Chapter 11

Rory's Point of view

I turned my head to face the ocean again while laying in the same spot in the sand that we had been sitting in under the pier for three hours now while we waited for Grandma Weir to meet us. I looked back to Benny who was sitting with his head in between his knees still not saying a word to any of us. I really wanted to go over and comfort him but knew it would only make him feel worse since our friends were here and Benny had no idea they all knew about us. I heard the sound of teeth chattering together and turned to face Jane to see her body was slightly shivering, no longer being able to stay in one place and wait I stood up addressing the group. "Hey why don't I bring Jane to the pier and get her some warmer clothes, Ethan if you want, you can come with?" I walked over to Jane helping her up. Ethan walked behind the two of us. Before we started up the small wooden stairs to the pier above I turned back to the rest of the group but made sure to look directly at Benny. "We'll be right back, don't worry I'll keep my hear on high so if anything happens just yell and I'll super speed us back okay."

Benny didn't even look up instead just moving his head slightly to show some sort of acknowledgment. Sarah and Erica gave me a smile that let me know they would take care of him. I picked Jane up giving her a piggy back ride. Then walked up the stairs with Ethan following from behind. Once we were close to the gift shop I put Jane down handing Ethan a dollar."Why don't you bring Jane to play a game while I get the jackets." He gave me a questioning look but didn't call me on it.

Once they were out of eye sight I walked into the store knowing I didn't have any money left but had no idea how long we were going to be under the pier waiting, so I got ready to do something I had never done before, steal. I walked over to the girls section and saw a pink hoddie that looked like it would fit Jane with the carnivals logo on it. I grabbed it off the hanger then headed over to the boys grabbing a green one in Benny's size then a blue in Ethan's size. I knew that since Erica, Sarah and I had fed in lately we would be fine since unless vampires went a long time without blood our body temperature stayed normal, so with all three hoodies firmly in my hand I twisted my feet running as quick as I could out the door to the bathroom near by. I listened to hear if the alarm went off but luckily I must have been running quick enough that I hadn't even triggered it.

I let out a sigh of relief leaving the bathroom and walking over to where Jane and Ethan were standing next to the the ring toss game. I handed them both their hoodies then put Benny's on because I wanted it to have my scent on it when I gave it to Benny.

I motioned for them to follow me to the railing on the far side of the pier to watch the sunset. I looked over to Ethan to see a pained yet serious look covering his face, his lips formed a frown before he turned to Jane. "Jane can you please go sit on the bench right over there, Rory and I need to talk for a second." After Jane was sitting on the bench giving us a death glare for leaving her out Ethan moved his mouth close ear enough to my ear I could feel his breath as he spoke quiet enough that Sarah and Erica wouldn't even be able to hear. "Listen as much as I hate to say this Grandma Weir might not be coming to meet us."

I backed away from him shaking my head back and forth in anger then moving closer again harshly whispering. "Ethan you can't think like that."

Ethan grabbed both of my hands in his tightly before looking straight into my eyes and whispering back. "I'm just saying we should be planning our next move instead of waiting here wide open and unprepared."

I was in disbelief of how he was able to move on so fast! I wanted to scream at him but instead gave my quite response."Ethan we can not just leave! What if Grandma Weir comes here needing help and we just up and left."

Ethan's eyes started to water as tears descended down his red cheeks before his voice sounded roughly in my ear. "You don't think I know that! I love her as if she was my own Grandmother. But she put herself in mortal danger to make sure we escaped and stayed safe, but just sitting waiting around and feeling bad is not staying safe. Now I need your help convincing Benny to leave."

I let out a long breath chewing his words over in my brain. Deep down I knew Ethan was right and we needed to plan our next step out in order to stay ahead of Benny's uncles, yet it still felt wrong to just give up hope like this I said again then nodded to Ethan "Okay you're right let's talk to him." I let go of his hands and went over to Jane leading the three of us back to the stairs that would bring us below the pier again.

