In Your Blood
Otis took Mina outside and they sat on the porch. Otis let Mina explain that she still cared for Vlad but when Otis asked her what happened she grew quiet.
She didn't say that she saw Vlad kissing another girl...especially a girl named Snow. She lied and told him that they were about to go see a movie when her and Vlad got into a fight.
"Oh, Mina..." Otis wrapped his arms around the small vampire girl. "You know, one of these days... all of this is going to go away." She looked up to her vampiric guardian.
"Go away or get better?" She pouted up at him and he looked down at her, not knowing what he could possibly say. He pulled her in and hugged her, not saying a word. The night was warm and the young vampire cleared her throat. She parted from Otis and sniffed as she wiped her tears away. "Why are we outside?"
"Well, I had guests." She looked at him and he nodded, her face flooded with blood in embarrassment. "Do not fret, they did not see you yet they do know that you are here."
"Who are 'they'?" She muttered as she slapped her hands over her face to clear away the tears. She rummaged through her bag which she just realized had survived her frantic race there, and found some makeup packed in a smaller bag. She ran a power barely over her face, to clear the redness of crying and fixed her eye liner that she worked so desperately on for her movie date with Henry and Vlad.
As she did all this, Otis spoke. "Vampires who are here to discuss D'Ablo's rising power."
Mina froze and stood in a rush. "Vampires are here? I must seem like a fool for dragging you out like this!" Otis stood with her and grabbed her shoulders to calm her.
"Not at all, Mina. They are all very aware of Casimir's search for you. They understand, and are patiently waiting for us to return." She nodded and stepped up the steps and was about to open the screen door to the house when Otis stopped her. "Mina, before we go in there I would like you to not communicate through your thoughts."
"Why?" Otis gave her a serious gaze, a gaze she remembered from when he was her teacher.
"Keep your mind under control, no matter what. You understand? Also, hold your temper; I know at times you can be possessed with an astounding amount of confidence."
Mina looked down and then back up in regret. "Why would I need to keep my temper?"
"Do you forget that D'Ablo is your creator?" Time seemed to stop when the girl met the man's eyes and he was certain she didn't even breath. Her expression was unreadable.
"Does this mean they will not like me simply for something I could not control?" Otis shook his head and opened the door for her. She walked in and as they did he whispered.
"Hold your thoughts and your tongue."
She followed closely behind Otis as he led her through the house and into the living room. She wanted to look at the home that Vlad grew up in yet she knew that she should follow her mentor. When she did she heard conversations end and looked up to see every set of eyes on her.
"Lubov!" Her head snapped up at the voice and name she knew so well. Vikas stood and she rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace.
"Vikas I missed you so!" She cheered as she buried her face in the fur of his jacket. They released each other and he sat down and patted his knee for her to sit. She sat on the arm of the chair instead and she turned to everyone else in the room.
She looked at Otis who nodded his head towards the room. She gulped and held out her arm, revealing her tattoo. "Mina Lovett, pleased to meet you."
