chapter three

As the moon finally became visible through the dark clouds that had brought the rainfall through Forks, the clocks ticked through the hours of the night. A sound that could barely be heard to those who weren't listening for it. The thunder and lightning had died down over the passing hours, but the winds remained strong. The windows are still rattling every few seconds causing some disruptions to sleep.

But it didn't seem to bother many in the home. Everyone dispersed to their rooms or wherever they had ended up over the matter of hours. Este's room remained empty, the door cracked open as the shadows trickled into the halls. The ghost of her quiet footsteps padded against the floors and the stairs, until she stopped at the old Grandfather clock wedged between the bookshelves, ticking as the hands moved.

Her hand softly grasped the gold handle before pulling open the glass panel, lined with mahogany. Tugging down one of the many wind chains that hung before she moved back. Watching as the Grandfather clock came forward, revealing the way to the Underground. Causing the girl to slip through quickly, unbothered by the freezing stones as she continued on her way down.

Her hair rested down the side of her shoulder in a braid, the black fabric of her nightgown clashed against her skin as her hand slid down the bannister. The burn of the cold disappeared as soon as it pricked her finger tips as her feet never missed a step. Finally, coming to the end as she looked at the flames dancing on the candles that had never failed to be lit. Her lips parting briefly as a sigh left her lips.

Este walked over to the dust covered shelf, tugging down the leather bound book as she pursed her lips together. Something in her somehow beating heart burned as she opened it. Flipping open the book and looking over the names that rested on the page. Angelica Maeve c. Before her eyes drifted down. Eurydice Lyre Devereaux. Newt Demetrius Devereaux. Niall Adonis...

The girl pulled her eyes from the inked pages. Swallowing the lump in her throat as her heart ran colder than it had before. Her fingers still touched the names in ink as she closed her eyes, breathing slowly as she tried to clear her mind. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as the cold air sliced her skin. But the cold had never caused her any concern, as the Underworld was a cold and dark place.

One she had been used to since she was a mere child. Visiting more and more as she grew older, being there every other week if not every week. Este had seen her father on a few occasions. But due to Zeus wanting to place a barrier between the children and their parents - Este had only seen him when it was absolutely necessary. And because of her father's jealousy, there had been a break in the family.

It had caused a harsh split that had caused Este's heart to grow cold. Why? It had caused the glimmer of life, adolescence, and innocence to disappear before she reached her teenage years. It's why no one, except her brothers, could recall a moment that they had seen her smile. That they had seen her eyes have that youthful spark that only books told of. But if you asked Este, the gift of that adolescent sparkle was only a curse. A curse that had broken when her family split.

Now as the world moved on, there were whispers and concerns if the Devereaux's ever had. Or if they were stuck, frozen in the depths of what was their Tartarus. Yet, no one could figure it out. To the demigods, they were seen on occasion. When they decided to show up and when they had to be the hero's that they were forced to be. The warriors that they were shunned into by wielding the swords that their parents couldn't. Finishing the wars and battles that their parents started because they found it to be an inconvenience.

"Este?" The whisper of her name that rolled down the stairs caused the girl to shut the book and place it back in its spot in the dust as she looked over to see her brother, "What are you doing? It's past midnight, αδελφή." sister.

"I had a thought - about the Ancestors of Perseus and Andromeda and I decided to see what I could find," Este crossed her arms across her chest as she tugged her lips into something that was reminiscent of a smile, "What are you doing up this late?" She tried to deflect any further questions that he may ask her.

Newt shook his head as he looked over at his sister, tilting his head as a tired smile planted onto his lips, "Believe it or not, much like you I am a night owl. I barely sleep at night and then I'm either around all day or I'm hidden in the darkness of my bedroom. Now, what are you really doing?"

Este rolled her eyes as she adjusted her posture as a laugh left her lips, "Didn't I tell you? I was looking up something that I had thought about. I have a brain, believe it or not dear brother," She scrunched her nose in response.

"I don't believe it," Newt rolled his eyes as he looked at the shelf, trying to peek where her fingers had messed up different areas of the dust, "You've been moving stuff around again. Presumably looking through things."

"I told you I was, after all, a lot happened when it came to the ancestors," Este hummed as she let her hands fall to her sides, letting out a small yawn as she placed a hand over her mouth, "When am I not going through things? Now, I'm tired and I think we should get some sleep."

"Are you staying down here, or where should I expect to find you?" Newt then questioned as he couldn't help but let out a small laugh while looking at his sister, "Or will I just have to wait and see depending on when you randomly appear?"

Este rolled her eyes as she twisted her body around, causing the pop of her backbone to echo before she let her hands fall limp at her sides, "I'm staying down here for now, but I'll be upstairs and awake whenever I feel like it," She raised her eyebrows, "You always know where to find me anyways."

