wants the truth because he's spent the day defending him, only for him to betray them. Ben has nothing to say, but Jed already knows the truth. Jed wants to fight, pushing him to do so, but Ben refuses. He didn't want anyone to get hurt, but he had to wake his father. He knew that whoever woke him up would get his boon and it was the only way that he could get him to break his curse. No more monsters, no more suffering. If Jed comes with him, his father can break his curse too; he'll show him how. Jed takes him by the neck, and snaps his neck, killing him.

Ben wakes in the cell with Jed, questioning about his father. Jed tells him that he got what he wanted, like all bullies but is sure he'll be back as soon as he wants something else. Ben is glad that he survived and relieved that at least part of his plan worked. Jed isn't so relieved because his friends also didn't and he's not going to be grateful. Ben can live with him hating him because he's at least still alive to do so, which means he saved the life of someone that he loves. Jed laughs off the comment, surprised this is the way he's going to tell him that he loves him. Jed doesn't believe he means it because love means fighting beside the people you care about, not against them. He would have fought with him no matter what came for them. Ben asks him what about now, but Jed doesn't answer, shutting the gate between them.

In Into the Woods, Ben is visited by Alaric in the werewolf transition space, the latter thanking the former for coming. Alaric tells him not to thank him yet because he's betrayed them and raised a god he claimed to hate. Ben truthfully tells him that he does hate his father and that he was a fool to think that he could save the school from his wrath or free Jed of his curse. Alaric questions why he did it, though all Ben can say is, he thinks, for love. That is something that Alaric can understand and asks why he wanted to see him. Ben wants to find a way to atone for his mistakes, if that's even possible. Given his recent conversations with his own daughter, he'd be a hypocrite if he didn't believe that. With this, Ben offers to help kill his father. Alaric assumed that he couldn't die, much like Ben himself. That's not exactly true as only a god can kill another god. This revelation sounds awfully convenient and, perhaps, a lie just to get out of the cell. Ben pleads with him. When he first came to the school, he had to find a way to trust them and now they must do the same. The reason is desperation. Ben tells him that if he has a better plan, then to pursue it, but his father is as predictable as he is cruel. He believes he will be back to get what he suspects he wants.

Alaric returns to talk to him with his questions answered by Professor Vardemus. He fears he must be losing his mind because he thinks Ben was telling the truth. Professor Vardemus thinks that siphoning the magic from him and weaponizing it against his father could work. Ben questions the hesitation, asking for him to be released. Professor Vardemus also thinks that in doing so, it would kill him because it's the same magic that allows him to die and resurrect. If they were to siphon it there's a very good chance that all of his organs would fail. What Alaric waits for now is for him to convince him that he didn't already know that.

Alaric doesn't understand him. Just yesterday he sold them out for a crappy cause and today he's willing to die permanently. Ben admits that every one of his countless deaths has been for nothing. If this final one means the end of his father and that Jed could be safe, he's willing to do it. Alaric sees that Ben has it bad for Jed and tells him that martyrdom rarely works out the way people who sacrifice themselves expect it to. Ben believes that he's allowing his students to do just that, however, Alaric believes there to be a difference. In his experience, if something's worth fighting for, there's always a chance that you'll win. Ben thinks that is either optimistic or delusional. Alaric was, until recently, cynical and disillusioned and the old version of him would definitely take Ben up on his offer, but he's beginning to like the new him much better. Ben wonders what he intends on doing with him. Odd are it's still going to die, but if he wants to get back at his father and atone, he employs him to use his powers to fight with them and opens the cell.

Ben agrees and together they attempt to come up with a solution to defeating Ken. They use the manticulum to test more battle scenarios with a chest board. Their latest move, though bold, ends in Lizzie's death. Hope wakes and points out they're not using their queen, which is a big mistake. She's the most dangerous piece. Alaric notes that she wasn't on the board, but it's good that she's awake now. He tells her that Ben's on their side now, though he leaves at Alaric's behest.

