Sorry, I haven't posted in a while. School just started again. But if you have any comments or questions, please review. I'd love to hear feedback.

Chapter 7: Inner Demons

As the ceiling began to break Ben rushed over and pushed Kira Ann to the ground. Kira Ann heard a large crashing sound as Ben pushed her down to the ground. Turning her torso, Kira Ann gazed into Ben's dark brown eyes. His face showing nothing else but concern.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Kira Ann nodded her head. Ben stared at her for a little longer before moving off her. "Sorry," he said, "I must have almost crushed you." Kira Ann just laughed and shook her head. "You're not the heaviest thing that has been on top of me." Ben just stared at her, but didn't ask for her to elaborate. He never did. Kira Ann just expected he didn't really care, so she didn't say anything else. "Sorry." She said plainly, "No talking."

"No I want to listen." Now Kira was confused. 'He just told me to shut up and now he wants me to talk' Kira Ann thought, 'He needs to make up his mind'! Staring at Ben, she gave him a skeptical glare. "Look, I'm sorry about what happened inside. It's just…for a lot of my life I was used to help someone's political gains. I didn't really have an active or social life during that time. I didn't really have a life at all. After that, I tried to be… settle down. Be normal and it didn't work. I'm not really the best at making small talk…or friends, or working with others. That's why I'm here. It's easy to be alone, I can have peace and others don't have to deal with me."

After Ben finished his speech, it was like all the pieces had come together. Kira Ann could hear the anger and sadness with himself in his voice as he spoke. It explained why he never talked or why he was so awkward the first time they met. Ben was out here because he was an outcast. A social misfit. Kira Ann thought long and hard about what to say, but nothing was coming to her. Unfortunately, she never got the chance.

"I'm… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things." Before she could even stop him, Ben was gone in a flash. Without a trace.

Ben didn't arrive back at the temple until very late into the night. He stayed in his room the next day too. Kira Ann then decided that she would visit him and make sure he was alright. Ben had just revealed to her something very personal to her, so she also wanted to return the favor. Cooking up a nice meal, Kira Ann brought it upstairs to Ben's room. It took her a few weeks to figure out which room was his, but she eventually figured it out by process of elimination. Knocking on the door before entering, Kira Ann slowly entered Ben's room to see him on the floor reading an unfamiliar book to her.

"I thought you might be hungry, so I brought you dinner." Kira stated as she placed the bowl next to him. Ben put down the book and picked up the bowl. He smelled it a little before he sat it back down. "Thanks." He said. It was sincere, but his face was solemn. Like he was trying to numb himself. "Can I tell you something."

"My mother was a magician. She had come in a long line magicians that was task to protect a demon called Nox. My father was an inhuman. At a certain age an inhuman will go through a change. This change will alter an inhuman's DNA and give them incredible abilities. As an inhuman he was gifted with the power to create and control ice; he was very much respected and feared for his power, but he wanted more. More power. So he married my mother and had me. I was created to be the perfect weapon." Ben looked up when Kira said weapon. "I went thru the change as well and gained the ability of strength, flight, and agility. He then put me through rigorous training and eventually I was noticed by the king and I joined his personal guard. Just what my father wanted. His pawn in the king's palace."

"You were a soldier?" asked Ben.

"Yes, I was 12. I was eager to do it too. I thought I was there to defend my king and make my kingdom safe. Which I did, but my father used me. When my mother died her power was then transferred to me. Her only child. However, I didn't know that my mother was a magician or that her power would transfer over to me. She and my father kept that hidden from me. So when I received Nox's power, at 18, I couldn't control it. I pretty much destroyed an entire forest because I couldn't handle it. When my father asked me to use my power to gain political favor in the kingdom. I said no and was going to quit being in the King's guard, but I didn't have to. So he ruined me. I did something unforgivable. I should have been killed for it, but because of my service I as only put under house arrest for the rest of my life. That's why I left."

Ben stayed silent for a while. He was deep in thought for what I had just said. "Why didn't you tell the court it wasn't your fault."

"Because it was my fault. There was no evidence that led back to my father. It all lead back to me. I couldn't even fight back with him. The royals placed barriers around the house that made sure I didn't use my powers in the house. If I did they would have killed me. They were quite a pain to remove."

"Why are you telling me this?" asked Ben.

"I guess my real point was to show that everyone has their demons in their lives. And I know what it feels like to be used."

"I guess were both screwed up."

"I guess so."

Then there was another long silence, but it wasn't an awkward one. Both of them reflected on what the other had said. Both of them felt like they weren't alone. And it helped warm their hearts.

"I never really got along with my father either," said Ben, "but to be fair I was mostly the cause." Ben didn't know why he told her that. He had always tried to keep the past the past, mainly because it was too painful to think about. But with Kira Ann, Ben felt comfortable around her. It had been years since Ben has ever had someone to talk to. Now after their story sharing, her presence made him want to be with her more.

"You know thinking about it. I've never told anyone about my father. I always got the impression that no one would understand, so I never told anyone."

"We all make mistakes. I've done things I'm not proud of. Things that will stay with me forever. Things that I wish I can take back."

Six years ago…..

The night was silent and everything was peaceful in the small fishing village, located on the shores of Wa-sta's great seas. Suddenly, a huge bang erupted the village. The village was under attack. From the entrance of the village a dark figure, surrounded by dark magic, bolts shot out of the figures hands destroying everything. Children screaming, families being crushed in their own homes, and the stench of blood in the air. The dark figure continued to wreck the village, destroying everything in it's path. Suddenly a little boy walked out into the streets, trying to escape, but he tripped right in front of the hooded figure. The frightened boy looked up at the hooded figure and saw the eyes of his destroyer. They were completely black; like she was some how possessed. While all this was taking place, up in a nearby hill two men were observing the destruction of the village below.

The next morning…..

General Samuel, road into the fishing village with a group of his men behind him. Word got out that the village was attacked by a mysterious figure and he was in charge of checking it out. When he arrived at the village entrance almost the entire inch of the streets were covered in blood. As he and his men walked through they saw their worst fears: men, women, and children all dead; their homes nearly completely torn down; and mauled bodies spread out perfectly on the soaked streets.

When General Samuel reached the shore, he couldn't believe his eyes. There in the distance was General Kira Ann, soaked in blood, holding a small boy in her arms. General Samuel got off his horse and ran to his old apprentice. Why was she here? Kira Ann sat on the sand crying, not even aware of General Samuels presence until he spoke up.

"Kira Ann, what happened?"

Kira Ann looked up into his eyes, her face filled with sorrow. "A monster. A monster is what happened."

Not fully understanding, General Samuel kneeled down beside his ally. He had never seen her like this before. "Who did this?" The General's voice was urgent and angry.

"I did."