Who's ready for a heaping plate of cute? Cuz that's exactly what you're about to get. :D

Also, the song that 9 sings in this chapter. It is an Irish folk song, which Mary Black covered nicely in the 90's. It's a lovely song, and, as you'll soon see, quite fitting. It will be a reoccurring thing; I'd advise you to look it up and learn the tune, so you can visualize it in Elijah Wood's voice when you read. XD

Save room for desert, because when you're done with this plate of cute, there will Pi. Plenty of Pi.

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The Shadow

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It had been still and quiet for the past two days—a large and lovely contrast to all the hullabaloo only a few days earlier. 9 had only left the bedroom once or twice, when his lovely ladies were sleeping, to check in on the rest of the clan. He would stay for as long as he could, to answer all their questions and reassure them that everything was just fine with him, his wife, and his gorgeous baby girl. But he could never leave them alone for long. 7 was still tired and weak, and needed his help more than ever. And 10 had only been alive for two days; she deserved her father's undivided attention.

Having been deprived of his own father, 9 was determined that his daughter would never have to know such a thing.

Today, 7 was feeling well enough to move to the rocking chair, to finally sit with her baby. She had been looking forward to rocking 10 for weeks. Now that she was finally doing it, her most pressing dream realized, she wasn't entirely sure what to do. So she rocked the child in silence, lovingly admiring her face and her every tiny movement, humming softly to her.

Having only been in a body for a few days yet, 10 was still growing accustomed to the joys and grieves of being bound to an earthly vessel. So far, she could blink, move her fingers and toes a little, and cry. A lot. Either she already had a lot to say—like her daddy—or she couldn't decide whether coming out of her shelter a week early had been a good idea, and wanted to go back—a bit fickle, like her mommy.

But she was quiet now, her mouth full of one end of 7's catch. Human babies had suckled on their mother's breasts, as well, their one source of nourishment being the rich, warm milk within. 10 needed no such thing, but she did so, anyway. 9 figured it must have been out of pure instinct, from the very human soul she possessed. Nursing worked its other charms, too. In humans, it had stimulated chemical reactions that resulted in bonding hormones, for mother and child, both. It was a comforting thing; and they both looked very comfortable, indeed.

For a long while, 9 just sat on the bed, watching them in absolute awe and wonder. His heart was so full of love for them both; he had no idea what he was supposed to do with so much pure, raw love. He felt like it was tearing him apart at the seams, but building him up at the same time. It was irrational. Illogical. Completely unexplainable. Powerful beyond any reason. And volatile. So volatile. If anything were to happen to either of them, the rawness of his love would surely enable him to do anything to save them. If not, he knew that the same rawness would break him, destroy him, maybe even bring him to death.

But for now, they were safe under his watchful eye. Nothing evil could touch them, now.

After a while, 10 pulled away and began crying softly, threatening to start screaming if her current need wasn't met quickly enough.

"What's the matter, my child?" 7 asked quietly, her voice like a song. "Are you tired of me already? Do you want to see your daddy?"

Hearing the word "daddy", 10 stopped crying for almost a whole second—a clear yes. Always happy to hold her, 9 stood up to collect his child.

"You haven't seen your daddy all day, have you," 7 agreed, carefully handing her over into her father's waiting arms. As soon as he had taken her, she stopped crying altogether.

"She already knows what 'daddy' means," 7 remarked, leaning back in the chair with a content smile. "She's a daddy's girl; just like me."

10 gazed up at him with big, wondrous eyes, amazed at the sight of her father. He smiled down at her, amazed at her, too.

"Hello, my precious girl."

At the sound of his voice, she cooed back in reply. He wished he knew what she was trying to say.

"Just look at you. You haven't been a live for a week yet, and you've already got so much to say about everything. You don't know what speaking means, or even what it is. You don't even know what thinking or feeling is. But you try, anyway."

He held his hand out and let her grab hold of his finger—the pretty, decorated one with his wedding ring on it—which she immediately stuck in her mouth and began sucking on. Even though her mouth was full, she went on cooing to him, talking about everything on her newborn mind in a language only she could understand.

