not one that she truly knows. She looks up to see Jareth and an unknown brunette giving her concerned looks from their post against the wall of whatever building she stopped in front of.
“Are you okay?” Jareth asks, coming toward her like he’s ready to rescue her.
“I’m fine,” she says through heaving breaths, swatting his helpful hands away. But she’s not fine. Nothing may ever be fine again. In fact, she truly may not be able to stand up, but even knowing that, she can’t allow herself to accept his support.
“You don’t look fine,” says his dark haired companion, coming closer as well. “You look like shit. No offense.”
Cassandra doesn’t know why, but a shaky and exorbitant laugh bubbles up her throat and out her parched lips. Perhaps it’s just that no one has ever told her the truth so blatantly before. So unafraid of her status. This girl clearly does not go to their school.
Perhaps it’s that fearless honesty that has Cassandra finally accepting Jareth’s outstretched hand and allowing him to lead her to the curb to sit. Without a word, he hands her a half-drunk bottle of water, and she takes it, greedily chugging it.
When she’s finished, she wipes her mouth and hands him the empty bottle. “If you ever say a word of this to anyone, I’ll end you.”
Jareth chuckles, completely unoffended. “I’m sure I’ll manage.”
Cassandra laughs, too.
The curvy brunette plops down beside her. “You don’t have to tell me what he did to you, but just give me a name and I’ll beat the crap out of him.” The look in the girl’s eyes is so sincere, so unapologetic, that Cassandra can’t help but burst into hysterics.
She laughs so hard that she cries.
The couple waits until Cassandra’s laughter subsides. They must think she’s gone mad. And, honestly, maybe she has. Maybe she’s finally cracked.
When she can control her motor functions once more, Cassandra shakes her head. “No, it’s nothing like that.” Her default smugness returns. “No guy would ever dare cross me.”
The girl snickers. “Okay, then what’s the deal?”
Both look at her expectantly, waiting for her explanation.
Cassandra remembers, like a punch to the gut, that Jareth is one of Brielle’s inner circle. Can she trust him?
Just looking at him. The sincerity on his and his girlfriend's faces, tells her she can. Or maybe she can get a glimpse into Brielle’s secret life. Would he even know about it?
“Brielle said some weird things to me just now,” she cautiously admits, watching Jareth’s face for a reaction.
His brows quirk, but the genuine concern hasn’t wavered. “What did she say?” he asks when she doesn’t elaborate.
Cassandra forces out a snort and rolls her eyes. “She told me I’m a…what was it? A…Zodiac Guardian?” She plays it off like she doesn’t care, like the whole encounter meant nothing to her.
But the shadow that falls over both of their faces isn’t missed by Cassandra’s alert, paranoid senses.
The couple shares a glance. Then Jareth swallows and looks Cassandra in the eye. “What happened when she said that?”
Cassandra leans in, conditioned by years of jumping on the insecurities of others. “So, you know what it means, then?”
Jareth sighs, a heavy frown creasing his surprisingly handsome features. How had she never noticed how cute he is? “I do.”
Oh no. Cassandra’s made a terrible error by confiding in them.
“Only, it wasn’t Brielle who told me the first time,” Jareth says, his voice hushed. “It was Tristan.”
Cassandra’s eyes nearly bug out of her head. “What?”
How severely has Brielle crippled sweet, innocent Tristan’s mind?
But at the same time Cassandra questions this, she can’t deny the little nagging itch in her belly that tells her she’s missing something. Something terribly paramount.
Something she doesn’t want to admit.
Jareth nods. “I had a hard time believing it at first, too. But…” he glances at the brunette, and the girl nods in understanding. “I soon came to learn that it was very much not a joke.” He turns back to Cassandra, his dark eyes swirling with seriousness. “If Brielle told you that you’re a Zodiac Guardian, it must be true.”
Cassandra’s head is shaking before she even realizes it. “What does that even mean? What is a Zodiac Guardian?”
“Uhhh.” Jareth pauses, seeming momentarily stunned, lost. “I’m not the best person to explain that.”
“Then who is?” Cassandra pushes, her curiosity suddenly demanding and unforgiving.
He leans in even closer. “Tristan.”
She shakes her head, unsure if the dizziness she’s feeling is from bodily fatigue or mental and emotional strain.
Suddenly, the moment with the yellow gem stone