Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction intended for entertainment purposes only. The characters and world belong to Stephenie Meyer, I just like playing with them.
AN: I have finished Evangeline's tale. This chapter and the next are the end and I hope you have enjoyed the journey. If I happen to get to a total of 120 reviews for High Tide I will post an epilogue.
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Panthalassa: High Tide
Chapter 37 – Power
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The loud mechanical whirring of the jet engines were all that I wanted to focus on for the first few minutes of our flight out of Japan. Kenji was holding me as we stood by one of the tiny windows, the ground speeding along below us, getting smaller yet no less detailed by the second.
Ren and Seth took our children on another jet bound for Seattle, and I could still make it out heading in the opposite direction. Soon it would be out of sight, but until then Kenji couldn't pull me away from the window.
I allowed myself those last moments to wallow in misery and longing for my children. Once they were out my sight I gave Kenji's hand a squeeze and we went to physically join the others in discussion about our battle strategy. I had to focus, I was not going to let this Zhan destroy any more lives, and being distracted wasn't something I could afford.
Maria, her two newborns and the Irish coven were in the upstairs portion of the private jet. It was a little boon to the already worked up Jasper. Carlisle and Kenji had a hard time convincing Maria not to antagonize Jasper further by demanding being with the rest of the vampires on the lower deck. She could still hear us, what did it matter if she saw us. I already didn't like her, and in the brief introduction we shared she tried to convince me to reduce the thirst in her and her newborns. I may have led her to believe that if she behaved I would, though I promised nothing.
Toji and Alice were the center of attention, as we tried to plan this attack with minimal damage to ourselves. Alice's frantic pacing with the occasional pause when she had a vision was the only movement for several minutes.
The biggest problem we were running in to was how to get to Zhan as she was surrounded by newborns, and humans. Carlisle wanted to save as many people as we could, but when Ichiro pointed out that the humans knew our secret and their lives were already forfeit it depressed Carlisle into a saddened quiet state. With the growing army of newborns Zhan could control, it was difficult to foresee easiest way to kill her and not be killed by the horde of vampires. We had no clue what would happen to the orders Zhan gave once she was dead. Would those affected still have to obey? I voiced that I might be able to tell if her commands would stick after her death if I could see what her ability looked like. Perhaps her commands actually changed some part of the persons energy.
Jasper, Kenji, Ichiro and Siobhan were strategizing, with Garrett and Liam adding in when they thought their expertise was needed.
We were using two of Kenji's private satellites to try and find Zhan's location with the clues our future seers were getting, it was likely we'd find it before too long. We just needed a plan of action once we had.
"Commandeering some missiles won't help in the long run, we can't possibly know if Zhan was destroyed, and it could just send her running and unleash all of those newborns upon the region." Ichiro scoffed.
Garrett, whose suggestion it had been, pressed, "We bomb the area to distract and confuse, not the heart of the camp but as a method to lure out some of her troops. She'll send some to see what happened. And we'll be on the ground to attack."
"You want to bomb an area we'll be near?" Tanya spoke up.
"Nice," one of the Japanese coven members chuckled.
"It isn't actually a bad idea," Siobhan added. There was a map on China and Mongolia on the large touch screen monitor, it had an outline of the region but was roughly 50% black while the satellites were scanning the other areas looking for anomalous activity.
"I still don't know why we aren't just sending in Shizuka to go and cut this puntas head off with one of those handy swords, and then we deal with the clean up after," Maria complained. Edward had been about to say something but thought better of it when Maria spoke up.
Kenji stiffened at the southerners words.
"I can do it," Shizuka said leadingly, "But the problem, as we all know is that Alice's is seeing the numbers surrounding her to be hard for me to navigate around. Last clear vision we got was of her in a building with about 30 surrounding her as she watched 10 humans going through the change. I don't think I could get around 30 vampires let alone into a building and out again. Being invisible doesn't mean I can't get caught."
"Shizuka is our greatest weapon here, utilizing her skills is something we need to be careful with. Throwing her blindly to the enemy isn't wise." Gentarou, our pilot and one of the older members of the Japanese clan reasoned.
"She's the greatest weapon?" Kate laughed, "You are kidding right? Have you even seen what Evangeline, Benjamin and Bella can do?"
I gave Kate a small smile at her compliment.
"To be fair I am useless from the air, and I cannot concentrate on all 43 of us while trying to fight myself." Bella for once didn't sound timid; she sounded like she knew her limitations and didn't want others to overestimate her.
