New chap-a-ter time! I've been thinking about this chapter for a while now, so hopefully I can get the story back on track! Thanks to all of you who stuck with me through my crap chapters. I feel as though this story has lost some of its essence, and I would like to get that essence back! So lets see if this really, really, reeeeaaallly long chapter will do it.

Chapter 20—

R2—8

Lelouch turned around to face her.

"W-what did you just say…?" he asked, baffled. Dai knew about Geass? "H-how do you…?"

Dai was wearing her Knightmare uniform, which was styled after Chinese clothing, so there was a clasp around her neck, which she reached up and un-buttoned. She pulled her shirt down just enough so that Lelouch could clearly see the blue Geass symbol etched into her skin under her left collar bone.

"You… you're like C.C. then?" he asked.

"What? Oh no, Eve gave this to me," she explained.

"Eve?"

"Yes, she isn't like C.C. or V.V. She can only give Geass to one person. She's already done that, but she can give resilience to it. And that's what she did for me."

Lelouch walked up to Dai, and out of amazement, reached out and touched the Geass symbol on the girl's skin. Her face turned red, and she attempted to take a step back, only to trip over her own feet and fall, barely missing the coffee table.

"Ow…"

Lelouch sat down on the couch next to where Dai had fallen. He gave her a hand, hauling her up next to him.

"Do you have a Geass?" he asked her.

"Yeah," she said, rubbing the back of her head where it had made contact with the floor. She quickly pulled her shirt back up, realizing it was still exposing her shoulder. "For a while now."

"How long is a while?" Lelouch asked.

"Since I was around seven or eight. It happened just after I got separated from Suzaku," she said, fiddling with her fingers.

"That long?" he asked in disbelief.

She nodded.

"What kind of Geass?" he asked, curiosity and fascination taking its hold on him.

"You remember that guy Mao?" she asked.

He frowned at the memory. "Yes."

"Well I can read minds too. But, I can turn mine off," she said, holding up a declaring finger. "And its been getting stronger. Now I can send some of my own thoughts to other peoples' minds," she said. "But it's difficult. And only a mere suggestion to the person. If they're concentrating on something else then it won't work well."

He gave her a scrutinizing look.

"What?" she looked at him, confused.

"How can I be sure you're telling the truth?"

Dai gave him a long hard look, the kind of look that makes you feel like the person was opening up their soul to you.

"Why would I lie to you?"

He stared at her for a long moment. "Will you be willing to use your Geass for me?" he asked. "No matter what I tell you to do?"

She bit her bottom lip and looked away from him. "I…" she thought for a moment more before returning her gaze to him. "Yes."

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Gino asked, pulling on his gloves.

Eve crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "Gino, I'll be fine."

"Well, do you want me to send some guards to—"

"Gino," she said sternly, not raising her voice, "I will be fine. Ab—that guy isn't stupid enough to come back so soon."

The blond-haired Knight of the Round gave her a scrutinizing look. "Alright, if you're sure…" he said uncertainly as he climbed into his Knightmare, heading out for a two-day-mission. "Well…bye then."

"Bye," she said. She turned to leave then stopped. She looked over her shoulder at Gino. "Gino…"

He looked up at her. "Yeah?"

"Thank you… for worrying…about me…" she said shyly.

He smiled warmly at her. "No prob."

Eve watched him hop into his Knightmare and fly off. She sighed heavily, before heading home. It was pretty late, maybe she'd pick up some sushi on the way.

By the time Eve got back to her dorm room at the school, which was more like an apartment since it had a living room and a bathroom, it was already dark.

She made a content sigh. "Home at last."

Eve quickly changed into a pair of comfy sweats and a tank-top, then grabbed her food and plopped down on the couch and turned on the TV. Not realizing it, she dozed off in the middle of her meal. When she woke up, the room was dark.

Cautiously, she set her food on the coffee table and got up, slowly. She heard a rustling coming from her bedroom. She didn't say 'Hello, is someone there?' because she knew how stupid that was. Carefully she crept up the wall next to her slightly ajar door. Grabbing the lamp next to her to use as a weapon, she burst into her room, ready to attack the intruder.

"Mow?"

Eve turned on the light and made a frustrated sigh.

