»—— act three. eclipse
☽⋅── SIXTEEN ──they're all that truly matter ─⋅☾

Alice's future sight had confirmed that the army of newborns would arrive at Forks in two more days. As they delved deeper into the vision, they discovered more details about the army's creation and leadership.

It was clear that Victoria was behind the creation of the army, but the one who was behind its execution and orchestration was the missing male that Eve had learned about previously. He was a crucial partner for Victoria in planning the attack, and her instincts had told her to remember the information of him for a reason.

The group had gathered at the same field as before, preparing to discuss their strategy for the upcoming battle. The Cullens and the pack stood apart, and communication was facilitated through Edward due to the pack's reluctance to be in their human forms around the Cullens.

The air was tense with anticipation and the weight of the impending conflict. Everyone could feel the gravity of the situation, knowing that the decisions made in this meeting would play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the battle.

The first topic of discussion was where Eleanor would be during the battle. There were various options suggested, but Eve firmly opposed any that involved her daughter staying in the rez.

Edward communicated Sam's question on her behalf, "He's wondering why you don't want her in the rez. He says it would be safe in their territory."

Eve stepped forward, looking directly at Sam. "Do you recall months ago when most of you saved my daughter from that vampire?" she queried. Sam nodded in acknowledgement.

"Eleanor has never really had a scent that seems to attract vampires," Eve revealed, glancing at her daughter. "It's likely due to my own influence on her, but we could never be certain. However, recently, her scent has begun to manifest, at least to the vampire you killed months ago and to Edward."

This revelation caused a ripple of concern among the shapeshifter beings present. The fact that Eleanor's scent had started showing, particularly noticeable to vampires, raised the stakes and made her a potential target in the upcoming battle.

Edward acted as a mediator between the two groups through telepathy, conveying the words of a shifter. "It's accurate," he said. "We never detected a presence from her, nor did we catch any scent."

His attention shifted to Eleanor, who was standing nearby. "You can conceal your presence?" he asked, causing everyone to turn and look at her.

Eleanor flinched, having momentarily forgotten Edward's ability to read her thoughts. She sheepishly confessed, "Oops, I forgot I could do that."

Her statement prompted everyone in the group to look at her in surprise. Eve approached her daughter, a mixture of surprise and concern on her face.

"What do you mean, you can conceal your presence? How long have you been able to do that?"

Eleanor confessed honestly, "For years," she admitted. "It wasn't something I fully understood, but given everything that's been happening, I guess I forgot to mention it."

Eve scrutinized her daughter, her arms crossed. "Can we test it?" she suggested. "If it's reliable, we might have discovered the perfect solution for where you'll be during the battle."

This prompted everyone to listen intently, as they waited for the demonstration of this previously unknown skill. Edward, in particular, was curious about Eleanor's ability to hide her presence, particularly in the context of a battle against vampires.

Eleanor's eyes widened with excitement as she asked, "You mean it could be helpful?"

However, upon seeing the stern look on her mother's face, Eleanor's hopes were dashed. Eve looked at her sternly, silently communicating the fact that Eleanor would not be in the middle of the battle.

"Absolutely not," Edward echoed, speaking for both himself and Jacob with a firm resolve. The specific speaker was irrelevant as both thought the same thought.

Carlisle approached Eve, standing next to her as he looked at Eleanor. "It is an ability that could be quite useful in the future," he began, "but given the army of newborns and the associated risks, it's simply too dangerous." He then gave Eve a reassuring look, silently expressing that his response was not meant to dismiss Eleanor's potential benefits.

Eve understood Carlisle's supportive gesture, appreciating his effort to acknowledge Eleanor's potential contributions without endangering her life. Despite this, Eve's expression remained firm, her protective instincts over her daughter not wavering. She wanted to ensure Eleanor's safety above all else.