"Evangeline needs touch and close proximity to do damage, Benjamin is too noticeable he'd become a prime target instantly." Gentarou countered.
I turned my head to look at the cockpit, and looked at Gentarou's lights. Smiling smugly inside when I turned off his sense of sight, just to prove that I could. It actually felt good to do. No one had seen me doing that to those humans I'd hunted, and I quickly realized I hadn't divulged that part of my ability yet.
Edwards astonished laugh and Gentarou's stammering from the front had everyone looking at me.
"What just happened?" One of the newborns edgily asked, having only heard everything.
"Eva you can do ranged attacks?" Jasper asked, after everyone realized what I'd done to Gentarou. I mean Gentarou was saying something angrily and loudly in Japanese from up front and I could only guess he'd told them I'd blinded him. Kenji sighed and kissed my temple; giving me a subtle sign I was to undo it.
"Well attack… is a bit of a strong word," I explained, "I have to redirect the energy somewhere. When I touch someone to say, turn them off, I take that energy into myself. But at this distance I have to do little bit more playing. It's easy in vampires for the most part to do the main senses from a distance. But that energy has to go somewhere, and without being able to directly control it eventually it would all go back to normal. I think it would take maybe an hour for Gentarou's energy to fix itself."
Murmurs of appreciation were uttered around the cabin.
"Otou-san we didn't really have the proper chance to test Eva's abilities. Perhaps," Ichiro gave me a small smile, "We should find a place in China to land the plane, let the satellites search, and train with Eva's ability?"
A few opinions were muttered, by some of the Japanese coven and Maria, that it was a waste of time. I suspected they were itching for a fight. I glanced up at my mate, his eyes were contemplative.
"Kenji-dono, it makes sense. You and Kaneyasu tested me for years till I was at my peak, perhaps even a couple hours with Evangeline could really aid us in figuring out the easiest way to rid the world of Zhan." The way Shizuka casually mentioned having been personally trained by my mate, granted it was hundreds of years before I was even born, spiked jealousy in me.
Kimi, a Japanese coven member had been watching the screen as it updated the satellite scans mentioned an old Chinese outpost, lightly manned, about two hours from where we currently were. At that declaration the different groups of Vampires retreated to various areas of the large plane as we were going to land and take over that outpost. There was intensity humming in the air. Every vampire here was hurt over the ones they lost, and anxious about what more they could lose yet. I, of course, didn't have all of the same anxieties. I turned around in Kenji's arms, taking in a long slow pull of his scent in.
Everyone was taking this time looking fondly at their mates or talking about people they'd lost. I saw Rosalie, and Esme looking at me occasionally as they talked about the past. I could hear them talk about my human self, and there was only a marginal interest in it, I was much more focused on Kenji and just being as close to him as I could. I could watch the exterior of him with awe, and bask in the beauty of his internal lights at the same time.
"Perhaps you should spend some time with your family," Kenji kindly whispered. A few of the others had to have heard his suggestion to me. Alice's bright eyes looked hopeful when I glanced in the Cullen's direction. I frowned turning back to look into his face.
"Oh don't pout," He chided gently pressing a kiss to the top of my head. It was just as well, I saw Ichiro and Shizuka heading towards us from the upstairs compartment.
The private jet Kenji had for our journey had a lot of space, just not a lot of furniture, which for vampires was better. The Cullen's had taken several couches and chairs in the rear of the plane. I had been sitting with Kenji and a few of the other Japanese coven members. Upstairs I could see the lights of the Denali's mingling with the Irish coven.
Carlisle gave me a kind smile as I approached, and Esme looked ready to rise to hug me. All eight of them were seated and I felt odd standing, but I didn't trust myself to try and sit. So I squatted down, and studied their lights again.
"I have to say Eva, of all the abilities I have had the privilege of seeing through others' eyes, yours takes the cake on beauty," Edwards compliment was met with a small nod of my head.
Jasper, Emmet, Carlisle and Rosalie continued to talk about Maria with her newborns.
At the mention of my ability Bella's demeanor changed, she had a look and smell of depression. However at the change of topic from battle, and war she looked relieved.
"It's rather addicting looking at all of you, I admit." I tried to smile. They still felt like strangers, but I could see the relationship I must have had with them reflected back to me by their reactions.
