Chapter 6- Gifts
"Oh come one guys, she's not going to kill us. I don't need a vision to see that," Alice said cutting through the tension in the room as she laughed to herself.
Carlisle chuckled at her dramatics before he continued his thought, "I always thought that our venom was poisonous to shape shifters."
Asima smiled at him, "Well it may not seem that way because of how I turned out but the others that didn't make it proves that you are for the majority correct."
He was intrigued, I knew he hadn't had a good puzzle since me, "I wonder what made you four different from the others?" he thought to himself allowed.
"I'm not sure, Azeem was always the strongest and even he didn't make it. It might just be random. I do know that I cant transfigure anymore though. If that helps you. " She didn't seem to notice that everyone else remained silent.
"Interesting," Carlisle pondered for a moment.
Everyone else's minds were still on the idea of her killing vampires I could tell. Jasper looked at her trying to find a patient way to interrupt. "I'm sorry Asima, but did you say that you killed vampires? How many vampires have you come across exactly?"
She let out a sigh as if she didn't want to answer, but had no choice, "One hundred and forty-eight, since I left my family."
Esme let out a small gasp, "You fought our kind alone and were able to kill that many?"
"Please understand Esme, I never sought them out, and vampires were a lot more common in that time, than they are now. Now I run into a vampire every ten or fifteen years and most of them don't even give me a second glance. Some viewed me as prey, others saw me as something different, wanted me to join their covens and just didn't like the rejection. But to answer your question yes, I fought them alone. Like I said, if it weren't for my gifts I would have probably been dead a very long time ago."
"And what are your gifts," Emmett asked speaking for the first time since she began her story.
She paused for a second trying to figure out what was the best way to proceed. Jasper felt a shift in her emotions and spoke, "Your nervous Asima, you have never once been nervous in the presence of us before, and you've answered every question with out a change in your emotions but now you are uncomfortable. Please explain."
She hesitated again, "Well… Jasper. I can feel the tension right now in the room, and I don't want any of you to think that I'm… a danger in anyway to your family. I feel like…one of my answers is bound to be the breaking point so to speak, but I will continue.
As leopards we were always able to use the strengths of others around us to help us fight. I think that when I was introduced to the venom even though I lost the ability to transfigure myself , that part stayed with me, but it, grew stronger somehow and with understanding I was able to intensify the powers, make them stronger. It has kept me alive for over thirteen hundred years."
"What are you saying Asima?" My mom asked.
Asima smiled at her, "I'm saying Bella, that Edward can't read my mind because he can't read yours." She began looking around the room as she spoke. "Edward I can read everyone's mind in this room except Bella's because you can. Jasper, I can feel everything you're feeling and everyone else's, I see what Alice see's and can even," she shot a look at me before she finished her statement, "communicate like Ness can if I wanted to."
I heard a growl from the head of the table, I was sure that it was Rosalie but I didn't look to make sure. Asima ignored it and continued, "But it's more than that, I understand how they each work so I am able to intensify them within myself¾"
My mom grabbed Asima's arm, and cut her off. "You can understand my power?" She asked amazed.
"Yes, I can." she said carefully not sure where her thoughts were heading.
"Can you teach me, how to make them stronger?" she asked eager.
Asima smiled and nodded, "Of course I can. If anyone else wants to learn, I can teach all of you." she directed her offer to everyone.
"You stole our gifts" my father growled in a low voice. He was more angry than when she started her story. His fists were balled up on the table, I feared for Asima's safety sitting so close to him.
She didn't seem scared. Like she expected for this to be his reaction. "Edward it's involuntary, it is not something that I can control. I can't turn it on or off anymore than you can. Some of the powers I come in contact with are horrible. But the only thing that I can do is wait for them to fade in a few years. If there is a vampire with a gift in the area my body pulls it as soon as I catch theie scent.
Do you know how annoying the student body at my school is? How hard it is to remain calm and keep angry thoughts out of my mind because if I so much as think them it will send the person buckling over in pure pain? It is not always a gift Edward."
Rosalie gasped, "The visitor, you were the one that killed the other vampire." she stated not as a question because she knew the answer.
"What? Oh, yeah he was hunting in my neighborhood when I was outside. Apparently my blood smelled really sweet to him and he couldn't ignore it and stick to his original plan to hunt further south." she said like it was nothing.
