"IMPOSSIBLE"
Eleazar, a member of the Denali coven, moved in circles around her, meticulously studying her with wide-eyed intensity. Eleanor recoiled, feeling small and vulnerable. The gazes of others had always made her uncomfortable.
"Are we sure it's not just Bella's shield projecting?" Carlisle inquired.
Edward's confident shake of the head dispelled any doubts. "Other than Bella and Eleanor, I can hear everyone's thoughts here. If Bella were projecting, I'm sure it would reach others."
"This is unlike anything I have encountered before," Eleazar stated, his eyebrows rising in puzzlement. "Could it be some sort of temporary imitation? Every talent is unique, never exactly the same thing twice and yet... I sense within her the very same barrier I sense in Bella."
"Could it be something that has been latent all this time?"
"I highly doubt that. If it were purely a shield, I would have detected it long before she became aware of it."
"The other night at the house, you asked me if I had any methods for my shield," Bella reminded her. She had been pacing back and forth, one hand over her mouth as she thought.
"You told me that you focused on protecting the people you loved," Eleanor shrugged. "I thought if I learned how to use it I could be helpful. Is that bad?" she asked fearfully.
Esme swiftly shook her head, her eyes filled with reassurance. "Oh no honey it's nothing bad. It's just... Different."
Eleazar's mind started to wander as he contemplated aloud, his voice filled with curiosity. "I can't help but wonder... Will it yield the same results as Bella's power? We tested Edward and Kate's abilities on her, but they had no effect. It suggests that she may be immune to mental influences. However, when it comes to physical..."
Rosalie scoffed. "Well, we don't have Jasper to try."
"We have Benjamin," Emmett suggested.
Thomas frowned deeply, shooting a disapproving glare at the towering vampire. "No, we're definitely not doing that," he objected firmly, his tone laced with indignation. Emmett simply shrugged innocently, whispering, a low I'm just saying.
"Or..." Edward interrupted thoughtfully. "We could wonder if she can do what Benjamin does."
Eleanor frowned. Doing what Benjamin does? She didn't see the need. If she could already defend others, why did she need to learn something else?
Eleazar's eyes widened, his expression a mix of astonishment and intrigue. "Edward, what you're proposing... It has the potential to revolutionize everything. If there's even a slight chance that this young girl can imitate or acquire the abilities of other vampires, our confrontation with the Volturi would extend beyond her hybrid nature..."
Esme's features contorted in horror, her voice laced with concern. "They will want her."
"We're failing to consider the full implications," Edward said. "Let's say they see the evidence that Eleanor and Renesmee are not a threat. What guarantees us that they will leave us unpunished? You said it before, Eleazar. The reason Aro is coming himself is because his goal is acquisition. That's why I'm not so sure the evidence alone will be enough. But..." He paused, looking briefly at Eleanor. "If he knows Eleanor, if he knows what she can do... He will definitely spare her life. And if he does, why wouldn't he spare Renesmee's life? He would have no other choice. He wouldn't have any other excuse."
A hush fell upon the group as they contemplated Edward's proposition, each lost in their own thoughts.
Thomas was the first to break the silence. "You're proposing to use her as some sort of guarantee? That's not..."
Edward swiftly interjected, having already delved into his mind . "Don't think of it that way, Thomas. I know Aro's mind. I know he has never wanted anything like he wants Alice or even Bella." His wife's eyes widened in astonishment at Edward's revelation. "And if he knows Eleanor, I know for a fact that he wouldn't be willing to destroy a talent like hers."
Thomas let out a dismissive scoff. "Talent? We don't even know if that's what it truly is. It could be mere happenstance, a mere coincidence..."
"It's not that, my friend," Eleazar interrupted, his voice calm yet tinged with uncertainty. "I do sense something within her, but it remains elusive, like a wispy fog. My hypothesis is that her human essence holds greater dominance over her vampire nature."
"You can't deny what happened Thomas. Yesterday I could read her mind perfectly and now I see nothing," Edward insisted. "I know you won't agree, but I think we should test if she can do it with other gifts. That way we'd have a better chance of..."
