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: Please consider reviewing once you've finished, I'd love to hear from you. 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 38 – Encore
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The jet was ready and we were all preparing to spend another three hours in close confines again. My newborn tendency to feel irritation near so many of our kind was hard to ignore, but I found when Kenji distracted me with his touch I could handle it better. We were enjoying a moment in the shade of the out building where the humans kept their gear. Having his back to the wall and me encircled in his arms facing him, he tucked hair behind my ear and cupped the back of my neck. The lust for him swelled and I fought the urge to tear off his clothes. Opening my eyes, having enjoyed not using either sets of sight for a moment I watched Kenji's face.
"Sing for me," he asked, "It's been too long since I have heard your singing and I need it to sooth me the way it always has."
My smile was genuine and it felt peculiar on my face, emoting was still odd to me.
"I don't know any songs Kenji, at least," I paused trying hard to remember any songs from my human life. I realized I could remember a John Lennon song. I pulled away from him slightly, and without having to practice scales, or clear my throat, I started out the song.
From the instant the first note came out of my mouth, my second sight saw every single one of the vampires in the surrounding area had stopped moving to listen to me sing.
Carlisle and Esme approached us, as did the rest of the yellow eyed vampires.
Imagine; was a song about potential, the peeling away of the labels and things that divide people; it wouldn't have been my first choice had I been able to remember a full catalog of full songs, but it was perfect for the moment. My mate looked so at peace listening to me, his beautiful eyes closed as he bathed in my voice and in the notes.
I could see my own ability affecting my voice; it was a weird sort of connection that spread throughout all of my lights. It felt energizing, and I began to feel more relaxed, less fidgety as the song continued. I could see my voice, the tiny tendrils of light flowing off into the area, it was like I was linking my energy to those around me.
I finished the song and though I heard clapping from all in the area, I only had eyes for my Kenji. His golden eyes opened and he pulled me in for a soft and tender kiss. For the first time I didn't feel the lustful urge to push beyond the kiss.
"I would wait another 2000 years for you, you need to know that." The satisfaction and devotion in his voice made me proud. I was especially happy knowing Shizuka would hear his declaration as well. I had come to certain understanding about Shizuka, and my jealousy of her was much diminished since I had first encountered her. I needed her to help finish off the threat to my family, and Kenji was mine. She wasn't a rival in any way or shape to me, so I only rarely felt the need to prove myself as Kenji's priority.
"That was absolutely beautiful Evangeline," Carlisle complimented me after letting Kenji and I have a moment together. I thanked him, and tried to give him what I thought was a small smile, it still felt weird. I was going to have to look in a mirror and try out these facial expressions to see if I was doing them right.
The jets engines started, the loud whirring was our cue to board. Others were making their way on; Kenji and I were walking hand in hand when I saw Alice and Jasper off to the side. Kenji nodded to them in the same motion he stopped walking.
"You should go talk to them," his gentle urging was only slightly odd to me. I didn't fight him on it, but I did roll my eyes at him before running to them, stopping a few feet from them. Alice was smiling warmly at me while she was lazily holding the hand Jasper had put on her shoulder.
"Kenji is really good at reading body language," Alice cocked her head toward the plane.
I gave them a simple nod. Not sure of what they wanted Alice looked to Jasper behind her, and then back at me.
"I'll see you on the plane Eva," I blinked purposefully; her impish smile never faded as she quickly gave her mate a kiss and bounded off to the jet.
I waited a moment, watching Jasper. His eyes were searching me, his fourth light gently ebbing darker and lighter, he was tasting the emotional current between us.
"When I originally met the Cullen's, I felt like an outsider." He began, "I wasn't sure where I belonged within the coven. I was the second oldest in the family, as far as years spent in my immortal life. I was battle worn and felt their good natures were something I could only pretend at having myself. I stayed because Alice loved them, and I loved her, but it took me a really long time to realize I had a place with them too." His soft gaze, and his easy mimicry of human mannerisms had me slightly jealous. His gaze slowly swept over the surroundings and he took another moment before speaking again. I took that time to look at all of the scars not covered by clothing on his body.
