Kin and Kindred

Kin and Kindred
Chapter 14

Fusedtwilight: Thanks to animegirlkiki for betaing, thanks to all of you for reviewing. This chap is a bit short, but pleasent to read.

Jack P.O.V

"Now why in the fuck are we doing this again?" I asked.

"Because Eleazar thinks you're power could give you some tracking abilities," Jasper said. We were deep in the woods, Seth, Colin and Brady had followed us as well. Jasper had dragged me out of the house a few days ago and we had been trying to work on my tracking skills. For two days straight we had bee working on me tracking using my power. Eleazar told Jasper I might not only be able to manipulate life force but also sense it from a distance. He said I could be a tracker, what ever that meant. Jasper had been trying to teach me to use my power to sniff my targets out.

"But why do I need to use my power when I have a sense of smell sharper then a shark's?" I asked.

"Because even though we have enhanced senses of smell we can be fooled, or even lose the scent. Trackers are a small group of vampires who have a special power that allows them to track, sense, detect, or know when and where their prey will be," Jasper said, "the majority of vampires just use our own natural sense of smell and some are better at hunting that way then most."

"Like this guy?" I asked pointing to Alistair.

Alistair was an acquaintance of Carlisle's. Carlisle would say a friend, but Alistair say's acquaintance. He is a nomad who is the biggest pussy in the whole world. Seriously, this guy is a fucking schizoid, he thinks everyone is out to get him and all he ever does is hide only coming out to feed.

So why is he helping me train in my potential tracking abilities? Well apparently he has a power as well; he can sense the presence of living beings, including vampires. We may not have a heart beat but we still count as living. Alistair's power makes it impossible to sneak up on him; he can feel you coming from many miles away.

Carlisle had been trying to contact him. (Not easy when he is a hermit and hates being around people) Wanted to call in a favor, see if maybe he can help train me in tracking people. How he convinced him to do it I don't know.

"This guy has a name," Alistair said grumpily.

"Look I think if I had a tracking ability I would know about it right now," I said.

"That's the thing about our powers Jack, some powers are singular and simple like Edward's telepathy, others grant multiple abilities like my empathy not only lets me sense emotions but manipulate them as well. When I first became a vampire I didn't learn about my manipulation powers until many months later."

"I don't know Jasper, this might not be a good thing," I said.

"Aww, little baby scared?" Brady teased.

"Shouldn't you be chasing your ass or something?" I asked him.

"Believe me I would rather be doing that then helping you."

"Then why are you here?"

"Like I'm going to leave my buds to be used as a bunch of lab rats for you're freaky ass power," he said.

Collin frowned at Brady. "Need I remind you it was the said freaky power that saved my life."

As much as I hate to admit it Brady does have a point. What with the whole hunger thing I have what if we poke around it to much and it causes some problems. I keep on getting this image of me going ape shit and trying to suck them dry.

Jasper must have sensed my anxiety because he placed his hands on my shoulders, giving me a nice dose of calm to go with it. "Don't worry, this will be good for you. It will help show that you're power although dangerous does not have to be a burden. You can heal with it, you saved Collin's life. Learning to track could help you protect yourself or the ones you love in the future."

"Yeah, if you need to hide or you need to find one of you're family you could track them down," Seth said giving me a smile.

"I'm with the boy, maybe we should leave him dull in the tracking department," Alistair said.

"Why?" Jasper asked.

"To be frank, you're newborn scares the holy hell out of me," he said.

"That's because you're a chicken shit," I said.

"Look you can kill a vampire with a touch and admit you have a hunger for the life of others. Now Carlisle wants you to learn to track? Whose to say you won't use what I teach you to find victims and drain them dry?"

I felt a flash of anger like lightning. The cock sucker had a point. What if I did go crazy and decide to use the tracking aspects of my power to track people down.

"It was my idea, not Carlisle's," Jasper said giving Alistair a glare.

Yeah, tell him Jasper, glad to see you have faith in me.

"Besides I have already considered that possibility. I doubt he even has the patience to stalk his prey."

Smug blonde bastard. Guess what Blondie, I go apeshit your first on my list.

"Besides if he does go psycho you can use you're power to avoid him," Seth said.

"Good point," Alistair said.

I looked to Jasper who still had his hands on my shoulders. "Jasper, maybe we shouldn't, at least until I get a better understanding of my power."

"Don't worry; I have faith in you Jack. You are more then you're hunger. Remember good and evil are just words, we give them meaning through our choices."

I had to admit, I was curious about this part of my power. Not because it could help me hunt but because it was something new and it didn't involve me killing anyone. I was going to have to use my power sooner or later; lots of things can happen in eternity. It wasn't like I could run away from it, it was in me, a part of me. I had to face it sooner or later.

If I could learn to use it in none lethal ways maybe it will help me control it more. The more you know about something the better you can control it right?

