Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Once she finished administering the blood, Colette cleared a work bench and placed some fabric over it for Rohit to lay Ingrid upon. “Careful not to move her too much,” she warned. “Consuming that much blood in a short amount of time without a stable base could overwhelm her.”

He nodded and gently lay his companion down.

Colette placed a bundle of fabric beneath her head as a makeshift pillow. She gazed down at the helpless vampire heiress and flexed her cheeks, briefly recalling her disposition towards them. She then watched Rohit part her hair to the side so it wasn’t in her face when she woke up. The level of care he was showing the unconscious hunter of the night caused her chest to twist. ‘I just met him, yet I’m feeling this ache—a sensation I’ve never felt for anyone before.’

“When do you think she’ll come through?” Rohit asked, interrupting the store clerk’s thoughts.

Colette spaced out for a second and asked the young man to repeat his question, during which she pulled out a new set of glasses from the desk drawer after the previous pair shattered during her fight. “I can’t give you a definitive answer,” she responded, adjusting the rectangular lenses, “but I do know that she’ll be up and about shortly.”

The young man nodded and thanked her for coming to the rescue.

Colette giggled. “It was nothing, cutie.”

Rohit blushed and scratched the back of his head.

“Besides, you came to my rescue before she could seriously wound me.”

He then gulped and asked if it was okay to stay here until she woke up.

She nodded.

As he went over to bring two chairs for them to sit beside the table, Colette was wondering to herself what role Rohit was playing in all this. She witnessed this innate power within him twice already, so she couldn’t help but ponder, ‘Is he bewitched? Is Ingrid just using him for her own devices? Or is he just… plain naïve?’ When he unfolded the chair for her to sit down, the young woman cupped Rohit’s face in both of her hands and met his gaze.

This jolted him, as he tried flinching out of her grip, but was unable to move. “Hey!” he scolded. “What gives?” When she didn’t answer his question, the young man had no choice but to push her body and yank at her arms, but that didn’t do any good either.

Colette’s athletic abdomen and sturdy stance wasn’t caving in whatsoever.

He was then captivated by her olive-colored eyes meeting his, so he struggled less.

After a brief moment of exchanging looks, Colette let go and sighed in relief. “Good, you’re not under some special enchantment.”

Rohit stepped back, whipping his hair behind him and rubbing his face. “Of course I’m not under a spell,” he replied, confused as to what the dhamphir wanted to see. “But I do admit to having this drive to help Ingrid out if that’s what you were looking for… I can’t really explain it.”

Colette placed her hand by her chin and nodded. “I see. Well, whatever this power that dwells inside you is, it definitely gave off a particular pheromone that once again awakened my feral instincts.”

This spooked the young man, as he felt his heart leap into his throat. He was fearful that this was going to attract more unwanted attention, and voiced this concern to the dhamphir.

“Don’t worry,” she assured him. “It seems that this power is kept from being detected by others at all.”

“But you and Ingrid managed to sense it right away,” he corrected, recalling that even the vampire heiress picked up on this energy from across the Aethiopian Ocean. “So how can you say the powers are safely hidden away?”

“It’s quite an intriguing phenomenon really. Allow me to explain.”

For the next few minutes, Colette explained how the power dwelling inside Rohit is obscured entirely, unless it’s actually sought out by someone. “In other words,” she clarified, “if one believes it exists, then it exists. If one speaks it into existence, then it will manifest.”

Rohit didn’t quite understand, arguing that how can one believe in a power just because they say it’s real? And then when they do that, it suddenly becomes a concrete sensation. “It comes like someone believing in God, without actually seeing Him, but knows that He is ever present.”

She smiled. “Exactly.”

“What?” He raised his eyebrow, not knowing the rationale behind his words.

“It is as you say,” Colette simplified. “Your power is alluded to most people’s belief in the Almighty One. If they seek Him, then they shall find Him. But if they don’t seek Him, even though they’re aware of His existence, He will not make Himself known—the same applies to your powers.”

“So I have to not think about it? Or others not think about it for it to be covered up, is what you’re saying?” He then pointed to Ingrid. “But she thinks of my powers all the time, I’m sure.”

“It’s like I said,” the dhamphir adjusted her glasses, “even if someone is aware of your powers, it will not manifest if it’s not sought after,” and then gestured towards the sleeping vampire. “She seeks your power, yes, but you also have to be willing to draw it out—just like what you did earlier in the climax of our fight.”

Rohit stroked his beard and reviewed the facts about what occurred. “So my intention to draw out my powers is basically what allowed me to actually follow through, then?”

Colette nodded, and motioned her hand in a circle for him to continue elaborating.

“And then drawing them out is what would then attract other vampires…?”

“Precisely.” She clapped and explained how, even though she wasn’t specifically seeking Rohit’s powers out in the first place—since she didn’t even know—it was her lust of wanting to make a sale, paired with her vampire instincts in wanting to consume human blood is what allowed her to uncover the young man’s hidden potential. “With that said, you’ve passed Magic 101, cutie.” She kissed her palm and blew it his way.

The sweet fragrance of her kiss tickled his face, as he felt his nerves well up inside him.

They then heard some tittering coming from in front of them, and they glanced to see that Ingrid had finally woken up.

Rohit stood and leaned over her, placing a hand on her milky face, which looked healthier than the pale and clammy appearance she took on once more in her unconscious state. “Ingrid!” he called joyously. “You’re back! Are you okay?”

The vampire heiress continued chuckling, as the young man helped her sit up. “Thanks, Rohit…” she acknowledged, steadily regaining her composure. She turned to Colette, who stood up and crossed her arms.

“Welcome back. You’re welcome, by the way,” she sarcastically remarked.

Ingrid smiled and held her hand out, like she was going to shake her hand. “Thank you,” she firmly appreciated. “Without your blood pack, who knows what would’ve happened.”

Colette glanced at her hand and sternly responded, “I know. You would’ve slept, conserving your powers and only awaken when you’ve had the chance to feed.” Ingrid frowned, not making any comebacks, but slowly drew her hand away until the dhamphir took hold of it in hers. “But…” She softened her voice and cast her eyes to their conjoined hands, “It would’ve been my fault if it came to that,” and then met her sapphire eyes. “I shouldn’t have tried to deceive you the way I did—either of you.” She glanced over at Rohit and held her left hand out for him to take hold of as well. “I’m sorry for this misunderstanding,” she entreated, shaking both their hands. “I hope the air is clear between us now.”

Ingrid and Rohit exchanged looks and responded that all was forgiven.

“However,” the vampire heiress stepped down from the table, “I still have my suspicions about you. So why don’t we pick up where we left off?”

Colette smirked. “I suppose you should know some more about me, so why not?” She gestured towards the desk area where they’d been sitting earlier. “Make yourselves comfortable, and I’ll explain to you, like I explained to your boyfriend why I snapped.”

The pair blushed when the store associate mentioned the fake relationship they shared, but neither corrected her that it was all just for show.