Obviously, this guy knew more than she did, so she might be able to squeeze him for some more info if she played the role of a lost little girl who had no idea what was going on. Guys usually fell for that crap.
“Well, they keep roses there, blackthorn, buckthorn and hawthorn, as well. Holly and Juniper. Also, wolfs bane and rowan,” he nodded importantly as he spoke.
As she listened to him, she realized, he was cute, in a nerdy kinda way. She always liked intelligent guys and preferred them to jocks.
“Then, I better not go in,” she moved back, raising her hands in a mock surrender gesture.
“Well, you won’t die,” he shrugged his shoulders, “you’d just be in a lot of pain.”
“No, thanks,” she shook her head.
Actually, Mina knew of several combinations which would make those plants, not only painful, but lethal, to vampires, but this was no time for such conversations. Still, it was useful to know that she could sew in a blackthorn plant in her clothing when she went to see Dante. Also, she could make a stake from hawthorn, while carrying a bunch of rose petals in her pocket. In addition, a rowan cross couldn’t hurt, either.
“So, what are you doing here?” he asked her.
“I could ask you the same thing,” she snapped back, feeling attacked.
Or was it just her general state nowadays? She wasn’t sure anymore.
“Whoa there, easy,” he pulled back. “Don’t feel attacked. I’m just asking.”
Mina felt bad. He was right. It was only a question but she’d been feeling on edge ever since she got here and for the right reasons, too. She was all alone on enemy grounds and she couldn’t let her guard down, not even for one second. Dante could be watching, he could make his move at any second. Maybe what she was told, that he wasn’t here, wasn’t really the truth. She couldn’t know anything for sure right now. The only thing she could rely on were her own two eyes.
“Sorry,” she murmured, “ever since I got here, I haven’t been able to rest properly,” she handed him the first excuse she could think of.
“New place?” he wondered.
“Everything,” she continued, remembering her made up origin story, “ever since my whole clan was wiped out, I can’t relax. I’m constantly on edge, I feel like they’re after me all the time.”
As she was talking, she felt like it wasn’t all made up, as if a part of it was really true. She felt like vampires were her enemies, always trying to kill her and her brother. Only now, she’d switched roles, but that same fear, that same threat was still there, almost palpable, never leaving her side.
“I know what you mean,” he nodded, sitting down on a little bench which was located right behind them.
Not even realizing why, she felt a need to sit next to him. So, she did.
“I know what it’s like to lose everyone you ever loved,” he told her “but you’re safe here with all of us. No one will hurt you here.”
She looked down, and bit her lower lip. If he only knew what he was saying, if he knew who she was… he wouldn’t be so understanding.
“Thank you for saying that,” she suddenly replied.
“I wouldn’t say it, if it wasn’t true.”
“So, you like it here?” she asked, looking all around them as she spoke.
The room was filled with a pleasant, earthy smell, and there was an occasional whiff of some blossoming flowers. It soothed her. For one brief moment, she could forget why she was here, that her brother was missing, that he might even be dead.
“This is the only place where I can think,” he admitted.
“Why don’t you take a walk in the forest?” she mused.
“Outside the school grounds?” he sounded shocked.
“Why, yes,” she didn’t understand what was so shocking about her question.
“It’s forbidden,” he explained. “You can’t go out. If you’re caught, you could get suspended or even expelled.”
“For taking a stroll in the woods?” It sounded ridiculous.