"Fascinating," Carlisle pondered to himself. "I wonder…"
No one paid attention to him anymore and focused back on Asima.
"When can you start teaching me," My mom whispered to her.
"We can start as soon as you would like. How far along are you already?" She asked curiously.
"I can push my shield out pretty far, and then bring it in to stretch around individuals. I have also been working on pushing my shield outside of my head, I haven't had much luck with that." She smiled glancing at my father before she glanced back towards Asima and then continued to chatter.
Emmett seemed to be fighting back a smile. I shook my head because if Emmett was smiling I didn't want to know. Dad was still a statue of fury, Jasper started conversing with Alice.
"Do you think that she's dangerous?" Jasper asked Alice's opinion.
"No, not to us, people say that our kind are completely dangerous but our family is proof that there is an exception to that. I think that she could be if she wanted to." She looked off into space. "I don't see any of us being hurt." Jasper nodded. If her visions showed safety then that was enough for him. "Besides I think that I want her to teach me how to amplify my gifts as well."
"Carlisle said that gifts get stronger in time." I added to there conversation. I didn't really like the idea of Alice seeing more than she already could.
"True but that comes from understanding them. So why wait a few decades when Asima can help speed up the process?" she giggled to herself glancing over her. Asima was still deep in conversation with my mom.
Rosalie and Esme were talking about how pretty Asima was. Rosalie's anger seemed to have faded as soon as everyone else's tension fell. Emmett got up and walked to the end of the table to join the conversation with Asima and my Mom. My dad still remained frozen in fury. I decided to go over to him.
"Daddy," he relaxed as I sat next to him. He still didn't respond.
It's going to be ok you know? This isn't a bad thing. Everyone else is excited about Asima. You should give her a chance.
"You don't understand Nessie," I knew what he was trying to say so I interrupted him with my thoughts.
Daddy, she isn't dangerous. I saw his expression about to protest so I quickly amended my thought. I mean, she can be dangerous, but she obviously has control over what she does. She likes us, even you. She's my friend daddy. Please try, for me. I pleaded as I drew my face into a pout.
"I can't promise that, but I can promise that I will control myself. I can give you that much."
I let out a sigh, well that's better than nothing I suppose.
I touched his hand showing him happy thoughts and a slight smile bent at his lips.
Carlisle was still deep in thought turning things over in his head. "I wonder what separates her from us. What separates her from Renesmee? Her genetic make up has to be different from all of ours."
Asima pulled herself from the conversation with Mom to answer his question. "The only thing that I can tell you Carlisle is that I don't produce the venom that the rest of you do. I look the same, I don't get hurt often but when I do healing takes no more than a few hours with no scaring. I've never been seriously injured before so I can't tell you how long that would take.
As far as Ness goes, she's more human than I am. My senses are stronger than hers but not at strong as the rest of you. I've never come across any one like me besides my brothers, believe me I have searched."
Carlisle seemed to want to ask something but didn't know if it would be appropriate. Asima listened to his thoughts and laughed to herself. "Would you like some of my blood Carlisle?" she offered to him.
"If you wouldn't mind. I'm curious to see what makes you different." He seemed eager and apologetic at the same time.
"Of course Carlisle, anything you need." she nodded.
Carlisle seemed to get more excited by the minute. I watched him as he got up and dashed upstairs. He came back seconds later with his black bag. Asima was laughing at a joke from Emmett when he returned.
Asima looked up in almost surprise at his eagerness and couldn't help but to smile, and then she grew more serious as she glanced over to Alice. Alice was staring off into space so I knew that she was having another vision.
"Carlisle," she hesitated getting his attention. "I think that maybe you should wait for another time." Alice warned. She snapped out of her daze and focused on Carlisle. Her back to Rosalie and Esme facing Carlisle and Asima. She shot a very subtle glance at Asima and then back to Carlisle and very quickly mouthed the name 'Esme'. No one noticed but Carlisle and Asima, and of course me and my dad.
He gave a subtle nod, "Forgive me, I let my avidity get the best of me. We can do this another time."