"I felt like a monster, I truly did, especially after attacking Bella while she was human. The families love for me helped ease some of that. Even still I never really felt like Carlisle or Esme's son, or like a brother to Rose, or Emmett." At this point it registered in me that Jasper was desperately trying to tell me something, something that if I could remember him would be more meaningful, so I paid close attention and made a tiny attempt to look like I wasn't bored. "From the first moment I met you, at the camp you can barely remember, I have felt a concern for you that was never easy to explain. When I found out about all the abuse you had suffered-" He cut himself off, venomous tears started to pool in his eyes and I felt a great surge of worry and sorrow from him. "It was the first time in my immortal life that I was truly possessed with worry and concern over a human. I began to feel like I needed to protect you. Even before it was decided you were going to come live with us. I found myself understanding what it was to be a sibling in this life, what it was to be a brother.
"You came to us, so broken and sad. All I wanted Eva, was to help bring you out of that darkness. I don't know if I did, I don't know if it'll ever matter to you. There were so many precautions I took, to make sure I never messed up around you, that I never scared you. Seeing you every day and watching you change I saw the deep strength you had, the goodness and the- " he laughed, "the light within you. You've made me a better person Eva, your confidence in me, while you were human had me believing in my own goodness. Your dependence on me, the way you felt when about me combined with the way you looked at me.
"Alice is the love of my life and there is nothing in the world more important to me than her safety and love. Despite her assurances over the many years we've had together it never sunk in that I was more than a doomed immortal, a cursed being that fed on others. You changed that in me. The frail, yet so undeniably strong angelically voiced human put in my path, saw me as much more than that. All I want for you to understand Eva, going in to this battle is that I will always be your big brother and will fight to the ends of the earth to keep you safe. You can protect yourself better than I can now, but it doesn't change the fact I owe you so much for all you have brought to my life. And… I…" His long winded speech had started of slow, but his pace quickened again as his emotions started to pull at him. I could feel them almost as deeply as my own emotions.
He loved me. I was in every emotional sense of the word his family, his little sister. I let me body and mind relax into the emotion Jasper was feeding me, and I understood the deep and lasting love he felt towards me.
He took the step between us and slowly took my hand in his.
"All I am really tryin' to say is… I love you and believe in you." His sad yet hopeful smile touched something on the surface of my heart. It was like a body memory, I could feel it tugging at me. No real recollection of Jasper and me suddenly or miraculously surfaced, but an ache from my human life, of having been alone for all those years. He was confirming something I'd been dismissive of since becoming a vampire. Hearing Jaspers words of brotherly love made the ghost of memory, the ache of the loneliness I had to have felt, fade some.
"Thank you Jasper, for telling me." I said honestly, and felt pride in myself for not instinctually moving away from his touch.
"I'm not the only one in the family that feels this way towards you. But I couldn't let you go off to fight for us, though I know it's mostly to protect Adam and Lily, without knowing a bit of what you are fighting for."
I nodded and felt appreciation towards him. He let my hand go and we both understood it was time to go.
.~.
When I got on the plane this time I purposefully went to be near the Cullen's. Bella's smile and Esmes ecstatic reaction made me feel better and simultaneously more awkward. Ichiro and Tanya approached us, Kenji and Shizuka trailing behind. They were talking quickly in Japanese, Shizuka's features were serious. She was carrying one of the swords and I could see a dagger strapped to her leg.
"So, what shall we do for three hours?" Ichiro asked as the plane started to move. I closed my eyes and focused on the humans in the outpost, I flicked their lights back on just before I got out of range. Having done my job I opened my eyes to let out a large breath.
It was going to be a tense flight.
.~.
Shizuka and I were going to take out 9 of the sentries around the outer edge. Only once we were through to the next group of sentries would the others take their positions around the other roughly 15 miles that would be guarded. Alice would use the walkie-talkies we'd stolen from the Chinese to signal the other groups to finish Zhan's lackeys. I was mildly concerned that Esme and Carlisle wouldn't have the heart to kill a newborn under Zhans control.
"Shizuka, remember to stay close behind me if we become surrounded. I will flick your eyesight if and when I disable Zhan. If I make any big movements you should try to mimic me, who knows what types of vampires with abilities she will have around her." My instructions were more or less a repeat of what we had agreed on. I could see her running next to me; she appeared for a second in my regular visual range and gave a small smile.
"I know Eva, I remember what Kenji-dono said," She winked, "And don't worry, this will definitely work." She went back to being invisible. I looked with my ability to the region we were running to. Shizuka was a little bit to my right and ahead of me. I wasn't going to do anything to the sentries except turn off their voice, to prevent them from reporting that I was approaching.