Thomas interrupted violently. "Of what, Edward? Putting her on the front lines against the Volturi? We're not going to do that. This is not what we agreed to."
"What's your plan then? Aro will know anyway. Bella's gift won't be enough to convince him."
"We won't be sticking around to find out," he declared, his gaze shifting towards Eleanor. "Pack your things, kid. We're leaving."
"Oh, so your plan is to run. How long do you think it will be before Demetri finds you? Your emotions are clouding your judgment."
Eleanor left the room. She wasn't sure if anyone had noticed it, but she didn't care either. As she descended the stairs, the other covens cast inquisitive glances her way, yet she pressed on, determined to distance herself from the house and venture as far as her legs would carry her.
She couldn't understand it. Why was everyone so concerned? It should be something to be happy about. She had accomplished what she had set out to do, and she could finally be useful.
Edward was right. No matter the reason, she could finally be of some use, either fighting or as an excuse for the Volturi to leave them alone.
Although she secretly hoped it would be the latter. She couldn't imagine fighting anyone
So, why was Thomas so angry? Self-doubt seeped into her consciousness, leaving her disheartened. It seemed that trouble followed her everywhere she went, leaving her with an overwhelming sense of disappointment in herself.
It was an endless story. Since her birth she had made nothing but mistakes. Her whole life was a mistake, something that shouldn't have happened.
Sometimes it seemed like the only viable option was to disappear. To run and hide from everyone. To lead a solitary life even when she hated loneliness. But at least that way she would know that others would be safe.
Perhaps learning had been a mistake, and the answer had always been that.
"That's a miserable way to spend eternity."
She jolted at the unexpected intrusion of a voice. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't even heard him climb the tree.
Having grown accustomed to Edward effortlessly delving into her thoughts, the realization that he was now doing so startled her, causing her eyes to widen. "You can hear me," she gasped.
"It's diffuse, as if you still haven't fully let me in. But I can hear something," he confirmed. He then sat down next to her. It was funny how that spot in the tree had become their private place to talk. "I think it's because you're not focused."
Eleanor shrugged. "Perhaps it's for the best," she whispered, her words barely audible. The lack of approval from others had been evident, especially from Thomas, whose disapproval seemed to weigh heavily on her.
"They're simply concerned for you," Edward assured her. "You perceive Thomas's emotions as anger, but it's quite the opposite. He's genuinely worried about you. This thing that happened to you is a big discovery, Eleanor. And he just wants to protect you."
Eleanor watched him for a brief second. It struck her as peculiar how, of all the vampires in the house, the one she had bonded with the most was the annoying mind reader.
But if she thought about it, her trust in Edward stemmed directly from his unique ability. It was hard to hide from him, when he was all the time in her mind knowing how she felt. Consequently, it had become remarkably effortless to establish a genuine and transparent line of communication with him, surpassing her interactions with the rest of the coven.
Eleanor's lips tightened, forming a subtle crease as she mulled over Edward's earlier words. "What you said before... About the Volturi sparing my life... Could it be possible?"
A sigh escaped Edward's lips. "Very possible."
Eleanor looked down, her attention drawn to Renesmee's cheerful waving and the radiant smile illuminating her little face. Jacob in his wolf form followed closely behind her. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Edward returning her greeting, his eyes filled with an unmistakable adoration.
Thomas was very mistaken if he thought she would just pack up her things and leave with him.
"I want to do it," Eleanor said. "I want to keep trying. I want to help."
She had never been so sure of anything.
⸻
In the couple of days that followed, Eleanor didn't focus on anything else but learning how to learn. Or in other words, learning about how her apparent "talent" worked. It was confusing and, mostly, frustrating, especially when most of the covens crowded around to observe what was happening, which put an invisible pressure on her shoulders. She didn't want to let anyone down, but at the same time, she had no idea what she was doing.
Thomas had been right about something, learning to use Bella's shield had been a pure coincidence.
"It's not working," she muttered, her eyes fixing on the ground as she bit the inside of her cheek.
