I woke up the next morning with a scream caught in my throat, my hand clenched around the Celestial Bronze dagger I kept under my pillow, pointing at nothing in front of me. I was breathing heavily, my flower print sheets soaked with my sweat and pooled around my waist. My eyes flashed around the room, trying to find the monsters in the dark. I slowly loosened the grip on my dagger, letting the cool metal fall onto my lap. I pressed my hands over my eyes, taking deep breaths as I tried to calm my heart. No matter where I am, these nightmares never end.
After shoving my damp sheets into the washing machine, I quickly changed into my outfit for the day. A spaghetti-strap, flower print dress that fell to my knees, a white cardigan over the top and white flats. My fingers ran over the necklace that I was gifted as a child. A thin collar necklace that had a small metal plate resting in between my collarbones. Pulling my bag over my shoulder I took the stairs two at a time until I arrived in the kitchen. Sitting there was Dad, nursing a mug of coffee with the newspaper open in front of him. Sitting across from him was a brown-haired girl, a couple of months younger than me.
"Bella!" I greeted cheerfully, skipping over to her and wrapping my arms around her, "Oh, Bella, I missed you so much! Happy birthday!" I kissed Bella's cheek, leaving an imprint of my pale pink lipstick in it's place.
"Hey, Aspen." Bella muttered.
"Sorry about that." I rubbed the lipstick of Bella's cheek. "I just haven't seen you in ages, I missed you."
"You always went to that camp during the holidays." Bella told me, looking at her plate and pushing her food around.
"I didn't have a choice, Bella." I told her softly, "I wanted to stay with you, but for your safety, I had to."
"Listen, Aspen, Bella's gonna take you to school for a couple of days." Dad said, setting the newspaper down, "Then she and her...boyfriend are gonna take you the rest of the time."
"Oh, is he ok with that?" I asked, turning to Bella. "I don't want to impose."
"Yeah, he's ok with it." Bella assured.
"Ok." I nodded before moving to get myself some breakfast. "Oh, Dad, I put my sheets in the washing machine, are you able to put them in the dryer before you head out?"
"Sure." Dad muttered into his coffee.
"Ready to go?" Bella asked, setting her plate in the sink. I grabbed myself an apple, silently thanking my Grandmother before nodding.
"Yeah." I said. I planted a quick kiss to Dad's cheek "Bye Dad, love you!" I called behind me as I closed the door. I pulled myself into the truck, my nose crinkling at the smell of gasoline and tobacco. I jumped at the sound of the truck starting, and I was tense the entire ride, it sounded like the Colchis Bulls that attacked camp a couple of years ago. My hand came up to rest against my necklace, gripping it lightly in case I had to use it. We soon arrived at the school, where two people were waiting for Bella. Instantly, I recognised them as Monsters. Pale skin, the unnatural beauty, the gold eyes. I had been trained to fight these creatures, so it was easy to recognise them. Bella hopped out of the truck, instantly grabbing the attention of the two. I slipped out of the passenger's side, sliding up next to Bella. The smaller of the two, a female with spiky black hair, pranced up to us.
"Happy Birthday, Bella!" She cheered.
"Shhh!" Bella hissed at her, looking around as if she didn't want anyone else to know.
"Little Bella doesn't want anyone to know about her birthday." I mused, "I see that hasn't changed."
"Who's this?" The little person asked.
"Oh, I'm Aspen." I greeted, sticking my hand out. "I'm Bella's older sister."
"I'm Alice, Alice Cullen." The girl replied, shaking my hand. I tensed at her cold hand, and rock hard skin. I'd need to talk to Chiron to determine what these creatures she and this other person were. "I love your dress, where did you get it?" I looked down at my dress.
"Oh, one of my friends back at my summer camp made this for me." I said, gently lifting the fabric and letting it fall.
"Maybe they can make me something because that dress is to die for."
"Maybe." Alice then turned to Bella.
"Did you want to open your present now or later?" Alice asked my younger sister.
"No presents." Bella protested weakly.
"Ok...later then. Did you like the scrapbook your Mum sent you? And the camera from Charlie?"