"Are there other things you can do with your ability, aside from what we already have seen?" Esme asked leaning into Bella, their hands had been intertwined. It vaguely reminded me of something my mum had done for me outside a waiting room.
I looked at their lights, puzzling on what each one could do, the feelings instantly came to me on what ones were in charge of what functions. And near immediately after Esme asked I turned off her eyesight.
She gasped, and Edward gently explained what I'd done. Jasper's conversation stopped as the rest of the Cullen's become much more interested in what was going on with me. I turned Esme's eyesight back on, and Edward gave a low whistle.
"Can you easily manipulate other lights without touching someone?" Carlisle was awed.
Edward winked at me, which I didn't really understand.
"Well, I think there are a few of them that are range related. The further I am away the harder it is. Certain ones," I pointed them out to Edward. They were the ones that flickered the most, "are easy. There are some that I can't manipulate unless I have direct contact."
Edwards face folded into one of contemplation. He asked me to use my second sight and look at Esme again. I obliged.
"What about the blue pink one?" he asked, everyone was eagerly watching our interaction.
The particular light Edward was keen on hadn't been fluctuating and as much as the others, but it was close to the ones I had used to disable Kenji inside the head. It even looked similar to that light that basically knocked a vampire out, but it was thrumming marginally faster than its sister light.
I reached out with my energy and flicked Edwards own off. It worked; I could see all the other lights go off, except his ability, his eyes and his… big light.
"Whoa," Emmett stated coming over to squat in front of Edward.
"He's perfectly alright," I said immediately to Bella who looked concerned. "He can still use his ability and see us, but everything else is… as you could say 'off'."
Before Emmett could do anything to Edward I turned the light back on. Edward immediately grabbed Emmett by the shoulder and shoved him away.
The next hour we spent practicing my ability and how I could use it. I could turn off eyesight and hearing as far away as the plane would allow. Sense of smell was the same. 20 feet was the furthest away someone had to be to be close to completely off as I could get them. The one pesky bright brilliant light was always on.
"What do you suppose that light is?" Alice asked the group after we'd mostly finished.
The light itself was completely unique to each individual. As calming and peaceful that the lights looked, there was a strong warning that resounded in me looking at it. It told me of things that best left not trifled with. It told me of something awesome, in the righteous sense.
"The soul…" Edward barely breathed out, he was in shock.
I felt a thrill of peace go through me as I thought on it.
"Truly? Is that what you think it is?" Carlisle asked me, eyes wide bight and hopeful like a child's. He looked from Edward to me. Rosalie took Emmett's hand and I could see some tears building up in Jaspers eyes.
I looked again at each of the lights. Truly it was the source of energy for all of the other lights, and I couldn't do anything to it. Well to be fair I probably could do something to that light, but it would feel as wrong as trying to peel off my own skin.
"It's likely. Yes, I think you could call it a soul. It's feels…" I searched for the word.
"Divine," Edward offered while his whole demeanor and face changed. His actions seemed odd to me, he put his head into his hands and leaned over his knees, Bella whispering something about telling him he wasn't a monster. The others shared murmurs of reverence, and awe at having a soul.
I was confused by their shock; then again because I could see those lights from the moment I woke up it wasn't shocking to me that those particular lights could be our souls. They started discussing what damned really meant and if this meant there was an afterlife, for reasons unknown to me they seemed to think I might have an answer.
The humans I had fed on, I had to clamp down on my urges thinking about their blood, the souls just left once the bodies were dead. They disappeared, and I didn't even pay them any mind as I was far too consumed with feeding my thirst. I didn't like the turn of the conversation.
Kenji was making his way over, and I took the opportunity to leave the Cullen's company.
"That didn't last long," he chided me with a good natured smirk. I sighed and rolled my eyes, feeling completely weird doing such needless actions. However they did convey my annoyance.
"I want to… try, you know." I glanced over to them, fully aware the entire group knew we were talking about them. Esme's eyes were bright and pleading me to come back and talk with them more. All I wanted at that moment was to curl up into Kenji's arms bathe myself in his scent, and think about getting rid of the threat to my children.
Ignoring them talking about me was hard. Emmett referenced my reactions to them as being similar to when I'd first moved in with them.
"Now I am interested," Kenji stated, taking my hand and bringing me back to the rear of the plane.