She could see that he wanted to get started right away but knew what would happen if she broke her skin anywhere near Esme. Esme would attack and Asima would have to defend herself and that would not help the already questionable atmosphere. I knew Carlisle would make sure that Esme hunted before the next time Asima was around.
"That's ok Carlisle. It takes some force to break through my skin anyway. How about you give me the vials and I'll fill them and bring them back to you." she smiled at him apologetically.
"That would be wonderful," he relaxed as he handed her the vials.
She put them in her purse before continuing. "I can have them for you tomorrow." she promised. He thanked her and went to put his bag back in his study.
Mom captured Asima's attention again, "So when can you show me what I can do? When can I start learning?" I had never seen my mom with such vigor before.
"If you want I can assist you today, and I can start teaching you first thing tomorrow," she offered.
"Oh please," she grew giddy.
My dad stiffened, but I knew that it would be hard for him to deny my mom anything that brings her this much excitement.
Be nice daddy, control remember? he loosened his muscles and took a breath.
"Would you all like to see a part of Bella's gift?" She asked to my family, they were all just as curious as she was. She looked at Emmett, "Hey Emmett, how would you like to test your strength? No holding back?"
Emmett could never pass up a chance to show off how strong he was. His voice echoed through out the dining room "Lets do this!" Everyone laughed at his excitement, except for my dad.
"Ok, we will need a private space. One where there's no risk of humans seeing you," she thought to herself.
Jasper looked at Emmett "We have a place," he smiled. I knew he was referring to the woods in our back yard, there was a clearing about five miles in that Jasper and Emmett usually wrestled in.
"Lead the way," she said getting up from the table. Mom was practically jumping behind her.
We walked out the back door, and Jasper led the way. "Want a lift kid?" Emmett offered as we walked out, I accepted I wanted to get there just as fast as everyone else I didn't want to miss anything. "Up you go," He said as I climbed on his back. I held on as Emmett and the rest of my family started running west towards the clearing.
I watched Asima as she ran. She was definitely faster than me, It was like watching a leopard run in slow motion, she was so graceful it was almost like she danced all the way there. She kept up with the rest of my family's leisure run effortlessly.
We stopped in the clearing and waited for Asima's instruction.
"Emmett, you wait here until I call for you ok?" Asima instructed as she took my moms hand and ran about fifty yards farther out.
My mom stood still waiting for Asima to tell her what to do. "Ok Bella, I am going to assist you, I am going to need you to concentrate only on what I tell you to do." My mom just nodded staring straight ahead.
She stood beside my mother and twined her fingers in with hers. She took a couple of deep breaths and looked at my mom. "Ok now Bella, I want you to put your shield up. Only around you and me. Bring it in to about a foot around us and hold it there."
She nodded. I couldn't see anything different about the space around them but I knew she did it when Asima congratulated her. "Good job Bella," My mom smiled, and Asima called out to Emmett, "Ok now Emmett attack us, at full speed no holding back."
My family's expressions of intrigue turned to concern as they processed what she was saying. My mom's shield blocked mental attacks, surely she got it wrong, my father was the first to voice it.
"Are you crazy?" he shouted across the clearing even though it wasn't necessary.
"Edward please," My moms voice cut into his fury. "I want to do this, I trust her. It already feels different, come on Emmett attack me."
Emmett didn't seem like he wanted to anymore. "Are you sure about this?"
"Are you scared Emmett?" My mom taunted him. She knew he couldn't resist if she tried to make him seem cowardly.
"Hey I didn't say that. I just don't want to crack you two in half." He laughed at the thought.
Asima sighed and laughed. "Just attack us Emmett. No holding back."
"Ok." He crouched into a deep lean and took off.
No one breathed or took their eyes off of Emmett. My father practically uprooted the tree next to us in fury and anticipation. I looked at my mom's face, even she had a hint of worry in her eyes. But Asima only smiled.
As he reached to grab at Asima and my mom with all the force in his body, he seem to hit something and flew back twenty feet. He landed on his back with a loud thud.
"Amazing," Carlisle broke the silence.
My mom and Asima laughed as Emmett effortlessly flipped himself back up onto his feet. "How did you do that?" My mom asked Asima amazed in-between laughs.
"I just borrowed it from you." she explained.
"I want to try again," Emmett huffed. He didn't like failing when it came to competitions.