I felt a small amount of regret after each newborn we killed. There was even a young girl Shizuka beheaded quickly; the vampire couldn't have been more than 12 when she was changed.
We completed the 9 on the east side, and made our way to the next group further in. Shizuka was following my lead because I could see the next target just 3 miles away.
My pride was swelling at how well this plan of mine had been working; Shizuka and I had successfully taken down 22 vampires on our way to the center. I skidded to a halt when my second sight began picking up a large number of vampires. Shizuka stopped next to me.
I took in some steady breaths and counted. Even though we were still just less than 3 miles from the horde I could feel my instincts urging me to run.
"Shizuka, if you could see what I can see, I am not sure you'd want to continue with this plan…" I sighed. "There are 98 vampires in there. I can't quite see yet how many have abilities."
Her invisible form stepped closer to me, but very deliberately took a step in the direction our quarry was. I got the message. I wasn't sure if it was her confidence in me or in her ability but she was more determined than I thought.
I was spotted two miles later, and it caused a flurry of motion. I could see all of the vampires in the compound easily; I could hear the humans that were in the middle of their change into a vampire. I wanted to observe what the lights in their body were doing, but I had clamp down on that curiosity.
There was a line of forty vampires to greet me as I slowed. I stopped about 1000 feet from them, just at the edge of me being able to turn off their various senses in large groups. But I could now pick out which ones had abilities. I flicked at Shizuka's eyesight, a sign of warning before I turned her hearing completely off.
She immediately took her position behind me, no more than two steps away, she was my invisible shadow.
Instinctually I knew what ones of the vampires with abilities I had to be wary of. The barricade of immortals parted and I saw a small beautiful Asian woman walk through them like Moses in the red sea. I could see her recognize me. A large smile broke out across her face.
"Wo Bao bao!" She exclaimed. Her bright red eyes were very clearly insane. She took a slow yet deliberate pace towards me. Her line of body guards doubled as she moved in my direction. I could see her ability, a dark yellow; it had tendrils that went to her voice light. I could see the link and I could very clearly tell when she was about to use it. She gave an order to one of the newborns with and ability to keep in step behind her. I saw how her ability worked and was going to have to wait for her to get closer. Her ability was so closely linked to her voice; it wouldn't take long for any manipulation of her voice light to come back on on its own.
I stared at her blankly and without emotion.
"Stand still for me will you." Her ability flared and locked me in place. I was waiting for her to get just a little closer before I would turn off her voice, but the vampire with some sort of ability stopped her just before she was in range.
"You are alive!" She seemed overjoyed, almost over dramatically ecstatic. "Oh my sweet Ann, I am so very thrilled you are alive! You have no idea how happy I am to see you!" a slow vile smile spread across her round face. Why was she calling me Ann? I wondered. Shizuka shifted slightly behind me, clearly on edge for not being able to hear what was happening.
I wasn't sure what to say to her, I hadn't thought I would need to have a conversation, but as it was I was steadily chipping away at the effect her ability had on my body. Her energy, and ability, was like an infectious coating on my own energy. As I worked with my ability I wondered if looking at her would revive any memory that I was supposed to have of what she'd done to me. But my memory was still like a blank screen.
She seemed to have sensed it, my lack of remembering her. My reactions to her must not have been what she'd expect a previous torture victim would have to her. She glanced at her companions
"You don't… remember me do you? Did the change sever the bonds we made my bao bao?" Zhan asked using her ability.
"No," The answer came out of me automatically. "I don't remember you, the change wiped the memories from roughly the last 4 years of my human life." My answer was instantaneous and I began to really comprehend the danger I was in the longer I left my own hearing on. I turned my focus on the vampires guarding her. I started turning off their voices, though I could see evidence of Zhans ability ensuring they couldn't speak or move on their own.
I got to about 35 out of the 80 gathered, turning off the eyesight on most and hearing in the others, I realized if they couldn't hear her then they couldn't follow more of her commands.
Upon answering her in the negative her relatively calm angelic face twisted into a rage filled petulant one.
"You don't remember me?!" She shouted now, storming around she grabbed one of her own newborns and broke off an arm, the female looked like she would be howling but she couldn't open her mouth at all to let out the expression of agony.
"No," the answer again came out of me before I could even process the thought.
Zhan had been stomping around throwing a tantrum, screaming rabidly about not wanting to start over and how it was a horrible waste. A lot of her ranting was in Chinese and I was curious about what she would do to me if she could. I was really playing with fire for not turning off my own hearing to protect myself. She was still just a bit too far away from me for me to do anything meaningful to her.