Alice interjected, providing a sense of urgency. "We have only two days, and just 10 hours left before the battle," she informed them. She then offered a proposition, "We can test your ability to conceal your presence, and then have you nearby us during the battle." She turned her gaze to the pack, "The newborns likely don't know the scent of the pack, so being near them would help keep you hidden."

Eve turned her gaze towards the Cullens, her lips pursed contemplatively. Her eyes met Carlisle's as she inquired, "What scents do you detect when in the presence of the pack?"

Emmett responded before anyone else could, "Since we're aware of their presence, we can distinguish their scent, but the newborns and even Victoria seem to be oblivious to it."

Edward relayed Sam's thoughts, "It was the same with the slain vampire too."

"Essentially, amongst the vastness of the forest and the abundance of wildlife, the pack's scent is effectively concealed," Carlisle clarified.

The dense forest surroundings with its diverse animal life provided an inherent camouflage for the pack's scent, further complicating matters for the newborns. Eve considered this information, appreciating the strategic advantage the pack brought to the table.

Rosalie nodded in agreement, "Eleanor can be nearby but not too close and not too far." She admitted, "It's not perfect, but it's something we can work with."

Eve turned her attention to Edward, who had just looked at the pack before speaking on behalf of Sam. "I'll assign Seth to stay with her," he said.

"Thank you," Eve replied, then noticing Edward's troubled expression, she asked, "Edward, what's troubling you?"

Edward responded, "I'll be staying with her as well. It's not that I don't trust them to be near her, but we can't be too careful," he explained.

Eleanor's expression became troubled as she protested, "No way, you can't afford to lose one of your fighters. I'll be safe with Seth."

Carlisle calmly responded, "We can manage without Edward in the fight." His words carried a sense of reassurance, suggesting that the absence of a single member wouldn't significantly impact their chances. "It's more important that you stay safe," he added, emphasizing the priority of her safety.

Eleanor tried to object, but the unwavering resolve in the faces of the Cullens silenced her.

Eleanor reluctantly accepted the plan, understanding the importance of her safety. The pack then began the process of getting acquainted with the scents of the Cullens, which proved to be uncomfortable for most of them. Despite their discomfort, Edward struggled to suppress his laughter as he heard the complaining thoughts of his family.

While they were able to obtain scents from the Cullens, they noticed that they couldn't detect a distinct scent from Eve herself. However, they were still able to differentiate her presence from that of a vampire, so they weren't overly concerned about it.

As the day gave way to night, the pack took the opportunity to observe the Cullens demonstrating their fighting skills and gaining valuable insights about the newborns they would soon face. After a full day of learning and preparation, they agreed that they had absorbed enough information and decided not to meet again until the day of the battle.

The day turned out to be successful, as they put Eleanor's ability to hide her presence to the test. While Eve was the only one able to continually locate her daughter, this did not worry them too much. If even the Cullens and the pack were unable to find her, it was a strong indication that her ability was reliable and could be relied upon in the upcoming battle.

...

Later that night, Eve and Alice found themselves together, with Eve experiencing sudden late-night snacking cravings. Eve was aware that her late-night snacking cravings were likely a result of the stress and worry she felt about the impending battle that was just two days away.

As they sat in the kitchen, eating her snack, Eve couldn't help but wonder about the approaching battle. Her concerns for Eleanor's safety loomed in the back of her mind, adding to the tension of the moment.

Alice glanced up from her magazine and smiled, revealing, "Jasper told me that he shared his past with you."

Eve nodded, a mix of curiosity and concern in her eyes. "He did," she confirmed. "He opened up about his past."

Alice beamed, appreciating Eve's words. "You know, it meant a lot that Jasper shared his past with you," she said. "He doesn't usually talk about it, for obvious reasons." She then turned her gaze off into the distance, pondering before looking back at Eve. "I've always wanted to tell you about mine," she confessed, her eyes searching Eve's for permission.

Her smile was tinged with pain as she spoke, "I don't remember anything about my human life. It's like I have no memories of it at all." She sighed, her expression heavy with sorrow. "Back when you shared with me that you had forgotten your past, I was so adamant and hopeful that perhaps you could find something. At least you had a starting point, a chance of finding out where to begin."

