chapter one

The rain was pouring down on the small town of Forks, Washington. The rain fell at a rapid rate as it bounced off the asphalt of the roads. The smell of the large Oak trees filling the gloomy air, the occasional car lights beaming through the dark. The clouds barely covered the night sky as the stars and moon shone through.

    The winds whipped by the broken structure so fast that branches fell from the trees that blocked the clouds from sight, the same trees that often blocked the darkness from the sun. Leaving the town in a forever state of gloom.

The boards of the old floors creaked. Scuffs remained imprinted in the old wood that was desperately in need of sanding and a new coat of finishing, creaking with each boom of thunder that shook the dark home. Dust covered the walls and the kerosene lamps that hadn't been lit in over forty or more years. Water dripped from the damaged ceilings into a puddle on the floor where the wood had begun to rot from the water damage.

The smell of the rotting wood was unpleasant to the senses, but with every breath taken, the smell got more potent. A girl stepped forward, carrying a flashlight in one hand and a gleaming dagger in the other, her dark hair slipping over her shoulders and disappearing into the shadows of the home as she walked. Her lips pursed in a thin line.

With each crack of thunder, with each flash of light through the darkness and broken windows that cascaded over her face... an eerie sight occurred. One moment she had the normal face of a human - but with each flash of light her eyes seemed darker and those around could see what looked like the bones of her face beneath the skin that almost disappeared.

As the girl continued to step through the remnants of the home, her converse sinking into the floor that continued to erode with age, her light flashed around. An odd feeling lingering in the air, a cold feeling. That feeling that the internal human system set off when you could sense something being there that you couldn't see, putting the brunette on alarm.

Slowly, the hairs on the back of her neck began to rise, her head whipped over her shoulder causing her hair to fall back. She turned around as her light beamed over the room, slowly erasing the shadows in the moment to reveal the dusted over furniture of the abandoned.

As she stalked over to the furniture, she couldn't shake the lingering feeling of someone's gaze burning into her skin. The chills of the air seemed to disappear right before it could touch her. Another shake of lightning and the girl had flashed her light in the other direction of the slowly moving door, creak. Creak. Creaaak. As the hinges barely gave way for any movement.

She knocked on the wood again, pushing her shoulder against it as it moved a few inches. The heavy door only moved enough for her to slide through, and she did. Her movements were light, maneuvering around the door before flashing her light around the room she'd entered. The reminiscence of the house now haunted by the sheer ghost of time. The dust and water damage eating away at once had been a well-loved home. A home that had once been something to someone, that now sat deserted under heavy fog and a never ending darkness. A gloom that caused many before to go mad.

The girl's hand reached out, the crack of lightning sounded again and the flash of light beamed through the window. Suddenly, her hand seemed so skeletal. The cold descent of the darkness consumed her once more as she turned off her flashlight. Peering around as she tilted her head, before her eyes lifted to the ceiling.

Tick. Tick. Tick. The little ticks of what sounded like a clock met the girl's ears as she flashed her light into the room that had once been, what she assumed to be, the second parlor. The once floral wallpaper was now bare of any design, peeling off of the walls and disintegrating into nothing.

The girl swiped her fingers over the dust on the black book that sat on the oval desk. Her eyebrow raised as she tried to decipher what it was under the thick layers of dust. She blew the bits of dust off of her fingers. Carefully, the girl slid her index finger under the cover, gently flipping it open where it revealed the oxidized papers from within.

Thump, thump, CRASH. The brunette quickly slid the flashlight into her waistband as she twisted the dagger around her wrist, carefully stepping around the cracking floors. She turned on her heels before sharply intaking a breath as her eyes went wide.

With a jolt the girl gasped for air as she sat up in her bed. The sunlight blocked out by her black-out curtains. Her chest rising and falling as her arms were firmly planted behind her, keeping her upper body propped up. She let out a deep sigh as she glanced around her bedroom before she threw her comforter off of her lap. Slowly moving to sit straight up with her legs off the side of her bed.

The room was pretty much empty. Nothing like the bedroom of a teenage girl. Her walls were a dark shade of grey, her window covered with black-out curtains to get rid of any light. Her bed sat against the wall covered in various blankets varying in shades of maroon. Under one pillow, a glint of a blade was noticeable.

"Este, get up," A boy's voice, Newt's voice, called through the door.

Este ran a hand over her face as her brown hair fell, "One moment," She called back.

"Eurydice Lyre Devereaux, I swear if you are not out this door in five minutes I'll drag you out," Newt called back as he hit against her door one more time.

    An airy laugh left Este's lips, a small grin tugging onto them as she rolled her head around to pop her neck.

"Well, fine since we are using full names, Newt Demetrius Devereaux, I suggest you give me the full five minutes so you don't hurt your back by carrying me out of this room," She called back as she got up.

