“You won’t like any of them,” he stated simply.
“Then why ask me to get in the car?”
“Because I needed to speak with you privately.”
“This is private. We are in a car alone.”
“No, this isn’t private enough. There are too many people. We need to be where no one can see us.”
“Jared, you are really starting to scare me.” Mina stated truthfully. Feelings of unease started to build.
He hit the steering wheel hard with the palm of his hand in frustration. Mina jumped. “That is exactly what I’m not trying to do. He looked at her with a worried expression etched across his face. “I’m trying to give you answers, and I don’t want to scare you, but you are just so darn impatient.”
Mina’s body tensed up from the sudden mood change in the car. Everything had become extremely serious. “I don’t care if I like the answers; I just want answers. I don’t even know if I can trust you, if you are on my side.” She stated softly.
Jared’s jaw twitched and she knew by his body language that she hit a nerve.
“Well are you?”
“Am I what?” he answered a little too quickly.
“On my side?”
“Who says there has to be sides?”
“Of course there are sides. You are either with me or with the evil Fae, who are always trying to kill me.”
“Not all of us are always trying to kill you. It’s just… complicated. Hey, there is an ice cream place up here do you want ice cream?”
Mina caught Jared’s slip of the tongue and how he immediately tried to cover it. That misdirection might have fooled Nan, but it wasn’t going to fool her. However, she did see something interesting next to the ice cream store.
>If she knew what was good for her she would’ve walked away, but curiosity got the best of her. She waited as the power windows lowered with only a small hum. Mina leaned down expecting some sort of sport executive or celebrity VIP. She stepped back in disdain when it was Jared.
He leaned across the passenger seat and whispered to Mina. “We need to talk.”
Mina glanced warily over her shoulder and watched Savannah get into her blue convertible, any minute now she would be gone. “No, I don’t think we do,” she answered out of the side of her mouth.
“YES, we do, and if you don’t stop avoiding me you are quickly going to be in over your head again.”
“What do you mean again?” Mina argued.
“Can’t you feel it? The storm brewing, the accumulation of power, the Story is building up toward another quest for you.” At the word quest a small gust of wind blew against Mina, making her shiver.
“Yeah I know. It’s not my first rodeo. I’m way ahead of you and I’ve already got it covered,” she said, impatiently patting her jacket where she had tucked the Grimoire.
“Oh you mean taking care of it like you did in the today in the lunchroom? You are way off track and you obviously don’t understand how these things work.”
Mina gave Jared a disgusted look.
“Get in the car, I’ll drive you home and we can talk.”
“How do you know there’s another quest coming?” She pointed her finger accusingly at him. “You haven’t been very friendly or forthcoming with information yet.”
“I’ll explain later, just get in.” Jared reached forward and opened the door for her. Mina debated with herself. Jared may be the one person who could help her and if he knew what was going on, then she needed his help. But, she told herself, if he lied to her, or if she thought she was in danger, she would run from him and run fast. Somewhat happy with her plan, Mina nodded to Jared.
“What about my bike?” Mina pointed lamely toward her red bike, sitting crookedly in the bike rack.
“It will be back on your apartment landing before morning, but we need to talk and we NEED to talk soon.” Jared was quickly becoming impatient.