"This is unacceptable, I took special care with you, we had fun! You have to remember. Perhaps I can even make you." Zhan mused looking deeply into my eyes from across the desert between us; her stare became intense, looking as if all her energy was upon me and this moment forgetting all others surrounding us. My ability was at the ready and I was about to turn off my hearing when she got halfway through her next command I decided not to, realizing what she was going to demand of me. "I order you to remember everything from your human life." Her double voice penetrated deeply into me, her yellow energy invaded my brain and sunk in like a parasite. Instantly her ability revived all of my human memories.
I could hear myself screaming. All the horrible and terrible things I experienced in my human life came flooding back to me in an instant that lasted for an eternity. The memories were as sharp and clear as my vampire memories. I could feel the scraped knee, my mum's kiss on my cheek, my last breath as a human as if they were happening to me currently. Vividly and all at once I could feel all of the emotions I had felt throughout my life, my vampiric brain was doing overtime keeping up and filing away the information. I struggled mightily to hold on to the present as her ability flung all of the joy, sorrow, pain, and love I had felt my entire life to the front of my mind.
It took a full ten seconds for all of it to flood back in to me, and I felt like a broken mirror.
"Do you remember me now?" The quiet baby tone of her voice made me ill. She hadn't used her ability that time.
"Yes," I gasped out tried to shut the door of memories she'd unleashed on me. The repeated downing, the smell, Akharad, the little boy, Dr. Cost, killing that woman, everything Zhan did to me in that camp was parading for prominence in my mind. My second sight could see some of my family coming towards us. The comforting and familiar lights of Alice, Jasper, Bella and Edward were running straight for me.
Zhan giggled like a happy little child entertained and danced careful not to come any closer.
I realized I was on the brink of a panic attack having the memories of what she'd done to me at the fore of my mind. My family was going to be in horrific danger and very soon. I quickly analyzed my situation and turned off my hearing. Her ability was clinging to all those around and I knew, seeing it there, it wouldn't fade even after she was dead. Her ability would still work even after she was no longer able use her voice. I ramped up my ability, using my thirst light as an energy source. Surging I turned off her voice and then flickered Shizuka's eyesight. She immediately took my signal and went for Zhan.
Zhan opened her mouth to say something to me, her ability surging. I could see she'd break what I'd done to her if she focused more, and it became a nanosecond of struggle between the two of us. I watched with high anticipation that the story the movement the lights around me were telling me.
My siblings were going to arrive just after Shizuka would take off Zhans head. The second stretched as I held Zhans' voice light off, and Shizuka closed the gap.
There was only a nanosecond of realization on Zhan's face as she turned to me; a hand went to her throat just as an invisible Shizuka made a smooth swipe of her vampire tooth sword. Zhan's head departed her body.
"Shizuka get back to me!" I screamed just after turning her hearing back on. Zhan must have set a kill switch in her newborn horde for as soon as Zhan's body was freed from her head the 98 lights of the vampires instantly started in my direction. The sick yellow light of Zhan's command was still upon them.
The tidal wave of newborns came for me. None could see Shizuka and she fought them off from the back, dispatching many I had managed to blind before.
My siblings got to me just as two of the newborns with abilities lashed out at us. The first newborn, my newly restored memory realized was Jun Yue. Her ability was a sickly purplish black like whip of energy. It was violently crackling, invisible to my normal eyes, but it was clear and threatening with my second ability, that energy whip was angry and savage. Shizuka killed the second vampire with an ability as the crowd of newborns was intent on the only targets they could see.
A surge of 30 newborns got to within 20 feet of me not 7 seconds after Zhan was dead and my siblings came to my side. The newborn horde fell like flies hitting a windshield. I flicked each of them off efficiently and without emotion, my task was to protect my family, there was nothing that would get in the way. My siblings were all crouched battle ready, Bella, and Alice both had swords and were prepared to attack any that got through my defense.
"Holy shit Eva," Edward swore, watching the feat I was managing through my eyes. My thirst light was searingly hot in my throat, and if not for my human memories that forced me to remember who I was fighting for, I would have fled to feed on the few humans chained up in a building not far from this battle.
The bodies piled up and I saw Jun Yue's ability being unleashed. It came at us, unstoppable and volatile. It cut through the bodies of the vampires I turned off, I jumped, my siblings followed my movement, Bella hadn't been quick enough following me and the tail end of Jun Yue's whip caught her foot, cleaning cutting it off. She screamed and landed, Edward picked her up.
