There was a cigarette burning in the ashtray on the bar, embers glowing enough to draw my attention away from the electric feeling consuming my body.
I took a deep inhale as I stared at it. I needed to be calm. I focused hard on trying to relax my fingertips, but Jesse's eyes on me made it hard.
I turned my attention back to him, his face showing no worry. It might have been relieving to someone who knew him well. But the atmosphere was still tense, and would continue to tense as the night grew on.
"I'm sorry that I scare you so much."
Ian's voice was not apologetic. He sounded like an angsty teen, sarcasm seeping through his words. I wasn't looking his way, but I could hear the implied rolling of his eyes.
I only looked when I heard a wince, in terror, might I add. But was assured when I saw Carson had gripped his arm tightly in response.
"After what you did, don't you think she would be?" Jesse butted in.
"She's a witch. Its not like she hasn't seen it-"
"She's new." Carson's deep, raspy voice soothed me. But I could speak for myself.
Ian shut his mouth quickly after hearing it, however, so there was no harm in it. I finally gathered myself enough to speak.
"You seemed pretty scared of me when you ran from the cafe."
He said nothing, either biting his tongue or gritting his teeth. It was too dim to tell.
I didn't want to anger someone dangerous. But his attitude was not settling me in any way. I couldn't keep my mouth closed forever, and if he did intend to go back on Carson's words, I wanted to make it very clear I did not like it.
"Anyways, let's talk."
I followed up, drinking the rest of my whisky and readying myself for the shit storm of unbelievable things I never thought I'd hear.
"My father... You said he's an ex-hunter."
"Yeah, he's not anymore. But he used to be a powerful blackblood hunter."
I stared at his mouth with a blank face. Obviously, I had no idea what a blackblood was, or what being a hunter entailed other than what I had seen on TV.
When he didn't get the hint, I spoke again.
"And a blackblood is?"
He sighed, almost dumbfounded at my lack of knowledge. I wanted to remind him it was his fault I was in the dark. But I waited.
"Blackbloods are like...the traditional vampires," Carson cut in.
"They can't enter without being invited, they burn in the sun, the usual stuff."
I felt the tingling strengthen but forced it away.
'Vampires. In all my life, I never expected to be talking so seriously about vampires. And witches. And God knows what else exists.'
I balled my fists up and set them in my lap. I'd wait, I decided. Hear everything out before I lose my cool again.
"Okay. So he killed them."
Jesse nodded.
'Is my father the good guy or the bad guy?'
"And this agreement between witches and stuff? And the uprising across the lake? What does all that mean?"
It came off a bit more aggressive than intended, but I didn't care.
In fact, I should have been happy to finally be getting some answers. After all, I was the one who started it. I saw Ian, he attacked me, and I threw him without touching him. How could I walk away?
No, human curiosity got the best of me. I kept digging and digging until I ended up in that hole. I knew that it was my own choices that led me there, and yet, I was not happy.
"Witches, specifically the l-witches, have been protecting humans from the blackbloods for a long time. They're strong, and dangerous, and no one was looking out for humans. So we decided we would." Jesse said, tapping his finger on the bar with every word.
"And redbloods," Carson added, "we have our own grudge against them. It only made sense we teamed up."
Still, nothing quite made sense. It was like a puzzle with the outline done, but no pieces in the middle.
"You're doing a terrible job of explaining." Ian butted in.
I felt a chill down my spine as he spoke. While I agreed, it was too hard to look at him. It was better for me to turn back to the cigarette and watch it smolder in the ash.
"Okay." It came out calm, if not a bit shaky. But I hoped by my tone they could see how deadly serious I was.
"I didn't know you were a witch. I wouldn't have done anything to strain the agreement. In the end, we all want the same thing." Ian finished, calling over the bartender.
I looked away from the ashtray and directly at Jesse. He had a glass of water, as he wasn't old enough to drink.
I debated on whether or not to drink more, but st the rate I was going, this three-steps-back would turn into a downward spiral.
"And that is?"
I knew my question had thrown all of them off. The looks in their eyes held pure confusion, but I remained silent. What could they have possibly expected me to say?
I had no experience, at least not more than a week. Up until this point in my life, my world had been normal, mundane. Save for a few hiccups here and there, I had no reason to suspect anything different.
It's not as if I would have any answers. It's not as if I would know without being told.
Carson's expression turned into a piercing gaze, his teeth clenched as his hands went up to adjust the collar of his black hoodie.
"They've been planning something for years. It has to do with some legend, some prophecy or something. All we want to do is stop it.
You could help us. We could prove to you were trustworthy. L-witches are few and far between." Carson finished.
"Hell no. I'm getting out of here."
I stood up from the bar, zipping up my jacket and trying to slip through them.
"Blair, you can't run from it anymore." Jesse said from behind me.
I paused a moment, sighing as I felt the power pooling in my palms.
I gritted my teeth, my fists gripping tightly at the ends of my jacket as I began to walk forward again.
'I know I'm running away. But what the hell? From not telling me anything to wanting me to help? This is ridiculous.
I just want Jesse to teach me how to control the magic.
I just wanted to know, I never said I'd help.
God, why am I always like this?
Jumping headfirst and getting overwhelmed.
I was so determined earlier, but just like now, I always end up running away.'
I held myself together as I pushed through the door. Making my way through the parking lot, I stopped at my car.
'Jesse's right.
I need to stop acting like a child and face this.'
I inhaled and sighed once more, spinning around on my heel. I was reluctant, but it was my decision to call them there. I wanted answers. I pushed it.
Just as I approached the door, I felt a sharp whack on the back of my head. My knees buckled and I fell to the concrete, my hands narrowly catching my body weight.
I looked up and saw the three men coming to help me. But also, there in the reflection of the glass, someone...something unfamiliar.
Grey skin, dark eyes. Inhuman.