Anirudh was pacing back and forth inside the large dining hall in a lightning speed, restlessly, as his mind worked on the idea of getting himself not controlled by Vidhi any more. He had been a vampire for over a century now, and had saved and sired a few hundred humans, but never even once was he controlled by any of them!
Then why suddenly her?
The question rang in his head in a continuous loop, driving him crazy.
Why did she suddenly ask him to taste her blood?
From where did she get the idea?
Anirudh hammered his fist on the mahogany shelf, breaking it into two halves.
"Damn!" He growled.
The silence of the hall was absolutely in contrast with the noise he felt in his head. There was so much to ponder upon. Chandrajeet's next move, getting Vidhita out of the sire bond, and most importantly funding out the source and reason of her strange power. Anirudh let out a sharp sigh and walked towards the bar cabinet hoping to pour himself a drink.
Suddenly, there was a discord, something changed, something didn't add up and Anirudh's mind and body was filled with a strong urge to see Bondita again... An inexplicable, undeniable urge, and he felt powerless against it.
"What's happening to me!" He murmured as he gripped the table firmly, closing his eyes and trying to ignore the urge.
'Anirudh... Please come to me... Please... Anirudh... I want you to come to me... And take me in your arms... And love me... Fiercely... '
Vidhi's faint voice rang in his ears and Anirudh groaned loudly, unable to ignore the call.
In a flash of a moment, he quickly rushed to the west wing of the mansion and stood infront of the master bedroom.
Vidhi was sitting on the bed, her eyes closed, as she mumbled inaudibly.
"Bondita... Why?"
Anirudh's voice was cold and Vidhi opened her eyes slowly and smiled.
"Please, come and sit... There is something I want to show you."
Vidhi smiled brightly at him.
Anirudh quietly followed her words, and sat on the bed beside her. His eyes fell on the red rose petals that lay infront of her on the bed.
Vidhi's eyes followed his gaze.
"Oh these? I got them from the vase over there." She pointed towards the small table on which the laptop was kept on charge.
"Now, I want you to see this." Her face shone with excitement as she slowly closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
She kept her palm on top of the petals without touching them, and slowly started moving her hand upwards.
Anirudh sat still and watched her hand move, and to his utter surprise, he saw the petals raising up as well, floating in the air.
"How are you doing this!" Anirudh gasped.
"I don't know... It's... It's magic!"
Anirudh furrowed his eyebrows at her.
"Bondita, not only are you controlling these petals, but you are controlling me as well." He paused.
"I wasn't willing to come to this room, but I couldn't resist your call."
Vidhi widened her eyes and pouted her lips at him.
"Are you mad at me?"
"Yes... A bit, definately!" Anirudh replied promptly.
"You were trying to make me drink your blood... Why Bondita? What were you thinking?"
A sharp sting of disappointment was evident in Anirudh's voice as he looked expectantly at her for an answer.
Vidhi looked down.
"I'm sorry. I don't know why I did that. But, something inside me told me to do it. I felt that my blood would make you stronger, stronger than any being on earth." Vidhi paused.
"But, I don't want to be that creature Bondita... You are my everything! I can't possibly hurt you."
Vidhi raised her hands to cup Anirudh's face, as he trembled under her touch. His fangs came out involuntarily shooting red blood veins around his eyes.
"See what your simple touch is doing to me!" He murmured.
"It's like I absolutely have no power over myself. Bondita, you need to stop."
"I'm not doing it intentionally, Anirudh. I want you... I feel like I want to be with you... Isn't that what the sire bond is supposed to make me feel?" Vidhi blurted out, a little frustrated at the accusation that he made on her.
"I want you too, and yes, that's how sire bond works. But, you are making me lose it."
Vidhi didn't reply, she looked at him with a sharp expression, clearly unhappy at his words as her eyes moved straight away from him to the flower vase that was on the table.
She felt a burning sensation in her heart and a sudden rage rose in her core making her want to burn everything around. Vidhi focused on the sensation and concentrated on the single red rose that was still soaked inside the white china vase.
"Bondita!!"
Anirudh yelled out as he saw the flower started to burn in a steady golden flame, filling the room with a choking smoke.
Vidhi was shaken at his loud voice. She quickly removed her stare from the flower and covered her face with her hands, shaking convulsively at her current deed.
"What did I do... What's happening to me... Anirudh... Anirudh I'm so scared!"
He eyes started to flow down as Anirudh quickly poured a bottle of water to put down the fire.
Vidhi was sobbing.
"Bondita, look at me, please."
Anirudh approached her slowly and sat down infront of her, as he held her hands gently in his.
Vidhi lifted her head and looked at him expectantly with her tear-striken face.
"What's happening to me?" She murmured.
"I don't know Bondita. But, we will have to find out." He pulled her closer to his chest and let her rest her head on his shoulder.
"Don't worry... Please."
Vidhi closed her eyes, listening to his steady heartbeat as her mind and body slowly started to relax in an inexplicable calmness.
"What should I do now?" Vidhi hushed in his skin, breathing in his scent sharply to comfort her senses.
"This power of yours is dangerous until we find out the source and nature of it. So, you'll have to be in a confinement Bondita." Anirudh paused, running his fingers through her hair to acclaimatize her with his words.
"There is a room, in the basement. It's walls are curved with runes, and the windows are thick, impenetrable. You need to stay there till I find out the reason." Anirudh pointed out towards the old handwritten book with his eyes.
"Why can't we both be in the room and find out?" Vidhi asked softly.
"Two reasons. First, because I can't enter that room. It's like what you call a safe house from all creatures of the dark and vampires." He paused, recalling words.
"You remember how I had bruises when I had kissed you the first time after the party?"
Vidhi nodded.
"It's because Chandrajeet fed you something called Vervain. It's a magical plant and is a bane for me, like a poison.
This room in the basement is laced with Vervain, plus the runes."
Anirudh finished his words and tried to gauge Vidhi's expression.
"And, what's the second reason?"
Vidhi was visibly upset with the proposal of the confinement as Anirudh gently pulled his hand and made her touch the bulge in between in thighs.
"This is the second reason. Your presence is making me feel like devouring you... In every way possible. I won't be able to concentrate."
Vidhi quivered a little at the touch but lingered her hand a little longer on his bulge than needed.
"Bondita, let's go."
He bent down a little and scooped her up from the floor and before she could understand what's happening, he left the room in a lightning speed and dashed down the stairs, towards the basement.
"Here, this is the room."
Vidhi was panting when he lowered her down on the floor.
"Don't... Don't ever do this to me... Being Flash is your thing... Not mine... I feel, I feel dizzy, and as if I'll throw up."
She held the door and tried to stand upright.
"Noted ma'am." Anirudh smiled.
"Now, you need to go inside voluntarily."
"What if I need you? Do I just remember you... Or call you?"
"No, the mental compulsions won't work inside this room... I'll come and check on you Bondita, don't worry." He touched her head in assurance.
"You won't be uncomfortable inside, and there is a working intercom that you can use."
Vidhi rolled her eyes at him.
"That's assuring. Why didn't you tell me that before." She smiled brightly at him.
"Go and find a cure Barrister Babu and I'll wait."
She walked inside the room slowly making Anirudh's heart ache in an unknown pain.
"Bondita?" He called her.
"Yes, Barrister Babu."
"Nothing. Just remember that your husband loves you... More than anything else in this world."
Vidhi smiled.
"I'll remember."