"Would you like to hear a song, 10? I know several that I've been dying to sing to you. But this one… It's so full of wisdom, and everything that our clan stands for. And it reminds me of your mother. I'll sing this one to you a lot, probably for the rest of your life. I always want you to remember it. Would you like to hear it now?"

10 was suddenly silent, but continued her wondrous gaze. It was as if she understood him completely, and was excited to hear his song. Having her full attention, he began to sing.

What's the spring-breathing jasmine and rose ?

What's the summer with all its gay train

Or the splendour of autumn to those

Who've bartered their freedom for gain?

Let the love of our land's sacred rights

To the love of our people succeed.

Let friendship and honour unite

And flourish on both sides the Tweed.

7 sighed dreamily from the rocking chair, enchanted by the song. "That is beautiful, 9. Where did you learn that?"

"Out of an old book I found," he answered. "It's a folk song from another land, far away from here. But it suits us all, doesn't it?"

"And I do hope that for her. If she's ever faced with losing her freedom, I hope that she fights for it first with all her might." She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "Please. Never let her willingly give up her freedom for anything…"

"She's your daughter, 7. She would never let that go so easily."

To that, she smiled. "Sing some more, my love."

9 had learned two other verses from the book he had seen; whether there was more, he wasn't sure. But he went on to sing them, all the same. Before he was quite finished with the last verse, 10 had drifted off to sleep with his finger still in her mouth. It seemed like she gained several pounds whenever she fell asleep in his arms, but he didn't mind. He had carried heavier, farther, through fire and rain. He could hold his baby for hours and never get tired of it. When he had finished, 7 laughed softly to herself.

"Maybe we should have made her out of tweed, then," she mused. "But I love her just the way she is. 9, I know that song is for 10… But sing it again? For me?"

"Of course, my 7. For you, anything."

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Pi was alone for the first time all day. One or both of her caretakers were almost always nearby, in case she should need anything. Her bad leg still kept her from going anywhere on her own, so she couldn't get out of bed without someone's help. But 2 had some sort of technical project he was working, and had left her early today.

5 had stayed, though. For as long as he could, anyway. With his brother busy with a new baby, the one-eyed Stitchpunk was in charge of things for a while. He didn't like being too far away from her; he had finally grown the nerve to look her in the eye when he spoke to her, and it seemed to thrill him. Alas, he also had to leave her, eventually. Assuring him that she would use the time alone to sleep, she gladly let him go.

Now that she was by herself, she opened herself and took the onyx sphere out of her body cavity.

"They're gone, Alpha."

Yes, I can see that. You were right about the doctor; he's far too weak for a suitable sacrifice. Too strongly led by love, and too thick to be easily broken. It's certainly wiser to work on his brother, the elder. 1, yes?

"Yes. From what we've gathered, he was once the leader of this clan. But he led through fear and power lust. I understand that he had locked them all away in a church for several years. He used to claim that he did so to keep them safe; but I think he liked the feeling of being in total control more than anything."

What changed that?

"9, their new leader. He is the clan's Bearer; he woke later than the Bearers of the other clans, only about a year and a half ago. He seems a strong and wise leader; he allows them their freedom and their voice—luxuries that 1 wouldn't hear of."

I imagine that he hasn't taken this power shift very well.

"He goes along with it. He is an old man, and he's tired; part of him is almost glad that he doesn't have to be responsible for all these people anymore. All the same, there is anger and jealousy lurking deep within his heart. It's bare, nearly forgotten. But it's there. This one little vice would be his undoing."

Very promising. I would that he was younger, stronger; his shriveled old soul won't hold us for long. But it's been since autumn that we've been nourished, and the strength of the last sacrifice is waning. You chose him wisely, love. He's held us well, in your absence.

Pi smiled darkly. "Thank you, Alpha."

Certainly, target 1 first. But keep your mind to the Bearer; he will hold us better, longer, if you can snatch him. Now, tell me of the child.

"She's only been two days, but she is already very smart. She has a very strong soul already, but untainted by love, or any other emotions or thoughts yet."

If you manage to stay for a while, allow the child to grow a little more, she could do just as nicely as any of them. Maybe even just as well as either of her parents. It is a shame the mother has been so weakened; her presence of mind doesn't sound as solid as her husband's.