"I think I know what's going on," Eleazar mused, more to himself than to anyone else. "Your attention remains fixated on defensive abilities, but now, you must shift your focus to offensive skills."
"Oh please Eleazar, give her time," Kate reasoned. It was clear that her childlike appearance softened the golden-eyed vampire. Eleanor was well aware that she hadn't shown such mercy during Bella's training sessions. "I worked at it for ages and still all I got was to run the current through my body. She won't learn it overnight."
Edward shook his head. "No, I think he's right. I can't read your thoughts, so I assume you're still using your shield."
Eleanor furrowed her brow. She certainly had no idea what she was doing. "Am I?"
Eleazar placed a hand on his chin, thinking. "So, we could deduce that she cannot use more than one skill at the same time?
"It's a possibility."
Edward and Eleazar had become a sort of mentors for Eleanor. The duo engaged in constant discussions and conjectures, meticulously conducting small tests to ensure the reliability and authenticity of her abilities.
Edward, for instance, had discovered that her shield would disappear at certain moments, mostly when she was relaxed or distracted. But the second he pointed it out and Eleanor refocused on it, the invisible barrier would reappear, sometimes instantly, other times faintly, as if small threads of thought, especially the stronger ones, could escape from her.
He and Eleazar meticulously explored every vampire's gift within the confines of the house, searching for a suitable ability for Eleanor to experiment with. Initially, their focus gravitated towards Edward's own gift, deeming it the safest and most accessible choice. Mind-reading, among all the extraordinary talents, appeared to be the simplest to grasp. However, Eleanor vehemently disagreed, her nose wrinkling at the mere contemplation of it. The idea of having everyone's thoughts infiltrate her mind seemed draining and, above all, intrusive.
So they had been ambitious and considered Benjamin's gift. Regrettably, their enthusiasm waned swiftly as they realized the immense challenge it presented. Even Benjamin himself struggled to fully control his extraordinary capability.
And then, Kate became the best option. She had worked on her gift for centuries, so she knew it quite well—its scope and limitations, what she could feel when electricity ran through her body.
Thomas had been completely opposed to it, saying it could end up being dangerous. However, the advantage of Eleanor's accelerated growth, distinct from any human experience, was her burgeoning ability to discern the right moment to assert her own autonomy, no longer reliant on others to dictate her choices.
She wanted this. She wanted to help. And so, there was nothing that Thomas could say to make her change her mind.
Nevertheless, he never lost sight of her. Eleanor could feel his presence in every practice session, observing her progress from some corner.
"Maybe we should use a little motivation," Kate suggested.
Edward watched her warily. "Kate..."
"What? You've seen it in Bella and it worked."
Edward's countenance shifted, his features etched with concern. "It's not the same. Bella requires motivation to defend. Our aim here is to empower Eleanor to launch an offensive."
Frustration tinged Kate's voice. "That's precisely the point, Edward. None of you truly comprehend the intricacies of her gift," she asserted. "It's not merely a matter of concentration. Eleanor lacks the desire to attack. How can she incorporate it if the very essence of aggression eludes her?"
Eleazar straightened completely, his face deeply furrowed in thought. "I think she's right," he murmured. "Consider this, Edward. The shield manifested when she felt that was the best option to protect the others. All this time we've been trying to get her to learn based on concentration, oblivious to the fact that her gift sprang forth from raw instinct, intense longing, or perhaps even dire necessity."
He started pacing back and forth, speculating. "That is the essence of defensive abilities, isn't it?" he continued, his voice tinged with anticipation. "To protect oneself and others. Yet, offensive abilities serve a different purpose—to attack, to inflict harm, if we dare to acknowledge it. And those tend to arise when..."
He stopped abruptly, seeking the gaze of the mind reader. Edward swallowed hard, already knowing where his conclusion was heading. "Jane," he whispered.
Eleanor darted her eyes between the two vampires, confused. "Jane? Who's Jane?"
Edward, his expression tinged with solemnity, shook his head ever so slightly. "Jane is a member of the Volturi guard," he elucidated, his voice laced with a somber undertone. "Eleazar was considering her as an illustrative example for his speculations."
