»—— act three. eclipse
☽⋅── SIX ──pointing me in that direction ─⋅☾

As the weeks went by, Eve continued to train herself, refining her agility and strength. Carlisle, seeing her improvement, now had no worries, allowing her to spar with any of his children.

However, Carlisle had initially been most concerned about her partnering with Emmett, who was known for his brute strength. But much to his surprise, Eve turned out to be an excellent sparring partner. Her quickness and agility often provided a challenge for Emmett, making their matches an interesting spectacle for the entire family to watch.

Jasper chuckled and teased Emmett, "Come on, you're making yourself look bad out there."

Emmett shot him a glare, "Hey, she's fast like a cat, okay? You try to keep up with her, oh wait, you did and failed!"

Edward glanced at Alice, who smiled. He then suggested, "Why don't you try sparring with Eve?"

Alice responded, "I did, but our fighting styles are too similar. We actually work better together than against each other."

Edward's eyes never left Eve as he observed her every move, studying her movements intently, looking for an edge he could use against her. He was the only who had yet to spar with her, but he chose not to just yet, deciding it was better for another time.

Eleanor, who was watching the sparring match, grumbled that it was difficult for her to watch when they moved at such high speeds. She turned to Edward and urged, "Hey, Edward, tell me what you see. It's all a blur to me!"

Edward never took his eyes off Eve as he responded to Eleanor, his voice slightly distracted as he continued to analyze her moves.

"She's incredibly fast," he began, his gaze still fixed on the sparring battle. "Her movements are almost a blur, but she's also surprisingly efficient. She doesn't waste a single action and her reflexes are sharp."

Edward chuckled as he continued to observe the sparring match. "Right now, she just slid under Emmett as he tried to grab her torso. And now," he continued, watching her hop onto Emmett's back, "she just jumped on his back and almost made him stumble forward."

Edward continued to describe the match to Eleanor, while the rest of the group cheered on the two sparring partners. At one point, Emmett finally grabbed Eve by the ankle and flipped her, leaving her wide open for a final grip.

Eleanor cringed as she witnessed the scene, wincing at the impact. "Oh, that must've hurt," she commented.

Eve chuckled, still lying on the ground, and sighed. "I've had worse," she huffed, waving her hand. "But you got me this time."

Emmett grinned, clearly satisfied with his victory, and chuckled at Eve's comment. "I guess I did," he teased, offering her a hand to help her up. "But you lasted longer this time."

Eve took Emmett's hand and got back on her feet, brushing the dirt off herself. "Yeah, I guess I did," she said, slightly winded but still determined. "Next time, I won't go down so easily."

As Eve finished stretching and noticed her body didn't ache as much as expected, she furrowed her brows in confusion for a moment. Edward, who heard her thoughts, was also intrigued by this. Meanwhile, Carlisle observed her expression and made a mental note to ask her about it later.

The family decided to end the sparring session for the day after a few more rounds with different partners. This had become somewhat of a tradition for them, a chance to keep their skills sharp and enjoy some friendly competition.

As the family members finished up their sparring sessions, they all shared the same thought - the purpose of these sessions was not just for fun, but to prepare themselves for the upcoming hunt for Victoria. They knew that being well-trained and prepared was crucial for the success of their mission.

Eleanor had occasionally participated in the sparring sessions, treating it as a form of exercise rather than a serious training session. She was keenly aware that she wasn't on their level, but she still enjoyed stepping in and testing her abilities occasionally.

Edward, concerned that Eleanor might feel excluded, often watched her on the sidelines. But as he read her thoughts, he discovered that she was carefully observing everyone's skills and identifying their weak points instead of feeling left out.

Edward chuckled faintly to himself, realizing that she was not just watching, but rather studying each member of the family's strengths and weaknesses. He observed quietly as she continued to scrutinize their performances, appreciating her analytical mindset, a trait that would indeed benefit them greatly in their hunt for Victoria.