"Arthur! You scared the crap outta me!" she said to the cat who was on her bed, playing with a balled up sock. Setting the lamp down, she walked over to the cat and stroked his head. Suddenly he arched his back and began to hiss.

Eve spun around, and a sword bit into the soft flesh of her cheek as she avoided the blow.

"Nice," Abe said. Arthur hissed even more, before jumping out of the still broken window.

"Abe?" Eve felt a surge of panic run through her body.

"What? Not happy to see an old friend again?" he said, a wicked smile on his face, that scared Eve shitless.

She fled the room, clambering over the coffee table and couch that lay in her way, dumping the couch over and sliding the coffee table backwards. She heard Abe laugh a terrifying cackle.

"Aw, don't you want to play?" he called after her.

She burst into the empty hall way of the school. It was a long weekend and almost everyone was home with their parents. Those who weren't, were at parties.

There was no one to help her.

Eve ran down the darkened hall ways. She could hear Abe calling out her name, as if he was playing hide and seek with her. Running down the stairwell she grabbed the railing and swung herself down to the next flight of stairs, ignoring the shooting pain it caused in the souls of her bare feet. She spotted a storage room when she emerged into the next hall and ran into the dark room, quietly closing the door behind her, then sliding behind a wall that partially split the room. She slid down to sit on the floor and wrapped her arms around her legs.

'Don't let him find me…!' she prayed over and over.

She listened very intently, hearing his bare feet (all he was wearing was a pair of pants) slap against the cold floors. They slowly disappeared down the hall way.

Eve didn't let her self breathe the sigh of relief she felt. She new he'd be back. Abe was fast, smart and dangerous. But insane. If that made any sense at all. He might hear her open the door. She was surprised he hadn't heard it close.

Her thoughts abruptly stopped as she heard the door to her hiding place open. Her entire body shook, though she squeezed her arms tighter around her legs to try and stop it.

The foot steps were slow and cautious as they rounded the little corner where she was hiding. She squeezed her eyes shut. The foot steps rushed towards her, and she heard him kneel down next to her. This was it; she was going to die…

A hand gently touched her shoulder.

"Eve..?" she heard Gino's voice whisper.

Her eyes shot open, and Eve never thought she'd be so happy to see that pair of big blue eyes in her life. She threw her arms around his neck.

"Gino…what are you doing here…?" she whispered.

He rested a hand on her back. "Just had one of those feelings."

"How'd you find me?" she asked.

"The blood from your cheek," he said pushing her away so he could look at the already healed gash. Even though it was healed the blood was still there. He gently wiped it away. "It was on the door handle."

Eve froze.

"What?"

Her voice was barely audible; "He knows where we are."

Just as the words left her mouth a scratching sound came down the hall. Abe was running his blade along the wall as he walked through the empty corridor.

Gino kept his arm wrapped around Eve as he pulled out his gun and leaned up against the wall as much as he could.

The scratching stopped, and the door handle slowly turned. Abe walked into the dark room, not bothering to turn on the lights.

"Eve, I didn't know you liked to play hide and seek," Abe said with a sadistic smile.

Gino's arm squeezed Eve a little tighter as he felt her shake with fear. He'd protect her.

Without hesitation, Gino pushed Eve into the corner, and ran out from behind the wall, opening fire on Abe. The force of the bullets made him stagger, and he collapsed.

Gino walked up to the body, and then turned to look at Eve who was peeking out from behind the wall.

"It's okay now," he said. Eve's eyes got wide.

"GINO!" she screamed.

He spun around to see Abe raising his sword, and stabbing it in to Gino's calf. He let out a cry of pain, twisting around the minute Abe removed the sword and kicking him with his good leg, using enough force to send him sliding across the floor. Gino quickly went to clutch his wounded leg.

"Damnit!" he swore between clenched teeth.

Gino grabbed Eve's hand, and they ran—or in Gino's case, limped—down the hall way as fast as they could.

"Go back to your room and lock the door, I'll keep him busy while you call someone," Gino said, giving her a shove up the stairs.

"But—,"

"GO!" he ordered. Eve ran up the staircase all the way to her room, slamming the door behind her, but not locking it. She heard gun shots, and the clanking of a sword against the floor down below.