"Why?" she asked, intrigued.
Edward hesitated, a flicker of reluctance dancing across his features. Something told Eleanor that he didn't enjoy talking about whoever this Jane was.
It was Eleazar who answered. "Because Jane's ability makes her an extremely offensive weapon. You see, she has the power to create illusions of pain in others. Very lethal. Her psychic talent was evident even in her human state, though it didn't have a concrete form back then. It wasn't until..."
Edward interjected, his voice dropping to a low, warning tone. "Eleazar..."
Eleanor ignored him. "What? Until what, Eleazar?" she pressed.
"Well..." he ventured. "It wasn't until a deeply unfortunate event occurred, one that stirred immense anger within Jane, that her gift took the form of pain illusion."
Everyone fell silent for a moment, leaving Eleanor to grapple with the fragments of information. She strained to forge connections, seeking parallels between Jane's story and her own circumstances. Yet, try as she might, the elusive link evaded her grasp, slipping through the crevices of her understanding.
"Eleazar believes that if we can elicit a similar level of intense anger within you, it might trigger the development of Kate's ability," Edward explained, his features masked by an almost stoic expression. The notion clearly unsettled him, evident in the subtle tension that lingered in his voice.
"It's a theory," Eleazar quickly interjected. "If Bella's shield materialized in response to an emotion as potent as the desire to protect others, then perhaps, if you were to experience enough anger, fueling a desire to cause harm..."
"No," Eleanor interrupted. Her face was a mix of horror and desperation. "I don't want to hurt anyone."
Kate released a weary sigh. "See? This has been my point all along."
"I... I'm sorry," she apologized.
It seemed foolish, but she hadn't really thought about it. When Edward proposed the idea of her trying to learn the gifts of the other vampires in the house, Eleanor hadn't given it much thought because, at first glance, they all seemed amazing. Something worthy of admiration, something she had once yearned to possess, a means to protect herself and those around her.
But Eleazar's perspective now gave her greater clarity. She hadn't fully grasped the implications of powers like Kate's until this moment. The notion that defense could sometimes necessitate offense, that she would need to become consumed by anger to inflict harm on another—it had never truly crossed her mind. She didn't want that. She wasn't a monster. Causing harm to others was simply something she couldn't even dare to think about.
Eleazar seemed discouraged by her response, but he remained silent. And Edward, though he hadn't been enthusiastic about the idea, also retreated with a noticeable expression of defeat. Kate followed him a few seconds later, offering a tender squeeze to Eleanor's shoulder in a consoling gesture.
Eleanor felt the urge to cry. She felt so foolish. Not only had she wasted Edward and Eleazar's time, but she had also let them down. She had failed them all because they had all been hopeful for results, hoping that she would serve some purpose against the Volturi.
As the first tears streamed down her face, Eleanor sensed a gentle touch, a pair of icy hands tenderly brushing them away. Amidst her sobs, her voice emerged in a choked and fragmented manner, punctuated by sporadic hiccups, echoing her profound despair.
"I can't do anything right," she cried, her words quivering with self-doubt and an acute sense of failure.
Lucy's voice resonated in her mind for the first time in weeks. You've already done enough.
"Don't say that," Thomas whispered softly. "Hey! Look at me, kid. You tried, okay? You tried but in the end, you didn't want to do it, and that's okay."
Thomas wrapped his arms around her, gently stroking her hair in an attempt to comfort her. Eleanor found solace in the safety of his shoulder, her tears continuing to cascade down her cheeks, each sob reverberating through her trembling form.
A chilling realization seized her as her tear-filled vision locked onto the scene before her—the snow had clung steadfastly, covering the landscape in a pristine white blanket.
It was a haunting sight, for it signified only one thing.
The Volturi were coming.
⸻
Hi reader! How are you? First of all, thank you for the comments! It makes me happy to know that you like the story and my characters! Second, what do you think of this chapter? How do you think Eleanor's gift works?
See you in the next chapter with the first appearance of the Volturi!