Eleanor couldn't fight like the rest of the family, but her true strength lay in her ability to strategize and plan. Her keen intellect and observational skills would prove invaluable to any future problems they may face.

...

As the night approached, Carlisle entered their room to find Eve sitting on the floor, surrounded by a pile of books. In her hand, the necklace she had regained from Freda glimmered softly. He watched her curiously for a moment, wondering what had her attention so fixated on the necklace and the books.

Carlisle walked over to Eve, taking a seat beside her on the floor. He observed the books and the necklace in her hand. "What has you so engrossed?" he inquired, his tone gentle yet intrigued.

Eve looked up at Carlisle, her smile warm as she gently placed the necklace on a nearby book. "I've been doing some research," she began, "about the Brigid Goddess." Her eyes flickered towards the pile of books around her, some open and some still waiting to be explored.

Carlisle sat silently, listening intently as Eve explained her research on the Brigid Goddess. He noticed the different books lay spread across the floor, their pages filled with knowledge about the deity she sought to understand.

"I've been going through several books and manuscripts," Eve continued, gesturing at the various pages and passages spread before her, "trying to piece together any information I can find about the Goddess."

Carlisle's calm and curious demeanour remained as he settled next to Eve on the floor. He looked at her intently, his voice gentle as he questioned, "Have you been able to uncover the connection you feel to the Brigid Goddess?"

Eve paused for a moment, tapping her finger against her leg as she tried to articulate her thoughts. "Whenever I search for those answers, it's like my heart knows there's a connection," she began, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and confusion. "But my mind just can't seem to figure it out."

She then looked at Carlisle, her eyes meeting his, "During our sparring session earlier, when Emmett threw me, I barely felt any pain. It's as if my body is developing some sort of immunity."

Eve crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful, "Remember I told you guys about someone teaching me to fight?" She asked, looking at Carlisle.

He nodded in acknowledgement, replying, "Yes, what about it?"

Eve continued, "I've been trying to recall more about it, and I'm starting to believe that the blonde man I saw before was my father. I think he was the one who taught me how to fight."

Carlisle's eyebrows raised slightly in surprise at her revelation. "Your father?" He questioned, a mix of wonder and curiosity in his voice.

Eve nodded in agreement, placing a hand on her chest. "Initially, I thought he could have been a mentor," she explained, "but when I tried to recall more memories, there was this stronger sense of familiarity."

She then turned her gaze to the necklace and said, "It's the same feeling I get when I think about the Brigid Goddess."

Eve went quiet for a moment, her eyes drifting to Carlisle as she spoke again, "I think...Brigid could be my mother, just as the blond man is my father."

Carlisle took a moment to digest her words, his expression a mixture of surprise and contemplativeness. He gently placed a hand on her back and asked, "Are you sure about this? It's quite a revelation."

Eve nodded again, her voice steady. "I know it sounds a bit...unbelievable," she acknowledged, "but deep down, it feels right. I can't explain why, but my heart and my memories are pointing me in that direction."

"The real question now is why my memories about them are so faint," Eve mused, her voice marked with frustration.

Carlisle chimed in, offering a theory. "Maybe, just like how you felt less pain from sparring today," he suggested, "your memories will slowly return to you over time. Or perhaps something specific could trigger them."

Eve nodded at his words, a flicker of hope igniting in her eyes, "That could be it," she agreed, her voice soft but hopeful. "I just wish I had more to go on. The uncertainty is...frustrating."

Carlisle reached out and took her hand into his, offering her a comforting squeeze. "I can imagine how difficult this must be for you," he sympathized, his voice gentle. "But remember, you're not alone in this. We'll figure it out together."

Eve smiled faintly, thankful for his reassurance, and squeezed his hand back. "Thank you, Carlisle," she said gratefully, her gaze meeting his. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

He returned her smile, his eyes warm with compassion and understanding. "You don't have to worry about that, Eve," he replied, his voice soft but firm. "I'm here for you, and I'll do everything I can to help you through this."

