Tromsø, Norway, 2006

Estelle held tight to the snowball she packed, squeezing the snow in together as tightly as she could as she waited for her brother to poke his head around the corner.

She was aware that he knew exactly where she was, but he had no clue as to the war she was ready to wage against him.

Thirty-six years together and she could not image a time where she did not have him at her side, where he was not the baby brother though lack of experience only. Many assumed they were a couple at first glance. This instantly ceased when they started to introduce themselves as twins despite how little they resembled one another.

Thomas was a funny sort. He kept a sort of charm from his humanity that made him approachable to any, the sort that put others instantly at ease. It was his talent, stemming from the people skills he had always possessed. Thomas could make anyone lower their defences and treat him as though he wasn't a threat, that anyone in his presence wasn't a threat. It was a passive skill that made him easily go unnoticed if he wanted.

So long as no one was trying to notice him as Estelle was trying to do now.

At the first sight of the top of his head, the snow made impact his his hand a breath after she launched it. Thomas did not smile or laugh. His expressions was one of concern and seriousness that steeled the girls spine and had emotion bubbling in the pit of her stomach.

"Marion says we're expecting guests. She received a call saying they touched down at the airport and were on their way here with news," Thomas says softly, keeping the conversation between the pair of them. "She wanted to warn you that Carlisle and Esme were going to be here any moment."

Estelle hissed.

The last she had seen the pair it had not been good.

After Thomas had been changed and she had spent a week helping the boy get a baring for the life that she could properly introduce him to when they were home, Estelle had painstakingly tacked Carlisle down to somewhere in New Orleans with a plea for a safe way that she could help Thomas get home.

At that point, Estelle was letting him mix the diet between human and animal, letting him sate the hunger in a manner that was safe, just as her maman had allowed her to do. Carlisle had not been impressed with her approach.

He had asked Thomas to stay with him, citing it would be safer that traveling by plane. Estelle, already tense from Rosalie's hanging on doorways and trailing ons, had been in a foul mood, and had shared some not kind words with the man.

Carlisle had been less than kind, and when Estelle finally made it safely home after chattering herself and Thomas a boat, Marion had described the discussion she and Carlisle had shared and the ending result of a strained relationship.

Apparently the man was not pleased with her maman's approach to Rosalie either.

Estelle was sure that he has just as many opinions of her handling of Emmett.

Emmett, who having only spending a few hours with her, claimed that he could not see himself finding love for anyone other that her. Emmett who, after speaking to her with such reverence, still grew angry over her decision to return home and not allowing him the chance to prove himself. Emmett, who had so many wrong and false opinions about her maman because of his hero worship of Rosalie, being everything she could see herself wanting in a partner, yet Estelle still chose to leave behind.

It was difficult to think of the things that they could have been. After spending months writing one another, calling one another, he still refused to come visit, and Estelle refused to go there where she would leave her family behind and be faced with the ungrateful Rosalie everyday.

"Did they cite a reason for their visit? It has been thirty-six years since I'm aware we've last spoken to the Cullens. I highly doubt it'll be a social visit."

Thomas brushed snow from his palm. "I don't know, but I understand better now. I'm not worried about standing up for our family this time."

She glanced to her brother, nerves easing slightly. Taking him by the hand, she squeezed. "That won't be necessary. If they are truly no longer our friends, maman will give me permission to do what I must to them."

Her brother nods in acceptance. As kind as Marion was, she was still the head of their coven and possessed just the right amount of disregard to the fate of others to have them disposed of if they posed a threat.

Hugo claimed is was the result of growing animosity toward the aristocracy at the height of their downfall. It was a cutthroat societal class that came to the people literally losing their heads. The siblings had been lucky to escape the revolution. Estelle's father had not been part of that fortune.

The adopted siblings made their way inside the home. It was a modern approach to Baroque, filled to every inch with art. These last few years Marion has been a self-employed art conservator. Before that she was a teacher; and before that she ran a gallery.

Next, Estelle believes, her maman might have mentioned working for a museum.

Her uncle Hugo, of course, continues to work in estates and juggles various money portfolios.

In their receiving room the furniture rearranged themselves in the way they often did when her maman was upset. The art shuffled and sorted themselves on the wall. Hugo was perched on a lounged chair that walked itself to a spot near the window while he looked over some papers with various numbers.

"Mother, calm yourself. The room is lovely. Far better decorated than they deserve," Estelle soothes in French. "If it was up to me, we would not invite them inside and meet them out in the snow."

"No. No, we shall not lose sight of our mannerly conduct," Marion scolds. "But you are correct. I am being silly. It is only the pair of them, after all."

Estelle shares a glance with her uncle and squeezes Thomas hand a little tighter. It did not take much genius to understand that Marion thought only of Rosalie at this moment.

The Cullen's arrive in a rental care with tinted windows. Their conversation was stilted, rough as they spoke only plain words as they got out and approached the door at a sedated, human pace.

The Dupuis coven settled around the room. Hugo did not move from his position, but he no longer actively read his papers. Marion had finally seated herself at the centre of their sofa, expression carefully blank.

