Chapter 10: The Trouble With Children

[Yay! Tis Faerie now! ^^;]

Sebi sighed and looked around at the other shifters. Things currently seemed calm. The blood suckers were not causing trouble and… Sebi's head jerked up at the sight of one of the shifters rushing through the crowd.

"Yes Anbu?" Sebi asked looking at his comrade and friend.

"I-It's terrible," Anbu panted. "I ran here as fast as I could…The town by Edith." He panted more. "It was attacked. The thing killed Al-Jher…"

Sebi gasped. "Setites…" he hissed.

"No," Anbu said. "I-It was a Child of the Moon!" He sputtered.

Sebi reeled back, surprised. "Why is Child here? Something need to be done now." He sighed and shook his head.

Another shifter approached Sebi, obviously not noticing that he was upset. "Alpha…I was on patrol all day today and I noticed something…" Sebi looked at the shifter. "I haven't seen Jahk all day today."

BW

"So how long has this been going on, Heidi?"

Benjamin looked over at Heidi now, grinning. "It's none of your business, Tia! Just keep your mouth shut!"

"Alright, alright…I can take a hint."

The three of them walked towards the mouth of the cave for Benjamin's training. "You know Tia," Heidi began slyly. Tia looked over at her. "I should be teasing you about your little romantic situation. How do you think Amun would feel about your feelings towards the new addition to the Clan?"

Tia looked away so Heidi and Benjamin couldn't see her expression. "It's better than rushing off to meet an enemy lioness," she finally said, grinning.

Heidi opened her mouth to retort, but Santiago and Sebastian popped out from the mouth of the cave. "What's up?" Santiago said, his white skin sparkling in the sun.

Sebastian grinned. "I know what's up…"

Santiago shot him a glare before looking at the others. "Alright Benjamin…Let's start your training for today."

He and Sebastian walked out several feet away from the cave motioning for Benjamin to follow. Benjamin did so, flashing a smile at Tia before turning his attention to Sebastian and Santiago. "Go easy on him!" Tia called.

Benjamin turned at the sound of her voice and his breath caught in his throat. Now that he and Tia were on good terms, he allowed himself to really look at her and now he was definitely looking at her. She was not wearing her cloak, but instead, she was wearing simple traveler's clothes. In spite of himself, Benjamin stared at her, noting each one of her curves and every detail of her sparkling, unblemished skin.

"Pay attention!" Santiago barked and Benjamin looked over at him just in time to receive a punch to the gut.

Benjamin reeled back, holding his stomach. "Gah! What was that for?!"

"We're in training, remember?" Sebastian asked playfully.

"Right," Benjamin grunted, straightening himself up. "So what will we work on today?"

Sebastian put an arm around Santiago, which he shrugged off immediately. "Today I think we'll focus with your elements again and how to use them in battle," Santiago said, glowering at Sebastian.

"What do you--?" Benjamin paused in mid-question as Santiago got into a fighting stance.

"Use the elements and your knowledge about fighting to fend me off." He smiled mischievously.

Benjamin raised his fists and looked around for possible weapons; however the only thing he could find around him was sand. Sand doesn't work too well…It falls apart too easily and it doesn't really hurt when you're hit by it…

Santiago began to advance towards Benjamin now. Benjamin backed up and the two of them circled around each other repeatedly. "Well? What are you waiting for?" Santiago demanded.

Benjamin raised both his hands in the air and flung them down as hard as he could. Sure enough, sand came up, spraying Santiago in the face. Benjamin grinned and advanced towards him, swinging a fist.

Santiago dodged it with some difficulty and Benjamin swung at him again. This time, Santiago caught his fist and dished out a punch of his own. Benjamin ducked as fast as he could, barely avoiding the punch. "Hmph!"

He then ducked low, doing a roundhouse kick that knocked Santiago off his feet. Just as Benjamin was standing up again, he looked over to see Amun helping Santiago to his feet. "Not bad."

Benjamin stared Amun, unsure of what to do. Amun narrowed his eyes at Benjamin. "I expect some acknowledgement when I speak to you."

"Thank you Amun," Benjamin muttered looking down.

"Alright…Everyone…we need to discuss our next course of action. Kebi is in the cave waiting." Before anyone could respond, Amun was gone in a flash.

"Well," Heidi said, putting her hands on her hips. "Let's see what he wants, shall we?

"Agreed," Tia said and in a flash the five of them were off.

Before Benjamin knew it, they were in Amun's room. He sucked in a breath and looked around. I'll never get used being able to move that fast.

"We have a problem…With the shifters."

"You think?" Heidi demanded. "They attacked us first!"

Benjamin looked down. They attacked us first, because of me… He felt something soft press against his hand and he looked down at it to see Tia standing beside him, holding it. She gave him a brief smile before turning her attention to Amun again. "It doesn't matter who attacked who first. We have to do something before they wipe us out."

Santiago stepped forward with his arms crossed. "I suggest we--" He paused and sniffed the air. Benjamin tilted his head and sniffed the air as well. Jahk!

"The boy," Amun hissed.

Benjamin looked over at Amun to tell him to leave Jahk be, but he was already gone. Oh no…Not again! Before anyone could say anything else, Benjamin took off after Amun. I won't allow anymore death, he promised himself.