She nodded, feeling a sense of comfort and trust in his words. "You always know just what to say," she observed, a soft chuckle escaping from her lips. "Sometimes, it feels like you know me better than I know myself."

He chuckled softly, a hint of humour glimmering in his eyes. "Well, I do spend most of my time around you," he commented, a playful undertone in his voice. "It's hard not to memorize every part of you."

Eve chuckled again, shaking her head in amusement. She knew he was teasing, but she couldn't help the warm feeling that settled deep inside her, a mixture of trust and something more. "Oh, really?" she retorted, raising an eyebrow. "Are you implying that you spend all your time studying me, Dr. Cullen?"

Carlisle laughed softly at her retort, the warm sound filling the room. "Maybe not all of my time," he admitted, feigning a serious expression. "But I'd be lying if I said you weren't a fascinating topic of research, Dr Eve"

Eve laughed as well, enjoying the lighthearted banter. She leaned closer to him, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and affection. "A fascinating topic, eh?" she teased. "How many hours of observation do you need to complete your study on me?"

Carlisle feigned a serious expression again, pretending to mull over her question. "Hmm, well, if I'm being thorough," he responded dryly, "I may need several more years. Possibly even decades."

Eve rolled her eyes light-heartedly, playing along with him. "Decades, huh? That seems like a long time, Dr Cullen," she retorted in a mock-serious voice. "Are you sure you can spend that much time around me without going crazy?"

Carlisle chuckled and leaned closer, a glint of playful mischief in his eyes. "Oh, I can assure you, the chance of me going crazy being around you is quite high, Dr. Eve," he replied with a grin. "But it's a risk I'm willing to take for...science."

Eve smiled, her voice lowering to a quieter, more intimate tone as she leaned even closer to Carlisle, their faces only inches apart. "I like the sound of that," she whispered, her eyes flickering with a hint of mischief and a stronger hint of affection.

They stayed like that for a moment, the air between them tinged with anticipation and a hint of something more profound. Carlisle's gaze remained firm and intense, fixated on Eve. The closeness between them felt both familiar and exciting, like a promise of something yet untold.

She couldn't help but sigh, a mix of love and disappointment on her face as she looked into his eyes. "It's unfortunate," she lamented, "but with everyone home right now, we can't really get away with any...fun."

Carlisle leaned forward and pecked her lips before pulling back, his voice laced with feigned disappointment. "Such a shame," he echoed, a hint of playfulness in his tone, "I had so many ideas."

Her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief as she replied, "Of course, you did," she teased, her voice laced with amusement. "No doubt, all extremely naughty and improper, Dr. Cullen."

Carlisle chuckled softly, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Oh, the things I could do with you if we were alone right now," he murmured, his voice sultry and suggestive.

A shiver ran down her spine at his words, and she blushed slightly, her mind suddenly filling with the same thoughts he was implying. "You're such a tease," she accused him, her voice sounding both amused and slightly flustered.

"It's because I love you so much," Carlisle confessed, a smirk forming on his face. "And I just can't resist the urge to tease and indulge in you when we're alone."

His gaze darkened slightly, his voice dropping an octave. "But I promise, as soon as we have some privacy, I'll make it up to you in ways that will leave you breathless."

Her heartbeat quickened at his words, a wave of anticipation coursing through her. She swallowed hard, her voice slightly breathless. "Carlisle..." She looked at him with a mixture of love and desire. "You're driving me crazy with these promises."

He chuckled again, enjoying the effect he was having on her. "Just wait and see, darling," he murmured, his voice smooth and seductive. "I have a lot of pent-up...energy that needs to be released."

Eve's eyes widened as Carlisle abruptly vanished from the room. She couldn't help but burst into laughter, shaking her head in bewilderment. "That man," she muttered to herself, her voice filled with affection and a hint of exasperation. "One of these days, he's going to be the death of me."