chapter eight

If there was one thing that the twin's failed at, that was not saying the Gods names. Despite being raised and told not to say them, they always had. Names gave the Gods power, or at least alerted them that you were saying something. Yet, almost every other sentence that the brother and sister spoke... they mentioned one of their names and didn't seem to have a care. But the fact that they used the Greek words and not the regular terms around Forks caused some heads to turn.

But they weren't the only family in Forks that caused heads to turn whenever they emerged. And it seemed like the two families that shared a lot in common had some sort of rift between them. Like they were both something that they shouldn't be, and someone was going to figure it out. And Este would be damned if they ever got exposed, because there was nothing wrong about their existence. But there was something wrong with there's.

The group knew that they couldn't just focus on one thing at a time. As there were multiple mysterious things happening in Forks. Which led Este to believe that maybe they were all connected. The mysterious deaths, ancient markings, all happening in one section of the woods. Now that? That was a little too convenient if you asked Este . And despite there being no signs of what connected it all, she had a feeling that somehow the Cullen's were involved in it all.

There was so much happening in the town that Este wondered whether this was finally the sign that they should leave. That maybe they did need to go back to Camp or that they needed to go somewhere far from everything. Or maybe that was what everyone wanted. Maybe this was all some sort of plan one of the Gods had devised to get rid of them. Este felt uneasy about it all but she knew better than to let that get to her. Especially in front of everyone.

Este had always feared about what would happen to her friends because they were too close to her and that only amplified. The Cullen's were some sort of undead creatures, and they had already shown they weren't afraid of getting their hands dirty or getting into some sort of conflict with anyone near them. Maybe Este's fears were becoming more real than she had realized, and maybe this was what she had feared of all along coming true.

Crap, how could I be so stupid? Este couldn't help but think as she dug her left thumb deeper into the palm of her right hand. Sitting in the wooden rocking chair in the living room of the house. She had put herself and those around her into more danger by reacting the way she had to Rosalie Hale, despite only proving something that she wondered, in a conflict that the other party had started. But would it be worth any of her friends losing their lives if it came to that? No. None of this would ever be worth losing her friends over.

Este remained silent as she rocked back and forth. The entire room was silent as the group all sat in their usual seats. Este was in her rocking chair, Newt was sitting on the couch closest to his sister, Kaz in the middle, and Titus on the end. The three demigods sitting in their own silence, the only outsider? Finn Carnehan who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

Este looked over at Finn as she continued to rub her thumb into her palm, almost as a way of keeping her grounded before she looked over at Newt. Almost urging for him to be the one to start talking about what had happened. Yet, only silence continued to go through the room causing Este to let out an annoyed huff. Chewing on the inside of her lip before she adjusted herself in the rocking chair as the floors beneath her creaked. Causing the entire room of eyes to fall onto her.

"Look, I am going to address the elephant in the room. Each of the Cullens gives me the same feeling of death. Every Time they are near, I get names, dates, and places. Like every person who has actually died around me. So they can't be alive. In some twisted way, they're dead."

    Este's statement hung heavy in the air, causing a pause as the words sunk in.

Este began as she sighed, looking over at her brother, "The entire time any of them were anywhere close to me, their death dates kept repeating in my head and I know how that sounds but the moment I told Rosalie to stop and what to do she did it without being able to stop herself and it was clear she wasn't doing it willingly. And I know you felt it too during class."

Newt pinched the bridge of his nose as he sat up, placing his elbows on his knees as he clearly was stressed out by the news, "Este, what did I tell you about staying away from them and not saying anything? Keeping your head low?! I asked you one thing and you couldn't even do that in class with me - and now you... forget it," He was stressed. Rightfully so.

"Look, I didn't mean for the altercation to start. Rosalie Hale ran into me and then started arguing and shoved Elijah. I wasn't letting that slide. She threw me into the lockers with one shoulder. That's not normal. Not to mention, she sent Elijah right onto his knees with an elbow.

"I'm sure you are exaggerating. You weren't exactly in the most coherent headspace," Kaz tried to shrug it off.

"She has inhumane strength," Este then continued as she began to explain, "And she's as cold - or even colder than we are. Newt, I'm betting the entire family is like that and I've never heard of a monster like this. I have a feeling that they're connected to what's been happening. And I really think we need to check this out."

"And we will but you weren't supposed to get that close," Newt looked over at his sister as he sighed, "Do you know what could've happened? What if they look more into you and decide that you are a demigod and they are monsters? They'll come after you and then they'll come after all of us."

"It wasn't her fault," Finn spoke up as he looked over at Newt, "She defended her ground when they came against her and Elijah. Be glad she protected them both and it would be more out of character for Este to act as if nothing had happened. That would've raised more flags if anything."

"I don't need you defending me," Este was quick to snark over at Finn, her blue eyes narrowing, "You've got no ground to talk here after you've been spewing lies left and right."

"Coming back to the lying part momentarily, Finn's right, Newt," Kaz agreed as he looked over at the boy at the wall, "If anything Rosalie probably thinks that she pissed Este off enough to keep her away, even if Este is the one to stay away. If Este would've backed off like you wanted her too, they might be at our front door right now."