"7 is impatient and strong-willed; but yes, she would have made a much easier sacrifice to obtain. If only the child hadn't weakened her so. She has no clue just how fortunate she is, to no longer be an option."

And how has it been for you, since the little prophet's outburst the other night?

"I'm not entirely sure. 7 seemed to be on his side; though I don't know much more about it, because I haven't seen her since then. And I'm sure that if she believed him, then 9 believes him, as well. 2 is worried, but he tries to keep it to himself, not to worry me about it. 5 refuses to believe it at all. He refuses to believe that I could do anything wrong."

I don't think you give this boy enough credit. He's smitten with you. You can see it written all over his doomed face, like an open book. Out of all of them, he would be the easiest to lead. The fool is completely blind. He doesn't suspect a thing.

"But he thinks he loves me, Alpha."

Lust is not the same as love, Pi. It's fleeting, fickle, and pliable. You should know that by now.

"I suppose you're right. I don't look forward to seducing an oaf like 5, though."

You never balked at it with any of the others. All the other fools were the same.

"He's not like the others."

Relax, pet. He's a naïve little boy, blinded by his feelings. Your 5 will be no different from anything you've encountered before. Only consider it, my dear. Nab the first one you can, and come back to us as soon as you can walk again. I have a strong feeling that this clan will take time to crack. You can't afford to waste any time.

"I understand," she answered, and the connection broke. She chose to take Alpha's final advice to heart. If her coven was really so short on time, she would take the easy way and target 1, first. Most likely, she would get lucky and score a sacrifice right away, since he was so weak.

Perhaps her master hadn't fully understood her, when she had said that 5 was different. He was very different from other men she had targeted in the past. Their lust for a seemingly easy dish like her had been their weakness; whatever other strength of mind they may have had abandoned them. But what feelings 5 felt for her, she could already tell that they went much deeper than anything so simple. Lust was somewhat logical, in its lowness; any creature that can reproduce has a drive to do so, though the ability to tame it reasonably separates men from beasts.

What 5 felt for her followed no logic at all. Everyone had been bothered by 6's outburst the other night, but not 5. Something blinded him from the clear truth in front of him, and it was unlike anything else she had ever seen or sensed. At least, not directed at her. She had seen love in the other clans—between other husbands and wives, children and parents, brothers and sisters. It was clear and present in this one, as well; it pulsed strong and loud among them. But it had never been aimed at her before. She wondered if she should relish in it; but given her current task, and her bond to Alpha, she wasn't sure what to do…

As if he had a sixth sense, enabling him to know when she was thinking about him, 5's dumb head suddenly appeared in the doorway.

"Doing alright?" he asked. As if he had been away for hours, and she might be in desparate need of attention.

"Fine, thanks," she said with a smile, resuming her ruse. "Actually… Could you do something for me?"

"Of course. Anything."

That was an advantage. Given his infatuation, he couldn't seem to deny her anything.

"I'd like to speak to 1."

5 looked puzzled, and a little disappointed. "How come?"

"I've heard so many rumors… But I'd like to hear what he has to say, about things. I'm just trying to figure out what happened."

"Oh, I understand. I'll go find him for you, then. I'll be back in a few minutes, okay?"

"I'll be right here."

That had been all too easy. Much less than a few minutes had passed before 1 walked into the infirmary, and he was blessedly alone.

"You wanted to see me?" he asked starkly, not sounding pleased to be summoned like a puppy by an injured woman.

"I just had a few questions for you," she insisted sweetly, hoping to ease his temper. "About you."

"Oh, I see," he said thoughtfully. Surely, he wouldn't be upset about having to go on and on about himself. "What would you like to know?"

"About when you were the leader of this clan. Would you care to sit down?"

"I suppose I'll be here for a bit," he agreed, and sat down at the foot of the bed.

"Tell me what life was like back then," she prompted.

1 leaned back a bit and gazed off, gathering his thoughts and memories. "Well… It was a troubling time. A war was raging all around us, practically on our doorstep. My brother had fancied himself in some charge of our small group. But we had always been more like sparring partners than brothers."

"Really? You seem so close now."

"A lot has happened since then," he answered vaguely. "The role of leader fell to me. I was the only one capable of leading, at the time. Nearly half of us were next to useless; 2 was busy putting 5's head back together. (I still think sometimes, it would have been better if he had removed the boy's head entirely and been done with it.)"