When we got closer I saw who Benny looked as if he hadn't moved from his stance of pure depression but I noticed Sarah and Erica weren't there. I walked over sitting next to him, taking off the hoddie I reached over placing it in his lap. I heard Jane and Ethan sit close behind us but still giving us just enough space to let Benny and I talk privately. Putting my hand under his chin making his head face me. Scanning his face I saw that his eyes were pure red from crying. I took a deep breath knowing how hard this was going to be next I gabbed his hand lacing my fingers with his. As much as I wanted Benny to have time to cope, I knew Ethan was right when he said the longer we stayed here the more likely we would be found, so I just came right out and said. "Benny I know this is the last thing you want to hear right now but we need to get out of here and find somewhere more secluded and plan our next move."

His eye changed from a look of sorrow to one of pure rage. "Are you kidding me right now! I thought at least you of all people would care enough about me, to wait here for my only family. But apparently when the going gets tough Rory just gets going!"

I looked back to him, tears already starting to press against my eyes. "Benny I'm sorry but your Grandma wanted us to stay safe and I don't think staying here is our best bet of doing that."

"Well I'm sorry if you don't feel like it's important enough to wait here for my Grandma in case she needs help, but I'm not leaving."

"Benny I'm not saying that. I just think we need to go some place else where we can hide better and think of our next move."

"No all you want to do is be selfish and take care of your own safety instead of waiting here for the person who just took on two very powerful casters just to give save us."

I heard Ethan stand up behind us walking over he put his hand soothingly on Benny's should before calming saying. "Which is why we need to get out of here. Your grandma wouldn't want us to sit around here waiting for your uncles to find us."

Benny lowered his head in between his legs again shutting us out. Ethan and I didn't say anything giving him the time he needed. Suddenly Benny's head snapped back up giving us a look that frightened me, causing Ethan to take a step back. I knew that we were losing Benny. Yet I knew deep down all of our safety depended on Ethan and I convincing Benny to leave. So I said the hardest thing I've ever had to say to Benny. "Benny we need to face the reality that your grandma possibly isn't going to return from the fight."

As soon as the words left my mouth I felt the air around us feel as if gravity had increased enough to make my knees buckle from the suddenness of it. I turned my attention back to Benny only to be scared from the fact that Benny's eyes had turned completely black and a dark mist was now covering his body the sudden shift in gravity abruptly stopped only to have the sand around the three of us start to levitate.

I turned back to Ethan but instead of fear I saw a look of determination he spoke again. "Benny you need to move on for the sake of everyone's safety, you have to accept that your grandmother might have not made it and plan our next step."

Instead of replying Benny let out a screech of pain then waved his hand in Ethan and I's direction sending our bodies flying into the rocks behind us. Pain shot through my body, I looked up to see Benny lunge forward screaming. "Shut up." I was so surprised by Benny's sudden rage for a second I thought he was being possessed by his uncles or something.

I grabbed Ethan before jumping into the air landing about ten feet away from Benny. With another animalistic scream he moved with incredible speed as he charged toward us, mid run he threw his arm back causing sand to float off the ground and form a fist made of sand the size of a minivan. Benny clenched his hand into a fist then lunched his arm forward punching the between him and us the fist came rocketing at Ethan and I. My reflexes took over as I jumped in between Ethan and the attack. As my body collided with the fist it felt as if I had been hit by one thousand punches in the one blow. I was sent hurdling backwards until I finally came to a stop when my body smashed into the rocks behind me.

Before I was hit with another attack I leapt back onto my feet but was hit with a wave of intense pain, I knew I had broken multiple bones. I heard sand start to shift, again my body snapped back into survival mode and reacted before my mind had a chance to process my next move I leaped into the air landing feet first upside down on the dock above. I looked down to see this time the sand had formed into what looked like several long spears, I turned my head to look at Benny, the mist that was surrounding him had now seeped into the surface of the sand forming a small circle in the ground surrounding him.

Benny waved his hand sending the floating sand spears at me, I placed my hand on the deck pushing off with a great amount of force. I landed hard behind Benny as small slivers of wood from the dock fell to the ground around me. I went to tackle Benny and hold him down until he snapped out of this state of mind. I was stopped when I heard an ear shattering thunder behind me, I whipped my head to investigate in case of a new attack, still not knowing the limits of Benny's new found knowledge of magic. I felt the hair on my arms suddenly stand up. I moved my feet and jumped sideways as far as I could. Seconds after I saw lighting strike where I had been standing.

