chapter twenty-one

If there was one place that could absolutely drive Este up a wall, it was the Cullen house. Maybe it was the fact she was more on edge now that she knew what she was to the two vampires, or maybe it was because now she was constantly denying her feelings to make herself feel safer. Yet, everytime she went over to the Cullens house - she was anything but safe.

She'd visited over there a few more times after the incident, and Carlisle would check on Este's healing and make sure that she didn't get an infection. Everything since the attack had been a blur, and in all honesty she felt as if she was being swept up in time.

Her blue eyes seemed to look a little more dead than they had previously. They'd sunken in more, and underneath her eyes seemed darker than before. She was listening as Newt talked with Emmett, the two had a budding friendship that almost surprised Este. It seemed they shared a similar sense of humor. So, often, when Este would travel to visit the Cullens, her twin brother would tag along.

Though, one day, the Cullens realized the full extent of the danger the twins constantly faced.

"Do you hear that?" Emmett was the first one to realize it, "The rustling."

The other vampires nodded in agreement over the newfound sound that caught their senses. Immediately getting ready to deal with some sort of new occurrence.

"Stop," Este realized something quickly as she caught sight of something that looked like a lion's tale... with a snake head. "Newt," Her eyes darted over to her brother.

Both twins shared a brief look of understanding, "You all might want to move, somewhere else," Newt told the vampires as the snarls of the creature roared loudly from the forest, "Because that's not here for you all."

"What is that? It smells," Rosalie put a hand over her nose.

"Something that wants to eat us," Este retorted before moving back when the tail hit harshly against the glass window of the Cullens kitchen, "Sorry in advance for the damages..."

"Damages?" Esme moved back with Carlisle as everyone watched in bewilderment.

It was only moments later that the glass to the kitchen shattered as the chimera stalked through. It was a beastly creature. It had the body of a lion, with the head of a goat protruding from its back, and finally the tail with the snake head. Oh, come on. Just when I thought things in my life were settling down for even a moment.

"You go right, I go left," Newt called over to Este as he slipped his dagger out of his pocket before disappearing into the shadows.

"Copy that," Este slid over the couch as she grabbed her dagger from her back pocket, "Here kitty," she tapped the metal against the table.

"We're about to lose our nonfunctional kitchen, aren't we?" Esme asked as she looked between the other vampires who were pressed against the wall.

"100%."

"Hey!" Este narrowly dodged the slice from the chimeras tail as it hissed at her, "Bad kitty," She swiped her dagger at it before sliding under the table.

"Look this way!" Newt emerged from the shadows on the other side of the kitchen island, ducking down as the chimera's tail dug into the marble of the island, "Este - up!"

"Look out!" Alice shrieked as it swiped again, this time taking out another window.

    Theoretically, we could train them to help us with this. Could we not? Este couldn't help but wonder about the possibilities.

"Give me a second," Este practically hissed as she jabbed her dagger into the chimera's foot before sliding her other dagger out of her shoe, letting the celestial bronze sink into its skin before it burst into gold dust.

Newt huffed as he swiped at the gold dust as it fell all over the room, "Well, that's one way to start the evening."

Este looked like she wanted to throw herself out a window, covered head to toe in golden dust as she coughed, "Next time, you're killing it."

"What was that?" Emmett was the first to ask as he eyed the scene carefully.

"A chimera," Newt remarked as he wiped gold dust from his arms.

"What's a chimera?" Emmett asked, causing a few to let out amused huffs.

"Nothing, big boy," Este grumbled, her irritation palpable as she slid out from under the table looking as if she took a bath in gold powder.

    I'm about to absolutely lose my mind because of this monster dust.

"Don't worry about the kitchen, we'll have it fixed," Esme didn't want the two demigods to worry about the damage, "Are you two alright?"
"Peachy," Both twins snarked in unison before glaring at one another.

"That thing smelt awful," Rosalie remarked as she looked over the gold dust, "And that looks like a pain to clean."

"I've got it," Newt waved his hand, "Can I just have a broom?"