"I have to hurry…!" she said to herself, as she dug around her desk for a key. "Where is it..?" she said, panicking. Flinging herself to the floor she searched under her desk. "There!" grabbing the small bronze key, she ran to her bed, and pulled out a medium sized box, and quickly tried to get the key into the lock, her shaking hands making it difficult. When she finally opened it, she quickly grabbed the cloth-enclosed object and ran back out into the hall, headed for the stairs. She heard Gino cry out in pain. She jumped over the railing and landed painfully on the bottom set, falling to one knee.

Gino's gun had run out of bullets, and now he was dodging the attacks from the sword. Barely. He'd lost so much blood it was getting hard to move.

"Gino!" she screamed, throwing the object to him. He reached up and grabbed it, and without hesitation, plunged it into Abe's gut. He winced with pain, as Gino pulled it back and stumbled backwards to the bottom of the stairs, falling on the bottom step. The crystalline dagger flew from his hand and slid to a stop down the hallway.

Abe glared up at the two. "That actually kind of hurt." His glare turned to a smirk. "Guess I'm really going to have to kill you now too."

Abe walked up to Gino, who lay limply on the ground, and kicked him, sending him sliding across the floor. He walked over and stabbed Gino in the arm. He cried out with pain.

A surge of terror filled up Eve's entire body. She ran up and latched onto Abe's arm.

"Please, Abel, stop! Please, I'm begging you! I'll do what ever you want!" she pleaded, tears flowing non-stop from her eyes.

His sadistic smile turned to malice as he turned to look at Eve. For a moment she thought she saw the man he used to be, but it didn't last, and he punched her in the stomach, sending her flying backwards.

"Why should I listen to you? You never keep your promises." His words were soaked with loathing.

And they sent knives through Eve's heart.

"I'm sorry…" she whimpered. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean for it to happen!" she screamed.

"Like hell you didn't!" he yelled back at her. "You were jealous of her from the start! You wanted her out of the way! Amelia is dead because of you! And now I'm stuck to live an eternity with out her!"

"I didn't…Abe, I…" Eve was completely broken by his words, not even able to finish her sentence.

"Now I'll kill this person, who seems to be so important to you, and then you'll know how it feels!" as he said these words, he plunged the sword back into Gino, twisting it into his shoulder. Gino tried to hold back his scream.

Eve's head fell, and she fell forward onto her hands, defeated. 'I cant help him… its my fault…'

Her hand brushed something next to her. Her head slowly turned to see the dagger that she'd carved so long ago. Without really thinking about it, her hand clasped around the handle, and her legs straightened, and began running towards him.

Abe turned in time to see her, but not in time to stop her from plunging the dagger through the red Geass symbol on the right side of chest.

"I love you, Abe…" Eve whispered as she looked up at him.

The symbol turned gray, and the dagger turned red.

His eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he almost seemed to smile as he fell to the floor. Abe's body didn't age, as he turned to dust and blew away on the breeze that didn't exist.

Eve fell to her knees and crawled over to Gino, who had worked himself to an upright position against the wall.

"I'm sorry…" she whispered.

Gino stared at her for a moment.

"Why? Why are you sorry?"

"For getting you hurt…" she said, looking at all the cuts and bruises that showed through his ripped clothing. She shuffled over the janitor's closet and found a First Aid kit. They were silent as she wrapped his wounds. Eve finished wrapping his sliced arm, the last of the unattended wounds.

"I think its time you told me what's going on," Gino said.

Eve sighed and leaned up against the wall next to him.

"It's a long story…" she said.

"I've got time." He said simply. She looked over at him for a moment, then sighed.

"Well, for starters… I'm not as old as I look…" she said.

"You mean you're 16 or something?"

"No, Gino. I'm much, much older than 16. I was born in the 18th century. I was only four when I was sold to a young man…who never aged…"

A line of people ranging from young to old, stood chained together, so they couldn't run. Some still tried. And were beaten for it.

A man with slick black hair pulled back into a ponytail walked down the line, not really looking at any of the empty-eyed people who stood before him. Until he came to a small girl with eyes that burned fire as she stared up at him, unafraid. He knelt down to look at her.

"Hello, little one. What is your name?" he asked, a kind smile on his face. She just stared at him, her eyes bright, shining through the dirt that coated her face, hair, and clothes. "Can you speak?"