Pi pretended to be amused by his joke; she got the feeling that, deep down inside, 1 hadn't been joking entirely.

"They didn't always follow you, though."

"No, they didn't," he said indignantly. "You see, the world was a much more dangerous place back then. And no matter how badly we wished to fight against it, it was simply too big for us to grapple with. The only real option was to retreat to safety, so we might live to see another day. For a time, they all agreed to that obvious reason; they were all tired, and battered, and scared. Even 7 was scared, then. I haven't seen her scared many times, so when she is, you know for certain that something is very wrong."

"What happened when they stopped agreeing?"

"Nothing but trouble. The war slowly ended, and the world appeared to be safe, but we learned the hard way that there were still mechanical dangers lurking out there. Things that were too small to be wiped out entirely. And those that survived hunted us like cats hunt mice—because they were cats, really. We all saw the dangers, we all knew the risks. They were too high. It was safer inside, where they could never find us.

"But for many of them, the risk wasn't quite high enough. 2's infernal need to constantly build things drove him outdoors, put him right in harm's way all the time. And of course, 7 was vain and stubborn enough to think she could stand against any monster that dared attack her."

"Was she ever proven wrong? Is that how her back got so torn up?"

1 was silent for a moment, rubbing his neck guiltily. "…To her credit, no. She bested every monster that got in her way; and several that came unwittingly into her range. I'm afraid that the one to blame for her injuries was… Me."

"You? How?"

"It was in the fall of the second year. I remember… I was late afternoon. The sun was setting, and it was already very chilly. 7 had grown a habit of sneaking out of Sanctuary without me knowing when she left or when she came back, and it never failed to make me furious. That afternoon, 8 had been lucky enough to catch her and drag her back to me for…punishment."

"Is this difficult to talk about?"

"Well… You're a bright young lady; I'm certain that you can guess the rest."

"I'd like to know."

1 blanched, peeved that she was pressing him. But now that he had started, he seemed convicted to finish his dark tale. Perhaps he had never spoken of it to anyone else but himself. Perhaps he found solace in finally being able to confide it in someone.

"It was rather delicious," he recalled blankly. "Finally, I had caught someone in an act of defiance, and was in full rights to levy some sort of penalty. I disliked the girl so badly then, and was at my wits end with her utter, blatant rebelliousness. In that moment, the only punishment I would have turned down was death—only because there were so few of us. Her incredible strength and her impressive battle skills made no matter to me. Only the reason and the practicality of keeping her alive for the time being. That was the only thing keeping me from having her fool head sliced off her shoulders."

Pi wasn't used to being told a story this intriguing. This wasn't just an old human fairy tale, or the mythology of the gods of old. This had really happened once. She forgot to be shocked, or nervous, or anything else that was fitting for the part she was playing. She leaned a little closer, rapt by the darkness of the story.

"Go on. I'm listening."

"Must I, girl?"

"I'm not a little girl. I'm a grown woman, and I want to hear the rest. Please, continue."

To that, 1 looked a little suspicious; but he was still on a roll, and so he continued with a heavy sigh.

"The one thing that hasn't changed after all this time is that 8 has always looked to me for direction, and for command. And that evening, when I ordered him to beat her was no exception. He picked up his largest sword and attacked her without even blinking or stopping to consider that they were brother and sister. But 7 was still armed with a spear, and she has always been quite handy with those. She managed to fend him off for a while, but…"

"He got her, eventually," Pi guessed, slowly letting her faked sweetness melt away.

"He kicked her legs out from beneath her, and she fell flat on her face. Before she could do anything about it, he raised his sword and slashed her three times across the back. And I might have let him continue, but… You weren't there to hear how she screamed. I had never head 7 scream until that moment, and it was horrifying, even to me. I ordered him to stop, but it was entirely too late to go back. The damage had already been done.

"It was weeks until she was able to walk again. Whether she would be able to fight or even carry a weapon again was unclear for a time. But shortly after she could carry herself again, she vanished. She fled in the middle of the night, and I never saw her again—not until 9 showed up, anyway, nearly three years later."

"And that was when everything really changed."

