She tried to remain vague about her answers and comments, for as long as she could.
“Liar!” Morgan shrieked and started to jump at her, with her hands aiming at Mina’s throat, but her sister pulled her back, like a wild animal on a leash, waiting to be allowed to attack someone.
“I’m not lying,” Mina answered, calmly, glad that she had gotten a rise out of Morgan.
People who acted rashly, on impulse, were usually easy to take down, without too much effort. Mina knew that much from experience. Still, she needed to be on her guard.
“Renwick and Raphael would never want to have anything to do with you,” Morgan hissed like a wounded snake.
“The point is that you didn’t listen to us, even though we were very clear about what needed to be done,” Madison spoke more calmly and it was her that Mina was more afraid of.
“I didn’t do anything to you,” Mina tried to explain.
“Oh, but you’re wrong, so very wrong,” Madison kept on talking even more calmly. “And it seems mere words won’t cut it with you.”
“What do you mean?” Mina asked, swallowing heavily.
“We’ll have to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget,” Madison shook her head, as if the very thought of doing that fell heavy upon her heart.
Mina knew no such thing was true. Whatever they had in mind, it would be painful and they’d both enjoy it.
“You obviously can’t leave either Raphael or Renwick alone, you whore,” Morgan growled again, baring her canine teeth.
Mina resented being called a whore but she knew that backtalk would only escalate things. It was already bad enough. Looking at their frames, she was sure she could take them on. She’d taken on worse than the two of them together but that wasn’t the point. This might go upstairs and she might get in trouble. She needed to behave for a few more days. The Headmaster would return any day now. She could sense it. She had to swallow just a few more insults until that meeting and then, all hell would break loose.
“Listen, I’ll keep away, just…” Mina tried to keep her head down, even though it took her much more effort than she initially thought.
“We already tried that and it didn’t work,” Madison shook her head menacingly again.
Mina had no idea what they were about to do to her but she knew she was in danger. She could sense it in the way they circled around her, like vultures, their teeth out in the open, like daggers aimed at the soft, palpitating veins in her neck.
“You obviously need something more painful to remind you of what is asked of you,” Madison eyed her.
Mina’s mind raced. There was no one in the hallways any longer. They were alone. She knew that, even if she shouted for help, it was uncertain if anybody would hear her. She could take them out but she was sure retribution would follow and she’d be stuck in a vicious cycle fighting these two, instead of being focused on what she came here to do.
Madison’s hand traveled up to Mina’s neck, her claw like nails already on Mina’s skin. Mina had only a second to react. She could allow Madison to hurt her, or she could fight back, as she usually did. She took a slow, deep breath. There was only one thing to do, only one thing that was natural to her.
“Hey!”
All three of them turned to see who called out. Madison’s hand immediately fell down, releasing the grip she had on Mina’s neck. Mina took a step to the side, so that now, she was out of Madison’s reach.
“What’s going on here!?”
The voice belonged to Hendrik. Mina felt like jumping into his arms, not because he was there to save her, but because he was there to save the twins. Mina wouldn’t have to hurt them now. Her identity was still kept safe and her mission could continue. For that, she would be forever grateful, no matter the outcome of her ordeal.
“Move along, Picasso,” Madison hissed at him, “unless you want to have your ear cut off and become Monet.”
“You mean, Van Gogh, you retard,” Hendrik snorted, then looked at Mina. “Two to one, isn’t that a bit unfair?”
“We didn’t do anything to her, we’re just talking...“ Morgan quickly added.
“I didn’t mean you,” Hendrik replied, with
a sly smile, looking at Mina. “I meant her. She’d take both of you on, easy.”
Madison and Morgan eyed each other with obvious confusion on their faces. Mina swallowed heavily. She couldn’t tell if Hendrik was bluffing, or if he knew something about her. Cleverly, she waited for the twins to make the first move and then act herself.
“Come on, Morgan,” Madison suddenly blurted out, as if she remembered something. “We have more important business to take care of but this isn’t over.”