"I wanna go home," she said defiantly.

"You can't go home," he told her, his face softening with compassion. "But would you like a new home?"

"As a slave?" she used a sarcastic tone with him. He laughed.

"You're a feisty one, aren't you?" He reached out to pat her head and she bit him. "Ow!" he yelped, pulling back his hand.

"Why you little—!" the man with a whip who stood in front of them raised his hand to strike her. The other man grabbed his wrist.

"It's alright, no need to hit her," he said. "I'll take her."

When they arrived at the man's mansion, the small girl was amazed at the size of it. She stared up in awe.

"Do you like your new home?" he asked her, looking down with a kind smile.

She quickly looked away and resumed a defiant look. He just laughed. This man was…strange.

"Abigail?" he called out. A set of tapping shoes echoed through the room before they could see the plump woman who rounded the corner. Show bowed to the man.

"Y-yes, Master?." She looked up and saw the small girl covered in dirt. "And who is this?"

"Well, she hasn't told me her name, but I thought maybe she could help Cook in the kitchen. After she's been cleaned up a bit. And a fresh pair of clothes put on."

"Of course, Sire," Abigail said. "Come along dear, lets get you into the bath."

Later the small girl was well cleaned and freshly clothed, in had-me-downs much to big for her, and introduced to the cook. He and the rest of the servants in the house were very kind to her. The Master even began teaching her how to read and write. She found she rather enjoyed living there. The Master even replaced the name she'd forgotten with a new one, that she was sure was much prettier than the one she'd been born with.

Evaline.

Which he shortened to Eve.

It was 15 years before Eve worked up the nerve to ask her master a single question.

"Master, do you ever age?" she blurted, quickly clamping a hand over her mouth, embarrassed by her outburst.

He stared at her from over his glass, eyes wide with surprise. "Excuse me?"

She fiddled with the empty tray in her hand. "W-well… it's just, that you look exactly the same as you did when I first came here."

And it was true; he was still handsome, looking only to be in his early twenties; not a single gray hair, or age line etched into this skin.

He smiled, and took a drink. "I'm surprised you asked."

She waited for him continue.

"Well? Aren't you going to tell me?" she asked, getting annoyed with his silence, and the surprisingly attractive smirk his face held.

He stood up and walked over to her, gently stroking her chin.

"I've always loved that about you."

She gulped. "H-huh?"

He smiled at her. "Your stubbornness. You aren't even afraid to raise your tone to me. Most of the other servants…they find me terrifying. Because I don't age. But none of them will even ask me why. You're different. And I knew that the moment that you bit me," he said, a small laugh escaping his throat at the memory. He flexed his fingers on that hand. A red symbol covered the palm of that same hand.

"M-Master?"

He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips, making her head spin.

From that moment on, the Master and Eve spent almost every minute together, but never showed their affection for each other when there were on-lookers. He never once said the words 'I love you,' be he showed her with his actions, constantly holding her, and kissing her. She loved it. She loved him.

One day they sat on the edge of a small, calm river, just kicking their feet in the water. Soon they started splashing each other, until both of them were soaked.

Eve walked up onto the shore, wringing out her dress as she giggled. He walked up to her, and gently lifted her chin so that she would look at him. His eyes were sad.

"Is something wrong?" she said, the giggling subsiding. He gently pulled her into his arms.

"I'm tired, Evaline…so, so tired…" he said. Even though his face showed no age, his voice at that moment spoke with all the years he had lived.

"We can go back home if you wish?" she said, resting her head on his warm chest.

"That's not what I speak of, Eve… the tired I speak of is etched into my soul. A soul that has lived well beyond its years… You are strong. You will live for a long time…"

She pulled away just enough to look him in the eye. He kissed her and then pulled her back o his chest.

He held her tighter. "I'm sorry…I love you," he said, just as a searing pain on the small of her back sent her into unconsciousness.

When she woke up, her back still hurt, and she reached back and felt something warm and wet. When she pulled her hand back it was covered in blood. She looked up and her heart seemed to stop beating.

Eve's shaking hand reached out to touch her master's face, leaving blood streaks on his cheek. His eyes were half opened, and a small smile was placed on his lips. His hand no longer bore the red mark that used to be there.