"In retrospect, his coming was a blessing that I was too blind and proud to recognize," he continued with a shrug. "I was born an old man, and the long years of silence had worn me thinner than I had known. They needed a strong, courageous young man like 9 in charge. I hadn't the energy to compete with his enthusiasm. Struggling against him the way I did proved to be a futile waste of energy."

"But you tried."

"My way was one of fear and desperation for safety. But the thing that was unleashed, it took away all hope of safety. I had to be fought against. He saw that immediately, while I refused."

"Surely, 8 continued to follow your leadership."

"And it all but led to his doom."

Using her good leg, Pi slid forward until she was sitting dangerously close to him. "I would have followed you," she said quietly, as seductively as she dared yet.

"No, you would not have," 1 retorted with a scoff. "You would have done the young thing, and followed 9, like all the others. What is a withered, tired, frightened old man compared to him?"

"You were only trying to protect them. You were trying to keep them safe, and alive, and he led them headlong into danger. Many of them died at his hands, including your brother. It was all his fault that that monster was a problem in the first place. You were being wise, you were doing the right thing. If only he hadn't shown up and ruined everything, led them astray, made you look like an idiot in front of everyone—"

"Everything would have been fine!" he snarled before she could finish. "He walked into my stronghold as it were his, and ripped my title and my power from beneath me, and he never once gave me a fighting chance! Who does that boy presume to be?"

That hidden rage had boiled straight to the surface, as Pi had hoped it might. It was indeed there, and it was very much alive in the old man's heart, more than just a reminder of who he used to be. But, as suddenly as it had surfaced, it subsided.

"I'm sorry, Pi," he said, sitting back a little. "I shouldn't say such things to you—to anybody. I don't know why I said that."

She slid her arms around his shoulders and pulled him a little closer. "You say these things because you know they are true," she whispered in his ear. "No matter how much you try to deny it, you were the only one who was wronged. And deep inside, you know it."

"No, it's not true. I'm not that man anymore."

"But you could be," she insisted, letting her hand trail down his side. "You could take that back, take charge of your life like any man would. You could be a leader again."

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"And if no one else would listen to you," she continued, leaning closer still, "I would. I would follow you to any end."

"…Really?"

"If you only try. If you try to take charge now, I'll let you. I'll do anything you ask of me."

"Truly? Anything?"

"Anything."

Experience had proven that this was all it usually took to ensnare a man. Pointing out that there were things he had no control over; making him believe that he had no control over anything in his life; and offering him a chance to control, her, as if it would make the whole world suddenly right itself. All it took was a few minutes of such close contact to work her dark magic, weave her web, and trap her sacrifice until she chose to release him. It was an easy trick to play on any man—convincing him that he held total control over her, and so somehow over everything else she said was wrong with his life; when the reality was that she held all the cards and wielded a more supreme power than he could have conceived.

And 1 was proving to be an excellent example of that dark truth. At this point, when she had all but reached her goal, going on teasing him like this was stupid. She pressed her mouth against his, an excellent charade of passion and interest. For a long moment he was frozen, confused by her words and fazed by her actions; but when he realized what was happening, he didn't resist. He melted right into her, walking directly into her perfectly laid trap.

Most amusing of all, she had him convinced that this was somehow his doing. This whole situation had been thrust into his unsuspecting hands; he had practically been forced to accept it, once again not given a fighting chance. Yet he thought that he had orchestrated it all. Either that, or he perceived himself as incredibly lucky to be sitting there, making out with a beautiful woman who had offered to do anything he asked of her.

He was so vain, at heart. Aged as he was, he was a perfect sacrifice.

Therefore, she was extremely surprised when her control over him suddenly broke. As she drew breath between poison kisses, she began weaving the words of a spell her creator had taught her. The words were of an old language that common men no longer spoke or understood; their only use today was for dark, sinister purposes—like Pi's. But as she spoke them, 1 pulled away and stared at her hard.

"…What was that?"

"Nothing, nothing," she insisted, trying to pull him back, recapture him, and resume the spell. Instead of simply doing as she said, he jumped to his feet and backed away.

"I know those words," he gasped. "Words of the dark arts. How do you know them? What do you mean, using them on me? What are you playing at?"

