Don't touch that!!! What if it's a cursed object? her mind screamed at her.

Xana warily took the small box from Professor Erikson, shrinking away from him as soon as the object was in her trembling hand. Her heart was beating so hard that she could feel its triphammer beat in her wrists and ears as well. "Thank you..." she said with a slight hesitation in her voice. She glanced at Diabolica and then glanced back at Professor Erikson before returning her attention to the small box.

Diabolica caught Xana's eye and gave her a warning glance. Xana, have you learned nothing from our past instructors? That could very well be a cursed object of some sort! The man has just attempted to obliviate you, and now you're accepting an unknown gift from him as if it were a friendly exchange during Christmas time? she thought, eyeing the box in a mistrusting manner. She returned her gaze to Xana and her eyes seemed to advise her not to open it.

"I'd gotten it shortly after the incident at the encampment. After Slade left. He said he can't return quite yet, by the way. Whatever he's after, he's close. He will meet with you as soon as he returns." He paused a moment as he opened up the storage shed. "He also chided me briefly for attempting to obliviate you. He said that it was our fault for trying to keep you out of it. I still stand by my decision, however. Our lives were irrevocably changed when we began into this, well over a decade ago. It consumed Slade, and tore us apart. We're trying to keep her from turning you into another player. If we fail, She will go after you. If you are strong, you will be consumed. If you are weak--" He just couldn't finish it. He had seen what happened to the weak. It's what would happen to he and Slade if they failed in their own attempts.

"That day, by the Shrieking Shack... Slade mentioned what was happening. When he stopped, you kept pushing. You wanted to know more. When that happened, someone else was listening. She knew she could turn you into another player. She's the one that met you on Valentine's Day."

Xana held the box delicately, not moving to open it. She watched him cautiously, choosing her words as carefully as one might cross a rickety bridge... each word a delicate step forward as she spoke in a calm, low tone. She stood before him. tall and steady, drawing upon her training for inner strength. "I appreciate your efforts to keep me out of... this. It was perhaps as you say, and my folly -- my inquisitiveness -- is what brought me deeper into your world and Slade's than I realized, bringing with it dangers I did not perceive such seemingly simple questions could bring. While I object to you drawing your wand against me, sir, I recognize that you feel you were justified." Which is why I no longer feel safe around you; why I fear you so. No one ever believes he is a villian, only... 'justified'. she thought. "I hope that you and Slade succeed in your endeavours and continue to keep me out of things, for in that wish we are of like mind." She smiled slightly, but her smile did not touch her eyes. "I want no part of this. Any of it."

Diabolica listened to the two of them, looking from Xana to the professor and back every so often. Merlin, it was as if she wasn't even present. She sighed inwardly. "Excuse me, but as much as I hate to interrupt such an enthralling conversation, oughtn't we retrieve the sprayers and report back to the broom cupboard? Professor Branxton will likely require them soon."

"Neither did I. If we are successful, as I hope, then you may be able to remain ignorant of the entire ordeal a while longer. Slade says, however, that there are too many players for it to be completely true. Be careful what knowledges you seek, Xana. You may not like what you find."

"As for Branxton, I've seen the potion listing. It won't be ready for a few more hours, at the very least." He scanned around a while before finally coming upon a good number of boxes. "I think these would be best. Most of these will be unused, and unlikely to contaminate the potion. He pulled one over and looked through it. "These are the more heavy-duty ones you mentioned before. I have some spritzers around here somewhere." With that he continued to look through boxes. "You'd think I'd learn to label properly... I can't even name a plant."

Xana shot her a smirking glare. Enthralling. Right.

"I seek no knowledge in this regard. I regret what I did seek. I want nothing to do with any of that world." she shook her head, glad Dia had changed the subject.

"The spritzers are on the left back shelf, and have been labelled with green labels for easier identification." She gestured to a distant, dimly lit shelf. "The heavy duty ones all have orange labels now, and the wheeled pump sprayers for carrying larger quantities of fertilizing compound are in boxes labelled with blue labels. " She gave him a half-smile. "I got tired of opening and re-opening boxes in here, so..." She shrugged. "It's all written in a summary report that I left on your desk."

He laughed, which was a surprising change even to him. "I've barely been in my office, honestly. I have so much to catch up on. I've barely even heard from Ally, and..." He turned solemn again. "Reminds me, I still need to set up a play date for Damian and the twins." He pulled a few boxes of the spritzers and set them by the box of compression sprayers. "That should be enough. We can always come back and get more if they think we need them."