They had the wolves phase and run off into the woods. Jasper stood between me and Alistair, he refused to be within ten feet of me without having someone between us. I guess he figured it was better to have someone between us so I would go after them first.

"Alright, now I want you to tell me where they are?" Alistair said.

"How the hell should I know that? They took off in different directions," I said.

"The sandy one is there, the brown spotted one is four miles away from him, and the light gray one went South East and just turned North West."

"How the hell do you know that?" I asked.

"I sense their movements; I can even tell which is which."

"How?"

"Everyone has their own....field....their own energy. Some people have similar energies but no one is ever the same. I can even tell the difference between the energies of different species. I can tell between vampire, human, and animal. Once I sense someone I always know who they are so I know who to avoid and who not to avoid."

"Damn," I said.

"Yes, now I want you to try and reach out with you're power and see how far you can extend it."

"But I have to be touching someone to sense them with my power," I said.

"Try."

I sighed and closed my eyes. I tried to.....I don't know reach out with my mind or some psychic shit like that. Nothing. This was a waste of time; Eleazar needs to have his eyes checked. My power heals and kills with a touch, not track someone.

"What a load of shit!" I hissed.

"I take it you felt nothing?" Alistair said dryly.

"I don't feel shit," I growled.

"Okay then, plan B," he said.

"What's plan B?" I asked.

Jasper reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of cloth. "We tie this around your eyes."

"Why?"

"To blind you."

"........I figured that, but why?"

"When a human looses one of their senses they must depend on their remaining senses. This causes the remaining senses to sharpen. This is true with vampires. We think taking away you're sight will force you to depend on your other senses including your power."

He folded it over my eyes and tied it in a tight knot. "I feel retarded.," I said, "How long do I have to wear this thing?"

"Until we see results," Jasper said.

"Okay, so what now?"

"Now we go home, Esme is cooking a thanksgiving feast for the wolves and then we are going to hunt some turkeys," Jasper said.

"Well let me take this off and-"

I went to take the damn blindfold off but Jasper grabbed my hand. "No, leave it on," he said.

"What? How will I find my way home?" I asked.

"Remember you're steps, vampires have an excellent memory. Use your senses." I heard him open his cell. "I'll call Seth and the others and let them know were taking a break."

Man I can't believe this.

The way home was irritating as hell.

Many times I wanted to rip the damn blindfold off. But Jasper made me a deal; if I kept it on until we got home he would teach me to drive a motorcycle. Specifically the one he owned, which was freaking awesome by the way.

So after much stumbling and cursing we arrived back at the house. I quickly took off the blindfold and stomped inside, frustrated with my lack of progress. We watched as the shifters gorged themselves on turkey, then all of us. (Except Alistair who went to hide in the attic) went to hunt for some turkeys.

Odd, I know, but we were in the festive mood. Nessie was still using her little sister syringe to drink. Bella and Edward glared at me as Nessie stepped the turkey she killed and drank the blood from the bottle. I am seriously compelled to make a bioshock spoof and post it on youtube.

We got back home, happy as hell when Jasper called for the for the families help in training me. So we all went into the back yard and Jasper immediately put the damn blindfold on.

"Maybe we should try deafening him," Edward suggested.

"Depriving him of one more sense might help," Carlisle suggested.

"Lets plug up his nose to," Emmett said.

"Jeez, going overboard a little don't you think," I said.

Carlisle ran inside, he grabbed a pair of cotton balls, some ear plugs, ear muffs and tape.

"Okay, we are all going to scatter Jack, I want you to try and find us if you can. And don't cheat, Edward will be monitoring you, if you cheat our deal is off," Jasper said.

They put in the ear plugs; they tapped some of the cotton over my ears then put on the ear muffs. Then they shoved some of the cotton balls in my nose which made it impossible to smell. I remembered I had such an enhanced form of taste I could probably track them like that.

I heard voices then I felt them tape my mouth shut, Edward must have told them what I had thought. Bastard.

So there I was, blind, deaf, mute, and unable to even taste the world around me. I had a sense of nostalgia hit me then. Something about this state reminded me of a dream. When I still could dream. You ever wake up and know you had a dream, but you can't remember what. No matter how long you try to remember all you get is a blank spot, that's what this was like.
I could still hear a little bit, with the ear plugs and the ear muffs added with the cotton balls I could not hear as well as I normally could. I don't know how long I stood there. Ten minutes maybe. I was to busy stewing over how dumb and ridiculous this was.

Then I felt a wave of calm, Jasper must be telling me to focus. So I did. I took a deep breath in and tried to imagine finding the others. Nothing. I tried thinking about where they were. Nothing. I felt a tiny hand touch mine and I got a memory from Nessie.

Alistair was talking to Nessie. Everything seemed so much larger from her point of view. "Try using your power, open up to it, let it flow. And hurry up, I'm getting bored."

