Spellbound

Karin: Hiya! So glad that people actually like this story so far. I thought it wouldn't appeal to anyone. Oh well, good thing I was wrong.

Title: Spellbound

Rating: Teen

Pairing: Ben/Gwen

Genres: Supernatural/Romance/Family/Friendship

Summary: AU They lived in the shadows far away from the prying eyes of humans. It was just the three of them and that was all she ever knew. But young Gwendolyn finds herself taking interest in a human boy that was never supposed to meet her. Will the emotionless child find herself falling in love with a mere human?

Disclaimer: I don't own Ben10. Not even in my dreams have I ever owned Ben10 (sobs in a corner)

Replies to Reviews from Prologue:

Lar lindor- Congrats on being this story's first reviewer! Yes, I am aware vampires are often used in fanfiction, but I guess they're just that awesome. However, I refuse to make this story like any other vampire story. Especially not like Twilight; definitely not like Twilight (shudders). I just can't take those vampires seriously since they sparkle. I also can't stand the fact that they are practically invincible. I don't hate Twilight, but I can't stand the mary-sueishness.

Mappadouji- Well, I don't plan to put aliens in this story, but I'm not going to make Ben completely defenseless either. You'll just have to see what I'm going on about as you keep reading (grins).

Baku babe- You're right! Though I guess I made it obvious, huh? (laughs) Thank you so much for reviewing my story. I hope you continue to enjoy yourself as it continues. Oh, and thanks for letting me join the army. I give you a muffin!

Un named- Well, I am planning on updating that one soon. Sorry for the total desertion at a cliff hanger. But like I just stated, I will not abandon that story and I plan to definitely update before the end of the year. I just don't know when I'll have time since I have high school and stuff (grumbles about stupid schoolwork and driving). Please continue to be patient with me. I apologize for not updating in so long.


Spellbound

First Night:

Departing for the Summer

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"So, the option of summer school is open for anyone" the school teacher said to her restless students. The effects of the last day of school absorbed into their energized systems. Who would be calm when summer vacation was only a minute away?

"Pssh, as if anyone would want to be here even when it isn't summer" a voice muttered to himself grudgingly as amber-green eyes drifted for possibly the millionth time to the ticking clock on the wall. The drumming of his fingers sped up as the small ticking hand came closer and closer to the twelve. The little hand was already on the three. "Come on, come on" he whispered urgently.

And just like that, the shrill shout of the bell signaled the end of another school year. The brunette boy cheered and quickly moved to the door.

"See ya suckers" he snickered to himself at the doorway. A cough of disapproval stopped him in his tracks.

"Ben" the teacher said sternly. She then held up a paper airplane that he had—inconspicuously—thrown at her only a few minutes earlier. The boy in question slumped his shoulders and glared exasperatedly. He then proceeded sluggishly back to his teacher where he would endure a painfully long lecture.

--

"Alright since it's the last day of school, we can't take your lunch money AND beat you up at the same time" a ten-year-old boy said smirking down at the fallen boy he and his friend pushed to the ground. "So we'll just beat you up instead" he told the boy grinning.

The boy cowered and tried to persuade his two bullies to leave him be. However, neither of them seemed to have fell into his pleas.

"Hey!" a new voice said. The three boys turned to see a brunette boy with amber-green eyes. He wore a white and black t-shirt and green cargo pants with sneakers. "Leave him alone!"

"Who says?" the leader of the two bullies asked.

"Says me" the boy replied.

Perhaps being straightforward wasn't the best approach…

--

"Nice going" the boy grumbled out to the brunette as they both hung from the tree branch by their underwear. It seems that the punishment for disobeying the two bullies was a wedgies hanging.

"I was just trying to help" the other boy replied with a huff and cross of his arms.

"Well next time, don't play the hero unless you can actually back it up!" the other boy retorted.

Just then, a somewhat beaten down RV drove up the road and stopped when they caught sight of just who was in the tree. An old man with a red Hawaiian shirt looked out the passenger window of the RV with a raised eyebrow.

"Ben, what are you doing hanging around like that? You were supposed to be at your house for me to pick you up" the old man said to him clearly not getting the fact that the young boy was forced up the tree against his will. Kids these days…

A smile uplifted the brunette's features as he saw who it was. This was what he was excited for more than anything. Ever since Christmas, he's been impatiently waiting for this summer trip.

"Grandpa!" exclaimed the ten-year-old. He quickly detangled himself from the branch forgetting about his companion and plopped onto the ground. The brunette then bolted inside the old RV leaving the boy to hang by his underwear.

--

"It seems you're excited" his grandfather stated with a chuckle. The energetic boy just nodded his head and buckled himself up in the passenger seat.

"Of course!" the boy replied. "Man, I can't wait when we get on the road! School's been so boring!" the boy complained as he threw his hands up in the air.

"Okay, calm down, Ben" his grandfather let out another chuckle as he drove. Honestly, his grandson was so vigorous. Ah, the joys of youth.

Benjamin—Ben—Tennyson only grinned and switched on the radio for some music. He then laid back against the seat and looked out at the passing images as they were leaving Bellwood. His grandfather, Max Tennyson, was taking the boy away for the summer on a cross country trip thinking that his grandson would like to travel instead of sticking around and doing nothing for the summer. His parents naturally agreed seeing that it would be a good experience for his son and Ben of course had no objections. He loved spending time with his grandfather. The old man was very entertaining and active despite his age.

