chapter twenty-nine

When the morning came, everyone had cleared out of the home. Through the darkness of the night, the demigods stayed awake. There was a feeling that lingered in the air, something had shifted over the hours that they had celebrated. Newt had gone outside by himself for a minute, but the moment he walked back in. Este knew. The other demigods knew. But they kept it quiet as the twins celebrated for a little bit longer before they addressed the situation.

The house had cleared out, the vampires left after they were nearly rushed out of the home by Kaz. once he returned, as well as Titus. Titus took the nicer route towards asking them to leave, saying something had come up. So, they did. Newt had stepped outside with them for a minute, probably explaining that he was going to be disappearing for some time. Or at least that is what Este assumed, not knowing what else he had to say as the two sat in the silence of the living room.

Este and Newt remained seated next to each other. They were pressed closely together as the room remained dead silent. Este had a hand placed on her brother's knee while his hand remained resting on her arm. Kaz and Titus were sitting across from them, sharing looks while looking back at the two twins. Quests were struggles and it wasn't rare for solo quests to happen. Especially when it came to the twins and it only added to Este's anxiety.

Newt was a good fighter. He had fought his fair share of monsters and despite his limp, rarely came out hurt. But that wasn't by himself. There was always someone else there. Whether it was Kaz who had been with him in the first place or if it was Titus who had run around and found Newt. Este would appear near her brother, when she knew where he was, and she would make sure that nothing came close enough to hurt him.

She couldn't do that here.

"You're going to be gone for around seven days for the quest, and two for Camp," Este muttered as she ran the numbers through her head as she leaned more into her brother, "So in reality I won't see you again till February and there's a chance I won't hear from you until then," There was a frown that held down her lips as she looked at her brother, "You better keep in contact with me because I will kick your ass."

Newt couldn't help but let out a small laugh at Este's words as he adjusted the way that he was sitting, "Believe me. I'll keep in contact. The last thing I need you doing is dragging someone, that someone being me," Newt let his head drop slightly as he looked down at the floor before looking across at Kaz, "Don't start anything while I'm gone. I'm not responsible for what my sister does, and nor will she get in trouble for it."

Kaz didn't say anything, keeping his arms crossed as he looked at the floor. There was a hint of annoyance in his eyes, but nothing that either of the twin's were going to take note of. Titus had a look of worry as his eyes crossed over to Newt, it was clear that Este wasn't the only one bothered by her brother's sudden departure. Titus hadn't been doing good with everything that was happening and he was sure it was only going to get worse from here.

"I love you. Be careful," Este's gaze softened as she looked at her brother.

    It was a rare moment of her humanity seeping through.

"I'll see you soon," Newt hugged her briefly before he moved.

Newt was now standing. Holding his armor and his sword as he began to walk out the back of the house. Este stood in the doorway staring after her brother, watching as he disappeared into the darkness. She looked at Titus who was watching her closely, as she turned around and walked back into the home. She shut the door as she pursed her lips together in a thin line.

"I'm going to the Diner with Riley and Wendy tomorrow to help her explain that the two of you are dating," She barely glanced over in his direction as she spoke before she looked at Kaz, "Goodnight," Keeping it short and simple as she walked into the front of the home, pausing at the stairwell briefly as she felt a wave of anger rush over her.

She paused her movements as she noticed the pool of blood on the floor. Her heart dropped to her stomach as she blinked rapidly and she rubbed her hands over her eyes, watching as Finn's body appeared in her vision as she slowly bent down, looking up as she saw herself. Standing there. Covered in his blood. What the hell is happening? She swallowed thickly as she looked down, her breath hitching as Finn's eyes snapped open and he gripped her arm.

"What the hell is happening," Este swallowed before crying out in pain as the scars on her arms reopened, "What the fuck! Go back to being dead - you son of a bitch!" Este tried to jerk her arm away from him before she watched as the other version of herself slowly lowered down, smirking.

Este turned to look to the side, watching as the two Devereaux's now stood in the doorway. Both tilting their heads with narrowed eyes as they watched the scene before a pair of hands tightened around Este's neck, the girl let out a strangled noise before throwing her head back as she turned to see Kaz falling back against the wall as she stepped down on the body of Finn Carnehan before running up the stairs, slamming her door before grabbing the dagger from her drawer...

Her eyes snapped open as her alarm clocked blared in her ears. Her chest rising and falling rapidly as she looked around her room, before looking down at the scars along her arm. They were simply scars. Finn was dead, Newt was on a quest, and the rest of her family was downstairs or running around the home. Presumably getting ready for the school day, Tuesday January the twenty-fifth.

Her heart was beating out of her chest and she felt nauseous. She stared at the wall in front of her. Her eyes fell down to the covers that were pooled around her body before she turned off her flip-phone so she had an excuse not to answer anyone's messages.

Este ran her hands over her face as she walked out of her room, into the bathroom. Shutting the door as she splashed water over her face before looking in the mirror. To most, it would be clear that she hadn't slept as her eyes were sunken in and there was just a look hidden behind the steel blue of her eyes but some may pass it off as she just used her abilities. She brushed her teeth quickly, spitting out the toothpaste in the sink before brushing her hair.