Kenji asked questions I didn't really care, or think to ask, about my time with them. Alice relayed vivid memories of her dressing me up. Jasper told me of my guitar lessons. A few of the memories Ren had given me were mentioned in periphery. I found myself surprised that I was enjoying them talk about how much fun we'd had. I craved for them to move to the topic of when Kenji arrived, but I realized it wasn't likely to happen. Kenji had been there for that bit of my life and the Cullen's had years of stories about me that he'd much rather hear.
My focus on the conversation deviated many times; I was too consumed by watching Kenji, the way his adams apple moved as he talked, his wide alluring grin when he laughed. Jasper cleared his throat many times to try and get me reel in the raging sexual need for Kenji. I didn't want to stop, but there was no where Kenji and I could go for privacy.
.~.
The interaction Gentarou and Kimi had with the ground crew at the Chinese post, while we made our landing approach was a thing of beauty. Kimi was using a general's voice, something she'd picked up from a video she'd watched on him. Her ability was matched so perfectly even the vampires on board couldn't tell the difference in her voice and the real generals. I didn't understand the Chinese but several times I could hear small chuckles break out among the vampires that understood. It irritated me that I didn't know, and Kenji smiled kindly at my frustration.
I saw the lights as we made our landing; the tiny base had 12 men there. I marveled at the detail of the humans, and enjoyed the sirens call of the promise those lights gave me. I could practically see their blood flowing in their bodies, giving all of their 600 lights more brilliance. Jasper sensed my itching, giving me a small look of understanding.
"Alright Eva, this will be your first test, turn off as many of the humans you can as we get closer." The coaching authority in Kenji's voice took me only a little by surprise.
I scoffed, and the second the tires to our jet squealed making contact with the worn out runway my ability flared and I turned off every single human. It was delightfully easy to manipulate the human's lights. Kenji used the back of his knuckles to gently run down the side of my face waiting for me to do as he commanded.
"Kenji, Eva's already turned all the humans off." Edward announced. Most of the vampires made some sort of noise of appreciation at that. I didn't imagine the pride in his eyes when he looked at me.
"The humans here are not to be fed on," Kenji ordered, sternly looking towards Maria who was with her newborns. The two of them both hissed, and Maria just glared back at us. I could hear Carlisle relax and express his thanks to my mate for saving the innocent people.
The jet engines were slowly winding down, the side door was opened and everyone jumped out.
"If we can't feed on them, we will still need to feed if we are going to be fighting," Siobhan stated once everyone was out of the plane. I was standing happily in Kenji's arms while the other human eaters shifted uncomfortably.
It was decided, much to Carlisle's disappointment that the human eaters would be going off to feed while I practiced. When I told Kenji about my need to feed, Ichiro gave me a pitying look as Kenji firmly told me that my training would be best done when I was stressed. Which I balked at. The venom had already begun pooling in my mouth thinking about something to eat, to sooth me. I desperately wanted to disobey Kenji, turn him off to go feed. I reminded myself of Ren, how she looked, and I took a glance with towards the people who were supposedly my family. I needed to be strong; I needed to figure out exactly what it was I could do, so I was a dependable fighter.
Most of the animal eaters stayed to watch me train. Shizuka and Ichiro had just returned from safely putting the humans into a storage room, mostly keeping them out of sight while we moved around the outpost. All of us could still smell them, it did not diminish the temptation of their blood in the least.
"Alright Eva, first we will test your range." Kenji gently kissed my temple and moved away. I didn't like his commanding of me, I almost resented it. Ichiro arranged most of the Cullen's and the Denali vampires, who had been roped into being my test subjects, in a spiral leading up to a mile away from me. I watched their lights move and I pouted. Kenji, and Edward were the only ones staying nearby.
It was a nice sunny afternoon in a valley in the middle of China, the wind pulled at the vegetation and I could see with both sets of my vision where my test subjects were.
"Alright Eva, what can you tell me about the lights in Garrett and Esme?" Kenji asked. Garret gave me a cheeky wave from the furthest spot they were testing at this point. I focused on them. I could still see the detail of each little light. I scanned Esme first. Then Garrett.
"It's the same as if there were right next to me, I mean, they look the same." I could feel an instinct of wanting to furrow my brows in concentration.
"Can you do anything to the lights?" Edward asked. I hadn't tried to call the pinpoints of energy, yet.
"You mentioned certain ones in the head are harder without contact, can you manipulate them from this distance?" Kenji encouraged next.
I took a slow calming breath in through my nose. Closed my eyes and saw with my second sight only. Esme and Garrett were beyond where I could do anything to their lights. I felt a small amount of disappointment in me when I realized it.