"Yeah, they're great."
"I think it's a nice idea. You're only a senior once. Might as well document the experience."
"Actually, this is my second time being a senior." I commented as we approached the bronze haired boy that Alice was standing with previously.
"Really?" Alice wondered, "Why's that?" I gripped my bookbag tight.
"There...there was a problem at my summer camp, I had to stay to help." We then reached the boy. He reached out for Bella, and she instinctively placed her hand in his, lacing their fingers together and giving my half-sister a gentle squeeze. "So, you're the infamous boyfriend." I said, crossing my arms.
"Yes, I'm Edward Cullen." He introduced.
"Alice's brother?"
"Adopted, actually." I nodded.
"It's nice to meet you. Anyway, I need to go get my schedule from the front office, I'll see you at lunch?" I directed the last question to Bella, who nodded meekly. I wrapped Bella in a hug, ignoring how I saw Edward tense beside her. I pulled away and brushed a piece of hair behind her ear, "I love you, be safe." I kissed Bella's forehead, making sure not to get any lipstick on her before prancing towards the office building. Heads turned as I walked, either it was because I was the new kid, or my otherworldly beauty was attracting them. After collecting my schedule, I followed the map I was given to my first class. I approached the teacher with a kind smile. "Hi, Sir, I need you to sign this." I handed him the slip of paper and he sighed it before handing it back to me. "Sir, I just wanted you to be aware, but I have ADHD and Dyslexia, so if I seem either distracted or frustrated, it is in no way a comment to your teaching, it's just that I find it difficult to learn." That happened the entire day. Getting teachers to sign my little slip and informing them of my learning disabilities.
I sat with Bella and her friends at lunch, and was introduced to Mike, Jessica, Eric, Conner and Tyler, there was a girl named Lauren there too who I swear she was Aphrodite's daughter if I wasn't 100% certain she was mortal. There was a clear divide at the table, with me, Alice, Edward and Bella on one side and everyone else on the other. I was invited to a party that Alice's family was hosting tonight, and, after shooting off a text to Dad, I was invited to help set up. I grinned at that. There weren't many parties at Camp, birthday celebrations yes, but no full-on parties. After school, Alice drove me to my place, allowing me to switch out my schoolbag for a purse, before driving to her home, a large house secluded in the woods. It was peaceful. She parked her car in between two expensive ones, and she lead me into the house where she pulled a blonde man into a tight hug. Ah, boyfriend.
"Alice." A familiar voice spoke up as another blonde descended the stairs, "I didn't know you were bringing a guest." I looked up and saw someone who I had only met once before in my life.
"Carlisle?" I wondered. When he saw me, he smiled.
"Aspen, it's been too long." I then looked around at the others who had gathered, a dark-haired man with large muscles, a blonde standing possessively close to him, and another woman with caramel coloured hair. I noticed the similarities between them, gold eyes and pale skin. It then clicked.
"Oh!" I gasped, "That makes so much more sense now."
"Excuse me?" The blonde girl asked, a hint of malice in her tone.
"Forgive me, sorry, all your appearances make sense now, I was wondering what kind of creatures you were." I cleared my throat, "My name is Aspen Swan, Demigod daughter of Persephone, granddaughter of Ares, it's a pleasure to meet you all."
"Ares, Persephone, aren't those Greek Gods?" The blonde male, the one hugging Alice wondered. I nodded.
"Yes, and you're all Vampires." Everyone but Carlisle tensed, "Don't worry, the Volturi can't hurt me because I know, mythological beings are very secretive of their society, and they do talk. Zeus isn't too fond of your Volturi, I can assure you of that." Thunder rumbled overhead as a form of agreement.
"Aspen, let me introduce you to my family." Carlile spoke up. "This is Esme." The brunette stepped forward, a motherly smile on her features.
"Hello." She greeted.
"Rosalie and Emmett." Carlisle gestured to the blonde and who I can assume to be her boyfriend. "And Jasper."
"Your blood." Jasper started, "It's unappealing."
