"You guys are Callie's brothers. Whatever makes you happy, I'm fine with it," Silas said casually.

Julius glanced up, a skeptical eyebrow raised. "Aren't you worried Callie might not agree?"

Silas shook his head. "Not really. If you're bold enough to bring this up, you must have a way to get Callie on board. Anyway, that's your problem, not mine. If I used Callie as an excuse, none of you would believe me."

His sharpness was undeniable. The three brothers exchanged glances, each nodding in temporary satisfaction.

"Oh, by the way, mind if I read your fortune?" Julius asked.

Silas barely hesitated. "Go ahead. You're Callie's brother. Knock yourself out."

Julius grinned, his curiosity piqued. "Alright, no holding back then."

"Be my guest," Silas replied, equally cool.

Julius pulled a battered tarot deck from his coat pocket. "Just need your birthday."

Silas provided it, and Julius began shuffling, his expression growing increasingly serious with each card. Quentin and Norton watched intently, noticing the subtle furrow in his brow. Unease twisted in their stomachs. Julius possessed a strange knack for these readings; he was never wrong. This unsettled look didn't bode well.

They wanted Silas to pass their test. They needed to scrutinize him, of course, but if anyone was good enough for Callie, it might be him. She clearly liked him, and who else even came close?

"So... what's the verdict?" Quentin asked as Julius finished.

Norton and Silas both looked at Julius, hanging on his words.

Julius's face was pale. He stared at Silas for a long moment, then said, "You... I don't know how to explain this, but according to these cards, you don't exactly come up as... alive."

Quentin blinked. "What's that supposed to mean? Not alive?"

"I don't know," Julius muttered, shaking his head. "I've never had this happen before. It's like... there's a fog, and I can't see anything ahead for you. Nothing for you, nothing for Callie. It's totally blank."

He was rattled. He'd never encountered such a reading, especially not for Callie. He didn't want her to face a difficult future; he certainly didn't want her heartbroken. But this complete lack of foresight was rare. And Silas, demonstrably alive and well, didn't register as living?

It sent shivers down his spine.

Norton frowned, bewildered. "Hold up, what do you mean he's not alive?"

Quentin echoed his confusion. “Yeah, Julius, what the hell does that mean?"

Julius shook his head. "I honestly have no idea. I can't get a clear reading. I've never seen anything like this before."

He stared at Silas, searching for answers.

Silas chuckled, a little self-deprecatingly. "Maybe I've got a weird destiny or something? Doesn't have to be a bad thing, right?"

Julius remained unconvinced. “I don't know if it's good or bad. It just makes me uneasy. With this reading... there's a chance you might not be around long. And if that happens, Callie's the one who'll get hurt."