Estelle stayed near the window, finally releasing Thomas so that she may cross her arms comfortably. Her brother stood in a space between her maman and uncle as though unsure how to make himself look casual.

Despite the tension in the air as Carlisle rang the bell, Estelle couldn't help the smile at how clumsy Thomas was in disposition.

Marion did not shift. She called, "Come up, Carlisle."

They did so only faster than a human.

Estelle took note of their clothing. Small town, smart. Casual and clean, but not the kind of clothing she had seen doctors and their spouses wear in big cities. She knew that the couple would not like to display their wealth regardless of how or where they lived.

He smiled genuinely, with a hint of remorse. Esme expressed more of a grimace. They were not incredibly well acquainted with the woman, not nearly as much as they were her husband.

"It's been a while, Marion, Hugo, Stelle," he says kindly, "Thomas, you look to be settled well to the lifestyle."

He grins. "Estelle was a good mentor."

"I can see that. I must apologize, Estelle, for how our last conversation had ended. You were not the source of my anger. I have grown protective of the family that I have built, but it was not my place to be upset with you -- either of you, Marion."

It's a paused moment of everyone watching her maman before the woman finally sighs. Estelle groans in disappointment. Marion always forgave too easily.

"Carlisle, sit down, please. You're so stiff you'll make Thomas uncomfortable," she says, and Estelle quickly notes the lack of forgiveness expressed in her words. "You did not come all the way here to mend our friendship, non?  It is a far trip to come all the way here. It was also not easy to track us down, I imagine."

Esme chuckles. "You did a wonderful job of slipping away. We had some help from Alice. She left us a location where we could find you."

Marion makes a small, inquisitive noise. "Alice is one of yours, I remember. The tiny fortune teller."

"She made a list of people that might be able to help us," Esme says, shifting more towards her husband.

It was a move that was very human and, in a household of effectively single vampires, was a motion that was curious to witness. they could understand seeking comfort in another, but the predator that lingered beneath the surface didn't understand the easy display of vulnerability.

for Estelle, it was a sign that Esme was afraid of something and showing so to a room of other predators that ultimately would put their survival over the other coven should it truly come down to it screamed danger and caution.

"Marion, as a mother and guidance for your coven, I'm afraid I must ask something of you that might truly be too much," Carlisle pleads. "It is a favour that is more than we deserve, though I must ask you anyway."

Finally, Estelle watches her maman's composure crumble. She shifts, expression guarded. Hugo clears his hands as Thomas edges closer to their mother. "What have you done, Carlisle?"

"My family is in danger. The Volturi means to destroy us--"

Estelle hisses, moving to be beside her mother and brother, angling to boy slightly behind her. "Maman," the girl stressed.

"We are innocent of the charges the play against us. We only ask that you come to bear witness. I humbly ask you, as one of my oldest friends, to return to my home and see for yourself, to hear what my family has to say," Carlisle finished.

"You don't have to stay if you don't believe us. Just give us a chance to save our family. From one mother to another, let us prove to you that we don't deserve to die," Esme begs.

Not for the first time, Estelle wished that she had the ability to read minds as Edward could, or at the very least read people as easily as her mother had learnt to growing up. Her gift was something that could only entice the couple to leave and never come back.

Though if they were as desperate as she suspected, then even that was unlikely to deter them.

Her uncle sits up, sharing a long look with her maman. In turn, Marion faced first Thomas, then Estelle.

She held her gaze, letting her mother search her face for whatever answer she needed.

"It will be dangerous for my family," she asks with no real question.

"It will likely be the most danger that you will ever be in," Carlisle admits.

Marion's eyes close briefly, just for a human blink. "Estelle?"

The girl swallows unnecessary, trying to clear the lump on her throat. "Mother, I will follow you anywhere that you lead me."

"As will I," Thomas adds with a stubbornly accented French.

Another blink, Marion turns to Carlisle with a raised chin. "I will not allow my children to be placed in any danger. You will not sway me on this. Guilty or not, I will not  risk losing them."

Carlisle nods. "I understand, Marion. Thank you."

"We will travel to your home. We will hear what your family has to say, but I promise nothing else," Marion states firmly, unrelenting.

"I would ask for nothing else," Esme agrees.

Marion taps her hand and they can all hear as things begin to move around upstairs in their room. "Make sure that you are sufficiently packed. only bring enough for a carry on," she instructs them all. "Go. Now."

The boys move away quickly as Marion gets the address details from her old friend. Estelle listens quietly, still as she waits for her maman.

Carlisle and Esme do not linger. They explain their quest to meet with more of his acquaintances to make the same plea for ism family. Estelle waits still as she listens to them drive out of hearing.

"Maman, are you sure about this?" Estelle asks.

"Oh, little bird, I am not sure at all," Marion admits, moving in a smooth motion to be cupping her daughters cheeks, "but the least we could do is listen. I will not allow anyone to touch any of you. No real decisions have been made. We only go to listen."

"No, mother, are you sure that you could see her again?" she stresses.

Marion smiles and presses a kiss to the top of Estelle's head. "Oh, my dearest girl, we will bother be fine. We are always fine when we are together."

***

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2024-02-10