Hatred and Untold Truths

By:

Me

To whomever reads this tale. This is an alternate universe type tale that is using the characters from MBAV. Benny will be a bit out of character at first, but just wait and you will start seeing his true personality come out as the story develops. The setting is in a more medieval era and not in modern times.

I own nothing, but sure would like to own Atticus Mitchell. Just saying.

Prologue:

The six year old child kept to the shadows as he crept through the temple courtyard. He would be beaten if he was ever seen, but today was a special day. Today was Mama's birthday. The boy looked around nervously before darting through the cemetery gate. He couldn't read, but he had been shown his mother's grave once by the only servant that had ever shown him any kindness. The child traced his mother's name on the small gravestone before gently placing his small, hand-picked bouquet of buttercups next to the large lilies that had been placed there by someone else. Tears pricked at his eyes as he mourned the loss of a parent he had never known which doomed him to the harsh life he now lived. He turned away to get back to his work and came face to knee with the High Priestess. Fear gripped the small boy's heart as he dropped to his knees before Lady Weir and pulled his hood further down over his face.

"What are you doing here, Boy?' the Earth Priestess ground out in anger before stopping when she saw the small, yellow flowers that had been placed at the grave of her most precious Priestess, "Get out of here and do not come back!"

The child nodded his head and mumbled a tiny "yes ma'am" before scurrying away from the grave site. He would be punished later. Lady Weir always made sure that he would be punished. The child had only ever been called "Boy." Boy knew no other name. The only thing Boy knew was that his mother had gone against her creed and gone forth with a pregnancy even though she knew her baby was a boy. Earth Priestesses were only allowed to have girl children so as to pass down their Earth magic. His mother had given birth to him anyway, but had died in the process. Boy had been taken in to be raised as lower than a servant in the Earth Temple and had never known warmth or kindness, but somehow the young child had not allowed the cruelty of his world to taint the kindness of his spirit. The child had been told many times that he was the reason for his mother's death so he had to pay for his crimes by working for the temple. Boy accepted his duties without complaint.

Boy quickly gathered his bucket of water and went to work scrubbing the front hall steps. His stomach churned in hunger since he rarely got more than a slice of old bread per day, if he was lucky. The child worked hard throughout the afternoon until he heard someone approach from behind and he turned to look. The stable master stood before him with a small whip in his hands. Boy looked at the whip with fearful resignation before standing to follow the tall man back towards the stables. Other Priestesses looked with contempt at the raggedly dressed child as he left the front hall. Boy was the very example of why rules should be followed. He was a curse to the temple and many relished in Boy's pain.

Boy removed his cloak and shirt and faced his small, bruised back towards his punisher. The child had learned long ago not to cry or make much noise or his punishments would be even worse. Boy muffled his gasps behind his hands with each strike of the whip and arched his back in pain. This was a pattern in his life that he knew well. Once the stable master had meted out his cruelty the small child limped in pain over to the well so as to get some water. Boy cleaned the welts on his back as best he could before putting his shirt and cloak back on and returning to his work. Nobody saw his tears since he was forced to keep his face hidden by a hood.

"I'm sorry, Mama," Boy thought to himself as he scrubbed harder at the stone steps, "I can't come and wish you 'Happy Birthday' anymore. I'll try to work harder for your temple so that you will be happy in heaven."

However, this story actually begins ten years later when a chance meeting will change the fate of many, including Boy.

Chapter One

High Priestess Weir was not happy. The Royal Family was coming to visit the temple and things were not being done in a manner that was acceptable. The Priestesses' had been late coming from their afternoon prayers, the cook was being difficult, and now she had to deal with the scourge of her life.

"Hurry," the Priestess snapped, "Get that welcome sign hung up and then go down to the kitchen and stay there. I do not have all day to deal with your incompetence."

Boy had grown into a tall, thin young man despite the fact that he only sporadically got to have a full belly. His clothes were thread bare and his face remained covered with the hood of his cloak. The teen's hands and bare feet gave evidence of the abuse that was inflicted on him daily as they were covered in bruises and blisters. Boy finished hanging the sign and then bowed low to Lady Wier and left for the kitchen as he was instructed. It was an unwise being that did not do as the High Priestess asked for her magic could cut deeper than any whip.

"You again," the cook groaned as the teen meekly entered the kitchen, "Why do I always get stuck with you? Just go peel potatoes. Don't stop until I tell you to."

Boy went to the corner of the kitchen that was designated as his and began the chore of peeling potatoes for all of the Priestesses and the Royal family. The teen sighed silently as his stomach ached with hunger.

"Four days and counting," Boy thought to himself, "How long will it be before Lady Weir lets me eat this time?"

The teen jumped in surprise when he heard trumpets sound and knew that the Royal Family had arrived. The King and Queen were arriving with the Prince. The Prince was supposed to be the same age as Boy.

"I wonder what it's like to be a prince?" Boy pondered as he worked, "Must be nice to have everyone do things for you and love you."

Boy's tears had dried up long ago, but the thought of being loved by anyone made the broken, glass shards of his heart throb for a moment. What he wouldn't give to have anyone care for him if even for a moment. The teen shook his head in irritation and got back to work.

"There is nobody who could ever love me," Boy reminded himself, "Lady Weir says that I would bring unhappiness to anyone who gets close to me, so…so stop feeling sorry for yourself and remember your promise to Mama that you would take care of her temple. You have a job to do."