With a frown I admitted my inability.
"Eva try not to feel disappointed, you even being able to see them that far away is already an amazing feat." The encouragement Edward gave me only buoyed my spirits a little. Kenji, since we had started this little training hadn't really given me much in the way of support. He was, so it seemed, completely into training mode. In training mode I wasn't his mate, I was a newborn with a gift that needed sussing out. I had to make him proud, I decided.
Edward waved to Garrett and Esme to move closer.
"Common Eva show me what you got!" Emmett laughed from his spot about 1000 feet away. I found his taunting support helpful.
I didn't wait for Kenji's direction and I went for Emmett's lights. The only ones that readily leapt at my manipulations were the ones for his eyesight. The little pinpricks of light for sense of smell also were marginally happy to comply with my manipulations.
"Evangeline do not go out of order." Kenji sternly looked at me, and weirdly I was both cowed by his reprimand and aroused. In the back of my vast mind I wondered if there was a single thing Kenji could do that wouldn't result in me being aroused by him.
Emmett gave a thrilled whoop of happiness when I turned his eyesight back on. Immediately after I did, I felt weariness in my mind. Like I was getting tired, which was new. I had done far more work on turning down the thirst light only a couple days ago, and didn't get this tired.
"Ranged manipulations aren't hard exactly, I just… feel like I really need to feed now." I gave Kenji a pleading look. He crossed his arms and stared me down. I licked my lips, fighting with my own thirst light.
"Are you telling me that it stresses your ability, or that you get mentally fatigued?" I was instantly wary of his tone. To aid this suspicion Ichiro took a sharp breath inwards. I knew I had to answer truthfully, but I didn't want to. It only stressed my mind, not my ability. When I confessed that it didn't affect my ability Kenji pushed me more.
Rosalie and Esme both complained on my behalf saying I would need a break; after all I was less than a week into being a vampire.
Kate and Tanya were at the ¾ mile mark and I couldn't do anything to their lights either. After training for the better part of an hour, my thirst light was almost unmanageable. I actually growled at Kenji after he commanded me to turn off all of eyesight of any I could, at the same time.
I got Kate, Eleazar, Rosalie, Emmett, Esme, Shizuka, Tanya, Alice, and Jasper. They were all just barely a 1/8th mile away . Once I turned them off I realized how desperately I needed blood, I needed that energy. It began to feel like I was becoming an empty pit. I was crouched down, in the same spot I had been when we started.
"Kenji I don't know if pushing her harder is going to yield better results." Jasper announced after I returned his eyesight. "This is becoming torture for her." He added while leveling my mate a look of concern.
Kenji sighed his eyes swept over the group.
"Others are returning from their feeding," I announced seeing groups of familiar lights appear on the edge of my second sight. We could all hear them a few seconds later.
"Eva stay for a moment more, everyone else thank you for the help, you should go feed." Kenji announced. Instead of instantly going off to feed like I desperately wanted to, the gold eyes came closer.
"That was a lot of hard work." Her tone was very impressed so when Kate came up offering a high five. I felt weird raising my hand to reciprocate.
Everyone else chuckled and also gave me complements, everyone except my mate. Once Kate's hand made contact with mine, my second sight shot off like a thousand fireworks. Without intending to, and barely catching myself, I felt my ability pull in all the energy Kate had in her body. She was like a battery and my much depleted energy reserves desperately wanted what she had.
Kate and I both sprung away from each other. She was hissing in a self defensive way and I was horrified, and pleased at what I had almost done.
"What the-" "Kate?" "What just happened?"
"The hell Eva?" Kate asked hurt. She was physically ok, my ability told me that. I was concerned however, I had felt the tiny surge her energy gave me and the dawning of what I had done only took as long for her to jump away and yell at me.
I straightened up and glancing at those gathered, before looking at my own hands. I could see tiny tendrils of light fading, having stemmed from my thirst list.
Edward shared a look with Kate, and then Kenji as I explained, "I'm so severely thirsty, I've been pushing that light down as best I can, but it's been wearing on me." Jasper whispered his confirmation that he could feel how utterly desperate my need to feed was. "When Kate touched me… my ability saw it as another source of energy, I started to pull her energy into me to feed, well-" I snorted, "To replace my depleted energy."
"Could you have seriously harmed her?" Tanya asked coming close to her sister.
