Rupi watched the other woman with growing intrigue. First she began meek and timid, unaware of her situation and totally lacking in any confrontational intent. She was starting to build a psych evaluation for the patient with barely asking a question, Tessa revealing everything like a gold mine. Whereas she was seemingly innocent and demure, her other side seemed quite extreme. Rupi judged that this alter personality came out only under moments of extreme duress and pressure, which seemed to be pervading the woman’s very being as she recounted her memories before and after these episodes. Rupi was about to inquire herself into the nature of these changes, when it happened.
The shift occurred quickly, subtle yet profound in scope and degree. Rupi tilted her own head to the side when the woman paused in her story, her mind absorbing every little detail to store away later and analyze. The transition in the woman’s demeanor seemed to suck the entire cell of air. Her voice, changed. Her facial expressions, changed. Had Rupi not seen it, she would have placed this new persona as an imposter and an utterly new person just by the way she had shifted so much. Her grey eyes narrowed at the other woman’s remark. She was crying? Rupi didn’t feel as such, but she mimicked the other woman’s gesture all the same, using her pinky to wipe across her cheek. What Rupi saw…took all her effort to conceal. There was indeed blood on her finger, pouring from her eyes. How had that happened?
Unfortunately for Tessa, Rupi also loved blood. She stuck her pinky into her own mouth and with her lips, sucked it clean. Then she looked the other woman dead in the eye, unconcerned about the other woman’s closeness. With a calm, controlled tone, she continued.
“Interesting. You certainly know how to surprise, Tessa.” Rupi simply replied, ignoring the woman’s declaration on how she wished to be addressed. “I would warn you to be cautious with how you conduct yourself and your…blood magic. Not many here take kindly to being reached inside of.” Rupi stated, standing as casually and still as ever, blood still pouring from her eyes, dribbling to the curve of her jaw, before dripping onto her lab coat. It didn’t bother Rupi. It didn’t even hurt. Being a vampire, she was already dead in a way. The blood magic wouldn’t affect her, since she didn’t technically need her own blood to survive. She needed others. But just because she was unaffected didn’t mean others wouldn’t be. The patient certainly earned her Block C status.
“You admitted yourself here so I would assume you are seeking help for your affliction. Do not worry, Tessa. We will help you to the best of our abilities.” Rupi flatly told the other woman. Her mental disorder was not easy to diagnose or cure. But she sure as hell would try. “You suffer from Dissociative Identity Disorder. It is a controversial subject. Most psychiatrists believe your split personalities are simply fronts, an illusion, to help you cope with some childhood trauma. I believe through rigorous methodology, we can stabilize your mind and keep you whole. It will not be an easy process.”
Rupi then raised her arm and placed it on the other woman’s chest. With a firm shove, she easily nudged the other woman back with a controlled push, putting some space between them. “I would advise you again not to utilize your blood magic any further unless asked. You’ll find the staff here to be very unforgiving when it comes to such transgression. I will overlook your impudence for now, but do not do so again.” She warned in a low tone, her voice hinting at further repercussions, inflicted by herself if need be.