She slipped back into her bedroom. Throwing on a baggy shirt before putting on her jeans and a jacket. Not really bothering as much as she would've, even if she usually put the bare minimum in. She had left the necklace on that Alice and Jasper had given her the night before, so she simply pulled it out from under the fabric of her shirt as she slid on her shoes and made her way downstairs. Keeping her eyes on the ground.

"So, what's our car lineup for today?" Kaz questioned as he looked over at Este, "You're riding with us for the rest of the time your brother is gone. You aren't riding with those... Cullen's," She could hear the malicious tone that he did nothing to hide.

"Kaz," Titus was clearly uneasy as he looked over at Este, as if trying to keep the peace. After all, it was usually Newt who calmed down the situations before they could escalate any worse.

"I'll ride whatever and with whoever I want," Este retorted as she leaned down and grabbed her bag from the floor, "You don't control me, Kaz." There was nothing in her expression and there was no emotion behind her tone.

"Let's not get into this now," Titus built up the courage to stand between the two, keeping them at a distance from each other, "Kaz drop the grudge on them for whatever they've done to piss you off. Este... don't provoke him more."

    Este didn't say a word, remaining in her silence as she tugged at the straps on her bag.

"Halfbreed," Everyone in the room stilled as soon as that left Kaz's lips, Este's entire demeanor flipped in a matter of seconds as Titus was quick to keep in front of her.

"Last time I checked, I'm not a mirror, Lightwood," Her tone was now laced with anger, her eyes narrowed in a dark glare, "That's like the pot calling the kettle black. We're all bastard children, aren't we?" She scoffed as she cracked her fists, "Fucking dumbass."

"Don't you dare," Kaz moved forward as well.

"Least my daddy claimed me. You live in a cabin where it doesn't matter if he acknowledges you or not," Este was fuming. "You think you're so tough, Lightwood. I'll shadow travel. Deal with your attitude."

"There's a reason my moms alive and yours isn't," Este rushed forward, her dagger into the skin of his neck, "You wouldn't."

"Este!" Titus was panicking but he knew better than to get in the middle of... this.

"I killed Finn, didn't I?" Este commented as she glared at the boy, "What makes you think I won't kill you too?"

"Este," Titus called out as fear laced his tone, causing the girl to glance back at him while keeping her guard up, "Please don't do this..."

It wasn't the guilt that she would feel that stopped Este from doing anything further, and it wasn't because she was controlling her anger. She didn't do anything because she knew that she wouldn't stop once she started and she could see the look of fear in Titus' gaze. She didn't want the people closest to her to fear that she would hurt them, and she was sure if she did anything else they would.

Este simply put her dagger away before disappearing into the shadows. Get yourself together. Get it together. She repeated in her head like a mantra as she appeared on school grounds.

"Somethin's wrong," Jasper fell into step with Este, "Figured it'd be best to talk without a group."

"Nothing is wrong," Este tried to ignore him even as he made sure to stand close enough to be able to hold onto her bag. "I'm fine."

"You were fine last night, but I can feel that you aren't now," Jasper countered as he eyed her, "Kaz?"

Este was annoyed with the questions he kept asking, but he was just trying to see what was wrong, "Kaz," She conceded. "Called me a bastard. Made a comment about my dead mother."

    There was a moment of silence.

"That's a low blow," Jasper kept in step with her even as they just walked school grounds, "That's not a best friend."

"Family has their issues," Este simply stated, even if part of her was growing to resent Kaz, he was like a brother. "This is just ours."

"Eurydice," Jasper stopped her as his eyes wandered over her, "It's okay."

"I know," Este responded as she buried it down, "I'll see you in class."

    For the rest of the day, she sat in silence. She'd glance at someone as they spoke to her, nod in greeting or understanding, but she never uttered a word. Sometimes she'd glare if anyone even walked in her direction, but she remained silent. The Cullens occasionally made conversation with her despite it being one-sided. Edward and Jasper could feel and hear the thoughts and emotions radiating off of her. Even if she tried to keep it hidden.

"What happened with your attitude today?" Jessica asked as she raised an eyebrow, muttering,
"And where is your brother? Maybe he could control your bitchiness."

"Getting an education. Unlike you," Este commented without a second to spare as she glanced over at Jessica, watching as the girl cowered under her glare.

    Her first day being eighteen and she was already a ticking time bomb. Newt was the one that kept her calm. When they were separated the twins were both filled with anxiety and worry, and Este's way of taming that was anger.

"He didn't die either, did he?" Jessica asked as she swallowed thickly, "Shame if he died. We'd have to go through another stupid assembly to hear about it."

    Este could practically hear the blood rushing behind her ears.

"I don't know, I might like watching Este put on another show," Mike Newton winked as a wave of disgust filled Este, "What? Come on, I don't care if you were crying, it was totally hot."

Este noticed the look that the other's turned and gave Mike while Este looked to see that Clark was keeping an eye on her, "Gross," Jessica muttered as jealousy flooded through her.