"No Emmett," My dad stopped him, I could tell he was amazed by the strength of the shield just as everyone else but he didn't want to test anything when it came to my mom's safety.
"No it's ok Edward," Asima interrupted him. "let's try it a different way. I want to show Bella one more thing before we stop."
Emmett nodded in satisfaction, happy that he would get his second chance.
"Jasper, could you help us with this one?" Asima asked him. He seemed hesitant after seeing what happened with Emmett. Asima felt his unease. "You won't be harmed I promise." He nodded and let go of Alice's hand. Alice didn't seem worried for Jasper's safety like she was my moms.
"Ok head out about twenty yards towards us and stop. It is important that you remain very still." He complied and she turned her attention hack to Mom. "Ok now I want you to wrap an individual shield around Jasper. Keep the main shield with us. Only make his a foot around him. The smaller it is the easier I can control it." She nodded again but I didn't see anything. "Ok Emmett, attack Jasper."
Emmett nodded and lunged back towards Jasper. Jasper stood in place but when Emmet attacked him he was repelled back another twenty feet again landing on his back.
My mom started laughing again as Emmett got up. "Unbelievable," Carlisle muttered to himself. "May I?" He asked Asima as he was walking over to Jasper.
"Sure go ahead." she said keeping her gave on Jasper. "Bella don't take the shield off of Jasper. Carlisle wants a closer look."
"Is that safe?" My mom asked her worried about him.
She nodded. Both of them kept their eyes on Jasper. "You just hold up the shield and I will keep it physical."
"Interesting," Carlisle said staring at Jasper from all angles. I could tell the staring was making Jasper uncomfortable. "you can't see where it begins or stops."
"You can touch it Carlisle." Asima told him. "Jasper you can too if you'd like" Carlisle put his hand up slowly trying to touch Jasper and hesitated. "It wont shock you or anything. Emmett only flew back so far because of the force he hit it with."
Carlisle pushed his palm out but his hand stopped less than a foot from Jasper's face. He touched it in various spots as well as Jasper.
My dad still looked upset but everyone else was thrilled. Each taking turns touching Jasper's shield for themselves. I went to touch it then I heard a whisper from Asima that stopped me.
"Put a shield around Renesmee," My mom nodded and focused on me. Asima had a slight smile on her face.
"Ness why don't you come over here and stand with us." she offered. I nodded and started towards but I bumped into the shield around me. I was only free to walk around in the three foot circle.
"I can't do that if mom still has a shield on me," I groaned. Everyone was turning to see what I was talking about.
"Sure you can," Asima laughed. "Bella keep your shield up on Ness and drop Jasper's."
I could feel my feet rise from the ground, only a half of an inch. I squatted down to touch the ground at my feet. I couldn't feel the leaves or the dirt that I saw under my shoes. I could only feel a smooth cool flat surface.
"Ok now come over Ness," she smiled again. I stood up and tried to walk over to them but I was still being stopped by the shield. I was starting to get frustrated. Asima sensed my frustration and let out a fake sigh of impatience. "Fine I'll do it." Then I felt myself get pulled across the clearing. It wasn't as fast as a vampire running but it took less than five seconds to me to clear the fifty yards to where they were and I was next to them. I felt the ground below me again and I was looking at my mom and Asima.
"What the ¾" I started in bewilderment.
"Language Renesmee," My mom stopped me. "Asima what was that?"
"You can drop the shields Bella. That was just some stuff I learned playing with your shield once I figured out how to make it physical. You'll start learning first thing tomorrow I promise." she seemed tired. I suppose the physical part of the shield is a lot harder than she made it look.
"Thank you Asima." my mom still seemed excited.
"No problem Bella. Carlisle I'll have those vials filled for you first thing tomorrow as well."
"Thank you. I might be at the hospital but if so give them to Alice and she'll put them in my study for me. I look forward to seeing you again."
"It was nice meeting you all too," she directed at my family. "I'll see you all tomorrow." She hugged Alice and my mom before heading up back towards the house to get her car.
"Well that was eventful," Rosalie said with a smile.
"Tomorrow I'm getting a real rematch just me and her no shields." Emmett promised himself as I climbed on his back. We ran the short distance back to the house but by the time we got there Asima and her car were already gone.