"No…" she said crawling closer to him, trying to shake him awake. "Please, no!" She sobbed, throwing herself over his body.

And so, the strange Geass power was passed on to her.

It was many years before Eve let herself get close to anyone. He became her best friend. And she loved him, very much.

The boy walked into the store, holding a basket of supplies for Eve's little bakery.

"I brought the things you wanted, Eve," he said setting the basket on the counter.

She turned around, a big smile on her face. "Thanks, Abe."

The small bell on the door jingled, and they turned to see a girl with blond hair and bright blue eyes walk in, followed by a much older man with a large mustache.

Eve bowed her head a bit. "Sir. Amelia," she greeted.

The man grunted in response.

Amelia and Abe's eyes met for a long instant.

"We'll just be needing our weekly amount," he said.

"Of course," Eve said, reaching under the counter and grabbing a basket full of fresh bread. "Here you are, Sir."

Amelia took the basket from her.

"Good day, Miss Eve. Abel," she said, blushing as Abe sent her a charming smile before her and her fiancé walked out.

Eve tried to ignore the jealousy she felt at this small gesture.

She may have loved him, but he loved Amelia.

They sat in a moment of silence that seemed to last for ever.

"So, Eve, how about we have a mud pie fight, like we used to! Down at the river," he asked. Even though Abe was 18, he still acted much like a child, the same as when they met when he was 15.

"Well, I'm supposed to—"

"Oh come on…! You won't have to pay me for getting the supplies!" he pleaded, laying out across the counter, right in Eve's way. "Pleeeeaase?"

"Abe, I need to work!" she said, trying unsuccessfully to keep the smile from her face.

"Come onnn..! I'll give you a free shot at my face?" he said, grabbing her hand. "Just this once?" he asked, working his best puppy-dog-face.

Eve glared back at him, before finally giving in. "Fine!"

"Yay!" Abe said, dragging her out of the shop, giving her little time to lock it.

They got to the river side, but Abe didn't go for the mud fight.

"Eve, there's something—mmf!" he was interrupted as a mud glob hit him straight in the face. He wiped it off of his face and looked over to see Eve holding another glob of brown, mushy mud.

"You said I got a free shot at your head."

"Oh its on now!" he grabbed some mud and threw it at her. They threw mud at each other until they were both covered from head to toe.

Eve wasn't expecting Abe to splash her in the face. "What was that for?" she asked, as the mud turned more liquidy and ran off of her face.

"Well you're gonna have to wash off some time!" he said splashing her again. She laughed and splashed back. But then she stopped, her hands falling to her sides as she remembered…

"What's wrong?" Abe asked.

She stared at the water for a moment, then touched the Geass symbol on her lower back through her wet clothes.

Abe sloshed through the water over to her. "Eve?"

She snapped out of her daze and looked up at him. "Huh?"

"Are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah, just remembering something," she said, trying to bite back the tears.

He frowned at her for a moment before taking her hand and pulling her back to shore. They plopped down on the bank, both sopping wet..

"We're running away." Abe said suddenly into the silence.

Eve's head snapped up to look at him. "What?"

"Me and Amelia. We're going to run away together," he said, staring out across the river.

Eve's heart sank. She'd known about the secret relationship between Abe and Amelia, but selfishly hoped that they would stop, that Abe would come to his senses about seeing someone who was already engaged.

Abe pulled out a money sack from his pocket and put it in Eve's hands.

"What's this for?" she asked, looking at the large amount of coins in the bag.

"We'll need some bread for the trip." He said.

Eve stared at the bag, sadly, before closing it and handing it back to him. He looked up at her in confusion.

"You don't owe me anything," she said shaking her head.

Abe smiled, pulling her into a hug. "You're the best, Eve." Abe stood up. "Well, we should get home before it gets dark." He offered her a hand up; a smile that made her heart flutter covered his face. Gingerly, she took his hand.

They walked back to the bakery, taking turns going to the back room to clean up. Abe went first, then Eve.

Eve stopped behind the door back into the main bakery when she heard voices.

"Tomorrow?" she heard Amelia say. Eve peeked through a crack in the door and saw the two facing each other, their hands linked.

"Yes, tomorrow we'll leave. At dusk, meet me here if you can," Abe said, his eyes full of love as he stared at her. Eve wished he'd look at her like that.