"You don't have too," Esme shook her head as she moved over towards Newt, "Besides, we can get it up in a faster time than you can."

"Please just let me clean this up," Newt gave Esme a soft look.

    Eventually, Esme stopped fighting with Newt and gave him a broom.

"Let's get you cleaned up," Alice popped up at Este's side, as she wiped gold dust from the girl's shoulder, "I'm sure we've got something you can wear."
No one had even realized Emmett had momentarily left the room before he returned with a book in hand, holding up one of the ancient Greek paintings of a chimera, "You two just fought... this in our kitchen?"

There was a brief amusement over everyone's faces, "You act as if you didn't see it with your own eyes," Este retorted before she realized something, "Wait, could you guys see that?"

    The mist typically kept mythical creatures blocked from the eyes of regular mortals. But seeing as the Cullens were vampires, was it possible they could see the creatures that hunted the demigods down their entire lives? It was given that they could see the vrykolakas because they were vampire-like creatures and also at that moment had been assigned to kill the Cullens, but this was a slightly different situation.

"Slightly. It was almost blurry," Rosalie retorted as she glanced at Emmett and his book, "You're like a child."

"But, to answer your question, Emmett yes that is what we just fought in your kitchen," Este rolled her eyes at his interest.

"Awesome!" Emmett cheered as he held the book up before Este became so annoyed that she lunged forward, but Jasper managed to hook an arm around her and keep her back.

"Let's not do that, darlin." Jasper kept his arm around her to keep her in place, Alice simply grinned at Este's annoyed expression.

"I hope the gold dust stains your shirt," Este grumbled as she shoved his grip off, "I think I'll agree to that change of clothes."

"Perfect!" Alice poked Este's cheek causing her to give the vampire a very odd look, "Come on, Rosalie and I've got you handled."

"Oh, they've got you handled," Newt retorted with an amused glance as he kept sweeping.

"Trip and fall, Newt," Este grumbled as she shook her head at her brother.

"I still think it's very cool that we just had an ancient creature in our kitchen," Emmett was practically in awe of the situation.

"Not so exciting that it tried to kill two of our friends and tear apart our kitchen," Carlisle responded.

"Yeah, not that cool," Emmett shrugged as he tried to downplay his excitement.

    Este went upstairs with Rosalie and Alice, being dragged between rooms before settling in something that looked like a walk-in nightmare. Filled with different textures and colors. Oh. My. Este's eyes widened as her nose scrunched. Someone please tell me this is Tartarus because what is this?

"Sit," Alice forced Este to sit on the stool in front of the mirror.

    Este barely had time to open her mouth before the two vampires moved in a flash and suddenly the dust was out of her hair, and her brown hair was half-up with braids. That's definitely a statement, she didn't comment on that though.

"I'm not wearing those whack textures," Este was quick to say when the two vampires began to walk around and pick things out, "Find me something... normal."

"I'm not sure we have something that fits your... acquired style," Rosalie retorted as she gave her a small scolding look before holding up a shirt.

"No."

Alice held up another.

"No."

    There was a moment of back and forth. The two vampires would hold up various shirts for Este to look at only for the girl to turn them down.

"I actually don't mind that," Este pointed to the shirt in Rosalie's hands.

"It's mine," Rosalie hummed with a slight sense of satisfaction as she sent a look to Alice before tossing it to Este, "Try it on."

    Este slid off her gold covered long sleeve shirt before putting on Rosalie's. It was one of those shirts that looked like it wrapped around, a slight v-neck where the fabric crossed at the chest. The band of the shirt rested under her chest before it flowed a little at the bottom. It was the only black shirt they'd shown her. Then she put on the jeans they'd tossed her.

"Thanks," Este felt better not being covered in gold powder anymore.

"No problem," Alice quipped gleefully as she tutted her shoulder out.

    Time at the Cullens wasn't awful, but it did add growing tension in the demigods' own household. Kaz was firmly against the vampires being anywhere near the family anymore while the rest weren't so keen on keeping them at a distance.

    It was the night Este agreed to go to the movies with Jasper and Alice. And it was anything but a calm day in the demigods' house.