That had been unexpected for so many reasons. How had he recognized the words of her spell and what they were for? How could she have guessed he would recognize them at all? And how had this realization empowered him so? He had single-handedly broken free of her hold. The same fear that should have doomed him had just saved his life in the same instant.

Whatever the answers to these questions, 1 had proven himself far too clever and amazingly strong for a suitable sacrifice, after all. And he had seen entirely too much of what she really was. He couldn't be allowed to walk around with this knowledge, telling people about it. Fully aware that all traces of her sweet false-self had vanished, she reached out her hand, fingers aimed at his head, and uttered a different spell.

Whenever she was forced to use her mind-wiping spell, it always seemed like it drained a space of light; everything turned a few shades darker, casting everything in shadow as she spoke. It was a stunningly simple spell, taking only seconds to complete. Simple, efficient, elegant in its purpose. She reached into 1's mind and pulled back all his memories of the past few minutes, feeling their energy flow into her fingertips. She felt their energy materialize in her hand and solidify. And in a single gesture, she crushed them like glass.

And that's the end of that.

The spell complete, the room regained its light. 1 looked impossibly confused, his eyes darting around the room as he tried to regain clarity. While he wasn't paying attention, Pi resumed her façade and pretended to look concerned.

"1, are you alright?"

"Huh—What?" he asked, as if he had just noticed her for the first time.

"Are you alright, I asked. You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I feel as though I've been touched by one," he said vaguely, rubbing his temple. "I… I have no idea what just happened… Why did I come in here?"

"I was going to ask you some questions, but maybe now isn't a good time."

"You were…? I thought you already did. I thought I was answering them… What just happened to me?"

"Maybe you should lie down, 1. You look terrible."

"Perhaps I should," he agreed slowly, and backed toward the door. But he never took his eyes off her, as if he expected her to pounce on him if he let his guard down.

She had erased his mind well enough. But the memory wasn't entirely forgotten. He still knew something…

As he moved to run away down the hall, he made a surprised sound.

"Oh! …Don't just lurk in doorways, fool! A person could trip over you. And stop staring at me like that."

Oh no. Had someone seen them.

"Who's that? 1, who's out there?"

But there was no answer. He had already put plenty of distance between them; and if anyone had seen them, she supposed they certainly weren't going to speak up. Feeling strange—defeated and embarrassed by her first lost target—she scooted back to her pillow and flopped back, scowling at the ceiling.

Surely, it was only a fluke. Oh well. Back to the drawing board: one down, eight to go…

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Just outside the infirmary, 6 had plastered himself in terror against the wall. Sheer terror filled his small form, from his wooden toes to the tips of his tangled hair. He hadn't known fear like this in a very long time; not since the Machine had been charging after him. From the second he had seen Pi, he had sensed something strange about her. Something bad-strange. And when he had touched her…

Evil. Pure evil. It had seared through him like a needle steeped in flame. She smiled, she laughed, she pretended to take benevolent interest in them. But all of her sweetness was a lie. She was here to do some terrible thing. What that terrible thing might be, 6 couldn't begin to guess. But what did it matter? She was here to hurt them. She had to go. Soon.

But at least his warning hadn't fallen on deaf ears this time. When Pi had asked to speak with 1, everybody present had been suspicious. 1 had gone, all the same; but 2 refused to leave him alone with her. He was so reliable, that way; but 6 wished that he had chosen someone else to keep watch over his brother. Blinded 5 could have used this revelation more.

But 5 was clunky and cumbersome, and would have been noticed at once. If 6 was anything, he was nondescript and easy to not notice. He had stood beside the door, peering into the infirmary the whole time 1 had been inside. And he had seen everything.

Everything.

He had to do something. He had to tell them what had happened. But he was afraid. 2 would listen to him, as he always had. But 1's memory had been erased; what if he refused to believe that something so fantastic could happen to him? And 5… 5 hadn't listened before. In fact, he had scolded him for getting so upset. He thought he loved her. He wouldn't listen. Probably not even if the truth tore his other eye off his head.

9 would listen. 9 was their leader. He could make her leave, if he knew there was a problem. Maybe he didn't understand any better than the rest of them did, but 6 had opened his easily distracted eyes before. He could do it again.

Everything was going to be alright. Pi was going to leave, and everything would be alright. He just knew it.