"This is why I wanted you to stay back!" I screamed, I was panicked. I wasn't going to be able to hold off all these newborns and get to Jun Yue before she could attack again. Her face was contorted in rage as Zhan's yellow ability held Jun Yue firm in her attack on me.
My concentration broke for an instant, and it was a small crack in the control I had, then the dam inside me broke open wide. I was no longer able to turn our horde completely off. I saw more of our allies and family running in now, coming to aid.
Vampires experience a second like a human experiences a minute. Every detail passes through our mind with clarity and accuracy. Of the 98 vampires only 20 remained. I saw Jun Yue lash out again, and saw the course her whip would take the same instant I saw Alice's fourth light burst on. Jasper was fighting one of the newborns that broke through my defense. That instant, with Alice coming out of her vision, and with Jun Yue's whip coming at us, my sister looked at me. Her eyes spoke of what I could see happening with that energy weapon. Its arc was too wide, swooping low and the trajectory would carry it almost vertical. It would have been impossible to be avoided except by those that could see it.
Which meant only Edward and I could avoid it. Alice, clearly knowing what the next second held for her, pushed Jasper violently to the left, away from the arching energy coming in her direction. While Edward and I lept into the air to avoid the trajectory of the weapon.
Our allies were arriving in the area just as the whip cut through Alice and Jasper. It nearly cut cleanly through Jasper at the level of just above his elbow, his arm falling to the ground cleanly severed like Bella's foot had been. Alice though, had saved her mates life at the cost of her own. The level the whip had cleanly taken her head off the same instant Jasper lost his arm.
I was there not even a full second after, firmly placing her head back onto her body.
The remaining battle was finishing around me, and I only had eyes for Alice. Jasper could barely move due to his injuries and just kept calling out for his mate.
My ability showed me the horrific situation. Alice had only been parted from her body for the majority of one second, but it was enough time for all but her soul light to go dark. I felt the earth fall away from me as I stared at her, both with my second sight and through my eyes.
Alice… I remember you now, I lamented.
I remembered everything. Everything she did for me. That night she came to the hospital and changed my life. The happy smile she had when I graduated. When we went shopping after I first moved to their house. I never realized how much she was personally responsible for. If not for her involving herself in my life… I would have never met Kenji.
Her soul light was flickering weakly and I did all I could to pour energy into it, but I was far too depleted from the battle to do anything. Jaspers desperation mixed with my own then my second sight saw the solution.
I took a breath in.
"NO EVA!" Edward screamed at me charging forward as if he could stop me.
It's okay Edward, I thought at him. It was all worth it.
I let the surge of my happy precious memories with the Cullen's fill me as I tugged at my own soul light, directing it's energy and all the other energy in my body towards Alice's soul light. I could see it was working and an instant passed I would no longer need to control it; it would funnel into her without my coaxing. The draining of my energy wasn't frightening in the least. It felt… it felt like I was falling asleep.
.~.
Alice shot up straight grabbing at her neck. Jasper cried out for her. Kenji was rushing towards them having seen Evangeline fall after Alice had woken. Eva had collapsed onto her side, half curled up as if she had fallen asleep. Her face was peaceful and seemed to reflect that she was having a beautiful dream.
"Don't touch her!" Alice tackled Kenji, he had been about to fight off the small woman but stilled turning to look at his mate.
"What happened?!" Kenji yelled to no one in particular his face reflecting the loss and rage he felt.
"Do not touch her Kenji, Alice is right on that account. I don't… I know it won't help her." Edward's voice was stiff and hollow sounding. He cradled Bella closer watching the devastation in front of him. The warning in their voices caused Kenji to fall to his knees inches from Evangelines's side.
"Edward what happened?" His hands were hovering over his mates form, unsure what to do.
The other vampires in their group finished off the remaining newborns around the water filtration plant. Ichiro approached the group huddled around Evangeline.
"She… Alice's soul light was unstable. It was fading. She-" Edward choked out. Bella seemed to understand and clung to him.
"My love," Kenji turned back to look at his mates still form, "Wake up now, we've won, we have to go." The strong leader of the Japanese coven's voice was soft and pleading, it broke Alice's heart to hear.
The other Cullen's moved in closer.
"What's happened?" Emmett asked as he pushed himself closer, through the few Japanese vampires watching the scene.