"Are we forgetting about the part where Este controlled Rosalie?" Titus couldn't help but add in, "What do you think that does? Even by accident no matter what view we look at this from... they're going to look more into Este whether we like it or not."

"But Este shouldn't be blamed for any of this," Finn snapped as he looked around the room, "I get everyone's safety is an issue and Este knew that. Maybe this was our one shot of finding out a defining clue about what they are. Este took one for the team, now we can figure more out about what they are."

"Again, don't defend me."

"But at what cost," Finn countered his own argument, "Este may have got a few defining factors at the cost of making herself their number one target. She'll never make it out of the house without them being right behind her."

"You're not even a demigod, who are you to say anything on the matter," Titius became infuriated with the conversation as he rose to his feet causing the entire room to go dead silent upon hearing his anger as he realized what he said before he slowly sunk back into the seat.

Este took a deep breath as she ran her hands over her face before she looked at the others, her expression void of any emotion, "Look. I didn't plan on having a run in with any of them today and I'm sorry that I got defensive on my behalf and on Elijah's behalf. Everyone in here, even the non-demigod, have a right to say something because I just put all of us on the top of the most wanted list. You're all around me and therefore no one is safe."

"Such a martyr." Finn scoffed.

"You've been lying for weeks. How is it you manage to always know that the Cullen's are the ones to find the bodies? Or how are you consequently in the right place at the right time every time for this information? Not to mention, you lied about staying around with Kaz and being in our house at night without an actual explanation or reason," Este simply remarked back with a firm look.

    Another silence fell over the room. Finn's lips parting slightly for a moment as he looked over at Kaz for help. Yet, the son of Hermes didn't offer any. Newt's gaze turned to his sister as he went over her statement in his own head while Titus was playing with the zipper on his jacket.

"Finn, get out," Newt turned his brown eyes towards the blonde against the wall, "Now."

    The blonde's jaw tensed, a scoff leaving his lips as he pushed himself off the wall before inevitably leaving the home.

"We'll come back to the topic on Finn in a second, because we really do need to talk about this thing with the Cullens," Kaz glanced over at the group, "Because right now, considering what we've now discovered we are in danger."

"There's nothing that we could've changed, this was inevitable. No one is to blame here and everyone needs to take a breather," Newt shook his head as he put his face in his palms, "Gods this is a mess."

"Personally, I think that the smartest decision here is to keep working how we have been. No hiding. Don't run away from them and act scared, but keep your guard up. Don't let them know that you know, because that's when they'll attack," Este stated as she tilted her head back against the rocking chair.

"Can you even handle that?" Newt asked as he rose to his feet, standing taller than his sister as he walked closer to her as she stood, "Can you handle being near them anymore? Closer than you were today?" He questioned as he looked down on her, "We both know how that felt today and how that affected us and I don't want to put something risky on an even riskier slope."

"I can handle myself," Este gave her brother a look before she scoffed, being a little insulted in his lack of faith, "It's a good thing our daddy taught me how to deal with the dead isn't it?" She remarked with a vicious tone before she looked over at Kaz, "Research everything you can find, I don't care if it crosses mythologies," And when he nodded she turned to look at her brother, "Is this finished? Because I think it is. I really need a nap."

Newt adjusted his posture as he looked at his sister, "This is finished," He gave a swift nod while pursing his lips in a thin line before he looked back at Titus, "Come on, get up. We're going to go search the archives for something on what they could be while Kaz researches it."

Este sat right back down into the rocking chair, pulling her legs up against her as she leaned on the arm of the chair. Her head against her hand as the chair softly rocked back and forth. The atmosphere was tense even after Newt and Titus left to go search the archives, but the eldest twin hadn't left without pausing in the door frame as he looked back at the younger.

A sigh left Este's lips as she pushed her head back up, her hands going to rest against her knees as she watched Titus leave his spot on the couch and go back into his room to do some research. How can I be so stupid?

"I don't care what any of you do, just don't do anything so risky that you get hurt," Este spoke to no one at all as she pursed her lips together before she melted into the darkness that would lead her into her bedroom up the stairs.

    Este had a few moments of peace. The darkness of the shadows was cold and inviting. It made all of her problems melt away into the void that spanned across the world. When she emerged out of the cold of the shadows, her body sunk into the mattress of her bed. Her cheek pressed into the pillows as her mind reeled over her plans. Morgue. Tonight. The body would be autopsied and moved within the next few days, and the sooner they investigated it the better.

"What part of 'get out' did you not understand?" Este turned her head to see Finn slipping in her doorway, "You really don't listen."

"Because I know where you plan on going tonight. Are you sure that going tonight is such a great idea? I mean, a lot happened today," Finn was trying to put on a caring persona, but it was making Este feel anything but cared for.

The girl honestly needed a count of how many times she rolled her eyes or let out a big sigh, because she was sure it'd be every five seconds with him around, "You aren't talking me out of going tonight, Finn. Frankly, you're the last person I'd let talk me out of anything."

"I'm coming with you then." Kill yourself.

"No," Este groaned as she grabbed a bag, and began filling it with essentials, "I am going alone because it is more efficient."