She paused, before continuing, "But for me, I woke up alone, transformed into a vampire, without any recollection of who turned me, or who I was before."

Alice's tone shifted, revealing a sense of acceptance and contentment. "It was alright, even without any memories," she confessed. "I had seen the best future for myself, and it led me to the unexpected discovery that Jasper was my mate. Since I didn't know precisely when our paths would cross, I chose to use my knowledge of my future to practice being a... 'vegetarian,' preparing myself for the life I would have with Jasper, Carlisle, and the others."

Alice's voice carried a tinge of excitement as she shared the next part of her story. "Later, I saw more details of when I would meet Jasper," she mentioned. "So, in 1948, I headed to Philadelphia. You know the rest of it from there. He arrived, and then we tracked down the family together."

Alice spoke softly, her words tinged with a sense of contentment. "It feels like a brief life," she murmured, a smile spreading across her face. "But I found my happiness," she said, her eyes turning to Eve. "And having you, both you and Eleanor, as a part of it, just adds to the excitement. The current memories and the moments ahead—they're all that truly matter."

Eve smiled warmly, her heart filled with joy at Alice's words. "I'm glad you've found happiness and that we're a part of your life," she replied, her voice full of affection. "Memories, both old and new, shape us, and the ones we make together are the most special."

Alice nodded, her eyes gleaming with happiness. "You're right," she agreed. "Memories, whether they're from the past or the present, they all contribute to who we are. But the memories we share together, like we're doing right now, they are the most precious and meaningful."

Eve shared some aspects of her past with Alice, focusing primarily on fashion trends. As they engaged in light-hearted conversation, Eve added a touch of humour, suggesting that she had influenced some fashion fads. Despite the playful banter, Alice couldn't shake the feeling that there might be a hint of truth behind Eve's words, given her innate sense for fashion.

During their conversation, Alice revealed her academic achievements, detailing her degrees in fashion design and international business. Eve was surprised to learn that Alice also utilized her gift for seeing the future to predict lucrative investments in the stock market, a method of generating income.

Inspired by this revelation, Eve's eyes widened, and she let out a soft gasp. "Wait, you've used your foresight to play the stocks?" she inquired, her voice carrying a mix of awe and curiosity.

Alice nodded a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Yes, I have," she confirmed. "My ability to see the future has proven quite handy in predicting profitable market trends and making successful investments."

Eve's astonishment grew, her mind buzzing with questions. "That's absolutely brilliant," she exclaimed, a hint of admiration in her voice. "It's incredible how you've harnessed your gifts for financial gain."

Alice's laughter filled the air, the sound laced with a hint of playfulness. "I mainly employed it for amusement," she confessed. "The added benefit of financial gain was a pleasant surprise, but it was nice to use my gift for something that didn't constantly trigger worry."

Eve raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "So, what else did you use your gift for, if not for financial gain?" she inquired, her interest evident in her tone.

Alice clarified her response, explaining that she had used her ability to observe the decisions of individuals she deemed a potential threat to the family. However, she mentioned a limitation, revealing that she couldn't predict the future involving the wolves because her gift was restricted to humans and vampires.

Hours went by, and Eve decided it was time to retire for the night. As she entered their room, she found Carlisle, quietly enjoying the tranquillity of the balcony.

She approached him with a smile, the soft moonlight casting a gentle glow over the space. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, her voice soft and intimate.

Carlisle's eyes lit up upon seeing Eve. "Of course," he replied, patting the spot next to him. "I was just enjoying the night sky."

Eve settled next to him, taking in the peaceful scenery before them. The night air was filled with a sense of tranquillity, and the stars glimmered above like a blanket of sparkling diamonds.

They sat together, their bodies pressed close, wrapped in the comforting embrace of each other's arms. The silence of the night enveloped them, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or distant call of a nocturnal creature.