"Goodnight," Newt walked over to his sister, pressing a kiss to her forehead before watching as she sat down on the chaise lounge chair, and then walking back up the stairs once he was sure that she didn't look like she was going to move much more.

"Night," Este responded shortly as her eyes followed her brother up the stairs.

Este let her head fall back against the cushion of the chaise as she chewed on her lip, her mind falling onto everything that had been happening the past few weeks. School had been in and out for certain members of the group, mainly Este and Newt as they had been forced to go on more quests than usual. They had yet to actually start their semester. Titus didn't go without them, but Kaz had.

No one else was really sure why the twins and Titus had yet to appear in the school setting, because the twins had kept any details sealed shut behind their steel personas. And no one would ever figure out what was happening unless they wanted them to know.

There was a war coming. A war in the demigods world. It had been one in the making and something just didn't sit right about it. Este knew that there was more to learn - and that a lot was going to happen throughout the next few years... but she wasn't sure what that meant for anyone. She could feel someone die. Though, she could not tell you when you were going to die. Este despised her abilities with a passion. She hated everything about them. Her father was the root of all of her problems and they were just one more detail about her that came from him.

There was something wrong, and it wasn't just the demigod world. Or maybe it was. Este wasn't really sure. In the time that she had been out of school for quests, she had grown increasingly more wary of the family that had moved to Forks a year or two prior. And from what the others were saying about the Cullen family... They were trouble. Red flags that Este and Newt needed to see if they got a vibe from. Finn believed that they were just weird adopted kids. Elijah just thought they were emos. Two very different things.

"There was another body to be discovered," Finn's voice caused Este to tilt her head further back on the arm as she caught sight of the boy, "Charlie's going crazy on the police radar. Says it's nothing like he's seen. Labeling it as another animal attack but he claims it looks ritualistic. Newt said I should come down and tell you."

"So do you think that it has something to do with the Cullen's, or do you think it's something else from my world?" Este's eyes were dead as she looked back at the boy, staring at the darkness that rested in the glass of his glasses, "Or has he said any details that we can use to figure out what we think?"

There was a moment of silence. The coolness of the air nipped at the teens skin while Este's eyes glanced over the teenage boy. She grew more skeptical of his presence.

"Why are you still here so late? This isn't your home," Este remarked simply.

"I just felt inclined to sit and talk with Kaz. Turned into a sleepover," Finn walked closer to the girl as he leaned forward, resting his weight in his arms that sat on the chaise lounge chair, "The Cullen kids discovered it on a late night hike, but he claims that there's some sort of markings on the body's arms. They've moved it to the coroner's office where it'll stay until they declare the investigation done."

Este gave a slight nod as she lifted one of her hands to rest on his arm, a dark look crossing her eyes as her fingers tapped rhythmically against his skin before pushing him away, "This stays between you, me, and my brother. Tomorrow night we can go and investigate the markings. See if they mark anything from our books and if we can tie it to anything." A small sense of annoyance and disgust filled her at his actions, yet she remained silent about that.

"You need to keep an eye on the Cullen's and see if you feel anything off. I have a feeling there's going to be something your abilities can sense from them," Finn looked down at her as he grinned, squinting his nose to push his glasses back up, "How's your hand?"

Este scoffed as she shook her head, letting out an airy laugh as she sat herself up, crossing her arms across her chest as she looked over her shoulder at Finn, "I'll do what I can but I'm not going to run myself down trying to keep an eye on them. Newt's already a little annoyed we're looking so heavily into a family we know nothing about. And my hand is fine thank you."

"You sound so annoyed, is it because you don't like putting up with a mortal like me? Or is it my constant prying even when I can't see through the mist. If I hadn't seen through the mist when you were bleeding out-" Este's glare caused the boy to pause as he looked at her, "You wouldn't have kept me around if I couldn't see through the mist."

"If you hadn't seen it does not matter. My brother, Titus, and Kaz can. They can handle me." Este rose to her feet as she shook her head with a scoff, "Maybe," She retorted with a smirk before sighing, "You sure know how to start a conversation of doubt, don't you? Look - I can't tell you what would or wouldn't have happened because the Gods are χαζός." stupid.

Finn crossed his arms as he looked at her, pieces of his blonde hair falling into his face as he stared down at the girl, "We've got school in the morning. Get some rest and don't be as miserable as you usually are. Not many students know what to except upon your arrival- you've changed."

"Is this really how you're going to leave this conversation tonight?" Este asked as annoyance began to run through her veins as she looked beyond annoyed, "I see how it is. Runaway from your problems, Carnehan. See where that takes you and don't call me for help," She slipped into the shadows before he had any time to try and say anything else to her.