Just as Benjamin reached the exit of the cave, he saw Amun and Jahk going at it. He had to hand it to Jahk…the little pup was putting up quite a fight. At the same time, he was no match for Amun. The vampire hit Jahk with a ferocity that rocked Benjamin to his core.

"No! Stop this!" Benjamin screamed, but the two ignored him. Benjamin ran to the two of them, preparing to break up the fight.

"Benjamin! Don't do it!" He heard Tia yell behind him as he pulled Amun off of Jahk.

"Y-You!" Jahk sputtered, wiping the blood from his mouth.

"No more," Benjamin whispered as Amun jerked out of his grip. "Please leave." He looked back to see the others standing behind him.

"You won't get away with what you did! You killed my sister!" He screamed, tears coming down his face.

"You shouldn't be here," Amun growled. He then advanced upon the shifter, with his fist raised.

"STOP!" Benjamin boomed, pulling Amun away from him.

"Amun," Tia said from behind Benjamin. "He cannot hope to harm any of us. There are too many of us and only one of him."

"I say we should take care of him before he becomes a bigger problem," Amun said, casting a glare at both Tia and Benjamin.

"I won't let you!" Benjamin cried. He looked at Jahk, who stared at them all, standing shakily.

"Don't try to protect me," Jahk growled, "Filthiest bloodsucker of 'em all!"

"You see," Amun said, a hungry smile on his face. "He will become a problem."

Benjamin opened his mouth and closed it again, looking down. "Now that we've established that…" Amun paused and tackled Jahk to the ground. Benjamin stood frozen as the two of them fought each other, rolling around every which way on the ground.

"ENOUGH!" He yelled with so much force that the ground shook lightly.

Amun paused and looked at him. Before Jahk could take advantage of his distraction, Amun punched him in the chin, stunning him. He stood up, facing Benjamin. "You will not interfere anymore."

Benjamin felt a shiver run down his spine, though he ignored it. "I will not sit here and allow you to kill him. You have forgotten that they are attacking us because you decided to take me into the Clan."

"They should keep their sniveling noses where they belong," Amun said, glaring daggers into him now.

Benjamin tried his best not to display his fear. "I will not let you kill him," he repeated.

"And what will you do about it?" Amun said, getting face to face with Benjamin now.

"I will leave." Amun stood frozen, staring at him with disbelief. Any anger his face displayed was now replaced with fear. "I will go and never come back. I do not want to be a murderer. I will not kill unless I have to…"

"Y-You will…" His voice faded away as he stared at Benjamin. It didn't take long before his disbelief was replaced with anger once more. "You would do no such thing. You have nothing! You have no one!"

"He has me," Tia's strong voice said from behind. "And if he wishes to leave…I will go with him. We have no reason to kill the shifter. I do not want a war."

"You wouldn't dare," Amun snarled.

"I would. I look forward to seeing what Benjamin can do later. I will be glad to make him my companion…I will follow him…where ever he goes."

Despite the current situation, Benjamin felt a pang of happiness at her words. "I should destroy the two of you."

"Amun, darling, let me handle the shifter," Kebi said, in a whisper so that only her covenmates heard her. "I can take away his memory temporarily and we can send him on his way.

Benjamin raised an eyebrow. This was the first time he had heard her speak.

Amun gritted his teeth, exhaling loudly. He looked over at Benjamin and Tia and reluctantly nodded. "Very well."

Jahk stared at the seven vampires with wide eyes. "Get away from me!" He shouted. "I just want him!" He said, pointing at Benjamin. "He killed her…" He turned to run away, but Kebi was already on him. She touched his cheek and his froze, staring at her. For a few seconds, he stared into her eyes and finally…he collapsed. "Jai…" He whispered as he fell onto the ground.

Amun glared at Benjamin. "I will not accept any behavior like that from you again without a punishment. Let this be a warning for you."

"Ah…" Benjamin and the others watched as Jahk stood up. "What happened?" He muttered.

"You have lost your way," Amun said, tension in his voice. "I was just telling you that you need to go that way until you get to the town of Edith."

Jahk smiled and bowed his head. "Why thank you... kind sir. I suppose I'll be on my way."

Amun grunted and turned back towards the others. "I'll be in the cave," he muttered just before disappearing.

BW

"Son, are you sure you're alright?" Jahk's mother asked softly.

Jahk stared out the window. He was annoyed at everything now. One of the female vampires had fooled him into believing that he was lost. He had followed the leader of the Clan's advice. He left the vampires and went to Edith, walking several miles and by the time he got near Edith, he simply collapsed. A few shifters passing by saw him and carried him back to his house and as soon as he awoke, he remembered.

"I'm fine," he said, his teeth gritted. He would not let anyone take anything from him again. Not his memory…nor his sister.

BW

The Child of the Moon stared at his half-eaten meal. It was a trader that was just heading to Edith to sell some sort of new clothing. That didn't matter. The Child of the Moon no longer understood the concepts of "traders" and "clothing" anymore. Once upon a time, it had been human. Once upon a time, it had thoughts and feelings, even dreams.

The human would've been horrified by the loss of life that he was now munching away at. But now, to him... it was a meal. It was food.

And just like his time as a human, it was… no more.