I heard Ethan shout to me from behind a rock he must have ran behind to take shelter from Benny's attacks. "Rory, that's no longer Benny, a source of dark magic inside him that he can't control has taken over. He's no longer in control of his actions. You need to find a way to bring Benny out again."

I felt the hair on my arms start to stand up again, I threw my body sideways again skidding across the surface of the sand stopping only a few feet away from Benny again. "Benny I love you please don't do this!" I yelled over another clap of thunder.

Not even acknowledging my words he bent down slamming his hands into the ground. The air around me became unusually hot, I suspected another attack so I threw my body on top of Benny knowing he wouldn't finish the spell since he didn't want to hit himself. I grabbed his wrists pinning them to the ground. I thought he needed to move his hands to control the sand, but I was shocked when the black smoke started to climb up my arms. It felt as if someone was pouring acid onto my skin. I pushed my feet into the ground sending my body into the air then landing on the ground out of the smokes rang. speeding over I stopping only inches away from Benny. Before I had a chance to recover Benny sat up then lifted his arm, my body was thrown into the air with an enormous guest of wind. Before I crashed into the ground someone caught me in their arms, I looked up to see Erica giving me a look of concern. "What the hell is happening are Benny's uncles attacking?" She asked.

I gave her a frown before answering her. "No Benny has snapped, Ethan says there is a dark force inside of him and I guess it has overpowered him."

Erica set my on the ground I looked next to her to see Sarah giving me a look that meant she was now in leader mode. "Okay for this to work it's truth time. Rory everyone expect for Jane knows you and Benny are in love which means you and Ethan are our best bet of getting through to him the real Benny. Erica take Jane as far away from here as possible but stay within hearing distance. Rory I'll try to get you and Ethan as close as I can so you can try to get through to him." We did our three way bonding high-five we always did when we came up with a strategy when we were training with Phil. Before Sarah and I went to get Ethan, Erica gave me a quick hug. "I know that this isn't the time but I hope you know after all we've been through you and Benny mean so much to me and I want you to know that I'm happy for you." Erica gave me an agreeing nod.

She let go then speedily jumped over behind a rock I'm assuming Jane had hidden behind when the fight broke out. Erica stood back up with Jane over her shoulder. "If you puke on these clothes I swear I'll suck you dry." With that she leaped into the air and was out of sight.

Sarah and I sped over to Ethan and whispered the plan into his ear. He nodded his head in agreement. Sarah grabbed my arm. "Okay I'll throw Rory as close to Benny as possible once Rory has Benny restrained I'll speed Ethan over while he pushes positive memories into Benny mind."

Before I could respond my body was being propelled through the air, I stuck my feet out landing a foot away from Benny he raised his hand again. I sprang into the air dodging the blast of wind that his hand expelled. I landed behind him and grabbed his arm twisting it behind his back using my vamp speed I took his other arm pinning both of them against his back.

The smoke around him started to move toward me, when it was only inches away from my skin I kicked my feet into the ground propelling the two of use into the air, I let go of his arm spun my body so I was in front of Benny, I threw my leg out kicking Benny straight in the stomach. The last thing I wanted to ever do was harm Benny in anyway, but I knew there was no other way to get my real Benny back. Before he had a chance to regain himself I spun my body again and swung my leg down drop kicking sending his body crashing into the sand below hoping this would be my last strike against Benny I flew down at top speed throwing my arm forward my fist collided with Benny's back. A cry of pain escaped his mouth. Which made my heart hurt with guilt. I jumped of Benny standing near him. Ethan and Sarah came running from behind me. I sped next to Sarah, we both stood between Benny and Ethan I looked behind me to see of Ethan had his eyes closed while holding his hands to his forehead.

Benny's body started thrashing around on the ground, but seconds later Ethan fell to the ground as he let out a let loose a screech of pain. A few more seconds passed before he yelled as if he had ear-buds in. "The force inside him was strong enough that somehow it was able to push me out of his head. Also the dark magic he's admitting is blocking me from getting any visions." Still shouting he looked to Sarah"I have another idea, Sarah get me and you behind one of the rocks, I'll use my Empath abilities to try to push as much feeling of love onto Benny. Hopefully that's enough so that you're able to break through to him." Sarah picked Ethan into he arms then brought the two of them behind a set of large rocks.

