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interfering in the fight. This is even more of a distraction for me and could cost me the fight. I see him pushing and frantically trying to come to my aid. It’s no problem for Elijah to restrain him, holding him simply with one arm over Nathanial’s chest. With another glance over to Nathanial, that’s what happens to me. Both Alexander and Isaac attack, and Alexander takes me down with a swift kick at my feet. Hitting the ground hard, I try to get my bearings, but before I can retreat, Isaac is above me with a tree branch ready for the kill. Isaac pounds the branch into the ground next to me and helps me to my feet.
    “ Good fight kid, you almost had me there,” Isaac says as he brushes the dirt from himself.
    With a smile I respond, “Yeah, if Alexander wouldn’t have come in when he did I would have won that round.”
    “ Oh, well, that’s the price you pay for getting distracted, Sis,” Alexander jokes and we walk towards the rest of the family.
    “ Sophia you did very well, but Nathanial seems to be a serious distraction for you,” Elijah adds.
    With disappointment, Nathanial lowers his head, “I am so sorry Sophia. I couldn’t stand to watch them hurting you.”
    “ You have nothing to be sorry about Nate. I think it is best for you to try to distract Sophia. This will aid in her training,” Elijah suggests.
    Everyone agrees that it is best to distract me and teach me not to allow for distractions, while still remaining aware. I have to talk to him now that my fight is over; I can tell he is pretty upset with Isaac and Alexander.
    “ Are you going to be okay?” I ask.
    “ How can they gang up on you like this? I can’t just stand here and watch two men beat on the woman I love. This is killing me! ” Nathanial is furious, pacing back and forth wearing a path on the still brown grass.
    “ I love that you’re concerned about me, but I’m fine, Nate. We need to do this; we have to be prepared. I know you want to help, but you must remember that I am stronger and faster… it’s very difficult to hurt me. Fighting like this would kill you. You can help us–you just can’t fight,” I try to explain.
    “ I know all this, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy sitting back and watching you get beat to the ground.”
    “ I understand how hard this must be for you; just know I’m doing it to keep you, your family, and your friends safe.”
    “ I do know that, and I will help in any way I can. As Elijah suggested, I will come to distract you.”
    I can tell how hard this is for him and that hurts me, but we have to do it.
    As the family gets back to sparring, I rest for a little while. Not only so I can have a break, but so Nathanial can also have a break. We just sit together on the edge of the clearing, watching the others fight. We continue training till early evening before returning home. We don’t want to be out in case the Cerberus can sense us and arrive before we are ready for them. We don’t know their powers, and one may have the ability to sense others with supernatural powers just as Caspian did.
    “ So I’m able to spend the night again. I told my parents that all the boys are going snowboarding in the morning and I’m invited. I don’t like to lie to my parents, but it does avoid questions,” Nathanial says with a hint of remorse.
    “ You’re so close to your family. I feel awful we can’t let them know my family’s secret, but it will just put them in danger,” I confirm.
    “ I know, and that’s why I do it.”
    ***
    The family decides to take the rest of the night off from all things Cerberus. We have been wrapped up in planning and preparing since New Year’s. School is starting again soon and we need a night of relaxation.
    “ Mati and I are going to watch a movie in the family room; you two are welcome to join us,” Alexander invites.
    Elijah and Florence both head to the study to read a book, and Isaac and Constance both have to work the late shift at the