I felt her pat my hand, then I felt her walk away. I tried to focus then. Tried to unleash my power. But before I had to be touching someone for it to work. But I had no one to touch. No one to sense.

I tried to imagine I was touching someone, that my senses were feeling for someone. I felt....something in my mind uncurl. It was like when you let your mind wonder and it feels so light and fluffy. My skin began to tingle, it felt like all my nerves were exposed to the open air.

I felt...it looking, searching. Trying to find something to probe (Ha probe) but there was nothing. I imagined those invisible fingers pushing forward, searching. I then thought of Jasper, his long girly blonde hair, his cold serious demeanor, what his life tasted like when I drained him that time.

Then it snapped. The memory of Jasper's life caused it to snap (which it the best way I can describe it) in a certain direction. I fell to my knees in pain. The sudden pull on my mind had hurt a lot. I knew this tug I was feeling was Jasper, my power told me because when I concentrated on this thing it was feeling Jasper popped up in my head.

Then I felt Jasper moving around. It was weird; it was like I had a compass in my head and right now it was trained on Jasper. If he so much as took a step I knew it. I then let my power focus on Jasper for a while. Once my head began to feel better I stood back up. My power was still pulling me to Jasper so I began to walk in his direction.

The closer I got to him the stronger the pull I had with him got. I knew he was twelve miles away. I decided to try and find Collin next, I figured since I had healed him as I had healed Jasper I could probably find him as well.

So I began to focus on my memories of Collin and just like with Jasper my power snapped into another direction. I was surprised when I felt Collin, he was so much more distant then Jasper. Twenty four miles away. His energy was still the same, still wilder, still hotter then Jasper's.

Giving myself over to my power I decided to let it drive (Metaphorically speaking) I then decided to try and find the others. I figured since there were more vampires then wolves I would seek them out first. I imagined their energy would be similar to Jaspers. Cold, thick, juice. Like a fine wine.

Detaching myself from Collin my mind began to search for the others, I searched near Jasper thinking he would be near Alice. As I search I realized I could sense the animals, the bugs and the insects. My power touched so much life. I took a few seconds on the different lives I found, feeling them, touching them, tasting them.

The world was so full of life. From the smallest bug to the tallest tree. I finally began to realize just how much life there was. If a small woodland area like Forks had this much life what would the forests of South America or Africa be like?

I felt Jasper again and once again I detached myself from him and tried to find the others. I had to remember to do this again later when I got the chance. I finally found another vampire. It wasn't Alice. This one had a masculine kind of energy. An image of Emmett popped in my head.

For the next two hours I practiced using my power. Finding everyone, I could. Practicing finding two or three at a time. Keeping track of multiple people was difficult. I had to really stretch my mind because they kept on moving and some were further away then others. But as time progressed I began to learn how to expend my mind, to keep track of everyone.

I also learned that once I got a taste of their energy all I had to do was think of them and my power would find them in a heart beat. I had to be careful, if they were to far away it would hurt my head, but my senses had expanded. I could not sense them within fifty miles.

I felt Jasper and the others converge on me and I figured it was time for a break or something. Jasper took off my blindfold then the stuff covering my ears and finally the tape and cotton. "Well done, Alistair is most impressed," he said.

"It was amazing; it was like I could sense the life of the world itself!" I said excitedly.

Jasper smiled, enjoying my pleasure. "Could you even sense Bella?" he asked.

"Yes."

The others began to talk.

"Why doesn't her power protect her?"

"Maybe it's because he is sensing her life force, not her mind."

"Remember he got through her shields when she placed it on those animals."

"Can we keep on going? I want to try this some more," I said.

"Of course," Jasper said.

"Well I am gone," Alistair said.

"Why, aren't you interested to see what happens next?" Carlisle asked.

"No, I did my part I am gone."

"Okay. Thank you again for your help old friend," Carlisle shook his hand.

"Keep a good eye on him Carlisle. I sense darkness in him I would not see unleashed." Alistair took off running. I instantly closed my eyes and to my delight I sensed him running away. Once he hit fifty miles my mind detached itself from him.

"Dick," I muttered.

All day we practiced my hunting and tracking skills. Without the blindfold the others would hide and I would seek them out. I got better and better at finding them. I admit it was fun. Like a super version of hide and seek. By the time it was dark out I could sense up to one hundred miles.

We were all together and laughing. No matter what they did, no matter how fast they ran I found them. With my speed and my power it was impossible to run or hide.
"Well done Jack, I am proud of you," Jasper said.

"Thanks Jasper. You still owe me that driving lesson th-"

I stopped. I sensed something. From the south east. Vampires. Five of them. They were coming straight for us, and closing in fast.

"Oh no," Edward said.

Fusedtwilight: Next chapter Maria makes her appearance and sets her sights on Jack and the wolves will learn the truth about Jack and how he was turned. How do they learn? What do they do? Will Jack go with Maria? So many questions and plenty of answers next chap. Please review.