"If you touch her… it looks like Eva just pulls your energy in. It won't wake her." Between sobs against Jaspers shoulder Alice explained why they couldn't touch her. "You'll end up just like her… it's like she's become and energy… void."
Esme, at this proclamation burst into ragged cries, Carlisle and Edward threw themselves in her path to prevent her from going to Eva's side.
All Alice could do was cry and grip Jasper tightly, her small hands bunching up what remained of his shirt. Her posture stiffened in his arms for a moment as a vision swept her momentarily away from the trauma she was currently in.
"Kenji-dono…" Shizuka appeared next to him, fear etched onto her face. Kenji whipped a hand out and grabbed the small woman by the throat then slowly came to stand to his fullest height. Shizuka's legs were dangling a foot off the ground. Kenji's face became a reflection of pure rage.
"Otou-san!" Ichiro pleaded.
"You were ordered to protect her!" Kenji growled at her.
"They had others with abilities Kenji! She couldn't get through the newborns to get to Eva." Edward pleaded.
"We don't have time for this," Toji announced. Alice gave a whimper of grief. Everyone except Kenji turned their focus to the future seers.
Gentarou and Ichiro were trying to coax Kenji's fingers to loosen enough to let Shizuka go.
"We have to leave right now," Alice agreed. Her whimpering was dying down.
"I'm not leaving her-" Kenji began.
"Wei isn't dead- he faked his death, and he's heading to Forks for the hybrids as we speak." Toji stated quickly, full of urgency. Toji was very rarely so direct with what he was seeing in his visions and the information hit the group.
Kenji's demeanor changed immediately. "Alice, will Evangeline's status change anytime soon?" Kenji asked quickly.
"No. I don't see it changing… ever." She admitted. Kenji gave Evangeline's angelic form a long look.
"Benjamin can you form a rock cavern around her? Prevent her from being discovered?" The torment in his voice was clear.
Benjamin did as Kenji asked, everyone moved out of the way so a stone structure could surround Evangeline protecting her. Maria and her two newborns had left shortly after they had helped kill three of the newborn sentries on the perimeter.
Ten of the Japanese coven members were going to stay and do clean up. Edward had found Bella's foot and reattached it. He would be carrying her on his back as they ran for the jet. Understanding the urgency Gentarou had immediately gone to get the jet ready when Toji had explained that they needed to leave to save Kenji's children. They would be able to call Renessme on the satellite phone, and hopefully get her and the children somewhere safe.
Alice was holding Jasper together, her mind running over every possible outcome that could have happened. Once the Benjamin finished the structure Kenji looked to each of the Cullen's. Part of him wanted to crawl inside that tomb and lay down with Evangeline and never move again. That could wait, Kenji decided, he needed to save their children and finish Wei once and for all.
.~. Nine days later .~.
..~..
Wei took a long deep breath in of the clear winter desert air. He threw down the body he'd been carrying with him and moved around the awkward stone monument. It didn't take him long to destroy the stone barrier having re-grown his missing arm with one of the many abilities he'd taken. By time he cleared away most of the biggest pieces, his companion awoke.
Jake was battered and broken, exhausted and hungry, but at least he was alive. Wei had been dragging him around for… he'd lost track of how long.
"Where are we now?" Jake asked. After he and Renessmee had been taken and then Wei came back alone, Wei copied Jakes body to fake his death. Wei warned Jake that if he tried to phase Wei would kill him. Having seen what Wei was capable of it wasn't worth the risk. So far he was alive and as long as he was alive there was hope. Throughout his captivity Jake had found out a lot about Wei, mostly what buttons not to push and when it was acceptable to ask questions.
"We've come to the end of the road," Wei said staring down at a figure on the ground. Jake shifted sitting up more to take a look at what Wei had come out here for. The figure looked familiar and Jake struggled to stand.
"Eva!?" Jake moved, trying to get closer. Wei's arm pushed Jake roughly back.
"You wouldn't want to touch her."
"What- what's happened? Why are we here?" Jake cradled his own arm; it'd been broken a few days back. Wei was careless with him, and didn't care how the Quileute was hurt, as long as Jake was still alive it didn't matter to the vampire.
"You've asked before what I wanted to accomplish with all that I've been doing. I never answered you. But now, perhaps someone should know. You can bring the message to Kenji for me."
Wei stayed still, his features smooth and unreadable. He was looking down at the blonde woman as he explained to Jacob everything he'd needed to do.