The girl recognized the familiarity of the darkness that led her in her bedroom. Her hands rubbed together as she flopped back onto her bed. Her chest rising and falling with every breath she took. She looked over at the window, staring as the curtains swayed through the dark. Every so often letting a peak of the darkness from outside the glass shine in. The darkened look of the trees causing a tiny smile to slip on her lips as she turned on her side to look out.

Este's eyes fluttered shut after a while. Pieces of her hair falling into her face and tickling her skin every so often as the breeze fluttered it. At some point, Newt had opened the door to his sister's room. Peeking in through the crack of the door before walking over to her, placing a blanket over her skin before carefully putting a pillow under her head without waking her.

Newt was the only person who she'd stay asleep around.

"Goodnight αδελφή," sister, As his voice disappeared from audibility, the room became darker and the door was shut. Leaving Este sleeping peacefully in the one thing that had always brought her comfort as well as a home. The dark.

And when she woke up the next morning, as the chaos of everyone trying to wake up and get ready, began to take place... She rubbed her hands over her face and yawned. Her blue eyes caught the tiny bit of light that began to peak through her curtains as she looked down at the blanket on her body, shaking her head as she rubbed her temples. It's seven thirty, too early for them to be this rowdy, she couldn't help but think.

Este groaned as she ran her hands over her face, under her eyes. Glancing in the mirror at the bags under her eyes. She took her brush and forcibly raked it through her hair before pushing it down. The tired girl continued to get changed into a pair of jeans before pulling on a long sleeve white t-shirt. Glancing around her room before she threw on the Deftones t-shirt over it. She lulled her neck around causing the bones to pop before she slid out of her room. Please do not let Finn bother me this early.

Este stepped into the cool hallway. Her eyes adjusted to the new light in the room before she walked to the bathroom as her still bare feet hit the floor. Her blue eyes tinged with annoyance as Kaz stood in front of the mirror, running the comb shamelessly through his hair while posing every few seconds.

"Seeing as this is a public space, and you clearly are done getting ready - might I politely ask for you to vacate so I can brush my teeth?" Este's tone made it clear that it was not in the best interest of his safety to try and play any games with her this early in the morning, he was in her way and she needed him to move. Without any inconveniences.

"But Este! I need to make sure I look perfect for the ladies!" It took merely seconds for Kaz's head to whip around in her direction as he gave her a pleading look before looking back in the mirror, running the comb through his hair once again as if it could fix his rats nest. A pout playing at his lips as he tried not to look amused.

The girl let a huff of annoyance leave her lips as she fought back a grin before remarking, "Yeah, no, I do not care. The combs not fixing that rats nest from Tartarus. Move or I will shave your head in your sleep," Her fingers tapped against the wood of the doorframe, causing a surge of panic to run through Kaz.

Kaz turned on his heel with wide eyes to face her, almost as if lightning had run through his veins, taking her threat to heart as he looked at her with a paleing face, "That is evil! You would do no such thing!"

Este simply held up her index finger as she tilted her head to the side, giving him a silent warning before rolling her eyes, "One."

"Este -" Kaz tried to stop her from counting while still taking up the bathroom which only made her count faster due to the growing annoyance and lack of time that they had to finish getting ready.

"Two!" She said much louder, with a much deeper tone, as she held up her second finger giving Kaz the red flag that he was getting closer and closer to the line he shouldn't cross.

"Alright! Alright!" Kaz threw his hands up before trying to maneuver between Este and the door to get out, trying not to touch her as he used his heightened speed, "It's all yours now, Princess. Don't touch my hair!"

"Oh," Este caught his arm as they traded places, "And next time you invite Finn for a sleepover, per say, please let the group know."

The look that Kaz gave Este caused her to pause. His eyebrows knitted together and a flash of confusion fell over his features.

"What? Did you not ask him too?" Este remarked as she tilted her head to the side, trying to decode why he was looking at her like that.

"Este, Finn didn't stay over last night." Those words from Kaz caused Este to furrow her eyebrows.

"Ah."

Este didn't say anything else, letting go of Kaz before she shut the wooden door. An odd feeling pooling in her stomach - what do you mean Finn didn't stay the night? Okay, then why did he talk to me last night? Did I imagine him? No, because why would I dream of anything dealing with the Cullen family. A million thoughts and questions ran through Este's head, yet they would remain unanswered as she finished getting ready.

Este's hand reached for the metal faucet. Turning it as the water began to drip down the porcelain sink with a click. She quickly ran her toothbrush under the water before adding toothpaste and brushing her teeth. The coolness of the mint caused her eyes to burn before she rinsed her mouth with water and spit out her mouthwash.

Yet, only one question remained on Este's mind. What the hell was up with Finn?