In By the End of This, You'll Know Who You Were Meant to Be, Alaric calls together a squad meeting with Lizzie, MG, Jed, Hope, and Ben in attendance. Thanks to Cleo's vision they know that Ken is planning an attack on the school, but the good news is they get to choose the field of battle. With a map and chess pieces they strategize their battle plan. Hope knows he's after her and she'll draw him to a field. Ben points out that the tree line will prevent him from using lightning strikes. Hope also has a backup plan. Should they fail, they'll have a fallback. Jed questions if she thinks they're going to lose but Hope believes they won't. Either way, they need to stop him. Alaric continues to explain how Ben told them about a mixture the Spartans used to harm the gods."White fire and brimstone," otherwise, phosphorus and sulfur. If they can rig the whole meadow for a chain reaction and get Ken in the middle, the explosion will likely incapacitate him. While Cleo gets more intel, Alaric instructs the witches and vampires to get the minerals. Ben will show the wolves how to set up the bomb before they have to report to the bunker for the full moon. Jed questions why they're trusting Ben again and Alaric explains that he's proven to him that he's on their side. Lizzie figures out that whoever triggers the explosion, they're not likely to get clear in time, even at vamp speed. Hope confirms her suspicion and MG wonders who will do that. Hope refuses to give an answer, just that she's working on it. Ben offers that perhaps Ethan could use his powers, but Lizzie only tells them that he can't. MG continues that they can't offer an explanation until they talk to him about it first. With the meeting over, Alaric retires to his office, but Hope has something else for him to do. Jed looks at Ben, scoffs and leaves with Ben not far behind.

Ben joins the wolves as they collect the phosphorus and sulfur to spread out. He instructs them to make sure they don't touch. Jed and Finch approach him. While Finch was open to talk about what's going on, Jed wants to take the duffel bags from him and continue without him. Ben refuses to release the bag, believing they still need his help. Jed attempts to pull the bag from his hand, believing they can handle his little chemistry project on their own. Finch intervenes, reminding the two to not play tug-of-war with explosives. Jed has every right to be angry with him, but what they're facing is bigger than the two of them. Finch attempts to leave and let them have their moment, but Jed tells her to say since it involves all the wolves. Not only did Ben betray the school, he attempted to have his father remove his curse and that being a wolf is something he needs to change about himself. Jed doesn't want Ben anywhere around his pack. Jed walks off and Ben turns the opposite direction, leaving Finch standing there, alone.

Later that night, after the school's pre-victory part, Ben remains behind to clean up. Jed approaches him, explaining that Finch told him about how he tried to sacrifice his life for the school. Jed tells him that dying is the easy way out. If he wants to make it up to him, he wants him to stay with him tonight through the full moon and to see what a turn is like. Being a wolf, that's part of who he is and he wants him to accept that part of him, too. All he needs to do is stay on the other side of the bars because he doesn't want to hurt him. Ben assures him that he can't hurt him and, taking his hands, tells him whatever he goes through tonight, he wants to be there.

In This Can Only End in Blood, Hope and Ben go through their weapons armory. She wants him to pick a good one since she's about to duel a god. Ben picks up a sword and easily snaps the metal in two, claiming not that one and how their school's armory leaves a lot to be desired. Despite this shortcoming, warriors are the ones that win battles, not the weapons. Sadly, they've lost one of their best warriors. Ben wonders if she doubts her plan. She retorts that he's been in battle more than any of them and he should know what happens to plans, especially when an enemy shows up. In Ben's experience, the worst plans can overcome the best, so long as those fighting believe in it as well as the person leading them. Hope laughs at his remark, but he reassures her that her friends have faith in her and she should have it in herself. She just has to trust her instincts.

After the battle commences, Ben runs past several wolf students, beginning to transform, pointing out the obvious as he comes upon Finch. She struggles with the turn, her bones cracking as she fights the pain, giving him a snide thanks. Ben assumes this is his father's work because he can control curses. He must have triggered all of theirs to sabotage them. He needs to know where Jed is, but she doesn't know. She tells him that he needs to leave.