"You can't control me, Kaz," Este remarked as she took a sip of her water, tired of his constant admonition of her decisions regarding the Cullens, "Frankly, it's my choice. I'm the one who has to live with it. So, please give me this one. I never put my feelings anywhere in the equation, let me have a little something for once." It felt so odd for her to even mention her feelings.

"They are vampires. Don't you understand that?" Kaz scolded as he leaned against the table to look at her, "They might have helped us once, but they will kill you. It's in their nature."

"They helped us. If they were going to kill me, I doubt they'd try to be our friends. As you said, it's in their nature. An animalistic and volatile nature which they do not portray. I took a risk after all of this, I got closer to them. I can hold my own, so let me."

"Eurydice Lyre Devereaux," Kaz moved to block her from walking out of the kitchen, "You're going to get yourself killed."

"Kaz," Newt stepped in, giving him a harsh look.

"Then let me get myself killed," Este pushed him out of her way before she walked out of the room, pausing momentarily to turn back to look at him, "We're demigods. We don't live long. Let me die however I want and don't you dare sit here and berate me as if I haven't given everything for all of you."

    Este stayed in her room until she got a text from Alice saying that they had arrived, followed by her brother calling up the stairs to tell her. Este played with the charms on her bracelet before she grabbed her bag of necessities. Aka, her daggers, her wallet, her chapstick, and her pepper spray. She, in no way, dressed up for this movie trip. Wearing her usual jeans and one of those black long-sleeve shirts with the white lines drawn around and the rhinestones. A jacket was thrown over to keep her warm and, per usual, her hair was down and her feet were covered by her converse.

"Bye," Este gave her brother a forced smile as she side hugged him.

"We'll have her back after the movie in a timely manner," Jasper informed Newt as if he had to make sure they stayed in each other's good graces.

"We'll take her to dinner. Make sure she gets something to eat," Alice then added with a smile as she turned to Newt.

"Just don't let anything happen to her," Newt remarked as he nudged his sister's side, causing her to roll her eyes.

"We won't, I promise."

"Well, let's go," Este was the first of the three out of the door, "What?"
"Nothing," Alice tutted happily as she practically skipped alongside Este.

Jasper managed to get in front of them, and he opened the car door for the demigod, "Thanks," She gave him a small nod before getting in the car.

He shut the door for her, "No problem."

    Alice was practically beaming in the front seat. Este swore the girl's hyperness was now causing the car to move. She's definitely the most excited about this. Jasper slid into the driver's seat and started the car before they pulled off.

"I can pay for myself-" Este tried to break the silence when they walked up to the box of the movie theater.

"No!" Alice practically shrieked as she pushed down Este's hands.
"Absolutely not, darlin'," Jasper also disagreed as he paid for the three of them, "Trust me, it doesn't hurt us."

"I didn't say it did, but I don't need you to pay for me," Este grumbled a little as she looked at Alice who was still holding her hands, "Hi Alice."

"You don't need us too, but we want too," Alice grinned happily as she squeezed Este's hand, "Come on. We're going to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."

"Now you are speaking my language," Este folded instantly.

    Alice practically tugged Este in the door, the younger girl scoffing at the enthusiasm that oozed from Alice. Sometimes, it really was a lot. Jasper walked smoothly behind them, his jaw locked. He was as tense as he was at school, which made Este pity him in a sense. He was only doing this so that they could go out and do something with her. Jeez, stop being so soft. She scolded herself as she followed Alice.

"Sit," Alice practically forced Este down in the middle seat, a wide grin on her lips, "You are going to love it!"

"Sh, before you get us kicked out. The movie hasn't even started," Este remarked as she leaned back into the seats of the theater, crossing her legs.

"She tends to be like that. Doesn't change," Jasper remarked quietly as his eyes were locked on the ground in front of them before he glanced sideways at Este, "She'll always be like that."

"I can tell."