Boy had made it his duty to try and care for the Earth Temple as best he could since his mother had loved her home so much. The teen had overheard whispered stories of how much his mother had dedicated herself to her duties and the gardens in the hopes of helping others and Boy wanted to do his best to keep his mother's spirit happy by working hard. His favorite time of day was when he was allowed to work in the gardens. Even the gardener said that Boy had a way with plants.

"Oh, crap! Boy!" the cook suddenly snapped as he jerked the poor teen up by his arm and hurled him towards the door, "Go pick some flowers from the garden. We need them for the tables for dinner tonight. Hurry up before the Harpy knows that you left the kitchen. Go!"

As Boy hurried to do his new work task the Royal Family was being led into the temple by Lady Weir. Prince Ethan was cringing inside as he had to attend another boring meeting with his parents. It was so unfair that his little sister, Princess Jane, got to stay in the palace. The High Priestess seemed too intense to him and he itched to explore the grounds since Earth magic had always been something he had been excited about.

"Your Majesties, maybe the young Prince would like to see the gardens," Lady Weir suggested much to Prince Ethan's delight, "The temple is protected by powerful enchantment so he will be perfectly safe."

"Are you sure?" the King asked as he eyed his first born, "Maybe I should send a guard."

"No, Father," Ethan groaned, "Please Mother? Lady Weir said I'll be fine. Let me breathe a little."

A nod from his mother gave the Prince his freedom and he wandered off excitedly to see the sights. Many of the Priestesses bowed low as Prince Ethan passed. The teen hated the groveling and only began to smile as he looked around at the beauty of the gardens. Earth magic made any plant grow lusher and more beautiful and the garden was exquisite. The Prince turned a corner at one of the brick pillars and crashed into someone else by accident.

"Forgive me," the other person said as the obviously male individual scrambled to pick up flowers that he had dropped, "I did not see you there.

The Prince knew that this person was probably young due to his voice and height. Prince Ethan could not see what the other person looked like since he was wearing a hood that hung low to hide his face, but he did not miss the ragged clothes and bare feet. He bristled to see the bruises that speckled the other's hands.

"I think this was actually my fault," Ethan reminded as he started gathering some of the dropped flowers, "I am so sorry."

Boy kept his head ducked down since he realized that he was probably talking to the Prince due to the fine clothes and gold headband the other teen was wearing. It made him uncomfortable to accept the flowers from Prince Ethan.

"Are you okay?" the Prince asked as Boy remained crouched down with his head bowed, "You can get up. I really don't like when people bow to me."

"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Boy apologized again as he huddled in on himself, "I…I am not permitted to speak to guests of the temple. I am just a servant."

"Even a servant is a person and I haven't met a lot of people who are my age," Ethan explained as he held his hand out to help the other up, "I would like to know your name and be able to see your face."

Boy hesitated for a moment, but then reluctantly took the Prince's hand. If anyone saw this he would probably not be able to walk for several days after the beating he would get. The teen pulled himself up and then gasped in alarm when he saw that Prince Ethan had gone into a trance of some kind. Boy realized that the other teen must be a Seer after noting the golden sheen that coated the other's eyes. The Prince was seeing a vision of Boy's life and how much pain the young servant was living through as he was hurt or ignored by the adults that should have been taking care of him.

"How can anyone live like this?" Ethan thought as he came back to reality and reached out to pull the other lad's hood from his head so as to see the teen's features.

Boy blinked in surprise at the unexpected move and then gasped for a second time when the Prince tenderly touched his cheek where a particularly vivid bruise had formed after he had been struck in the face for his stomach growling during the Priestesses' prayer hour a day ago. Nobody had ever touched him and it hadn't hurt before. Was this what a gentle touch felt like? Boy leaned into the caress for a second before becoming aware of his actions. The servant realized the situation he was in and he quickly pulled his hood back on and stepped back away from the Prince.

"I…I am not allowed to show my face," Boy said as he trembled in fear of anyone having observed what had happened, "I have to go and take these flowers to the cook. I am sorry for troubling you, Your Majesty."

"Wait," Prince Ethan demanded as he caught the other teen's arm and realized just how thin the servant was underneath his cloak, "What is your name?"

"I don't have a name," the other teen stated with his back still towards the Prince.

"You have to be call something," Ethan insisted as he released the teen's arm and the servant turned back around to face the Prince.

"Boy. I am just called Boy," the taller teen allowed as he took a step backwards.

"Boy?" the Prince questioned, "Boy, why don't you leave this temple? You can start a new life outside these walls."

Boy's hooded head turned in surprise at the other's words before he firmly shook his head in the negative.

"This is my mother's temple," Boy stated as he squared his shoulders in pride, "I will take care of this temple as best as I can for my mother. I must go back to the kitchen, Your Majesty. May peace guide your soul."

Prince Ethan watched as the servant disappeared through a small doorway after the traditional Earth Temple blessing and a deep bow. The Prince was very intrigued. Boy was living through such pain to take care of a temple who's residences treated him lower than a worm. This teen was either very stupid or very sweet and loyal.

"He is truly a beauty despite the bruises," Prince Ethan thought to himself as he sat down on a bench in the garden, "Wait. His mother's temple? That means he is the son of an Earth Priestess, but Earth Priestesses cannot have male children. What is this Boy's story?"

Boy did not realize that he had opened the box that contained the Prince's curious spirit. Once Prince Ethan set his mind on something he didn't let it go until he found out what he wanted to know and he wanted to know more about Boy.

To be continued…