14 Nosferatu
"Mina, come on."
"Where are we going?" I asked Vlad as he led away from the baseball game. Henry had run off to talk with his friends from Student Council, we were alone. "What if he comes back?"
"He won't be back soon. I just want to say goodbye to Otis."
"Otis? As in our teacher, Mr. Otis?" I asked as he gently pulled me by my hand, I felt wave after wave of electricity as he held onto me. We reached the parking lot and I saw a car pulled up by the sidewalk with our teacher leaning against it.
"Yeah. I wanted to say goodbye to him. And he asked me to bring you too. I said it wouldn't be a problem."
"Well it is a problem. He just seems kinda loopy to me Vlad."
"Otis is my friend, he knew my parents." Realization filled me. His father's book or Otis told him that I can guess. From his father's book maybe he put him off as a bad person, yet Otis told him otherwise. Vlad wasn't stupid, I could believe him.
"Okay." He continued to bring me to our teacher. Otis smiled at us.
"Vladimir, I see you convinced her. Mina, I am glad you are able to make it."
"Hello, Mr. Otis." I answered.
"Please, call me Otis. I'm not your teacher anymore. I wanted to speak with you before I left, and I never found the chance in class. And I feared you would interfere if I told you sooner. From what Vladimir has told me about you, I knew you would do just that."
"You talked about me?" I asked him, a slight blush on my face. Vlad slight glanced at me, smiled and returned his eyes to Otis.
"You seem to know a lot of vampires. Your essay was remarkable to young girls as you interpret them. I was shocked."
"Thank you. They are misunderstood creatures." I told him with a smile. He nodded and grinned. "You said you wanted to speak with me?"
"Yes. Vlad may we have a moment?" Vlad nodded and stepped off to finish watching the game. "Mina, how long have you known Vlad or about vampires?"
"Uh, I met Vlad this year. I came to Bathory almost a week before you did sir. And I lived with my cousin Joss before hand, and he never let me do anything if it involved vampires. I wasn't allowed to watch movies, read books, or do anything if it had vampires in it. So when I learned all I know this year, from Vlad. But I did do a lot of studying on my own."
"Let me see that." He point to my collar bone, my necklace. I held it out over my hand, not taking it off. He leaned in ever so slightly to inspect it. I saw he held his breath like Vlad did. "Aw, where did you get it?"
"In Romania, when I lived there with Joss. This old guy gave it to me."
"Yes, I believe Vlad told me the story. I just had to hear it for myself."
"What is it you want to tell me?" I demanded. He pulled out a small picture from the inside of his coat pocket. He held it from the top and in front of my face. I saw a picture of a hideous man, pointed ear, tall and thin.
"Examine this picture, every detail. And when you get home search the name Count Orlok. When you find this picture with the name you are in the right place. This is my last lesson before I leave Bathory. It is in the utmost importance that you research this in great detail Mina, and that Vlad not know of your studies."
"Why not? Can't he help me find this Orlok guy?" I asked.
"No. This is a secret between you and me. Am I clear?" I nodded.
"Mr. Otis, what part do you play exactly in the secret Vlad keeps from me? I swore to wait until he was ready, yet I fear he never will be."
"I am strongly involved, Mina. And he will, if not I am positive that you will meet the fate that the secret carries for you."
"I'm involved too?"
"Yes, Vlad may not be open to the idea yet you are. Do not forget that, and keep this between us. And do not be so blind to the hidden truth. What lies in your future, and was is in my past along with Vlad's present; our strength comes from those not believing in us."
He stood tall and turned to call Vlad over. As my crush grew closer I felt the pull and called my teachers name. He smiled at me.
"Our secret." He mouthed as Vlad reached us.
"You both were incredible students this year. I hope to see you both together again soon." He then placed his hand on my shoulder before hugging Vlad tightly. "May we say good bye, Mina?"
"Yes, sir. Good bye." I waved once more before walking by the gate. I leaned against the metal as I thought of what he told me.
He said that my future is the secret Vlad keeps. And that our, whatever link is holding my teacher and love and me in the future, strength comes from people not believing in us. Just like that man from Romania. Maybe whoever this Orlok guy was can help me find what a Nosferatu is. Then I can understand that man and Henry's words those weeks ago.
Vlad returned after watching Mr. Otis drive off and away forever. He stood at my side and I saw him smack away a tear.
"What is wrong?" I asked him.
"He told me I look just like my dad." I brushed the last remains of tears away and smiled.
"You do, he looks like a good man Vlad. And I know you are a great friend. I can see that you will be a good man too."
"Thank you Mina." The night went on as we met back with Henry. Who joked about us running off the make out in a corner before we told him about Mr. Otis. My cousin and his crazy thoughts to make me red. After that we went to the Freedom Fest. I kept my eyes and mind away from Vlad the whole time. Yet with Henry flirting with every girl I quickly decided to go home.
I sat at the family computer and typed in the name Mr. Otis gave me. I found it easily on images. The same man with pointed ears, jagged teeth, long, thin body and face, bald head, and dark deep light blue eyes. I clicked on the image which took me to a site.
I slowly read through it, my mind really at the dance with Vlad and Meredith. I didn't even fully read until I got half way through. I saw that the picture was from a movie. A movie called Nosferatu.
This man had something to do with whatever a Nosferatu was? I read on with more focus and at a faster rate. Yet one word sent me on an overnight hunt.
Vampire.