I looked; I couldn't be sure where I was pulling her energy from, not really. I felt like I had been pulling it from her second smallest light, the one that turned vampires off. The energy I could apparently manipulate while still human.
"Not permanently," I hedged. "It would have just turned her off, like how you said I'd done as a human. Once I fed I am sure I could turn her back on." I hoped.
"So…" Emmett began, "You can use vampires as a source of energy instead of feeding?"
I laughed airily, "No, It was a desperate attempt at gaining energy to keep my thirst light down so I don't turn into a twitchy feral newborn." I only abstractly realized my emotions and reactions were much more fluid with how depleted I was. In fact I realized that was the first time I had laughed since becoming a vampire.
Everyone chuckled at that, even Kenji. "You are still twitchy Eva, you might not notice it," My mate smiled at me.
It wasn't true, I noticed my twitches, I just thought they were irritation at using my ability under command and the training.
"Whatever," I muttered.
The human eating vampires came back and smelled like heaven, the thirst light burst forth and I felt the primal growl erupt in me.
.~.
Kenji and I hunted, we found some goats that belonged to a farmer, and the owner was already dead by another one of our party. So I took four of the goats relishing in the minimal comfort their blood gave to my thirst. Kenji, had given me the distance I needed to go feed on his one goat. I envied his ability to increase the amount of blood it had.
Once back to the base, Alice announced we had 8 hours till the Chinese government would suspect something had happened here.
Again we were training, I was getting very frustrated. At least we were getting good information on what it was I could do.
I could turn off all of the senses at about quarter mile away, but I couldn't really do more than one at a time. At anything closer than a quarter mile was where I really began to show off. I could turn off multiple vampires various senses at the same time. It seemed my limit to doing that was only due to the way doing ranged ministrations affected my own thirst and energy. If I did too many light manipulations from a distance I would go rather crazy. If I touched a vampire, a hesitant Japanese coven member had volunteered for the job, I would almost unwillingly pull the energy from their second smallest light. They'd be, essentially, knocked out until I fed and could turn them back on. But turning them back on I would have to touch them again
I had no energy depletion at a range of less than 300 feet. At 20 feet with practice, I could turn off the second light, it was much harder to do, but it was manageable. By time we'd tested to Kenji's satisfaction it was well in to the latest part of the evening.
I'd been getting anxious around all of the other vampires so Emmett and Jasper offered to take a nice run with me. My only hesitation to going on a run with the Cullen brothers was that I would be away from Kenji, and I didn't like it when his lights were too far for me to see.
.~.
I was much faster than the two of them, I felt exhilaration just letting loose running free. We were heading towards the desert and I was eager to see how fast I could run in the barren landscape.
"Alright Eva slow down a bit! We are supposed to be running together!" Emmett's happy tone had me slowing. I stopped and turned watching the two of them approach.
"Once you're no longer a newborn we'll definitely have to race." A cheeky dimple presented itself when Emmett smiled at me.
The night air was cold; most humans would be wearing warm clothes and furs in protection from the winter. Not that I'd seen any humans since leaving Japan. I was trying to curb my need for human blood as per Kenji and Carlisle's wishes. Personally I was always teetering on how strictly I should follow their direction. I watched the quarter moon and listened for any animals. I could hear some small birds in the distance. During our run I tried to remember things from my human life, like my mom, and our home in Wisconsin. I'd never had siblings so I wasn't even sure how to react or act to Jasper or Emmett.
"Are you nervous about fighting Eva?" Jasper asked after the three of us observed all there was to about our spot.
"No." I said simply. I wasn't nervous about fighting. I decided to elaborate. "The nervousness you feel from me Jasper… its… because you two look at me and see someone that you've spent, what the last 4 years getting to know?" I took in Emmett's concerned scowl as I talked, "I look at you and the rest of the family, and see strangers. I see people I am told, and was shown, to have cared a great deal for. But the only people I can actually feel anything for, right now, is Kenji, Adam and Lily. This body," I closed my fists and felt my own strength. "Doesn't have the same issues of frailty the human me had. I vaguely remember desiring a family, or someone to want me, but it's so far gone now." I fully turned to face the two of them. Jasper reached up to run his hand over the back of his neck, Emmett shifted.
"Maybe we will have to start fresh Eva. You might not think you need us, need a family beyond the one you have with Kenji. But considering we have an eternity perhaps you could just be open to it. To the idea of us." His soft southern accent hinted at his patience.