"I'd be willing to bet Professor Blaylock managed Damien's social calendar in your absence... as for everything else, the status of everything I managed -- the gardens -- is in that report... including the efforts on the experimental plant in your office that's looking a little droopy; I seriously don't know what it needs, I've tried everything but it just seems to miss you." she smirked with a raised eyebrow, as she picked up some spritzers, putting the box of questionable contents into her duffel for the moment. Truth was, in spite of seeing a glimpse of the old Erikson, she was still afraid of him and therefore nervous to open it.

"I wouldn't be surprised. I've wound up with some interesting plants. One only bloomed in my presence when I was younger." He frowned. "A rabbit ate it."

"Oh, that locket will alert you to untruths. Unfortunately it only works with blatant lies, not when someone's merely hiding the truth. Feel free to disregard the pictures. That was Gardina's doing. I still swear she's got a picture of me sleeping somewhere. She says she tore it up, but I doubt it."

Locket? Did he really think she'd wear a locket after what happened to Jasmine? No way in hell. She merely smiled, "Thank you. That's a very generous gift; I appreciate it." She did not move to open the box or look at the locket, instead taking another sprayer into her hands.

He watched her lifting up the sprayers then raised a brow. "Wouldn't it be easier if we just each carried a box?"

"Easier still...." she drew her wand and levitated the boxes. Why hadn't she thought of that before? She smirked. "Better living through magic."

"Ah yes, of course." He chuckled softly. "Too much time with Slade, I suppose. He does everything the hard way. Well, let's be on our way, then." He gestured for them to go on ahead, holding at the door to close up.

Xana walked out of the greenhouse, holding the sprayers aloft with her wand.

Armand led Cassandra to just outside of the other greenhouses, a little worried. "There, is that better? Now why such a reaction to Marco's news?"

Cassandra tried to pace herself. Slowing down her breathing, her pale complection slowly returning. "I... Denver's a child himself!" She looked up to aid a slower breathing pattern. "You see how he is in class... it sort of... shocked me."

Once she was able to breathe normally she began playing with her thumbnails. "I sort of have a confession..." She turned her eye to where the bocca was, in the back, shielded by the other students. It was just something familiar to look at. "I did really start hyperventalating when Marco made his announcement... But I am able to control it rather well... I sort of... controlled it in the opposite direction... forcing myself to continue."

She took another calming breath. Forcing an attack, a real one, really drained her and made her a bit dizzy. "Please don't be angry, but I kept thinking of the beginning of the year... I kept away from you, and you told me we were friends... and I could visit anytime I wanted. And now because of matters foreign to me, I am no longer allowed your friendship?"

She swallowed a little. Her vision was blurry from the tears forming in her eyes. But she wouldn't let them escape. "I've obeyed, but I do not think it fair. Especially when someone like Xana is allowed the pleasure of your company... she isn't your friend professor." There, she said it. Let him rage at her if he needed to.

"Cassandra..." He sighed and kneeled by her. "Xana is one of the ones already in danger. That is why she is still allowed to be close to me. If she were to be too far from me, then she may be in more danger than near. And as is, I don't think she really wants to be near me. I tried to obliviate her, and she hasn't taken kindly to it." He gave her a wry smile then shook his head. "And she is a friend... of sorts. Xana and I are very alike. Remember? Both of our flowers are blue and crystal."

"I am sorry for my focus on Xana lately, but she's come into quite a bit of trouble, which is deeply connected to Slade and I's past. If we can keep Xana out of it just a bit longer, if we can win this fight, then the three of us might finally be free of this mess. At the very least, we might finally be able to live normal lives. Do you understand?"

"No, I don't!" She said walking away from him briefly, before pacing back to him. "Why do YOU have to protect her? Why can't Slade do it alone? Why do YOU have to be in danger? Why... WHY can't I, then! I can help you protect Xana..." UGH!!! Protect Xana... "I am not a child. I am nearly of age. I don't act like Marco, I can handle myself in a duel, I am good at healing spells..." She was babbling now.

"I'm in danger anyway, piccola mia. My family is. I don't want you hurt, and I don't want you involved. It's bad enough that Xana is involved. And if I step down now, I could use my best friend. A man that I have known since we attended Hogwarts together." Something akin to pain entered his eyes as he grasped her shoulders. "I almost lost him while we were gone, while I was right there. It's... complicated. All of it is. But it's part of our past, and we have to keep this from completely destroying our future. And you... you might yet be safe." He considered a moment then took her hand. "Come with me. Let me show you a few things."

Cassandra held his hand firmly, thinking of everything he had just said... It was going to be hard to dissuade her. She followed him blindly.