    Este rolled her eyes at her twin brother's commentary. The grin remained on her lips as her words were followed by silence, causing her to shake her head. Heading to her closet. Este grabbed out a pair of dark jeans, tossing them over to the side before turning back to her closet and pulling down a shirt.

    Este quickly slid off her pajamas and put the jeans on, before a bra and tank top, and finally her shirt. Pulling her hair out from under the fabric before combing her fingers through it. Walking over to her door and opening it before moving back into her room to slide her shoes on.

    Este's converse padded against the floor of the empty house. Her eyes peered over to the bathroom door as it opened. A younger teenage boy stepped out, his brown eyes covered by his dark curly hair. Este waited for him to move out of the door before sliding around him.

"Jesus, Titus - do you ever lay off the Axe body spray?" Este retorted as she turned on the fan to the bathroom before brushing her teeth.

"Sorry Este!" Titus called from the other room.

    Titus Lysander Aetos. He was practically a brother to the Devereaux twins. He'd grown up around them since he was two and they were four. They all grew up with the same life issues.

    Este slid out of the bathroom when she finished, glancing down the hall at the shadows before sliding into the front room as she grabbed her bookbag. Catching herself before she could hit against Kaz, the raven haired boy who could infuriate her so much sometimes.

"Look who finally decided to join the party," Kaz grinned as he went to ruffle her hair before retracting his hand when her steel blue eyes narrowed into a glare, "No need to have such a lethal glare, Este. You are giving your dad a run for his money."

"Oh just shut up," Este remarked with the roll of her eyes.

"Love you too," Kaz teased as he walked around her.

    Este couldn't help but shake her head at his words, before glancing over into the shadows. Trying to decipher what was hiding out of her sight, before she glanced over her shoulder to see her twin brother in the other room. Newt was putting his books into his bag. His eyebrows furrowed as he remained deep in his thoughts while his hands continued to move without hesitation.

    Este slid her bag over her arms before she leaned against the doorway of the kitchen. Her head went against the wooden frame. Her blue eyes scanned over her brother's features as she tried to figure out what he could be thinking about. The lankier boy did not seem to notice her gaze, and even if he did he didn't make it known. His brown eyes locked absently on the bookbag that was laid out on the counter.

"Newt," Este finally spoke through the silence. Causing his eyes to blink before his gaze shifted to her, "You okay?"

There was a moment of pause, almost as if he was trying to register what she was saying, "I'm fine," He shrugged his shoulders, "You seem like you haven't slept, though. Kaz said he heard someone moving around last night."

"Could've been me," Titus piped up as he walked into the room, a proud grin on his lips as he puffed out his chest, "I was on MySpace with the ladies."

"MySpace? Please tell me you were using the MonsterProof phones they made for us," Newt's nose was scrunched up as he looked at Titus like a disappointed father.

Este was trying not to laugh at that little comment, or the look on her brother's face, "The only devices we have are MonsterProof, Newt. If they weren't, we'd be dead by now."

"Having a son of Hermes in this house makes anything possible," Newt retorted as he rolled his eyes, leaning back against the counter as he tilted his head.

"Kaz is the son of Hermes so he would've stolen the phone," Titus placed a hand over his heart, acting offended, "I am the victorious son of Nike. Do not mistake my parentage for some low-life like the god of stealing."

"Oh for the love of the gods," Este's voice was full of amusement even if her expression gave nothing away, "Don't get started about being proud of your parents. Last I checked, they've never done anything for us except get us into more trouble."

"Este, don't start this now," Newt's voice was sharp with his sister, giving her a glare that rivaled her own, "It's seven in the morning."

"Yeah, well, it's seven in the morning we're lucky to be alive because of our parents' curse," Este retorted before pushing herself off of the doorway, glancing over at Titus, "Is it a MonsterProof phone or not? If it isn't I swear to everything, Titus, I will drag you to the fields myself."

Titus raised his hands into the air, "Ay! Tienes que creerme! It's a MonsterProof phone, I swear."

    The two twins shared a look, before both rolled their eyes and waved off that comment. Both share a similar look before trying to do something the other wouldn't do, only to end up being completely in sync.

"What? No-" Este went to protest, but her brother had been much quicker than her, grabbing her arm and pulling her into the shadows, "Dickweed!"

"Bitchface," Newt retorted with the glimmer of a smirk as he pushed Este out of the darkness and onto one of the bar stools before walking around the counter as he reappeared, "And this is why you don't disappear on your own. It was you up last night, I can feel when you enter the shadows too, dingus."

Este rolled her eyes as she stood back up, fully ready to disappear back as she looked at her brother, "So, what? You're spying on me now? How is that even fair?"

"Don't think about it," Newt gave her a firm look, a look that a mother gave her child when scolding it, "It is not spying when you make it very obvious where you are going, dear sister."

Este glanced over at Titus who immediately bowed out of the doorway as she tapped her fingers against the counter, "Sometimes I wonder by what unlucky god did we become twins and not one kid."