"We don't expect you to just jump right back into this family, but, for me I just want a little bit of hope that we didn't actually watch you die back in Japan." Emmett tenderly voiced.
There was a very tiny spark of feeling, deep within me. Not brought on by a memory, at least I didn't think it was. It was the fact they cared, so deeply for me, even when I was rather flippant with their worry over me, that had me analyzing my first moments with the Cullen's, and their reactions to me. It didn't take very long, from Ren's memories and their constant hovering, as much as my newborn tendencies would let them, I knew they loved me. My animal and instinctual self, in this vampiric body was eager to cast aside such things as devotion and love. I'd cast it aside before, brushing it off not more than a few days ago. Hearing them talk about me on the plane, I felt the beginnings of interest in the Eva that I was to them.
"I don't… think that is too much to ask." I reasoned. Jaspers fourth light surged and I could tell the feeling of relief washing over me was all him.
We stayed out in the desert a little longer, running around just to feel the air move and for me to revel in how fast I was. With no humans out here to tempt me I almost felt at peace. Jasper and Emmett laughed when I decided to see what kind of flips I could do. It was as simple as thinking about it and I was doing it. I was doing maneuvers that would probably make any human gymnast green with envy.
As we ran back, I understood my promise to Ren better. We had tested my ability and now I was confident it is use, and how well I could handle myself. A hoard of a hundred vampires coming at me would be terrifying, but I knew that if they got close enough there was no way they could touch me. Let alone touch anyone fighting near me. But having a bunch of allies near me would be a risk; they could move out of my circle of influence, there could be another vampire there with ability. Countering such thing on my own would be a breeze, having others nearby would hamper that. It was a risk, every other person there in the mix was more of a liability than an asset.
.~.
While I had been on my run with Jasper and Emmett the satellite had found what we believed to be the base where Zhan had set up. She had taken over area near the desert; Luobubozhen was a tiny compound like city that only existed to support the water filtration complex. According to the Japanese vampires research since finding what we assumed was Zhans operation, there was roughly a population of 200 humans living there year round. Many workers would travel the 50 miles from the next closest village.
"That's where she is getting her human population to turn. If she can only control a certain amount at a time she may reach a capacity that she can control before she runs out of humans." A bulky Japanese coven member named Hide explained to the group loosely hanging around the entire base. According to Toji and Alice we still had a good 2 hours before the Chinese government would be trying to contact the men at the base.
From the images we could only tell there were about 60 people just milling about outside. When they found the scouts about 8 miles outside of the camp, placed every mile apart, meaning there were roughly 25 vampires just sitting waiting for any action to alert Zhan.
Even before I uttered my new idea and plan I knew Kenji would try to veto it. His devotion and love for me was as strong as mine for him. Thinking on it Kenji possibly had stronger feelings towards as he knew me when I had been human. That didn't really matter. Whether he knew me as a human or not, he was going to get a taste of how stubborn I was. Alice's fourth light, her future seeing ability lit up once I solidified my plan, and how I was going to convince Kenji, and largely the other 41 vampires to what I knew was the best way.
"I think," I began, almost interrupting what Siobhan was about to say. Pausing she gave me a nod to continue. "I think the best plan is to have everyone fan out around the perimeter of Zhans compound. Then only Shizuka and myself will go in." I was intently watching Kenji's face. I saw an emotion flicker through Tanya's eyes as she was with Ichiro standing behind Kenji.
"Just send you?" another Japanese coven member scoffed.
"And me," Shizuka said brightly.
I saw Kenji open his mouth, sure about to shoot down my proposal, and I was unhappy I was correct when he spoke. "I will not risk you going into that hornets' nest on your own, you and Shizuka in the hands of Zhan, is a nightmare scenario I don't think any of us would survive from. Once she catches sight of you Eva, she wouldn't let you go. According to your own human memories of her she was fanatically obsessed with you. Her tantrum at losing you cost many lives of people that had been friends and lovers to those here."
Eleazar, who hadn't really looked alive in the time that I knew him, slowly looked up into my direction. Others in the room were hissing in agreement with Kenji.
"I believe Eva can do it." Siobhan said with conviction. That earned a hum of approval from Carlisle and Edward. Her mate seemed to agree with her, and I found myself appreciating the Irish coven.
"Kenji," I pleaded coming close to him, I took his hand in mine, "Listen to my plan. We have Toji, and Alice to help ensure it goes well. I'm not just thinking of keeping all of you safe and out of the way. You'll need to stop and catch any newborns that escape after Shizuka and I finish Zhan off.
