Where They Found the Mint Leaves

Part 6

"Avia! No!" Evan whisper yells, passing by the mushrooms that reaches up to his waist. But nothing happens when Avia bravely knocks on the door with Evan quickly catches up to Avia who is making a loud symphony of knocks.

"Shh!" Evan shushes her. That seems to have done the trick.

The door opens right when the shushing leaves Evan's mouth. A woman with luscious blonde hair up to her waist opens the door. Her smile shines brighter than the sun and her lips are as red as her roses. Her eyes feed on Evan then on Avia with... is that excitement? Her beautiful dress like a sunflower, bright yellow with green in the most unexpected places, making her even more stunning.

"Why hello. What brings you to Madame Daniella's Home?" She asks with a warming smile. But Avia sees right through it.

"My name is Avia and this is Evan." Avia introduces for both of them, "May we come inside?"

Daniella narrows her eyes, then realizing what she has just done she replies, "O-of course you can!" She opens the door wider so Evan and Avia can walk in, but not before Avia could see her doing an odd hand gesture behind her back. What a nice lady, Evan thinks, She certainly will give us Mint Leaves. She doesn't even seem that odd to be growing magical items.

The living room looks ordinary. Couch, coffee table, fruit, books. It doesn't seem like anything very different.

"So um, would you be kind enough to give us some of your Mint Leaves?" Avia asks politely. I think this conversation is going a little too fast. Evan frantically thinks.

Daniella's eyes widen for a fraction of a second before she laughs, "Mint Leaves? I don't grow Mint Leaves. Just the plant outside. Yes, just the plants outside."

Evan elbows Avia, sending the message of "Shut up we should talk to her slowly then get to crazy magical stuff that I doubt exists. She looks very ordinary."

But Avia interprets the message as, "Go on continue talking." So she says, "I read it from an ancient book that you grow magical Mint Leaves."

"Which book?" Daniella asks, her voice betraying the disguise of calmness.

"A very old book on medicine. It was written by... I think Lance Emborici?"

Daniella stiffens. "That is a lie. You must have gotten the wrong place! I am not a gardener!"

"Oh? Why are your plants outside healthier than normal plants? Why did I see a mushroom up to my waist?" Avia challenges. Evan's heart has never pumped so fast. Daniella's glare is scaring him.

But then her smile brightens it up. "Oh you got me!" She says in a light mood, but her eyes still cold, "Ok, I plant magical Mint Leaves. And a few other things too!" She looks to Evan, "Would you like to see all my plants? I'll be able to give you Mint Leaves while we are at it!"

Evan is about to nod in agreement when Avia interrupts, "I think I may have dropped my flashlight and some other things outside? May I go get it? We'll be back in a flash."

Without waiting for a response, she grabs Evan's arm and pulls him outside. Evan comments that he doesn't see a flashlight.

"No stupid. I never lost my flashlight. This is a trap." Avia explains. Evan looks at her oddly. What is with her? That woman is so nice!

"I was warned in the book. She has a secret garden and she plants all her magical plants there, including the Mint Leaves. I was looking through the door before she let us in, before she did some magic and changed what the living room looks like. I saw pictures. On the wall was a lot of pictures. They were all her victims, Evan. People who find out about Daniella go to the magical garden and they never come out."

Evan still doesn't understand. How could that nice woman do that? She may be a witch but she certainly would be a nice witch! "Then how is this going to work?!" Evan cries confused as ever.

"I'm prepared as always." Avia says. She pulls out two identical leather pouches from her backpack and tosses one to Evan. "I've always thought magic was real, when I was just a child."

Oh Evan remembers. Avia was convinced that she had to eat a potato one day from under a stack of comics and she would become happier for that day. She fried the potato and ate it. She felt very accomplished of her potato even though it was half burnt.

"I don't remember when but years ago I received these two bags from someone in our group who traveled with us. She told me that I would need them more than her."

Apparently whatever is put into bag one would transport into bag two within fifteen minutes. If someone were to take that item out then put it back into bag two, it would teleport, somehow into bag one. If the item is untouched in one of the bags for 48 hours, then the item would teleport to the other bag. Perfect.

"You know what to do." Avia says with a smile. She turns around and walks back into the house. "Ah ha!" She exclaims loudly, a few steps away from the door, "I have found my flashlight! You pesky little flashlight! Don't go running off like that!"

With that, Avia marches in with Evan following. Daniella is still sitting where Avia and Evan has left her, still in a smile.

"Alright. So would you like to go take a look at my little garden?" Daniella asks. Her smile looks scarier now.

Avia answers with a yes and gets up with a fake smile. Daniella doesn't answer but smiles at Avia then looks at Evan expectantly. "Um, he's a little sick and is allergic to pollen, right Evan?" Avia elbows Evan hard in the ribs.

"Yes." Evan confirms, getting the message, "Achoo! It's pretty bad."

Daniella narrows her eyes at Avia then smiles. "Of course. I'll lead you to the garden!" Avia squeezes Evan's hand. Evan could almost see the imaginary question mark above his head. But the moment Daniella pushes Avia out of the room, he realizes what he's done.