"The idea of us being one kid would insinuate we were both merged together, and that sounds a lot worse than two versions," Newt took her dagger from her pocket before she could protest and leaned back against the counter, "Next time, we go together or in pairs. Not alone. Okay, Este?" and when she didn't answer, he tried again, "Eurydice Lyre Devereaux."

Este's eyes narrowed into a thin glare, one that would make Death himself hide, "Fine," Her tone was as sour as the name that had come from Newt's lips, "Fine, Demetrius."

    The Devereaux twins would always be the twins to be at each other's throats. They were twins after all, they had to argue at least a little bit.

"You guys are absolutely unbelievable," Titus complained before he checked the clock, "And we've also totally got to go because we've got class tomorrow. And it's our first day. The last thing we need is to stick out even before the occasional monster attacks. Besides, that stealth mission we've got going tonight is going to work out perfectly. I know it."

"Right because that's a perk of being a demigod," Este patted her brother's shoulder before grinning, flashing a fake smile to Titus, "The joys of living."

"We've got to go, or are we going to sit here and continue to fight?" Titus whined as he leaned against the counter, making sure to flex his arms in the process, "I've got chicks to impress and I doubt they'll be impressed by a hot guy who can't even show up on time with like five other people."
"You're too young and short to impress any ladies," Este retorted as she rolled her eyes, moving into the other room, "And don't get too comfortable. We all know there's a good chance we won't even be here in a month. Four demigods under one roof? Two kids of the Big Three who are the most hunted in this world, it'll be a miracle that we're here next week."

"Eurydice," Newt was growing tired of his sister's constant pessimistic outlook on their lives, "For once, please just shut up. No one wants to hear your constant doomsday monologue. We have lives we want to try and live."

    Este and Newt were different on that front. Two highly sought after demigods. Twins, a brother and sister, that had found themselves on the run from death from the moment they were born. Always being chased by the swift blade of the fates. After spending most of their years in a camp for children like them, the two formed different opinions on the world surrounding their lives. Eurydice believed their father used them as pawns, chess pieces to move as he pleased to play the game of divinity in his favor. Newt believed that the fact they'd constantly be hunted was unfortunate but also believed that their father had nothing to do with their lives being as broken as they are.

Whatever your parents told you, those stories about the gods and the nymphs that roamed the earth, that drank the finest of wines, and bore the most powerful heroes...they weren't just myths. They were real, and so were their children. And so were their monsters. Being a demigod wasn't something magical, and to Este, it was one of the worst fates that you could end up living. You were never certain whether you would be breathing the next day, or if you would be a shrine.

"We have been trying to live," Este remarked as she ran her hand through her dark hair, "But please, continue to be optimistic. I'm sure that'll make our life span so much longer," Her words had a bit of bite in them.

But being a child of the so-called "big three" was a fate worse than death. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades had swore off having children due to the chaos that their children created. Yet, they broke their own promises. Somewhere in the world, there were others. Este and Newt knew that they were only two of the many children of Hades. Sought after for their abilities, and sought after for their heads. And seventeen years of living had only taught them one thing. Tomorrow was never promised.

Demigods did not live very long. Especially more than one in one spot for long periods of time. Este and Newt weren't the only demigods living in the Forks home, Kaz the son of Hermes and Titus the son of Nike lived there as well, which only made the home a beacon for the inevitable. Yet, they'd never split. Not after the many years they'd shared on the run together. They were a family, and a family that would rather die together than split apart.

They had a few friends in Forks, mortals that they were aware could see through the deceptions of the divine world. Finn Carnehan, Elijah Wesley, and Elyse Adair. They knew that the world was more than it seemed - but never had been fully told about the real reason they were different. The real reason any of their friends were different. They were the unlucky mortals that could see through the mist and were doomed with the fate of dying by their friends one day.

"Aren't you such a joy to be around this morning," Kaz commented as he watched Este leave the kitchen before he turned back to Newt and Titus, "You guys know how she is. Trying to argue with her won't help. Especially not now."

"Yeah, I know," Newt responded stubbornly, a deep sigh leaving his lips as he shook his head causing a few pieces of his blonde hair to fall into his eyes, "I just wish sometimes she could see things a little differently."

Este and Newt had lost their mother at a young age, having been on their own ever since they were five. Bouncing around mortal homes as well as the safe haven camp, a place built by the gods to be a safe haven for their children and the haven where the twin's had met Kaz. In return, the children would fight their battles and would go through quests for them. That's how Titus met the twins, they found him while on a quest.

"Este will never change," Kaz told Newt as he nudged his arm, giving the blonde-haired boy a look, "You've just gotta let her be her."

Este glanced back at her brother from the other room, feeling his eyes on her, "I know she won't. Sometimes I just do it so I can get her to react, because then that tells me my sister's still in there," Newt responded as he nodded in his sister's direction.