"Before I met my mate all I wanted was revenge. I caused Kenji much worry and stress; I even tried to kill his son, who was a complete innocent. I linked Kaneyasu to the child and therefore felt justified in trying to take his life. When Zhan turned out to be… what she was," Wei sighed deeply before continuing.
"I was desperate. I couldn't destroy my love anymore than I could rip my frozen heart from my body, yet I could not stand the hell she was unleashing upon the world. I blamed Kaneyasu for stealing my human life and making me a monster unable to enjoy the simple things a rich human is used to. But he was never cruel or malevolent towards innocent people. My Zhan was all of the worst things I accused Kaneaysu of being and more. Can you imagine if your Renessmee turned out to enjoy hurting others? That she reveled in their pain and torment? What would you do in that situation?" Wei paused long enough for Jake to realize it wasn't a rhetorical question.
Having imprinted on Ness it was hard to imagine her being evil. But in the case that she had been Jake would still love her, be anything for her. He wasn't sure how he would have handled being besotted with a woman that loved to torture others.
"I don't know what I would do," Jake admitted, looking down at Eva he wondered what had happened to her. Why was she here? A vampire? In the middle of a field, not moving? The smell of other vampires was almost overwhelming, but they were old. He could almost detect a hint of Bella on the ground.
"I was stuck in that position. So I decided to curb her tastes, hoping to minimize the damage. She took to torturing vampires with a glee that further sickened me. It wasn't until an unlikely ally came to me with a plan. He said if it worked we would all get what we wanted. My Zhan would be at peace, and I would soon join her. I began to forgive Kenji after I took an ability about six years ago, just before the final stage of the plan was to start. I had to dance a fine line with my partner controlling the strings; we had to be careful of unseen ripples ruining our plan. You see I could never kill Zhan, nor tolerate being around when she would be. I am a coward, a love sick fool enough to know that I couldn't stand knowing she was certainly gone. But now I stand here, where I was told it would all end," Wei squatted and took a small bit of Eva's hair in his hands and let it run through his fingers.
"I am… at peace, I think, knowing it is all done. I am the reason Zhan became an immortal and causing the agony of thousands of others. Including her," He nodded at Eva's still form. "But this is one thing Jacob, one thing I can do that will bring joy back. Not nearly enough to make up for what has been done. But perhaps enough to redeem myself in the eyes of a few." Wei's accent was still so choppy and thick Jake had to force himself to focus on the vampires words to be sure he heard him correctly. Jakes exhaustion and hunger were only temporarily offset by worry and curiosity at what Wei's possible plan was.
"Now Jacob, I know this will revive her, however I do not know how long it will take, nor what the side effects are. I suggest you return home once this is over, waiting here isn't likely to pay off. There is water filtration facility two miles that direction," Wei pointed straight west where the sun was beginning to set. "You might find food or a telephone there."
"You're going to wake her? She's asleep?" Relief was bright in Jakes voice.
"I, actually am the only one that can. Her body is searching for an energy source to restore her to normal. No normal amount of energy will do, not for what she did to cause this drain. If, say 100 vampires came and touched her, she would suck their energy clean out of their bodies. I cannot say for certain at what number she would revive under those circumstances. I have merely been told I am the best chance she will ever have to return to her family."
Jake finally understood. Everything was a set up, from the beginning. Someone else was pulling the strings of Wei's actions, whether Zhan knew it or not. And now Wei was going to give his life up so Eva could live.
"Then why…" Jake was beyond confused.
They had spent a good amount of time traveling killing off any humans who had known Evangeline. Of course Jake hadn't realized that was what they were doing at first, he thought perhaps Wei was just feeding off people and trying to avoid the Cullen's. But shortly after kidnapping him Wei took Jake outside of Chicago, and when he saw the name of the horse ranch he suddenly realized who Wei was killing in the house. "Why did you kill all of those people, the people Eva loved?" Jake asked his voice weak, and tired.
"I keep promises wolf. The plan was almost completely upset at what Evangeline did to me. She would not have ended up like this if she had restored me." Wei's eyes narrowed. "I told her if she didn't fix me there would be consequences. Besides I needed time, I needed Kenji to move, and the Cullen's to react. Faking your death and killing off those Eva knew was a way to get both of those things."
There weren't words Jake could form in his mind to try and reason it all out, he was starving and very weak. Wei hadn't killed him, when he easily could have by now. The Chinese vampire turned to look at Jake.
