“Yeah, I know that all too well,” he’d had his own run-ins with the supernatural, yet even he still struggled to believe in it. Tom pulled a small purple sprig from his pocket. “Vervain is a herb, of sorts. I keep it on my person constantly. A bracelet and usually a sprig or two, in case someone needs some. It’s the most potent herb that can be used against vampires. It can burn them if they come into contact with it, and incapacitate them if they ingest or are injected with it. If a human ingests or holds vervain somewhere on their person, they are protected from a vampire’s compulsion,” Tom explained, his words getting rushed and ramble-y. “Here,” he smiled, handing the purple sprig to Cara. “I’ve got my bracelet. You take this.”
His smile was genuine, as he was enjoying his time with the woman. He still didn’t want to leave her in this weakened state, and he would stand his ground if she tried to make him leave. “Well, I’m grateful that you’ve trusted me with your real first name, Cara. While I don’t agree with breaking the law, I can understand it.”
Cara tried to take in everything that Tom was saying, attempting to memorize it with the full intention of her doing her own research later. When he finished speaking, she explained, “I’ve never run into a vampire with the power of compulsion before. The vampires I’ve faced… Sun won’t kill them, and neither will a stake to the heart. You have to decapitate them, weaken them with dead man’s blood first to give yourself the edge if you can…” She trailed off as he offered her the herb, smiling in return as she said, “Thank you – really. Any and all new information is always welcome, the supernatural world is constantly growing and changing. This might end up saving a lot of lives, my own included, so yes… Thank you.”
“You trusted me,” Cara quietly pointed out. “You’ve had multiple chances to take the upper hand, to run, to call the police… You didn’t. You stayed. The very least I owed you was a real name. And I didn’t always agree with breaking the law, either. Growing up, I… I was a strait-laced as they came, but… The ordinary world isn’t equipped to deal with the supernatural one. So what’s worse? Breaking a few laws, or… Or people like Lilah dying.”
His heart swelled, knowing he was saving lives, even if it was just with a little sprig. “I have more at home, I can get you enough to plant some of your own. It can be pretty hard to come by.” Readjusting his legs, he untangled them from under him and stuck them out in front of him, leaning back on his arms. “I’d choose anything over allowing innocents to suffer and die,” Tom agreed, nodding his head.
“I’m not one to share about myself, but I feel it’s needed in this instance,” he started, his eyes darting away from Cara’s as he nervously bit the inside of his cheek. “The reason I didn’t run or call the police is ‘cause, well. I was afraid of what might happen to me. I didn’t know what you were capable of, and, well, the last time I tried getting the upper hand, it put me in the hospital,” he explained, leaving out details like who, why, and when. “Let’s just say I’ve learned my lesson.” He was still traumatized by the events of his childhood, and he didn’t often speak of it. There was a metallic taste in his mouth as he had drawn blood. He clenched his jaw as he looked back at Cara. “I learned to not fight back.”
Cisco backup 