    Alice simply grinned before shushing the two. They made it through the beginning ads, before the movie started. Este was zeroed-in on the film that was playing, but occasionally she'd break her focus and glance around. On either side of her, both vampires had a hand on the arms of the conjoined chairs. Jeez, give a girl some room. If you were strangers, I'd flip. Then she'd shrug it off and turn back to the film. Not catching the glances she occasionally received.

    She stretched her hands out in her lap absentmindedly as her blue eyes remained locked on the screen. She was so engrossed in the film that she, for once, seemed like a normal teenage girl.

    She didn't even register the moment she put her hands over both of the vampires.

    Alice glanced down at their now conjoined hands, her eyes lighting up as her grin widened before she glanced at Jasper. The other vampire was staring down at their hands before he gave a pleased nod in Alice's direction.

    All while Este was sitting between the two, her eyes locked-in on the movie screen. Occasionally, her nose would scrunch or she'd furrow her eyebrows together. Or her eyes would widen momentarily and she'd shake her head. Yet, she remained focused on the film. Her hands in both of the vampires as her face remained slightly flushed and her heart patting a little faster than normal.

    Oh, oh he's dead. Wait that one, Cedric, looks familiar - get him Harry. Oh wait, why do my hands feel cold? Ah! Flash of color, fighting. I love wizards. See, why couldn't I have been a wizard instead of a demigod? I would rock Hogwarts. Literally.

    Este chatted with them after the movie, but once their hands broke? She put her hands deep inside of her pockets. Even at the restaurant, she kept her hands occupied.

"I am not eating. It's so awkward since you guys can't eat. I don't want you sitting here and watching me," Este remarked as she leaned back in her seat.

Alice chuckled in response to Este's words, her eyes gleaming in amusement.

Jasper huffed out a soft laugh as well, his golden eyes slightly amused. "Does it make you uncomfortable?" He wasn't as tense as before, but he was still tight.

"Yes. Very," Este didn't even hesitate.

Both of their lips quirked up into a slight smirk at Este, a hint of amusement on their faces.

Alice spoke up after a moment, her voice teasing, "You seem awfully bothered by us not eating."

"That's because I am, eating in front of others is so... awkward. Also, I don't particularly do the whole eating out or in public thing because demigods have to sacrifice some form of their food, just an fyi."

Both of their smirks widened as Este spoke, Alice's eyes gleaming with an amused gleam while Jasper's eyes shimmered with curiosity and intrigue.

Jasper became so intrigued that he had to ask Este further questions, a tinge of curiosity in his voice. "Demigods sacrifice their food? What do you mean by that?"

"Half of whatever we get has to be put in another plate and burned. Helps keep us in the Gods' good graces, and if we want to talk to our parents - bam. That's how we do it," Este shrugged as if it were normal, then again, to her it was. It was all she'd known her entire life.

Alice's eyes flashed with confusion, the shorter girl's mannerisms shifting momentarily as she listened in surprise. Jasper even seemed caught off guard by the answer, though it didn't change his tense demeanor. Dinner with vampires, literally. Este was educating them on her life, well, she might as well seeing as they'd be around for a long time.

This time, Alice spoke up as she looked at Este in confusion, her voice soft as she spoke,"You sacrifice a portion of your meals for the Gods? Just to speak to them?"

"They're not supposed to have anything to do with their kids outside of any of this," Este answered shortly, "Newt and I have more to do with our father than most. Due to a... different set of circumstances." She worded it carefully.

Alice and Jasper nodded slowly in response to her words, both of them taking in the information silently. Alice shared a quick glance at Jasper before he turned back to Este.

Jasper raised an eyebrow in curiosity and spoke up, "Different set of circumstances...?"

"You'll find that out another time," Este didn't want to get too far into it, "Gotta gain my full trust before you catch all my secrets."

Alice laughed softly, her eyes gleaming with an amused gleam once more, "Really?" They were walking outside the restaurant after Este kept refusing a meal, so she got to-go.

Jasper's lips tugged into a slight smirk, his golden eyes showing a slight hint of curiosity but respect. "Oh really? Is that so?"

"That's right," Este seemed amused by their reactions. "We'll see where this goes."