"Guys, leave her alone. Jessica... that wasn't cool," Bella stepped in, giving the others a look as they stood in the hall. "You've been in and out of school lately," Bella commented to Este.

"Mind your business," Este commented as she turned back to look at the table of boy's in front of her, the girl's had walked out for a minute to have a conversation, "No one brought you into this conversation, so stay out of it."

"I'm just curious," The girl tried to defend herself, Este could feel the way her anger was bubbling as she slammed her fists against the table while fully turning her chair around.

"Haven't you heard curiosity killed the cat? I would say what a shame it would be if you were the cat but then again I feel that it would be more peaceful." Este snapped as her glare grew darker before Elijah pinched his nose as if he was the one being scolded.

"Control your bitch," Mike Newton spoke, aiming the comment towards the guys at the table while Este let out a laugh as she ignored the eyes that fell on her.

"Este isn't controlled by anyone," Titus was the one to speak as the young boy rose from his seat, moving closer to Este, "So what she does, you brought it on yourself."

"Say another word and I'll show you control," Elyse stuck up for Este as she made sure that a fight didn't break out into the hallway.

"Hey! There you are," Rosalie placed a hand on both of their shoulders as her tone was as fake as Jessica's natural beauty, "Why don't you two come sit with my family?" She suggested as she looked between the two before looking at the other demigods, "We've got plans to make."

    Perfect timing.

    Rosalie had to keep a hand on Este's arm to drag her over to the table that housed the rest of the vampires. Her cheeks were flushed due to her anger and her eyes remained in a narrowed glare.

"If the CIA could read my thoughts, I'd be in a federal prison," Este huffed as she leaned back into her seat.

"Someone really pissed her off," Emmett commented as he made a face, "You'd be in prison for something. Maybe not your thoughts. They can't be that bad."

"Are you really doubting how dark my mind can be?"

    Este's eyes fell over on the other lunch table. Kaz was sitting around with Elyse, Elijah, Titus, Wendy, and a few others. His glare was still set on her lunch table but that wasn't what bothered her.

"Kaz is currently mad at me. He's full of absolute shit and he's said some shit. I genuinely think that I'm going to end up committing a crime," Este commented as she took the fork off of Jasper's lunch tray and bent it around, "Your going to have to bail me out of jail and keep it from my brother."

"I can't see where he goes," Alice commented quietly as she looped her arm through Este's, "I've tried to look, I noticed it before but it's like there's nothing for me to look at."

"Well your visions are subjective," Este commented quietly as she looked at Jasper, "And you can just see people's decisions so he might not decide where he wants to go. He just goes. And honestly, let him. Besides, you said your visions of us are weird and blurry because of what we are."

"You don't mean that," Jasper was the one to speak, breaking his silence as he stayed close to Este, "I know you're hurt by him. You are also missin' your brother since he's gone off alone. Worried. Kaz is wrong for sayin' what he said but talk to him. Communicate and work through it, don't give up on that long of a friendship."

"How'd you know about Newt..."

"Edward."

"Ugh."

    Este looked over at him before going silent. Dwelling on his words. If he can feel emotions, does that mean Kaz might feel regret and remorse? Is that what he's encouraging? Este wasn't sure what it was. But she simply stayed quiet while listening as Jasper forced out about how he wasn't sure if Edward's decisions were the best which made Alice pout and give him a talk about how she has seen the future and what is to come.

Este mouthed that she agreed with him, making sure Alice couldn't see, causing him to give her a small smirk. If her day hadn't been so bad, maybe she would've cracked a grin as that sickly sweet feeling of fluttering began while Alice gave her a teasing glare.

Este followed the two Cullen's to their vehicles, just chatting before she would go back to the car with her friends. Listening as they chatted while Edward's gaze remained stuck on Bella Swan. The boy rolled his eyes upon reading her thoughts, go fuck yourself because you looking at her is really creepy, she knew that he believed it was teasing. But she really wasn't, he stared like a mass murderer.

"Does he ever look like a normal guy?" Este retorted as she looked over at Jasper and Alice.

"No," Alice hummed.   

The screech of tires sounded through the air and Este turned her head to see the Swan girl standing in front of her old truck, as Tyler Crowley's van swerved into the school parking lot. He had lost control. In the blink of an eye Edward was over at Isabella's side and holding the van away as his hand crushed into the side. Este's eyes widened as Jasper and Alice both grabbed her hands as she went paler than she normally was. Holy shit.

The feeling of death had started to wash over her before it seemingly evaporated as if it never was there. Este swallowed the lump in her throat as she pulled away from the two, watching as Jasper's expression changed while he moved to get Alice in the car. May the fates be with everyone this is going to be a sticky situation. Este moved away from the vampires as she walked over to the other side of the parking lot while watching as the others ran to the scene while Kaz disappeared into the woods with a malicious glare.

Elijah and Elyse's gazes ducked away from Este's as soon as she looked in their direction. Titus sighed as he moved away. This was it. This was the moment where everything fell apart, crumbling away as trust and friendships were broken.

It seems like everyone in the group had picked a side, and the decisions were final. Sealing Este's fate.