I looked down to see Benny's body was violently twisting and turning but he seemed to still not be able to get up. He turned his face to me before admitting another scream from his mouth then moved his hands against the sand as his body sprang off the ground by an invisible force. Once he was on his feet he held both hands out at me. Every muscle in my body froze leaving me paralyzed. I felt the my arm hair stand again but was unable to move. I felt the air fill with static. I tired as hard as I could to get my legs to move again. Suddenly my body was tackled by someone sending the both of us from where the lighting stuck a second later. I heard someone from behind me yell. "Restrainium!" A pink mist shot from behind me hitting the sand under Benny, the sand materialized into solid metal then clasped around Benny's wrists, chest and legs then as if being pulled by a magnetic force all of the chains slammed into the ground bringing Benny with them. I turned to see Jane holding both of her hands out at Benny.

Erica looked to me. "I heard Sarah and Ethan left you to fight him by yourself and Jane and I both agreed you needed back up so right now it's time to get your man back from crazy town." Giving me a wink she got off of me standing up ready for a fight even though none of us wanted to. I wasn't sure how long Jane's magic shackles would hold against Benny's much stronger magic so I hoped Ethan knew what he was doing.

I tired to stall Benny so I tried to get through to him again. "Benny I know you're in there, please listen to me." By this point tears started to drop onto my cheeks. "Benny please stop this isn't you, stop hurting your friends."

Velvet strings started appearing throughout the black cloud that surrounded Benny. I knew that Ethan's idea was working, Benny seemed to be slightly calmed Erica and I took our chance and jumped on top of him Erica held his legs while I put my face right above his looking straight into his pure black eyes. I leaned down pressing my lips to his. "Benny," kiss "I," * kiss "love," *kiss "you." *kiss "Please stop." I planted one last kiss on him putting as much emotion into it. I saw the black mist that was surrounding his figure slowly being absorbed back into his body. I continued to try to get though to him. "Benny please I know this isn't you, I need you to come back to me so we can get through this together."

His figure was completely still now as the black in his eyes was replaced by white and I knew we had the real Benny back. Erica and I stayed on top of him but the shackles around his body morphed back into sand. After a minute of Benny not moving Erica jumped off of him but I stayed exactly where I was wanting to be the first thing he saw when he woke up. Another few minutes passed and I was starting to get worried by now Sarah and Ethan had come back already and were standing with Jane and Erica their bodies forming a circle around Benny and I. After waiting another five minutes I started to panic slightly, even if this whole time his breathing and heart rate sounded normal maybe something else happened like us shutting down all of the power in side of him so suddenly may have hurt his brain or maybe we were to late and the power had taken over him completely and he needed healing.

I let my left elbow give in rolling to the side of Benny in case he needed more breathing room I grabbed his hand hoping he could feel it.

I heard Ethan whisper to Jane from behind me. "Did Grandma Weir teach you any healing spells?"

She covered her mouth thinking that would stop me from hearing her. "None she said the way my magic worked I would be able to learn defensive spells the easiest so since we were short on time that was all she taught me other then a couple of minor mind manipulation spells." She said sounding disappointed.

I heard foot steps behind me then felt a hand on my shoulder, I heard Ethan's voice tell me. "Rory this has taken way to much time and I'm sure the random storm Benny created had to have drawn some attention to this area so we really need to leave and plan our next step."

I turned to Ethan tears still rolling down my face. "We can't move him in this condition we need to wait for him to wake up."

"Rory this entire fight was caused by Benny not wanting to leave even though the rest of us knew we had to."

Sarah came closer standing next to Ethan and gave me a comforting smile. "Erica, me and you can carry the other three since we can't teleport to the woods about thirty miles north of here and we can set up a small camp there and take care of Benny there."

I knew Ethan and Sarah were right and I felt better knowing they were just as concerned about Benny as I was. I picked Benny's body up bridal style then turned to my friends. Luckily vampires can see just as good in the dark so we could didn't have to wait till morning to travel. Erica picked Jane up and held her the same way I was holding Benny and Ethan jumped onto Sarah's back. I put my foot in front of me charging all of my energy into my legs. Once I had enough to be able to run fast enough to not be seen by the human eye. Erica and I followed Sarah as we sped toward the first chapter of our new lives.