Allen stood up scratching his head with an adorable grin. June jumped over him and hugged him sobbing, "Oh my god Allen!! I was so worried!! Are you okay!?!?"
"Yeah I'm fine love. Just got manipulated." Allen assured her with a grin as Simon sighed, "You have no idea how many times I've told her that."
Allen looked around after he had assured June that he was fine. "So, how long was I out for?" he asked.
"Three hours." Den's voice came from the opposite sofa.
Allen: "...."
Allen searched around the whole living room until his eyes fell on Stella standing by the door, looking like a kid that had been punished.
"Three hours!!!! That's amazing shortcake!!! And you've not even started training yet!!! But why are you standing all the way over there?" Allen exclaimed.
"June wouldn't let me anywhere near you." Stella replied in a small voice. "I know. I'll try to keep it under as much control as I can." she added, turning to Simon.
"Keep it in control? Why? Who's keeping what in control?" Allen asked, looking alarmed.
"Coming to the most important question, what do you think of her powers?" Den spoke again. He looked the most disturbed of them all, like he was still having trouble processing everything.
"I can't tell the exact magnitude of her powers, but they are definitely more than any manipulator I've seen." Allen said.
"Who is Penelope?" Stella said in an undertone. Allen spoke just as she finished, "Yeah. More than Penelope."
The four vampires then turned to Stella with alarm on their faces and Simon massaged his head, "What did I tell you just now?"
Stella blushed and hung her head, "Sorry. I'm gonna practice not hearing."
Allen's face broke into a huge smile and he was beside Stella in a flash, much to June's horror. But Stella did not look surprised, she
looked like she had seen him walk over.
"You just might be the best manipulator ever shortcake." Allen said, patting her head.
"But why?" Stella asked, looking up.
"Of course none of you know. I don't know myself." she added the next instant and turned around.
Just as she took a step, Stella added, "I will try to control it Simon, don't reproach me. It'll take time. And sorry."
She then walked out of the room.
"Where is she going?" Allen said in a small voice.
The next instant Stella's voice was heard from outside, "My room is in a mess. I'm going to clean it up." The four in the living room looked at each other. None of them knew if she had heard Allen's voice or read his mind.
Stella of course heard someone coming up the stairs as she folded her clothes which were strewn here and there. It was all the work of Stella as she had searched for Lily's book.
She was annoyed at herself for being able to hear those footsteps. She should not be able to hear them, she did not want to hear them.
"Don't you have to leave, Allen?" Stella asked after sometime without even looking back. Allen had reached her room quite a few seconds ago but had not made a noise.
"How did you know it was me? Don't tell me you could distinguish my footsteps even when I was being that quiet?" Allen asked as he walked in.