I held my phone up above my head to the men's faces, letting them study the photo I had captured. Carson, who was much taller than the rest, bent down to get a better view.
There was an eerie quiet following the cool, outside air. I awaited a response, which took longer than expected. It was obvious the symbol was the same Jesse had shown me. I deduced, however, that they were more than likely thinking of how to react, rather than if it was the same.
Jesse nodded, eyebrows creased in focus.
"What do they want with the cafe? Maybe revenge?"
I felt my heart stop for a moment, but the worrying about my safety was short. It wasn't as if I could suddenly start caring about myself. Revenge was understandable. It was clear by this train of thought, and the slight ache in my chest, that my self-hate was deepening with every day that passed.
I shook it off.
"No, they don't know about that. Anna actually got back to me this morning." Carson pulled out his phone, studying the text messages.
"They keep mentioning something called 'convergence'. Apparently, a sacrifice of the right witch falls into some legend they have. My guess… they're targeting you." He nodded towards Jesse.
The conversation took a beat while I lowered my arm. My eye twitched on its own as I adjusted my shoulder.
I then put my phone back into my pocket as I took in his words. Jesse seemed unfazed, typical of his careless demeanor when something involved him.
He nodded and grabbed his own phone, a lackluster reaction to the stark words. it wasn't unusual of him to barely react, but this was even a little different.
"If that's the case, were all in danger." It wasn't frantic, rather, matter-of-fact sounding.
He stood and began to dial someone. As he put the phone to his ear, he walked off into the direction of the woods. By the time whoever he was calling answered, he was out of earshot.
I sat down on the doorstep, Ian and Carson now looming over me. It was obvious how it made Carson feel, as he shifted his weight and eventually took a step back. Ian, however, stayed right where he was.
"So how's Rose?" Ian asked. I shot a glare up at him.
His look of feigned ignorance was more of an annoyance than anything. I was still a bit intimidated, so I cowered and turned my eyes to my lap.
"Carson apologized and even fixed the door. She's still upset?"
The intimidation dissolved and I raised my eyebrows at his words. My mouth opened in surprise.
I glanced to Carson, meeting his light brown eyes as if to say, "can you believe this guy?".
Carson darted his eyes over to Ian, affirming his feelings as well. I also looked back to him, who was standing dumbfounded.
"You forgave me and I actually went after you. How can she-"
"I didn't forgive you."
He became dead silent and his expression became blank. His mouth twitched as he tried to come up with a response.
"And I barely know you. She thought you two were old college friends."
He broke his stare and moved his eyes to the left. After moving his weight onto his other leg, he uncharacteristically rubbed the back of his neck slightly.
"Okay, I'll apologize.. I'm going to find Jesse."
'He really thinks an apology will make it all better… It's a mystery if this guy maintained any friendships ever.' I kept that thought to myself.
Ian speed-walked to the area of the woods Jesse had walked into, leaving Carson and I alone.
The dark-haired man bent down to squat at my level. He moved his lips side to side while his eyes were to the sky. He seemed like he was thinking deeply, and maybe, looking for the words.
I looked back down at my lap.
"So… Anna say what kinda legend this is about?"
Carson sighed and let out a breathy groan. He pressed his lips together.
"Why...are you helping us?"
His dark, gravelly voice sounded strangely kind, when I otherwise may have been frightened by it.
I tilted my brows and returned my eyes to his golden brown ones. He was quick to look away once we locked eyes, but my confusion still remained.
I nervously tapped my fingertips against my knee and turned back down.
"Why…?"
I didn't really have an answer for that. Why was I helping? Out of lack of care? Was I just letting life happen to me?
It was true that my guilt had been eating me away inside. It was possible I didn't feel qualified to make my own decisions, and was just letting Jesse decide what I was involved with.
Maybe I just didn't care about myself, the danger I might be in. Maybe part of me felt I deserved it.
I also was conflicted about that. Maybe I was secretly hoping the more I learned about the blackbloods, the less guilty I would feel for what happened.
Still, I wasn't sure which was the real answer, nor was I willing to confront those feelings yet.
"...Blair."
Carson snapped me out of my spiral for a split second, standing up as he spoke my name.
His face was unexplainable, a sadness in his eyes, but his lips pressed thin like someone whos heart had calloused to pity or concern.
He maintained a cool demeanor, had completely untensed his shoulders and stood comfortably now.
"Go eat… and brush your hair…"
It was borderline offensive, and I thought about quipping about his equally curly hair.
But I thought for more than a second and realized perhaps he wasn't intending on being rude. His voice was that same raspy, dark tone, but somehow soft.
"Don't neglect yourself." His words were slightly harsher, and came out in a whisper.
With that, he turned and went to join Jesse and Ian in the woods.