"I need you out of the way for a far more tactical reason. I can handle a horde of newborns coming at me. My offence as you have seen is strong, but once I get so overwhelmed using gift my unplanned defense kicks in. Even if one could touch me, they would automatically feed my energy and be knocked out." At that I could see Kenji's resistance to my plan start to dissolve. I pressed on.
"However if I had to worry about others near me, my level of influence could be distracted. It's a risk, and if Zhan is as obsessed with me as you say, she will want me. She probably wouldn't let a hoard attack me. Once I see her ability I will be able to figure out what it does. If it's a physical one like Shizuka suggested. Then I will turn off my, and Shizuka's hearing. A team of two where one of us is invisible is the absolute best chance we have at minimal losses on our side."
Benjamin let out a low whistle, "Are you sure you didn't transform into a battle strategist?"
Others laughed; a few mentioned that they agreed with me. So far none of the Cullen's had yet to add their opinion. Their expressions said enough; they varied from proud on Rose, to worry on Esme, to a very pensive on Jasper.
Kenji's intense expression relaxed a bit, he ran his hands up my arms and pulled me into his chest. I allowed myself to be enveloped in his scent.
"Toji, Alice, is there anything you can add?" Toji, who was facing a potted plant in the corner near the door leading outside the command center, snorted. Alice was wringing her hands, I saw her fourth light brighten then go back to normal.
"Kenji you actually have to be on board with the plan for me to see anything." She grumped crossing her arms and began tapping her foot at him. Part of me found her action comical.
"I suppose I have enough confidence in what you can do to know how best to plan this attack." Kenji admitted and relaxed his hold on me, I pulled away to look him in the eyes. It was like I knew every inch of his soul, his brilliant lights were my balm, and his soul light soothed my own. I could tell when his confidence in me, and my ability won over his emotional war with letting me willingly walk in to an almost impossible battle. Alice's ability lit up.
This time Edward spoke, "It could work. Alice and Toji don't see any one dying, but their vision only go as far as Eva encountering Zhan. After that…" he sadly trailed off. His brilliant gold eyes flickered to me then to his own mates.
"We set up a perimeter around theirs?" Liam asked.
"Yes, however it would be best if Shizuka and Eva went in and cleared most in the 25 mile radius they are stationed. There are more within at another circle closer. We can get rid of most of them on the eastern border before Shizuka and Eva make their way to the center." Toji sucked on his teeth, and used a pinky to scratch his ear. He seemed disinterested. "You'll need to turn off Shizuka's hearing Eva." He added as an afterthought.
"I'll get the jet prepped; it'll be a three hour flight to the region." Gentarou made to move out of the room.
"So that's it? We just let Evangeline and Shizuka go? Alone?" there was desperation in Esmes voice.
Most people spoke over one another in answer. Nearly all of the vampires who had no connection to me beyond Kenji were very much okay with me taking the burden of the fight.
"Esme, this is Eva we are talking about," Bella gently placed a hand on Esme's shoulder. Carlisle took his mates other hand and turned to stare at me.
"Even when she was human she wanted to protect us, and she is as stubborn now as she ever was then." I wasn't sure if Rosalie was giving me a compliment, or simply trying to sooth Esme's worries.
The mild irritation I had at Esme's concern over me stemmed from the fact she clearly didn't believe in me.
"That's not it at all Eva, we all love you, and Esme does not want to see you hurt again, or anywhere near Zhan. She'd willingly go with you, walk right up to that evil if she had to, just to protect you." Voicing Esme's inner thoughts, Edward laid bare her deeper maternal side.
There were far too many vampires in here for my liking, to hear the inner and very personal and delicate thread the Cullen's were weaving around me. It didn't sit well with me that these strangers, even though the Cullen's were also strangers, were witnessing this part of the debate.
"Evangeline and Shizuka will go. Evangeline can walk Shizuka to the front gates of Zhans fortress and let the invisible menace destroy her. It is a perfect strategy. If the newborns are released from Zhan's ability when she dies, we will be in the surrounding area to kill them before they can wreak havoc on the local humans, and possibly reveal our existence to the humans." Siobhan was firmly in support of me and my plan. After her declaration she saw no need to be in the outpost command center any longer, she nodded to a few in the room and left. Liam left with her, and Maggie nodded towards where Kenji and I were before following them.
..~..