"There are very few things I have done in this life that could be considered good. I will admit that I am probably more evil and vile minded than most vampires. But if my last actions are of a repentant nature perhaps that is a better way to leave the world."
A small silence stretched as Jake thought on it. There was no way he'd forgive this monster for what he'd done. Under the circumstances Wei had found himself in, Jake felt a shred of understanding.
"Thank you Wei. For whatever you are going to do for her."
"Hn," Wei grunted while slowly lowering himself even closer to Eva's prone form.
"When you see Kenji again, you tell him what he told me in the poppy field has carried me through the toughest parts of my life. Tell him he deserves every happiness he can find in this immortal life. I just hope this is enough of a gesture."
"Wait," Jake said suddenly, realizing this was the likely the last time Wei would be able to answer for what he'd done, or was going to do. "Why is it that only you can do this?"
"I have taken more than fifty abilities from vampires over the years. The one I will be utilizing to revive her is the one I gained from causing Kenji the worst pain in his life. Kaneyasu's ability will bring me to my end, and give Evangeline new life…"
Jake watched as Wei stretched his arm out and placed his hand gently onto Eva's shoulder as if to shake her awake. Watching the red eyed vampires face, Jake saw him slowly close his eyes, then go very still.
Maybe ten minutes had passed when Wei started to fall over, breaking contact with Eva. Eager to see if it worked Jake carefully knelt down praying Eva would open her eyes.
It didn't take Jake long to realize what Wei had said about not knowing how long it would take was right. It was getting dark and Jake was starting to feel cold. It was a rather strange sensation, one he hadn't felt since he was in his teens. Having been starved, and regularly mistreated it only came as a small surprise when he found he couldn't phase.
He saw a building not too far away and decided to see if he could find food and a phone.
The phones didn't work, and Jake found minimal amounts of food, thankfully there was plenty of fresh clean water to drink. Exhausted Jake found the most comfortable bit of floor furthest away from the smell of vampires and blood that lingered and crashed into the arms of slumber.
It was late into the next day when Jake made his way back out to Eva and Wei's still forms. He had tried to phase again and realized he was still too weak to try it.
"Jake?" a soft voice called to him as he got closer. His heart spiked realizing it was Eva. He rushed to her side casually shoving Wei a few feet so he could sit next to her.
She was as still as she had been when he left her in the evening.
"Eva, my god what happened?" Jake was a wreck, realizing that they were both going to be safe and go home. Wei had kept his promise; it hadn't been some horrendous trick.
"I just need time Jake… just time…" She murmured through barely parted lips before going back to being completely still. He wasn't sure if he should move her or stay and wait with her. By evening she hadn't moved again and he made the trek back to the buildings.
.~.
I had been floating, surrounded by nothing but lights. They were bright and brilliant orbs of energy. I had fallen into this place and my own mind knew how and why, yet there was no feeling to it. I was at peace and comfortable here. It didn't take me long to see what the lights were, what they meant.
There were millions of them, some far, some close, some so distant I only instinctually knew they were there. They were the moments in my life, all of them, inside each and every orb. Perfectly formed and ready for me to look at, or dive in if I chose. There were even orbs from other places, from other versions of my life. Places where I had both parents, places where vampires didn't exist at all. Even without emotional attachment here, I knew if I left the area where I was floating, if I moved away from my current light I might not be able to find it again.
I watched as the lights moved, rotated and orbited me.
I felt like I'd been here for only a moment, when a tugging towards the light I was near pulled at me. Gentle at first, the tugging became insistent. I let myself go with the tug. Suddenly and at the same time ever so carefully I found I was taking shape.
I felt my body, not fully, as part of me was still out there, wherever those other orbs had been. I could feel my own energy slowly sinking into my body, it felt comfortable.
I was able to do minimal movements in my body after a couple hours. My ability, the second sight slowly turned on to show me I wasn't alone. It was a shape shifter, clearly not Seth. My mind holding all of my memories easily locked on who the owner could be.
I called out to him, and quickly faded again, I needed to let my energy come back before I did anything else. Somewhere out there I could feel a light, someone else.
Alice. She had seen me. In the place of the energy orbs, the place I was almost completely gone from I could sense Alice's ability. She had seen me. My family would be on their way soon. Jake and I would soon be back with those that loved us.
I would be going home.
A smile slowly spread across my lips. I felt like singing.
..~..
The End
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