The Zodiac Cycle

3.15 Mint and Citrus

"That definetly seems weird." Alex agreed. It was the day after we had heard about the Gemini massacre. The whole group was gathered in the lounge of our quarters and we had the doors into the room locked so we wouldnt be interrupted.

"I was with Vel." Nolan seemed uncertain. "I was asking her a question. She wasn't looking for Sakura."

"So Olive lied." Elizabeth sighed.

"Maybe leaving it to Vel isn't the best option after all." Carson suggested.

"But what exactly can we do?" Rebecca asked.

"We probably need to at least figure out if Olive is a threat or just an ally with her own agenda." Ash prompted.

"It doesn't matter. We dont like secrets and we cant trust her." Clementine leaned more for the pessimistic take.

"But she could also be a strong asset if she is on our side." Nolan suggested a more optimistic approach.

"Do you think she did something to Sakura?" Rebecca worried aloud.

"She cant. Sakura is the key to defeating Zach." Ash reasoned.

"That could also be a motive." Alex pointed out.

"That's going too far." I stopped the train of thought before it took off. "Our first concern is whether or not we should consider her a threat."

"Well, what exactly do we know about her?" Alex asked.

"We know she's a vampire, a pure blooded one, with the ability to control people." Ash seemed concerned by that.

"That seems threatenin enough." Clementine huffed.

"Let's try not to jump to conclusions, please." I crossed my arms.

"Yeah. If she can control us, who's to say she wont try to manipulate a situation." I was ignored.

"Can she control sakura?"

"Is she controlling Vel?"

"Maybe she is some kind of bug for Zach."

"SHUT IT!" I stood up and all of them looked at me, shocked.

I looked at Brianna. She had once again sunk into silent observance. She had stood to defend Sakura without hesitation while the rest of us stood around, unsure what to do.

"Brianna," I started, "have you heard anything?"

She tilted her head a bit, frowning. "What do you mean?"

"You've been quietly watching and listening since we got here. Is there anything you've heard or seen or noticed that we havent?"

"Are you really going to-" Rebecca started but I held my hand up, silencing her. I raised my eyebrows, not looking away from the fire-haired human.

She pressed her lips together, swallowing, and searching the air at my feet with her red eyes for a moment, before she looked back up at me. "There is one thing I noticed."

I sat back down and motioned for her to stand up. She did and clasped her hands together nervously over her stomach. "Back in the woods, before I lost conscious, I smelled something."

I had forgotten that she had a great sense of smell. I nodded at her, urging her on.

"I smelled a combination of mint and citrus-" she inhaled deeply. "I keep smelling bits of it on Olive here and there, but more mixed with her own smell."

"Mint and Citrus?" Ash raised his eyebrows. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You wont believe me if I tell you." She tensed.