Eventually, Ben comes across Alaric covering the body of the slain student, having reverted back to their human-form. Ben approaches him from behind as Alaric discovers that his wounds are healing. Ben believes that his father has altered his curse and has made him mortal. Alaric assures him that the witches can heal him and attempts to get him to return to the school. Ben refuses to until he sees who lays dead behind them. Ben pushes past him and removes the jacket. Jed lays dead with an arrow in his heart. Ben's spirit is crushed as his cups Jen's lifeless face. Alaric had no choice since he was going after MG and Lizzie. He apologizes as Ben lets out an agonizing scream.

With their plan subverted, Ben and Alaric take the field to confront Ken. Alaric fires an arrow from his crossbow but he stops an arrow at his face and elects to kill them first. Ben states that he'll make him regret all the things he's done today and for all the people that've died because of it. Ken's only regret is not killing him sooner. He launches the arrow back at Ben, but Alaric jumps in front of the arrow, taking it in the shoulder. The two amuse him; a mortal and a former half-god. Ken calls out to Hope, questioning if this is the best she's got to offer him. Lizzie vamps behind him; she's his next opponent. Facing her, he quips that last time she tried to take his power, she could barely contain it. Vamping to face him directly, she tells him she's been practicing and grabs his hand, siphoning. She calls out to Ben to get her father out of there and to get him help. Ben grabs up Alaric and the two stumble out of the meadow.

Ben helps the injured students to their makeshift infirmary. Alaric is still alive. Alaric gives him the credit and asks about Ken. Ben confirms that Ken is dead and every curse he's placed has gone with him, so he's luckier than some. Alaric tells him how sorry he is about losing Jed, but Jed approaches them, telling them they don't have too. Alaric and Ben are shocked to see him standing before them. Jed offers Alaric an apology as he was the one who was trying to kill MG and Lizzie. He had to do what he did to protect them and bears no hard feelings. Alaric struggles to stand to hug him, but Ben embraces him instead. Ben thought he had lost him, but Jed tells him that his friend is in charge of Limbo and he sent them back. Knowing the gods, he assumes there was a price, but in the most Landon way possible, he paid it for them. All he can do now is pay it forward with the best life he can. Bringing him close, Jed embraces him in a passionate kiss.

In Just Don't Be a Stranger, Okay?, Ben wakes up at the Old Mill, having celebrated their victory the previous night with Jed. As he rolls over, Jed is missing from by his side in their bed. Ben finds him looking out into the woods and greets him with a 'good morning'. Jed states that they've slept through Ethan's memorial service. Ben believes this to be the nature of war as the living must celebrate their survival before they mourn their dead. Coming up behind Jen, grabbing him by the waist, he's up for a little more celebration. Jed doesn't immediately reciprocate and Ben apologizes, he doesn't mean to be insensitive about Ethan's death. Jed knows this, but it's not what's troubling him. Something is off with him and he feels different. Ben laughs, offering that he'd be a little offended if he wasn't different considering their night together. Jed clarifies removing Ben's doubt, telling him that last night was great, they're great and emotionally, he's never been better. Physically, something has changed with him. Ben accepts Jed and resolves to help him figure out what's happened.

They return to the garden and he picks some wolfsbane, asking Jed if this will hurt, because quoting Finch, saying that it will burn. Jed tells him it is the whole point and asks Ben to drop the sprig of flowers into his jar of water. Ben does as he's asked, takes the jar and swirls it around. Jed uncovers his forearm and Ben tests out the wolfsbane. Jed is unaffected which answers his question. Ben doesn't understand why he's not in pain. Jed can only assume it's because he died the previous day and somehow being sent back to life managed to reset his curse. Jed likens it to how Ken's death broke Ben's curse. He's no longer a triggered werewolf. Ben asks him how he feels. He feels like he's changed a lot but in ways that he's proud of. Being a wolf and leader of the pack has always defined him. Now, he believes he's supposed to find out who he is without that. Ben empathizes with him, as someone who was newly freed from that which defined him for millennia. Should Jed go searching for something, he asks him to consider letting him be a part of his quest to find it. Jed doesn't respond, instead he embraces him in a kiss and wraps his arms around him.

In the not so distant future, he and Jed travel together in an RV. They share a hammock as they read a book in their campsite, happy and content.

Personality[]

Ben is caring, loyal, and compassionate towards others. He cares enough that he would give away information about the gods to protect those he holds dear.