"You're thinking that this might be Vrykolakas, aren't you?" Finn asked as he grabbed a flashlight off of her dresser, "There's a chance that it could be anything from Empusa all the way to Striges."

"One problem with those, they wouldn't give off a dead feeling. Nor would I be able to control them," Este simply responded as she glared at him as she took her flashlight from his hand.

Finn simply smirked at her before leaning back, "You're really leaning into the fact the Cullens have to be the ones doing the killing."

"Vrykolakas are very rare, they haven't been seen or heard of since ancient times," Este spoke as she finished grabbing things to bring as she looked over at Finn, "If its Vrykolakas then someone's controlling them, same with Empusa but we both know who controls them..." She scoffed, "I don't know who is doing this, but they're definitely a part of it."

"Actually, I don't know who controls them," Finn made a face as he took hold of the girl's arm, prepared to disappear into the darkness that made those not born to it sick, "I may research things for all of you but I'm not exactly really a part of your world."

"No need to sound like the Little Mermaid, Finn," Este scoffed before she made sure that he was holding onto her tight, "Brace yourself, or don't," She hummed before turning off the lights and sinking the two back into the darkness, ignoring the fast paced feeling before she pulled them out.

    The floors were tile, and the lights were dim. Metal doors lined the walls as the cold air nipped at their skin. Finn hunched over a trash can as he began to heave, causing Este to smirk before she placed her hands on the walls, the ends of her fingers going black as the shadows dimmed the room before she looked around. Not even waiting for Finn to finish heaving because either way she knew she could slip in and out with ease.

"What's the victim's name, or do we know? Never been in a morgue before?" Este asked as she watched Finn finally stand back up, wiping his mouth as his eyes remained somewhat watery, "Maybe you should've just driven," The place reeked of death, but this death didn't bother her. As it was gone and not present.

Finn shook his head as he breathed heavily, "No. It's just very... different. Uh, the victimes name is," He held his hand up as he looked at his palm, "Lauren Mallory," He looked over at the girl who made a face.

"Okay," Este then began looking over the clear names by the doors before she found it, "Got her," She mumbled before she opened the latch and pulled the sliding table out, revealing the covered body of Lauren Mallory, "Finn, you might want to look away. Since you've got a weak stomach. Or don't, either way this is fun."

"No," Finn stood on the opposite side of the table than Este as he looked at her, "I can handle this. Pull it down," Este gave the boy an unsure look before shrugging her shoulders and pulling down the cloth but not enough to reveal her body, folding over part so they could see the arms.

Este winced as she looked at the wounds inflicted on her skin, "These definitely were carved and burned into her skin, you can tell by the differing ways. Ones bubbled up, the other's deep in her skin," She tilted her head as she muttered, "Το ανίερο."

"What does that mean?" Finn asked as he backed away from the body, placing a hand to his mouth before he pointed, "There's bite marks on her skin, but if it was Vrykolakas there would be signs of some disease that hasn't been seen in ages."

"Her arm," Este removed her hands from the body as she pursed her lips together, "One of the things carved into her 'unholy' which is beyond strange, but kinda true because she was a whore," She realized how that sounded and made a face, "Uh, sorry Lauren, okay so let's copy down the markings and what the bite looks like and get out of here."

"No complaints from me," Finn took a notebook from Este before he began drawing down what he saw, doing so quick enough that it could remain accurate but also quick enough that they could leave soon, "When are you due to the Underworld, next?" He asked as he handed the finished drawing back over to her.

Get out of my business, "Friday," Este muttered as she continued to draw the symbols before she took the notebook back from Finn before placing it in her bag as she fixed the cloth over the dead girl's body, before she heard talking down the hall, "Shit we've got to go," She pushed the body back in before her sleeve got caught on the door which caused her to yank her arm back, as something broke, "We've got to go..."

"I know," Finn watched as shadows of people passed over the blinds causing him to grab her arm as the two disappeared as quickly as they had appeared, "That was a close one," He stumbled out quickly, before dry heaving.

Este pulled him out of the shadows with her as they were back in her bedroom before she grabbed her wrist, "My bracelet, shit," Her entire expression dropped as a feeling of dread filled her, "I need to go back, my bracelet is what broke - I need to go get it."

"You go back now and we're goners," Finn gave her a firm look as he placed his hands on her shoulders as he tried not to heave anymore, only pissing her off, "We can go back and get it another time. For now, we have to suck up our losses."

"Yeah, go back to the morgue another time. Like it's the peak teenage spot," Este let out a grumble of distaste as she looked at Finn, "Get out of my room, get out," She huffed and when he didn't move she turned and looked at him, "Do you really want me to throw a fit?"

"Don't go back for the bracelet," Finn gave her a firm look as he turned to walk out the door, "I know it means a lot to you, but going back for it is a risk. Think of everyone before you do anything," and with that, he shut the door.

Este let out a loud huff as she placed the bag back on the ground, kicking it off to the side before she sat down on her bed. Sitting in the darkness as she looked at the books that lined one side of her floor before her eyes fell onto the small picture frame, causing her to rise to her feet before flipping it over. She had lost the one thing she had of her mother.