Aralyn

The wind was brisk and cool, unusual but she didn't really mind. She was to happy to mind. Her chest still hurt, as did the rest of her body but it didn't show as she sat down at a table with a cup of hot coffee. In her hands was a book, and quietly she sat there reading just letting the atmosphere of the place surround her. It was warm inside, the coffee hot. Quiet. It was quiet except for the music playing above softly. Her hair was pulled away from her face and pinned up on top of her head and in doing so it made her look fragile. Young. Innocent. So very innocent. The book she was reading was called Shadow Touch. Yes, yes its cover does make it look some what like a romance novel, but indeed it was not. In it were shape shifters, vampires. Telepathics and other things of lore. She couldn't get enough. She was so still, and her coffee was growing cold but the manager did not mind her being there. Every monday. It was her habit to be here every monday, no matter what the circumstance and she would stay for at least an hour. Plus, she left him a nice tip. So who could complain?

Benjamin L.

For having killed a man last night, Ben didn't seem a bit unnerved or edgy as he entered the Cafe. He had sent Aldo to take care of the body, and knew that the police force would hesitate if they somehow found the body and managed to connect it back to him. Well, except for Ryan... but thankfully, Officer Sohmers didn't hold the highest ranking in the police department.

Upon entering the building, Benjamin adopted a look of surprise as he spotted Aralyn. A quick look around assured the man that Conan was not here; a good thing, for he didn't much care for the kid who shot him. For some reason, he had taking a great liking to the girl; not the sort of 'liking' that Dan had... it was more of the affection saved for a daughter. A daughter that he didn't have.

After a moment of hesitation, Ben strode over to the table where Aralyn was reading. He carried a pleasant smile, while his light blue eyes foreshadowed no evil intentions or a hint of cruelness which they so often did. "Aralyn, it looks like you are doing better." He commented, glancing casually to the book. Ben often read in his spare time, knowing a vast aray of books; but this was not one that he had come across before.

Aralyn

Her eyes lifted to see Ben standing there. Surprise flickered briefly in her eyes, but a smile crossed her soft face. Ben! Its so good to see you. Hows your arm doing? She stood and hugged him, quite a surprise even to herself for the show of affection and sat down, signalling him to do the same. Little miss Aralyn, so soft and sweet. Her eyes were gentle, but bright with youth. She set down her book as she watched him. She knew Ben was a shady character, but she didn't mind. He had helped her. Help was a damn good thing to come by. Her fingers lightly tapped to the song playing above and she lifted a hand to the new boy behind the cafe. He came forward, fidgety and adverting his gaze from them both. Can I please get another of my coffees and whatever this gentlemen would like? The boy nodded and glanced to Ben then scurried towards the back counter again and began making Aralyns coffee, giving Ben time to decide what he wanted. You'd think I scream and yell whenever the kid comes near me. She said, slightly amused. Indeed, the boy acted as if Aralyn were one to be feared. In all reality, he was awestruck by her beauty, and the wit that she possessed.

Benjamin L.

Like the 'daughterly' kiss that Sarah had given to him, the hug was something that Ben just wasn't use to. As a kid, he had been terribly quiet and introverted. Yet for some reason, he didn't feel so akward around Aralyn, and so he relented to give her a hug in return, even if it wasn't quite an embracing one. It was something he'd have to work on.

"It's doing fine. And how about yourself? You are looking much better." He replied, then looked to the new boy. As usual, there was a calculating, piercing look that flashed in his eyes, if only for a brief moment. As if sizing this fellow up to be sure he was not one of the punk kids who'd do Aralyn harm, or a druggie who'd lead her down the wrong path.

"He's certainly a nervous one." Ben commented, drawing his look away from the boy and back to Aralyn. "What have you been up to lately?" He was terribly curious to hear about Conan, who had didn't trust one bit. But, he was afraid to say the wrong thing and push his luck. The last thing he wanted was to get Aralyn upset with him.

Aralyn

She was quiet for a moment then said softly Conans mother and father showed up. Conan...Conan was hurt really badly. I...I ended up stabbing his mom. There was horror in her eyes, and now and again she glanced at her hands as if to reassure herself that the blood was gone. I didn't mean to. She...She started screaming and yelling and came at me. She was quiet for a moment, then smiled. I met a guy. His name is Nadeem. Affection. She liked him. He didn't know it yet, nor did she know how he felt towards her but she liked him.

Benjamin L.

For others, he would have hidden it. But for Aralyn, he allowed the slightest look of sincere suprise and worry to etch itself out on his face. Most others, they got fuax expressions and carefully choosen words, while the real motives and feelings were kept neatly concealed inside. "Do you know the name of Conan's father? And why... why did you end up stabbing his mother?" The words were spoken soft and almost hesitant, as if he was afriad to upset her. The horror that awoke in her eyes was clear enough to him, and the faultering of her words further showed how she felt about the subject. But if he was going to protect Aralyn, he would need to know who was a threat to her.