Amelia smiled. "If only tomorrow came sooner."

Abe leaned down and kissed Amelia passionately. Eve turned away, biting her lower lip, sliding to the floor. She waited until she heard Amelia leave to come out.

Abe had left too. Eve let out a shaky sigh, before getting to work on the bread that Abe and Amelia would be needing.

The next day Eve found that she was angry, and wasn't completely sure why. She ranted, even though no one else was there.

"'We'll leave tomorrow, at dusk,' He says. 'Eve, will you make bread for us to take?' Oh of course Abe! I'll just stay up until all hours and make you tons and tons of bread..! 'Oh thank you Eve, and don't forget Amelia's favorites too!'" she said, trying, and failing, to imitate Abe. "Well, I just hope you two have a wonderful life together!" she said angrily, slamming some dough onto the table. Her face fell. "I hope you don't get hurt…"

Something fell to the floor behind her, and she spun around. Her eyes went huge when she looked at the man standing there.

It was Amelia's fiancé. And by the look on his face, he'd just heard everything.

Before Eve could do anything, he marched out, leaving his cane on the floor of the shop, and rode off on his horse.

'Oh no…' she thought in horror. With out closing up shop, Eve ran into town to find Abe. It was already late; she had to find him quickly.

The sun was already turning the sky orange when Eve ran down to the river and finally found Abe.

He looked back over his shoulder. "Oh, hey Eve." She was doubled over, trying to catch her breath. "Eve?"

She couldn't even warn him before they heard Amelia cry in the distance, followed by gun fire.

"Amelia!" Abe took off.

"N-no, Abe wait!" Eve tried to grab him as he left. She took a second more to try and catch her breath, before running after him.

He made it to the shop to see the horror long before Eve did.

Amelia was laying in her own blood, several shots in her chest.

She was dead.

Abe's anger boiled over when he saw her ex-fiancé standing there.

"You bastard!" he yelled, charging him. Seven more shots filled the air.

Eve rounded the corner and flung herself into the shop. For the second time in her life, it felt like her heart stopped completely.

Amelia was on the floor in her own blood, four shots in her chest. She was dead.

Abe was also on the floor seven shots in his chest. Struggling for air.

The man who'd been Amelia's fiancé was wiping off his pistol before returning it to its holster. He turned to Eve who stared in horror at the scene before her.

"Thank you, young lady, for informing me of this scandalous plot, so that I could deal with it properly." And he left, with out a second glance.

Eve rushed to Abe's side.

"Abe!"

He coughed up some blood, and looked over at Amelia, reaching blindly for her.

'He cant die! I-I have to save him!' she screamed in her head.

Suddenly all of the knowledge of the power her Master had given her rushed into her thoughts.

Gently, Eve placed a hand on his chest, and pressed her forehead against his. "From this moment on, I grant you…the power of the Immortal King." She said the words outloud, though they were not necessary for his body to absorb the power, unlike any other Geass user.

His body healed, and his eyes glowed red. And for the next year, he lived with Eve in utter despair; his eyes empty. Until one day, he left.

More than a couple times over the next two hundred years would he try and kill Eve. Blaming her for the death of his beloved Amelia, killing girls who had features similar to the blond-haired girl, trying to make her perfect replica.

And Eve would regret it for the rest of her immortal life.

Eve finished telling Gino about the power of Geass, and how it had affected her life, her eyes never leaving her lap.

They were silent for a while.

"Wow." Was all he said.

Eve reached over and grabbed the dagger that she'd killed Abe with. The red color that it had turned, concentrated in the middle, making a Geass shape in the center of it. "This is the only thing that can kill a Geass user, or one who has the Code, and trap their powers inside of it. Even if you have to contract with the Code holder you stab, you can still kill them."

"That one dagger?" he asked.

"Well, any thing made of this material. A material that has no name and only I know of." She held it up for him to see. "This now holds Abe's powers inside of it." She grabbed the cloth that it had been in and re-wrapped it. "You have to promise me you won't tell anyone. Just knowing can change your life forever. It just makes it worse if other people know that you know."

"I promise." He said, with so much confidence that it made her look up into his determined blue eyes.

She thought of her Master, and Abe. And then of the boy sitting in front of her.

And began to cry.