The song ended and the radio spokesman began talking. Ben was about to change the channel not wanting to listen to adults babbling, but Grandpa Max stopped him as it was talking about something important.

"And in other news, another body was found this time near the Hudson River—a teenage girl instead. Police have confirmed that she has the same cause of death as the other victim found a month ago, but no clues have yet to be found linking them to the killer" a man's voice said.

"This seems to be one slippery criminal Vic. New York City better not be having people roam around at night or someone else could be next" the other reporter said.

"I agree. Not to mention that the cause of death itself isn't a pleasant one. Police refuse to disclose what the actual cause of death was, but from the secrecy, the police have no idea how or why people are being killed like that"

"Must be a real sadist"

Grandpa Max then turned off the radio with a sigh. Ben looked up at him curiously.

"Not another one" he muttered to himself, but his grandson heard him.

"What murders?" Ben inquired.

"It's nothing you need to worry about" Grandpa Max told him. "Still, I think we should skip New York City and go straight up to Maine" he told Ben. On the other hand, Ben looked horrified.

"But Grandpa! They're selling special edition Sumo Slammer games in New York starting tomorrow! I have to get one!" Ben protested.

"I'm sure you can wait until it comes out in Bellwood" Grandpa Max tried to sway him.

"But that will be in another six months!" Ben said in terror. He did not want to wait for another six months when kids in New York already have the game.

"You can wait" his grandfather told him. Ben just gaped at him for a few seconds before resulting to plan B: begging.

"Please, please grandpa! I'll behave and even wash the dishes a week!" he pleaded to the old man as he clasped his hands together.

"A week?" his grandpa asked amused. If laziness was a sport, Ben would be an Olympic champion at it.

"Fine! Two weeks! Come on grandpa! Please?" Ben beseeched him. Grandpa Max was silent as he drove the RV. His mind thinking over the decision.

"Well…" the old man finally let out. "Only if you behave yourself and don't go running off, you hear?" Grandpa Max asked Ben.

"YES!" Ben cheered out.

"And you have to wash the dishes for three weeks" his grandfather told him. Ben just nodded too absorbed in getting his new game to actually blanch at the idea of cleaning.

And somewhere in the underground abandoned subways of New York City, a ten-year-old girl slept soundly on her pile of blankets with her paperback novel beside her.

--

It was foggy and the air was moist, he noticed. He trudged through the green grass not even realizing that his shuffling wasn't making a sound. Not even wind was heard on his ears.

His amber-green eyes searched around, trying to figure out where he was.

"Hello?" he called out, his voice making an echoing sound. "Hello?" he called louder. Nothing answered him. Not even a little sound.

He continued walking not really knowing where he was going. It was then that he looked around and he noticed some strange tall stones standing around in a circular fashion. The other side of the stone circle seemed to be a mesh of broken stones with some other broken stones in the middle possibly big enough for someone to sit on.

As he came closer to the middle of the stone formation. He noticed someone sitting on one of the stones with their head slightly bowed and their back facing him. He didn't know why, but he ran quickly towards the source of life until he was a foot away from them.

"Hey" he greeted warily. "Do you know where we are?" he asked her-having seeing that he was talking to a girl.

As for her, she didn't seem to notice him at all. She didn't make any movement indicating she noticed him let alone turn around to look at him. A small sound of flickering paper caught Ben's ears signifying the turn of a page.

This caused Ben to raise an eyebrow in disbelief. Was she reading? The mere thought of reading made him shudder. Hey, what kid in their right mind would want to read?

He placed his hand on her shoulder and then proceeded to turn her around to face him…

"Gah!" Ben exclaimed as he crashed down onto the floor of the RV from his top bunk. He winced as he rubbed the spot of pain from where he landed on. A snoring sound caught his ears signaling that his grandfather was not woken from the abrupt fall. No surprise considering Ben was sure the man could sleep through a bomb siege.

His amber-green eyes looked out the window of the RV to see the bright full moon hanging peacefully in the sky. He then drifted his eyes towards the digital clock and it read 1:07 am.

Great, thought the brunette sarcastically. Ben got up from the floor and proceeded to climb back into bed. His mind drifting to his strange dream. He couldn't remember much for his mind was too foggy and disoriented. Not the lonely sensation. Not the stone formations. Not the green grass. All of that was lost and forgotten to his mind.

But he did remember that someone was there. His mind refused to comply and show him exactly who it was, but he knew someone was there.

And with that thought, Ben Tennyson drifted off to sleep with the sound of a page turning echoing in his head.

--

Under the streets of New York City in the old subway station, a lone child sat on top of a crate reading a paperback novel with a blank expression on her features. The sound of a page turning echoed in the hallow sanctum.

--

I'll also show you a sweet dream next night…


Karin: Just so you know, that line does not belong to me. It belongs to the Vampire Knight anime. For some reason I just thought it would be nice to put there. Maybe it was because I was picturing the "Still Doll" vampire knight ending to play after the ending of the chapter like a real episode or something. It seemed awesome to me anyway. It's a good song and I think it suits the story a little.

So, I hope you enjoyed it. There's more to come! Next Chapter Ben meets Gwen! Squee!

See ya next time!