“I know who you are, Una,” Sena replied cordially. Her eyes scanned from behind her glasses at the young redhead. The styling choices were almost hard to look at and the girl’s sudden embarrassment was apparent. Still, it was the closest they had been to one another in her time at the school and the augury sense of familiarity permeated. The touch of their hands affirmed the feeling and while Sena fully expected it, she knew it would take time for Una to understand:
It was kinship. However, the mystery would have to be enough for the moment. “Dr. Ashford talks about you all the time.” She said, letting go of her hand gently. “I’m Sena,” She spoke with a crisp professionalism, but the tone in her words was alluring and personable. “I work with him in his pharmaceutical business.” She patted the side of her bag, displaying polished nails as finely well kept as the rest of her ensemble. “I had a few things to drop off for him while he was away, maybe you’d like to join me?”
As Uná shook Sena's hand a feeling came over her.
That's odd… Do I know her? Her hand tightened around Sena's as if squeezing a close friend's, firmly saying "Glad to see you here.".
Uná tilted her head.
"I could swear…" She shook her head.
"Never mind. Poke around in the cottage? Uh yeah!" Trouble followed Uná where she went but she'd been good at avoiding the worst of it in her nearly sixteen years. She nodded looking excited.
They were only a few steps away and Sena’s heels clicked smartly on the stone pathway leading up to the small porch where she unlocked the door with her own key and motioned for Una to follow.
Turning towards the
office, the smell of aging books and sandalwood permeated as usual, even without Ashford’s presence. Sena flipped her sunglasses up while her steps reverberated through the property and she nonchalantly dropped her bag on the Dean’s desk as if she owned it. “How are your classes going?” She asked, picking up a small binder at the corner of the desk, thumbing through it briefly as she listened.
Eyes zeroing in on the door the anticipation nearly killed Uná as curiosity as to what was behind it. She was soon rewarded by Sena opening the door and Uná kept her manners and didn't push past.
It smells like a posh library! Bet there's books in here that would make Heidi squee. Turning round Uná saw a very masculine decor and color scheme. Dark woods and rich colors all seemed to flow from room to room. She almost missed Sena's question.
"Classes are going well. I started a study group with my bo- my friend. So I've been keeping a 4.0 average." Uná blushed as she said
friend.
I almost said boyfriend about Nikki. I don't know if he wants that kept secret or not. Better ask next time. I just kinda thought it was obvious. Uná's eyes brightened as she remembered Sena worked with Ashford. She smiled brightly.
"Ms. Sena since you work with Dean Ashford may I ask a pharmaceutical question? Unless you don't 'shop talk' while you're off work." Sena’s eyes lifted from the page slightly and she smirked at the mention of a “boyfriend” before glancing back down as Una spoke. Like everything that Ashford kept as physical documentation, everything was in a sort of code that only he could read. She wasn’t sure how it was generated or why, but her attention was diverted by Una’s unexpected question and she looked up again slightly quizzically. “You can ask whatever you want.”
Uná started to look around the room, the wealth of information overwhelming so she wasn't concentrating on what she was seeing. At Sena's affirmation to ask, Uná turned toward the woman.
"I was given an enhancement to allow me to control my powers while conscious. I wanted to know if it had any side effects and I was hoping maybe you knew since you and Dean Ashford work together… maybe you know about it?" Uná looked hopeful that Sena would know about the drug and that she'd be willing to share her knowledge.
Sena’s eyes narrowed a bit, “It’s an enhancer, but it’s supposed to help you
control?” She tossed the binder back on the desk and crossed her arms. “Do you have it with you?”
Uná actually had them on her. She kept them on her because she didn't know what she should have done to dispose of them. Uná nodded and pulled out a plastic sandwich bag from her bra.
"Sorry. Safest place for them. I didn't want to flush them just in case." Uná handed over the baggie with about a full week's worth left of the pills.
A look of concentration came over Uná's face.
"I stopped taking them recently but...I don't remember why. I just don't know that I want to keep taking them. There has to be a way for me to access my powers without being on meds." Uná looked very determined about accessing her powers.
Some amusement went over the dark haired woman’s face as she watched Una retrieve her medication wrapped in plastic like trash that she carried around. Just looking at the pills daintily aligned at the bottom of the bag caused her to shake her head slightly and she gave a small sigh. “Who prescribed them to you?” She asked, taking the bag in her hand, not even examining them that closely.
Looking over Sena as she examined the last of the pills. Uná still couldn't seem to quite remember why she didn't want them.
"Dean Ashford." She remembered that they had worked quite well.
“And you feel better without it?”
"I feel the same. No that's not true. I… something happened to make my mind change in a big way but…" Uná rubbed her head.
Sena pursed her lips and tossed the bag in the waste bin. The same one that Ashford had used when she had confronted him Sunday morning. A place where she knew he would find it. Acting was not her strong suit, but the truth in her position made the words come easier. What she wanted to say, she knew Una wasn’t ready for, however the opportunity that had been offered up was one that could not be refused. “You don’t need them,” She said plainly, looking the younger girl in the eyes, “If I tell you something, can you keep it a secret between us?”
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