Page 15 of The Bonds of Indigo

“One that’s useful. AKA: Not you.”

She lets out a soft huff, and even with her eyes closed, I can tell she’s rolling them.

“You can open your eyes. I don’t care if you see me.” I lift one ankle over my knee and sink slightly into the chair. “I’ll probably be the best view you’ll ever see again.”

Her cheek tugs inward as she tilts her head—once to the left, then to the right. “No need, I don’t need to see you to know exactly what you look like.” Her tone is matter-of-fact, and while I don’t doubt she believes it, I can’t help but bite to the challenge she didn’t ask for.

“Do tell.”

She releases an annoyed sigh. “You’re tall, based on your steps, probably close to… six foot nine. You’re big, but muscular. It’s like you take up space. I felt suffocated the moment you came into my cell.”

A deep chuckle escapes from my chest. “That doesn’t sound much like a compliment.”

“I’m simply stating facts. You’ve got long hair, probably to your shoulders. I’m forming an estimate based on the knot you snagged on when you ran your fingers through it. You weren’t dragging it down for long. You’re a Vampire…” My eyes narrow, and while she can’t see it, she tilts her head as though she does. “Fangs make a very distinct sound when they elongate, and I can smell blood.”

“I didn’t know Witches had heightened senses…”

I know they don’t, so color me intrigued.

“Things develop differently when you don’t use one of your senses.”

“Are you blind?”

“Not legally,” she answers quickly. “Now, let’s move on. I don’t need to⁠—”

“What color is my hair?”

She sighs and shakes her head. “Pink.”

“Oh come on, you can at least give it a good guess.” I cross my arms over my chest and wet my bottom lip. “And my eyes, why not.”

“You could be a blond with this attitude.”

“Ouch. That’s disrespectful.”

“And you’re a Vampire, don’t insult my intelligence. Time’s ticking. You’re wasting it with this.”

“It must be nice to talk.” She groans and shakes her head. “Maybe your last interaction for⁠—”

“Good. I’d enjoy not having any more interactions. Now, please, ask me what you came to ask me.”

“Hair and eye color…” I’m not backing down, not until I can get some sort of reaction out of her. “Then I’ll move on.”

She releases a heavy breath through her nose. “Red eyes, and…” She pauses, and I imagine most people would open their eyes just to get it over with and move on. But she’s quite stubborn. “Deductive analysis would put you in a neutral color, darker, probably chocolate brown—and you likely have a beard to match.”

Instinctively, I drag my hand up to my maintained, full beard. It has her nodding her head.

“Full beard it sounds like, and definitely brown. If not, I give up. I gave it my best guess, now please, let’s move on.”

I’m glad she can’t see the smile creeping across my face. “Very impressive. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised, considering you were capable of killing over four hundred people in a single night. You need to be perceptive and slightly smart to be capable of such an act…”

“Or stupid, considering I got caught.”

“Yes… or that.” I take a deep breath. “Well, alright. That was fun, now onto business I suppose.” Leaning forward, I brace my elbows on the table, interlacing my fingers before resting my chin on them. “Tell me where I can find one of you that isn’t you.”

“Not sure.”

I sort of expected that answer. “Just a name, that’s it, and I’ll leave you to your riveting life.”