Now he watched as the subject was changed, and suspicion was quick to rise. He knew how most teenage boys were, and he would be certain to check out this Nadeem character. And of course, have Mikhail do an extensive background check on the guy. If there was one major flaw about Ben, it was his desire to have control and knowledge over others. It was a great benefit sometimes, though his need for it could push him to do extreme things; as Tidus found out the hard way. "Nadeem? Do you like him?" Stay simple. Don't arouse any suspicion from Aralyn. Being hostile and wary of potential boyfriends was one sure-fire way to get a 'daughter' mad at a 'father'.

Aralyn

Her eyes lifted to his and she said softly She kept hurting Conan, so I pushed her away. Then she got mad at me and kept hitting me, so I stabbed her. She was quiet for a moment, then a twisted smile crossed her lips. His names Michael. He shot me in the stomach. I almost wish it was him I had stabbed. Anger, it curled deep in her gut but along with it was guilt. Deep, deep guilt. She couldn't help but see Raynas face, the blood coating her hands and staining Rayna red. Everything was so...So red.

Then he asked about Nadeem. A safer subject indeed. A look of softness came into her blue and silver eyes, and she said to her new 'father' Yeah...Yeah, I really do like him. She couldn't help but hear that voice in the back of her mind. Every man you ever touch, they turn against you. Think, Angel. Your father, your boyfriend. All of them turned against you. Whose to say Conan and Nadeem won't? Ben, even? You haven't known him for very long, Angel. He'll kill you one day. She smiled, as if nothing was wrong. And what of you? What have you been up to? She asked him quietly.

Benjamin L.

Micheal. Not the most unique of names, but he was sure Mikhail could still locate the man, given Conan's name and what little other information he knew. One thing was for sure, this Michael fellow would be in some serious trouble if he showed up in the Valley again. That dangerous look crept into Ben's eyes for a moment, lingering as she spoke of the encounter with the parents. Threatening Aralyn was enough to warrant a good beat-down, but to shoot her... that could only be dealt with by execution.

Letting the subject of Michael drop altogether, he focused on what Aralyn spoke of next. "Just working, mostly. Nothing of much interest. I'm interested in hearing more about this Nadeem that you like. Where did you two meet?"

Aralyn

She gave a faint smile and said At Charlenes house. He was taking care of it while shes gone. Again she was quiet and she said softly My half sister found me. She didn't look to happy about that. Indeed, her eyes were dark and stormy and her hands tightened around her coffee mug. I thought I got away from all that, you know? I don't want...I don't want anything to do with him, not even her. She thought of the little girl she had just turned away. She couldn't be no more then 15. I know that thats horrible of me to say, I don't even know her. But I also don't want to know her. That part of my life is behind a closed and locked door, never to be opened again. Then she came along. Her hands were so tight around the mug her knuckles were white. Her gaze was hard on the creamy brown of the coffee, and she stayed like that, waiting for Bens reply.

Benjamin L.

Charlene. Another name he knew, not only from when Aralyn mentioned this last winter at Ethan's place, but because he had visited the remote farm house once before. Although he didn't know the strange old lady very well, he knew enough about her to assume Nadeem was a decent person, if she allowed him to watch over her pets while she was away. Well then, no need to get overly protective at the moment then.

As she drifted to a new topic, Ben caught the telling signs of anxiety she expressed by gripping the cup. This half-sister evidently invoked some pretty strong emotions in Aralyn, and he was curious to understand why. "It's not as horrible as you might think, Aralyn." Benjamin replied in a knowing tone, trying to help her see that her feelings were justified, even if he didn't know why she felt that way about her half-sister. "There are those I hate, who are related to me." Hated would be a better word, since his father was now dead. No need to go into detail about that murder though. Ben began to wonder now, about this 'him' character. He assumed it was their father that they shared, and had different mothers. As curious as he was to find out more about this, Ben was careful not to be too pushy on the subject.

Benjamin L.

No sooner did he get finished responding to Aralyn than his cell phone began to ring. "Sorry, excuse me for a moment." Benjamin appologized, turning away from the girl for a moment as he flipped open the phone.
"Yeah?" Came his 'greeting' to the caller, sharp and obviously underlaid with the annoyance of being interrupted while having a conversation with Aralyn. "I'm in the middle of something, can't it wait? ..... And why is that, Mikhail? ...Go on. .... And what is it you want me to do about that? ...... Are you suggestion I speak with her? Or..." In the middle of the tense coversation, Ben paused as he glanced once to Aralyn. Deciding against saying his next thoughts outloud, he opted to end the call, "Deal with the police, I'll deal with her. Call me back with more information when they are gone."

The sincere and almost inviting look that had previously been adorned by Ben was now gone completely as he put the phone away and faced Aralyn once more. "I'm truly sorry, but I have some business to attend to." A smile was given, and as kind and appologetic as it looked, there was the underlying signs of a lie and falseness there. The glint of deep fury and determination lit in his cool gaze just before he turned away from Aralyn and headed out of the Cafe.