"I'll choose to take that as a compliment." I said, "I think it has to do with the Godly side of my family. Our blood attracts Monsters, but as you're not part of the Greek World, I don't think you'd like it."
"Ok, can we stop hounding my new best friend." Alice scolded as she flashed over to my side, wrapping her arms around mine, "We need to decorate." She turned to me. "Persephone. Goddess of Springtime. I need flowers." I grinned.
"What kind?"
TIMESKIP
Between Alice, Rosalie, Esme and I, we managed to decorate the Cullen household to perfection. I had created roses that lined the stairs to the front doors, I'd let them return to the ground once the party was over, but for now, they looked exquisite. Rosalie and I got along quite well, talking about almost anything that came to mind. We became quite close, and I knew that out of all the Cullens, she'd be my favourite. "They're here!" Alice cheered happily, bouncing on the balls of her feet. As soon as Bella and Edward entered the living room, everyone cheered.
"Happy Birthday!" We all cried. Esme and Carlisle were the closest, and the matriarch hugged the young girl. Carlisle wrapped his arm around Bella's shoulders.
"Sorry about this Bella." He not-so-subtly whispered, "We couldn't rein Alice in, and your sister's no help either."
"You haven't changed at all!" Emmet said, though he sounded a little disappointed. "I expected a perceptible difference, but here you are, red-faced as always."
"Thanks a lot, Emmett." Bella muttered, her already red cheeks turning darker.
"I have to step out for a second." Emmett turned and winked very obviously, "Don't do anything funny while I'm gone."
"I'll try." Allice then pranced forward, placing her hand on Bella's elbow and steering her towards the cake where a large cake sat with a handful of neatly wrapped boxes.
"Time to open presents!" Alice declared.
"Alice, I know I told you I didn't want anything-"
"But I didn't listen!" Alice took the camera out of Bella's hands. "Ok, Aspen's first!" I stepped forward, pulling a small box from my back pocket.
"I know you don't like jewellery, but I had this commissioned for you by one of my friends." I opened the box to reveal a small infinity necklace. In one of the loops, a sapphire sat proudly, while an amethyst occupied the other loop. Bella reached out and took the box gently. I reached over, picked the necklace from it's resting place and gently clasped it around Bella's neck. "I know I haven't been the best sister." I told her softly, causing her to look up at me, "You and Dad are the only things in the world that I'd protect with my life, and that's what I was doing. I had to be away for you to be safe. Now, everything's ok, it's all settled, you and Dad aren't gonna be hurt by my world. I'm here to stay now, I promise." Bella looked up to me and smiled.
"Open this one!" Alice then practically shoved another present into Bella's arms. She barely had enough time to put the necklace box away before starting to open the next. I glimpsed at the tag, it was from Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper. Bella tore open the paper, revealing a box for a new stereo for the truck. Thank the Gods, if Apollo heard that mess of a thing he'd turn the thing into a cow. Bella opened it to reveal...nothing.
"Um...thanks." Bella trailed off. Rosalie cracked a smile as Jasper laughed, prompting me to let out a small chuckle of my own.
"It's a new stereo for your truck." Jasper explained. "Emmett's installing it right now so you can't return it."
"Thanks, Jasper, Rosalie. Thanks Emmett!" Emmet laughed from the truck.
"Open mine and Edward's next!" Alice said, holding a flat box in her hand. Bella glared at Edward.
"You promised." She protested.
"I didn't spend a dime." Edward defended.
"Give it to me…" Bella took the present reluctantly. She stuck her finger under the wrapping, and then jerked it back, a thin slice of red, and a drop of blood oozed from it. If I wasn't a Demigod I doubt I would have seen it. Edward shoved Bella back with enough force to send her flying across the room, Jasper rammed into Edward with a crash like lightning, and Jasper snarled. The blonde tried to move past Edward, thirsting for Bella's blood. Emmett wrapped his arms around Jasper, keeping the rabid Vampire at bay. I jumped into action then, pulling my necklace from it's resting place and feeling the familiar weight of my Scythe in my hand. I glared harshly, thorny vines erupting from the ground as I pointed the blade at Jasper.