Chapter 14: Chapter 14
Once the poles were removed from the young woman’s body, her wounds began healing rapidly. They congealed together like magnets, and it was quite a spectacular show to just watch the fibrous flesh draw into one another again, as the blood ceased bleeding. The scars that formed in place of the automatic stitching soon faded.
Rohit didn’t flinch at the sight of this, probably because there wasn’t much to it, but to him, the show before him looked like swirling rose petals.
Ingrid cleared her throat to snap him out of his unusual fascination and suggested, “We should take her to the back.”
The young man quietly nodded.
The vampire heiress noticed a shift in the atmosphere and instinctively glanced back towards the store, which looked untouched, as if the fighting that ensued between her and Colette never happened at all. She nodded, confirming that this associate was no regular vampire, but might be one she’d only heard rare cases of in the couple hundred years she’s been alive.
Rohit looked around the store, confused at the sudden restoration, but remained calm, knowing there was an explanation behind this. He suddenly felt his something grip his sleeve and looked down to see an exhausted Colette weakly looking into his eyes with her pale, olive-colored stare.
“My office…” she exhaled before taking a deep breath, “Please…take me there,” and then dozing off, as her body went limp.
He raised his eyebrows and didn’t know what lay in wait for him in her office, but that didn’t matter right now, as helping the associate recover was more important. So Rohit princess-carried her towards the back of the store after Ingrid pointed out that there was a door near the changing stalls. Along the way, he continued turning his head in trying to wrap his head around the sudden cleanup.
Ingrid pursed her lips in watching him carry Colette’s unconscious body. She lagged behind a bit, frowning, and staring longingly at the gesture, but then shook her head. ‘It’s nothing, it’s nothing,’ she thought. ‘He’s just being helpful.’ The vampire heiress soon passed the pair to help open the door into the back room, which was an open office area with racks of clothes and shoes in boxes behind, almost like a small warehouse. She also noticed a machine used to press clothes, in addition to an ironing board.
Rohit gently placed Colette in the executive chair in front of a computer desk.
A dry-erase board hung on the wall above that and it had measurements and potential designs for clothes. It was well used because the board would usually be white, but it appeared to take on a darker hue after many uses.
“What should we do?” Rohit asked, turning to Ingrid. “I mean it’s obvious she’s a vampire, so I bet she wouldn’t want us alerting the hospital…” He recalled his initial encounter with the vampire heiress and compared the scenarios, deducing a plausible solution. “I’m sure she has blood somewhere, but where would she keep it?”
Ingrid agreed, placing a hand by her chin in thought. Her nose twitched, as she picked up a familiar, rich scent. Her eyes shifted to a mini fridge right beside the desk and mounted on a small table. She hovered towards it and opened it. The moment she did, her eyes turned crimson with her fangs growing from her mouth again.
Rohit looked over and saw Ingrid’s hands trembling, as she reached inside and picked out a bag of blood.
She took long breaths, as saliva formed at her mouth after licking her lips. ‘This is it,’ she thought gleefully. ‘Liquid Gold…’ The vampire heiress them smothered the bag on her face, pressing it and absorbing the cool, plastic exterior to make sure she was actually feeling and seeing what was before her. ‘No doubt about it! It’s real all right!’ As she was about to unzip the bag, she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Are you okay, Ingrid?” Rohit softly asked, drawing closer to her. “What’d you find?”
When the young woman looked up at him, her eyes and teeth returned to normal, and she blinked a few times before answering. “Ah…” Ingrid cast her gaze at the bag and then held it towards him with both hands, like she were holding a baby. “It’s blood… Human blood,” she clarified.
The young man took hold of it and observed the label. “Oh, she must’ve gotten this from a blood bank,” he noticed. “Expired.” He pointed to the sticker on the bag.
Ingrid scratched her head, while wrinkling her forehead in confusion. “Blood bank?” she reiterated. “What’s that?”
Just as Rohit was about to answer, a heavy moan came from the executive chair.
The pair looked over and saw Colette shift her body in it, as she gradually swiveled around to face them. They exchanged looks with one another and then at the blood bag.
The drowsy associate was panting when she held up one hand to receive the sacred essence. She didn’t need to say any more, especially when Rohit knew what she wanted, so he handed it to her. Colette then shifted her gaze to one of the drawers. “My… lunch bag,” she directed, “please take out the straw.”
The young man opened the top two narrow drawers before getting to the bottom one, which had more depth, and contained a simple, insulated lunchbox inside. He unzipped it and pulled out a slender straw with a baby blue exterior and handed it to her.
Colette smiled at him and opened the blood bag, emitting a rancid, metallic odor, which was pleasing to vampires. Her irises were gold, as she dipped her straw inside and began drinking.
Ingrid’s stomach churned, as she watched and swallowed with anticipation. Her eyes were locked on the blood entering the associate’s mouth and just wanted to dive in to have her fill. But it wouldn’t be appropriate, considering she was the one who brutally drove four poles into Colette’s nimble extremities.
The store clerk drank until the bag was completely drained of all traces of blood. Usually there would still be slivers of it in the bag, but the young woman drank it straight through. Once her lips let go of the straw, Colette lounged back in her chair and unfastened the first few buttons of her blouse, so her cleavage was exposed, along with the black frills of her bra. Her bosom heaved when she breathed normally for the first time since being incapacitated the way she was. She exhaled with an alluring smile. “Much better,” she stated, fanning herself with her hand. “I’ve not had an altercation like that in a long time… I’m out of shape!”
Rohit swallowed at watching the sensual sight, as his body jolted with excitement, like a surge of lightning shot through his spine.
Once she noticed the Colette was in a better state, Ingrid stepped forward and proceeded to sternly question just who exactly she was and what her intentions were.
The associate sat up and exchanged looks with the pair in front of her. She pointed to some folding chairs leaning against the wall. “Pull up and I’ll explain everything to you,” she instructed.
“I don’t think we have the time for tea talk,” the vampire heiress retorted, crossing her arms.
Colette leaned forward, resting her forearms on her thighs. “I may be able to help with your predicament.”
To get his mind off of the erotic sight of the young woman’s voluptuous bust, Rohit reached for Ingrid’s wrist and guided her to the side to speak somewhat in private.
The gesture startled her at first, but she didn’t fight it mainly because she realized it came from him.
He felt like his ears were emitting steam like a train whistle the entire time, with all the thoughts swirling through his head. But remained calm and collected so a solution could be achieved. “We should hear her out,” he suggested, facing the vampire heiress, as they stood near the doorway. “She’s already proven to me that she has credibility, and doesn’t seem to have ulterior motives.”
Ingrid scoffed and pulled her wrist away, so the young man would let go. “I don’t doubt that she’ll be able to help us, it’s just… something about her just isn’t right.”
“I understand,” he empathized, taking into consideration the mysterious shroud that enveloped Colette. “I’m weary of her intentions too, but the least we could do is listen to what she has to say.”
The two met gazes and had a silent exchange of a mutual compromise.
“Okay, Rohit,” Ingrid yielded.
They walked back over to Colette, who stretched her arms above her head, and when she saw the pair, she smiled warmly, inviting them to sit down once more.